First time builder, hows this system sound?

[Xernex]

Just looking for some advice on this system I?m going to build. It's my first time building my own from scratch and just wanting to check if everything sounds as it should be, and have a few questions, the rig is as follows.

P4 2.53ghz (might go 2.66)
ASUS P4PE
512Mb PC2700 Corsair
Albatron Geforce 4 ti4200
Audigy 2
Creative Inspire 6600 6.1 Speakers
Logitech MX 500 (mouse)
120GB Western Digital 7200RPM with 8MB Buffer
LG 16xDVD
CD-RW Lite-On 48xRead 48xWrite 24xReWrite
Case and PSU, undecided.

Keeping my current monitor for now.

Now I have a few questions. Can anyone recommend a decent case, and what size Power supply would be plenty? I Hope to keep the PSU and case until my next upgrade which will probably be Springdale and an 800mhz FSB CPU + what ever Video card is best at the time. Would I want 350 or 400+ PSU?

Also the P4PE is said to support DDR333 but I have seen people in the forums say they are running their P4PE?s with DDR400, does this board unofficially support DDR400? Would it be best to get some corsair DDR400 instead so that I can use it in duel channel with Springdale later? Will DDR400 provide much of a performance boost over DDR333 now?

Thanks for any advice and feel free to make any other comments or changes I should make.

 

[chizow]

Looks great. Get a nice PSU now and give your system upgrade headroom in the future. The Antec TruePower's are said to be excellent, 400+ W or better. I have one of the older 400W Antec's (a year old) and its been excellent for me. Next PSU will be a TruePower though. As for cases, use yours til you are ready for a nice one. Better to spend a bit more on something you will keep awhile IMO. Cases are much cheaper than they used to be, aluminum with windows and plenty of manufacturer done blow holes/case fan holders and front USB/Firewire ports. There are lots of nice ones out there for less than $100.

 

[Xernex]

Thanks Chizow, I see also you have the same video card that I intend of getting. How you like the Alba? I see you have managed to O/C it quite well.

Do you think maybe a Lian Li 60USB would be worth it? Seems to get good reviews. One question though the front USB ports, they would be designed for USB 1 wouldn't they? Can't be used for USB 2.0?

 

[majewski9]

no go with AthlonXP and Nforce2. 2400 or 2600 would be just as good if not better. Certainly cheaper! Also you can probaly almost get a 9500 for the cost of the inflated ti4200. 350 should be enough and DDR 400 isnt necessarily better. Also springdale wont be out for awhile!

 

[Xernex]

Originally posted by: majewski9
no go with AthlonXP and Nforce2. 2400 or 2600 would be just as good if not better. Certainly cheaper! Also you can probaly almost get a 9500 for the cost of the inflated ti4200. 350 should be enough and DDR 400 isnt necessarily better. Also springdale wont be out for awhile!

Yeah I have thought hard about it but where I live 2600's cost more than 2.53's and Nforce 2 isn?t out yet. Also P4's overclock better, easier (with stock cooling). I?m going for an Albatron ti4200 for a reason, they overlock very well very easily and cost only a tad more than a normal ti4200. Check Chizow's sig for his rig and you'll see he has the same card clocked it 310/650 without trying to go higher, that?s a testimate to the cards abilities. From the reviews I've read it goes beyond ti4600 speeds quite easy. Also I?m going DDR400 because it should provide a slight performance boost, and will be better coupled with a Springdale chipset later on anyway in duel channel. Oh and I'm willing to wait for Springdale, it?s only about 6-7 months away which is just the right time for an upgrade.

Thanks anyway.

 

[Davegod]

Seconding the Antec True Power vote, been reading up on PSU's and pretty unanimous that these are the best psu's so far. a 380w would do you find I think but imo go for the 430w for plenty room left over for future upgrades/additions etc.

Cases, if you have the £ aluminium cases seem worth it, going for one myself. A large number of them seem to be based on the same chasis, so might notice some similarities Cant really suggest more than that since what's your budget/tastes/requirements

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: Xernex
Thanks Chizow, I see also you have the same video card that I intend of getting. How you like the Alba? I see you have managed to O/C it quite well.

Do you think maybe a Lian Li 60USB would be worth it? Seems to get good reviews. One question though the front USB ports, they would be designed for USB 1 wouldn't they? Can't be used for USB 2.0?

NP Xernex, you did all the hard work researching your system, I was just commenting on it As for the Albatron, I can't give the same glowing comments about it as I did before. Apparently Albatron has been cutting corners on the cards as of late (not confirmed) but I've seen at least 3 comments in the last week saying people had trouble getting the cards even to ti4400 specs (which is about the same as "normal" ti4200's OC to). This may very well be in response to high demand as well as scaling back on the GF4 line in preparation for the GF FX. Oh yah, to that end, I would wait for a 9700 standard (TX I think is the designation from the Dell system posts). Its gonna crush any GF4 and will only be slightly lower than the Pro, but will cost $100 less msrp. 9700pros can be had anywhere from $330-380 online, so slash $100 and change off that and they shouldn't be much more than the Albatron.

As for the case, if you are going to spend money on it, you might as well spend it on a decent one as the price difference between a plain vanilla case and a nice aluminum one has decreased considerably in the last year. I don't know how much the PC60 is, but I wouldn't spend more than $100 US on one. People here will argue night and day whether or not Aluminum cases are better for cooling or not, but I would get one just for the aesthetic qualities as well as the weight factor. Also, slightly nicer cases tend to have more fan mounts, which allows you to run quiet 80mm's and tone down the HSF as your internal temps will be cooler. As for the USB headers AFAIK, the headers are standard and it 2.0 vs 1.0 simply depends on the USB controller on your mobo.

I hate when people tell someone to get a completely different CPU and chipset from what someone has decided on. Obviously you spent the research into price, performance, and OCability to have made your choice. I think its a good one. At this point, I would probably go P4 for a little bit more just to mix it up a bit. I haven't had an Intel system since my P3, and mixing it up is good. Also, I don't think AMD's have the OCing allure it used to and its getting harder and harder to get them to high OC's; combine that with the fact that P4's OC extremely well and I think you made the right choice. Something to said about really big numbers behind your CPU designation.... call it "Digit Envy"

Chiz

 

[Xernex]

Woah thanks for the great input chizow, and the heads up about the Albatron. My local store is looking into ordering a new batch because they sold out of the last, but this new batch could be the so called corner cutting group. Maybe I will look into a nice 9700 instead. I was originally going to go for one, but didnt think they would be out for a while. Happen to know when to expect them?

 

[optimistic]

For the first time builder.

Before Build:
Work in a static free environment.
Keep everything in static bags until ready to use.
Touch the case now & then -to discharge any built-up static.

Build steps:
Attach cpu + heatsink/fan & ram on motherboard then insert motherboard in the case.
Check jumpers for optical drives and insert them. And put them on IDE channel 2.
Check jumpers for hard drives and insert them. And put them on IDE channel 1.
Insert Video Card.
Connect all power & case cables. Insure heatsink fan connected to correct header
Power up.

After succesful boot up & OS install:
Power down.
Insert your other peripherals: floppy drive, network cards, sound cards, etc.

Yeah its all common sense. But if you follow this, you'll be more likely to have a successful first-time power up.

Nice rig! The only change I suggest is instead of getting a Liteon CDRW, get a LG or Sony CDRW. They read & write much quieter than the Liteon with the same performance for only ~$10 more. Also make sure to research into your PSU. The PSU can be the loudest part of your computer! Sorry, I can't suggest any quiet PSUs right now.

Hope this helps.

 

[Xernex]

Thanks optimistic, good tips. I will have a friend who is more experienced in building systems with me, so that will help to.

Also yeah I was thinking of going with an LG burner instead, I currently have an LG 24x10x40 and its very quiet and reliable. I've heard there have been some problems with the 48 speed lite on, such as discs exploding.

 

[CJP]

Originally posted by: Xernex
Do you think maybe a Lian Li 60USB would be worth it? Seems to get good reviews. One question though the front USB ports, they would be designed for USB 1 wouldn't they? Can't be used for USB 2.0?

I have that Lian Li. It's got a good design and it's pretty easy to install a system on it. One problem is that the way it's made if the bottom fan grill on any 2 fan psu protrudes you have to remove the grill, mount the psu, and then re-attach the grill once the psu is in the case (more of an inconveniece that a problem I guess). Also, although the led wires have an easy detach fastner, the front usb wires don't so it's not a total breeze to use the slide out tray in the future. I don't know if the front usb ports work with usb 2.0.

 

[Xernex]

Thanks CJP, I'll keep that in mind.