First new computer , need critique

[Gunsmokez]

This is gonna be my first rig, im complete noob at this . I plan to play games and surf net etc. I would love to play the newer games out now bf2, halo etc.

Now, overclocking is not gonna be an option as I have no clue on how to. So , i would need a decent cpu speed stock. Here are a few stuff im thinking about it.

Let me know if it is good or not and why would be of great help. My budget is fairly flexible and depends if its worth it or not. FX55 etc now worth it



ANTEC SONATA II BLACK ATX 16IN MID TOWER CASE 3X5.25 2X3.5 4X3.5IN 450W AIR DUCT 120MM FAN

AMD ATHLON 64 3700+ PROCESSOR S939 SAN DIEGO 2.2GHZ 1MB L2 CACHE 90NM RETAIL BOX

now im debating over this 3700 or the 3800 venice 2.4 512k, Keep in mind i cant over clock.

ASUS A8N-E MOTHERBOARD ATX S939 NFORCE4 ULTRA DDR PCI-E16 PCI-E4 2PCI-E1 3PCI SATA RAID GBLAN SOUND

CORSAIR VALUE SELECT PC3200 2GB 2X1024MB DDR400 184PIN DIMM CL3 DUAL CHANNEL MEMORY KIT bf2

SEAGATE BARRACUDA 7200.8 250GB SATA NCQ 7200RPM 8MS OEM HARD DRIVE

1.44MB BLACK 3.5IN FLOPPY DRIVE

HYUNDAI IMAGEQUEST L90D+ 19IN LCD MONITOR 1280X1024 700:1 8MS 0.294MM SILVER-BLACK ANALOG DIGITAL

SAPPHIRE RADEON X800 XL PCI-E 256MB DDR VGA DVI TV OUT VIDEO CARD RETAIL BOX

LOGITECH INTERNET PRO DESKTOP BLACK INTERNET KEYBOARD & OPTICAL MOUSE PS/2 OEM (SINGLE PACK) cheap

MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP MEDIA CENTER EDITION 2005 OEM SINGLE COPY (WITH SYSTEM ONLY) My wife would love this!

BENQ DW1620-BK DVD+-RW 16X4X16 DUAL LAYER +R 2.4X BLACK IDE OEM W/ SW

LOGITECH X-530 5.1 SPEAKER SYSTEM BLACK 70W RMS 140W W/FDD2


FREE! LEXMARK Z615 COLOUR INKJET PRINTER (after $40 CAD MIR) At least i get something free



1 YEAR EXPRESS COVERAGE FOR LCD MONITORS - WITH 30 DAY "ZERO DEAD PIXEL" EXCHANGE WARRANTY(14897) 25 bucks for this thing . Might be worth it


Critique away , and give reasons would be nice. hope everything is compatible
am i missing anything as well?

 

[imported_Kensai]

Squish an X2 4200+ in there.

 

[Gunsmokez]

heh, Yah i would love to. But, i dont think i really need dual core for the stuff i do. hard to justify that to my wife

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I'd get a better videocard before I got a more expensive processor.

 

[AATRuler]

BF2 might love the low latency OCZ or Corsair memory sticks. overclockers modules or just normal budget 2 or 2.5 is better. A8N-E can handle dual channel so always take dual channel kit for the best performance.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: AATRuler
BF2 might love the low latency OCZ or Corsair memory sticks. overclockers modules or just normal budget 2 or 2.5 is better. A8N-E can handle dual channel so always take dual channel kit for the best performance.

low latency doesnt do anything.

 

[AATRuler]

timings as low as possible is always best..
if you have memory 2x512 with 4-4-4-12 or 2-2-2-5 or something. what would perform better?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: AATRuler
timings as low as possible is always best..
if you have memory 2x512 with 4-4-4-12 or 2-2-2-5 or something. what would perform better?

It would perform better to spend the money saved on something that's going to make a bigger difference.
(I'm actually changing the argument here to the one that actually makes sense... because you can get a gig of cas2.5 memory for under $100 now, nobody would be running cas4... so my reasoning above is for not getting expensive ram vs budget cas2.5 ram)

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: AATRuler
BF2 might love the low latency OCZ or Corsair memory sticks. overclockers modules or just normal budget 2 or 2.5 is better. A8N-E can handle dual channel so always take dual channel kit for the best performance.

low latency doesnt do anything.

lower latency does actually : /

"CAS is the single most critical of the various timings, it affects performance most."

http://www.ocfaq.com/article.php/overclocking/63

 

[AATRuler]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: AATRuler
timings as low as possible is always best..
if you have memory 2x512 with 4-4-4-12 or 2-2-2-5 or something. what would perform better?

It would perform better to spend the money saved on something that's going to make a bigger difference.

If money isnt of importance what would you do?
When money does matter what would you do?
When money doesnt matter i would go with some nice sli n 2 7800's and the best available overclockers memory n a nice 2rail psu or whatever. nice case with good cooling.
When the price does matter, i would get something in the budget which will last longer for the both tahn a real fast upgrade after ya bought the parts. Buying a big 7800 and only 256mb of ram ad some crappy shiut ass slow processor would b waste of money. than youd best go with some nice memory, nice processor and nice vidcard. all up-to-date and work good untill needed better parts you buy better which toghether perform good.. for the same price i might add

 

[AATRuler]

Originally posted by: w00t

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: AATRuler
BF2 might love the low latency OCZ or Corsair memory sticks. overclockers modules or just normal budget 2 or 2.5 is better. A8N-E can handle dual channel so always take dual channel kit for the best performance.

low latency doesnt do anything.

lower latency does actually : /

"CAS is the single most critical of the various timings, it affects performance most."

http://www.ocfaq.com/article.php/overclocking/63

Ouch!!

 

[d2arcturus]

Stick with the 3700, the 1MB cache a little better for games, plus it's cheaper.
Stick with that RAM, make sure it's the CAS2.5 version: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145440

Good build.

 

[Gunsmokez]

iYOyoYOhowsDAjellos the what video card would you suggest? i figured the 800xl would be relativley close or good enough. The 6800Gt is about 100 bucks more and would be the next step up. i dont think i wanna spend that much cash on a video card.


Now, regarding this ram stuff. Is it good enough? i picked the Value corsair cause, well seems everyone in the forums here recommend it. I would like to keep two 1 gigs .

what about my cpu ? 3700 or 3800? keep in mind no overclocking. only about 50 bucks diff here.

thx

 

[AATRuler]

Originally posted by: Gunsmokez
is the 6800gt that much better? I don't think i can want to spend anymore on a video card, unless i shave somewhere else.



Now, regarding this ram stuff. Is it good enough? i picked the Value corsair cause, well seems everyone in the forums here recommend it.

what about my cpu ? 3700 or 3800? keep in mind no overclocking. only about 50 bucks diff here.

thx

We didnt say no to the Corsair Value, but on the cl3.. better get some cl2.5 or 2.. it WILL make a difference.

 

[d2arcturus]

Originally posted by: Gunsmokez
is the 6800gt that much better?

Not really, save the cash for something else.

Originally posted by: Gunsmokez
i picked the Value corsair cause, well seems everyone in the forums here recommend it.

Yep perfect just get CAS2.5. Look at link in my reply above.

Originally posted by: Gunsmokez
what about my cpu ? 3700 or 3800?

3700 has 1MB cache, better for gaming, and cheaper. About the same performance.

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: Gunsmokez
is the 6800gt that much better? I don't think i can want to spend anymore on a video card, unless i shave somewhere else.



Now, regarding this ram stuff. Is it good enough? i picked the Value corsair cause, well seems everyone in the forums here recommend it.

what about my cpu ? 3700 or 3800? keep in mind no overclocking. only about 50 bucks diff here.

thx

You did get cas 2.5? right cause corsair makes both link what you bought.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: w00t

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: AATRuler
BF2 might love the low latency OCZ or Corsair memory sticks. overclockers modules or just normal budget 2 or 2.5 is better. A8N-E can handle dual channel so always take dual channel kit for the best performance.

low latency doesnt do anything.

lower latency does actually : /

"CAS is the single most critical of the various timings, it affects performance most."

http://www.ocfaq.com/article.php/overclocking/63

nope, they mean squat

 

[Gunsmokez]

ok

So, 3700 is better then 3800 even at stock speeds. Cause, then ill buy the 3700 and keep my 50 bucks

Now, with that ram i chose. I went back an checked it out . It has a cas of 3, so i guess it isnt good enough.

i cant seem to find 2 1 gigs with a lat of 2.5 or less on that website. ( ncix.com ) if its over 300 bucks canadian then i might have to rethink the 2 gigs and consider only 1 gig with cas of 2.5 or less.

this is the page im looking at http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?majorcatid=101&minorcatid=105 which is one is it?

Btw, im really new at this ram stuff. So many different kinds . So bare with me here.

 

[Gunsmokez]

ok found one, and dang http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?...n=TWINX2048-3200C2&manufacture=CORSAIR
this is the one with lower cas. Plus its over 300 bucks. Guess ill have to splurge a bit more on this one.


this ram is good then right? i hope this is the cheapest 2 1 gig with a low cas. Cause i dont need a high end ram. No oc

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

How much more is this stuff? Don't waste your money on really low latency ram. Your money would be better spent upgrading your videocard.