• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Help me decide on an A64 setup!!

msi1337

msi1337

Diamond Member
Selling my laptop to pay for an A64 desktop. My spending budget is $700 without monitor, key, mouse.

I will need:

Winchester CPU retail (will get better HSF later)
Good mobo... (was thinking either DFI ultra, or Asus A8n-E)
Case with good power supply (probably have to buy psu seperate)
(Like the Antec SLK3700AMB case)
Seagate SATA hard drive
16x DL DVD burner (suggestions for brand?)
1GB PC-3200 memory (basic, not going to be overclocking much)(prefer corsair)
16x PCI-E video card (suggestions in the $60-$120 price range.. I don't game much)

will be buying all parts from NewEgg or ZZF... never used ZZF, but I hear they have good deals.

Also, some info on if I am needing an ATX V2.0 12v power supply would be great
24 pin? or 20pin with converter?
 
For the case, you can get the Sonata for $96 shipped from Newegg now. The PSU will be plenty for you.
3000+ Retail $145
MSI Neo4 $140
1GB Corsair $100
NEC 3520A $60
Leadtek 6600 $109

Total $~650


 
Originally posted by: Ike0069
For the case, you can get the Sonata for $96 shipped from Newegg now. The PSU will be plenty for you.
3000+ Retail $145
MSI Neo4 $140
1GB Corsair $100
NEC 3520A $60
Leadtek 6600 $109

Total $~650
Click to expand...

No hard drive?

If you need to cut back on something to have more HDD money, I think you can get away with a lesser motherboard than this.

 
3000+-152-http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-501&depa=1

dfi ultra nf4-139-easily moddable to nforce4sli, comes with 2 pci-e16x slots-http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-136-152&depa=1

antec sonata with 380w truepower(included)-96-http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-129-127&depa=0

seagate160gb ide(no performance loss between ide and sata-109(all sata seagate retail packages are out of your price range-http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-148-031&depa=1

Lite-On 16X dl drive sohw1673s(good drive i have the 1633s[basically, this is a black version of the 1633s])-61-http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-106-966&depa=1

memory-97-http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80098-21&ps=ho1
leadtek

6600-109-http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-122-202&depa=1

x600 is a 9600 with a bridge chip. last gen. no dx9c or ps3.0 support. 6600gt is current gen chip.
 
I went a little over budget, but here is what I got!


MB DFI|NF4 LANPARTY UT nF4 Ultra-D
Item# N82E16813136152
$137.99

VGA LEADTEK GF PX6600 TD RT
Item# N82E16814122202
$109.00

CPU AMD 64 |3000+ ATHLON 939P 90 RT
Item# N82E16819103501
$152.99

DDR CRSR 512MB X2 KIT|VS1GBKIT400
Item# N82E16820145440
$97.00

HD 160GB|SEAGAT ST3160827AS 8mb %
Item# N82E16822148034
$102.89

DVD+/-RW 16x+|NECND-3520A BG
Item# N82E16827152039
$56.00

CASE ANTEC|MID TOWER SONATA RET
Item# N82E16811129127
$96.00

Total price $764.85 shipped

Is that a good computer?

 
If you weren't going to overclock you probably could have gotten a $100 motherboard (or gone with AGP 754 if you also didn't need 939 dual core--rumor has it that mainstream dual core will use a different socket anyway... something like Socket M2), but that's a good setup.
 
I like it. If it were me though, I would shell out a hundred or so more and get a faster processor. That's only me.
 
Worst case scenario with the system you are planning on is having to buy a better PSU for the Ultra D 🙂 It cannot hurt to try it, but there have been some who have had problems which turned out to be caused by a weak PSU.
Be sure to plug all 4 power connectors to the DFI board for stability.
 
IMO the MSI neo4 is a more stable board than the DFI and a few $$ cheaper at ZZF, or you could also go with the Chaintech VNF4/Ultra for ~$100.
Other than that, great system for the price.
And for your question about the 20-pin PSU, this should answer it.
 
MB DFI|NF4 LANPARTY UT nF4 Ultra-D
Item# N82E16813136152
$137.99

VGA LEADTEK GF PX6600 TD RT
Item# N82E16814122202
$109.00

CPU AMD 64 |3000+ ATHLON 939P 90 RT
Item# N82E16819103501
$152.99

DDR CRSR 512MB X2 KIT|VS1GBKIT400
Item# N82E16820145440
$97.00

HD 160GB|SEAGAT ST3160827AS 8mb %
Item# N82E16822148034
$102.89

DVD+/-RW 16x+|NECND-3520A BG
Item# N82E16827152039
$56.00

CASE ANTEC|MID TOWER SONATA RET
Item# N82E16811129127
$96.00

With this setup, could someone please assure me of which cables I need to plug in and where on this motherboard? I need to know which side the 20 pin connector goes on, if the old 4 pin (originally p4) connector plugs in, and if the fact that the 6600 video card I got doesnt have a power connector on it will cause an issue. If I have to buy a new psu I can, but I would like to use the True 380 that comes in the Sonata case if I could.

sorry for asking newb questions, I am not a pc building newb, just heard a couple horror stories about people frying their mobo using a 20 pin atx connector in the wrong position.

also, anything different I should know about this setup? I have built tons of Athlon XP machines, but this will be my first time ever using A64, SATA, and PCI-E

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top