If i were to build a rig today...

[Hyperlite]

Mobo: Abit NF7-S Rev2
mobo link
Processor: Athlon XP Mobile 35w 2400 (best stepping i can find, OC to at least 2.5Ghz)
proc
Memory: 1x512 Mushkin PC3500 Level 1(add another 512 later)
RAM
Video Card: Radeon 9600pro 256meg (oc to 9600XT...will this work?)
Vid Card
PSU: Enermax 350w (for that beast-of-a-12v-rail current)
PSU
Case: RAIDMAX Silver (flip side fans around to blow into case, mod case to mount 120mm on top
blowing out, Tornados in front and back blowing in.)
Case...$26? can't go wrong...
HSF: Thermalright SLK900A w/92mm tornado.
HSF
HDD: WD 80GB SATA
HDD

i want to know about ANY and ALL incompatibilites between ANY of those components.
Total comes to about $700

 

[trexpesto]

that proc is currently in stock at newegg for 89.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/SearchProductResult.asp?DEPA=0

HSF I am taking a chance on the SLK947, since it's 20.00 at svc.com and I wanted to get my fan there anyway, supposedly a small dremeling only
/prays briefly

I got a 120gig seagate SATA 7200. Could have settled for 80.

I have heard suggestion to get the 128 Mb 256-bit 9800pro, there is a soft mod to XT for it I think. ~200 clams on sale but watch out for 128-bit sucker version.

I am hoping not to need so loud fans to get 12 x 217

nice case! mine was 26 too but kind of ugly.


Dont forget CD, floppy, headphones/speakers, keybd+mouse. cheap but it adds up.
Edit: Sounds like you probly have some of this tho...

 

[Mo0o]

Memory i would go w/ OCZ PC3200 enhanced latency platinum series, 512 a stick

vid card, i would just get a 9800pro. and the 256 megs doesn't realy justify the costs.

 

[trexpesto]

If you can save yourself more 150 bucks that is x800 territory...
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=27-106-197&DEPA=0
may be noisy --

 

[Hyperlite]

bump
1) the 256meg 9600 pro is only $148...and newegg sells a Sapphire 256 9600pro factory OCed to 9600XT for $138, its out of stock ATM. and i really don't want to spend $200 on the 128meg 9800pro. i think i'll stick to my origional plan, but it depends on how much prices go down and if i can get the money for an x800

2)the reason i'm willing to pay $105 for that proc from excaliber is the stepping. new egg doesn't display the stepping, much less whether it is any good.

3)have a brand new 52x32x52 CDRW

4)why OCZ over Mushkin? and why would i go DOWN to PC3200? the only PC3500 OCZ ram being sold on newegg is 256meg sticks.

 

[Runner20]

Originally posted by: Hyperlite
Mobo: Abit NF7-S Rev2
mobo link
Processor: Athlon XP Mobile 35w 2400 (best stepping i can find, OC to at least 2.5Ghz)
proc
Memory: 1x512 Mushkin PC3500 Level 1(add another 512 later)
RAM
Video Card: Radeon 9600pro 256meg (oc to 9600XT...will this work?)
Vid Card
PSU: Enermax 350w (for that beast-of-a-12v-rail current)
PSU
Case: RAIDMAX Silver (flip side fans around to blow into case, mod case to mount 120mm on top
blowing out, Tornados in front and back blowing in.)
Case...$26? can't go wrong...
HSF: Thermalright SLK900A w/92mm tornado.
HSF
HDD: WD 80GB SATA
HDD

i want to know about ANY and ALL incompatibilites between ANY of those components.
Total comes to about $700

LOL I posted a link to that case in the cases and cooling forum last week. Most people didn't seem too impressed with it, however its ok for that price. Its unheard of to find a case that cheap, with a window. Guess the fan placement is a bit awkward, but decent.
If you don't oc then get some value PC3200.

Everything else looks fine.

 

[wkwong]

dont use a tornado... unless you've actually heard one in person before and your fine with the noise.

 

[trexpesto]

what?
WHAT??

 

[Hyperlite]

yeah, i really don't care how loud it is. they move sooo much air.

 

[imported_raybay]

Take a close look at your case selection to assure the bays work the way you want, and that future cooling needs can be addressed. Will it pass the cucumber test? I don't know the case you have chosen, but choice of case is an area of deep regret among builders I know. You should be happy with the other components.

 

[trexpesto]

Soory for the spammy reply, um, I have heard to get real high FSBs the <EDIT> NF7-S can lack, to go with the DFI Infinity. Sounds like you will be cranking on it. I am getting the NF7-S after all myself.

My fugly Maxtop case comes highly recommended.

 

[trexpesto]

Check it out:

Or, if you're feeling lucky, you can get this card here

I know they got dissed in reviews. This is the "GOOD" one tho.

It's a Powercolor 9800SE. If you use Omega drivers with it as opposed to ATI catalyst drivers, it will enable the card to run as an 8 pipeline card, as opposed to default 4 pipeline card that the SE cards run at. This will effectively make it a 9800 pro, for $154 shipped. Problem is, is that not all the SE cards can run with 8 pipelines without artifacts. About 65% will do it. If you feel bad about taking a chance, don't. If the 8 pipe unlock fails, you're back to ATI catalyst drivers and looking at a card that performs like a 9600XT. Just something to think about.

Ok, now I dont see a 256mb 9600 Pro on
here, but contrary to postings, doesnt look like the Powercolor 256-bit 9800SE compares to 9600XT. May beat the Pro.


I just looked around and found some 3dMark03 scores but they were on different machines. Anyone have some link of head to head?
9600Pro ~ 3350
9800SE ~ 3000

So 5 bucks difference, chance at a 9800 (3DMark03 ~ 5000+). If it fails may be pretty much the same. Without OC that is. Would the 256 MB be better for OC or better for newer games coming out? I have seen the people say not too much difference between 128 and 256 MB RAM when discussing the 9800 Pro/XT.

 

[Tostada]

I would also get the OCZ EL DDR400.

And, here I am beating the dead horse again:

You can get a faster, quieter 80GB Hitachi SATA drive with FDB and a 3-year warranty for $1.25 less. Look at the benchmarks:
http://storagereview.com/php/benchmark/compare_rtg_2001.php?typeID=10&amp;testbedID=3&amp;osID=4&amp;raidconfigID=1&amp;numDrives=1&amp;devID_0=250&amp;devID_1=245&amp;devCnt=2

(those are the 3-platter versions of the same drives)

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-145-049

 

[Nickel020]

You might as well get a 128 MB 9600 Pro over 256 MB version. The games that would utilise the extra memory (Doom 3, Half-Life 2) won't really run on that graphics card anyway.

I would get some cheaper RAM and from the money you saved upgrade to a 9800 Pro 128MB 256Mbit. You will get much more bang for the buck that way (40%+ faster game performance).

 

[trexpesto]

If 150-160 is firm, the 9600XTs are around there at Newegg.
And at least for Powercolor, the 9600XT does spank the 9800SE at stock speeds.

 

[trexpesto]

yea-haw. got the IQYHA 0402SPMW stepping from newegg. Ordered on 6/9/04. Someone posted on 6/4 that they got an "A" stepping..