Looking for 64 bit FX system: where to buy? what to include?

gbpacker

Junior Member
Dec 6, 2003
2
0
0
I am new here, this being my first post. While I do a lot of reading, I am not nearly as tech savvy as any of you fine people. I want to trash my existing 1.2 Athlon and go for a brand new 64 bit FX computer. After building some boxes at the likes of Voodoo, NW-Falcon, and now Elite PC based on the recent review I am as confused as I can be. Therefore, I have come here asking for guidance.

I want to try to stay in the $3000-3500 area, but I would push that to $4500 for perceived value.

What I am keeping:

P1600 Cornerstone monitor (21") and it fits on my desk into the corner allowing me to sit far enough back from the screen.

Klipsch 4.1 (?) speakers (1 sub, 4 sats, no center)

I would change them if there were a good reason.

1. I do not want to save $500 by buying my own parts and making my own system. I am simply not comfortable doing this. Overclocking is also not a concern. I would be comfortable buying from Voodoo, NW-Falcon, or Elite PC.

2. I will use this box for mostly game playing, both online and off, and internet surfing. I think it would be accurate to state this is a gaming machine. I am not a server, and I do not do photo-editing although I might one day.

There are my answers to the questions I think I need to supply for guidance. :)


Chip: FX 51 ( I don't think this is an issue, this being the best now).

MB: I think I like Asus, but not sure on the "n" or the "v". NW Falcon told me their "v" is better and faster, but that seems to contradict what I read here. Elite PC uses an MSI board.

Memory: I am not sure how much to get. I know 1 gig minimum and would go to 2 gigs, but not sure on Mushkin or Corsair. NW Falcon will only use Samsung, and I have also heard that some boards do not like more than 1 gig (I think Elite PC's board (MSI) had some troubles here. I do know that for 1 application I intend on doing, the absolute fastest memory (LOW latency) is mission critical here. Bottom line, I have no idea what to get here.

Optical Drives: I need a 3.5" (shudder) and want a DVD +/- recordable. I also want a second back up drive, but not sure if I should go dvd/cd reader, or a cd rw. Elite PC only seems to offer a Sony?!

HD: I am fairly certain I want to go RAID 0 and have noted that the 10,000 rpm drives that Elite used in the last Review here are only 37 odd gigs each. While I think that is enough, I am tempted to maybe get more space. I have yet to come close to filling my 70 gig (approx) but I know that changes every month.

Video Card: I don't wish to start a flame here, but 9800 XT or 5900 Ultra? I have heard that ATI looks better, but Nvidea works closer with the gaming industry and is more mature with drivers. UGH! Here for example, price would mean nothing to me. Also, did I read some boards do not have AGP Pro slots?

If anyone is really going to build some systems, please note for example, that some companies do not offer all things. Elite only has ATI for example. I would also be more than happy to check out another builder, but the 3 above appear to make the best systems. I am avoiding saying that Alienware is not what they used to be.

Well, this is my problem, and I hope someone will respond and assist me. I think it is fun to do these things, but my expertise always limits how far I can get :)

Maybe this is an interesting thread?
 

RussianSensation

Elite Member
Sep 5, 2003
19,458
765
126
Motherboard:
Since you mentioned you do not care for overclocking any advantages that "N" (Nforce3 150) chipset has over "V" (Via K8T800) can be disregarded. NForce chipset is believed to have the AGP/PCI lock which aids in overclocking that Via seems to be missing. However, some recent tests shows that even if some Nforce 3 boards have this "lock" in place, it doesnt function properly overclocking your PCI bus anyways. So for stock system Via would be the way to go and it would be faster.

Also Toms Hardware did a shootout and MSI K8T800 was their chosen motherboard (Elite PC has this as their mobo)

Memory:
Some tests do prove that if your system has more than 1 gig of Ram in Windows XP (32-bit) environment and if its not utilized by intensive programs like AutoCad, or rendering programs, etc., then your system will actually be slower all around. So 1 gig is enough to go. Since you wont overclock, PC3200 is enough. I think Corsair has some registered 3200 at 2-3-2-6 (for $139 per 512 mb on Newegg you can check it out for reference purposes) that has the lowest timings for ECC. I read many reviews for a couple years and in stock form with tight timings, i recall corsair would beat any memory 95% of the time (if you dont count overclocking). So it would always be the safest bet to go with 1 gig Corsair.

Videocard:
Since you want eye candy and videogaming, considering ATI has better quality Anti-Aliasing, and better perfomance in 1600x1200 4AA/16AF than Nvidia can produce with their fastest card, ATI Radeon 9800XT 256mb is the way to go here.
256mb does provide up to 40% improvement in intensive games like Unreal 2 and Call of Duty playing with the setting i mentioned.

HD:
Raptors in raid 0 definately the way to go. See if you can get 72gigs in raid together those are faster individually than 36gig raptors so should prove to be faster in raid as well then. Either way you should tack on 120gb of "backup" harddrive on which you can store movies, music and all that junk and run system and games off those raptors.

Now anandtech states, "The Elite PC Titan FX is the best Gaming System AnandTech has ever tested."
Considering they have tested so many systems that is quite a feat to accomplish for any system. And again it fits under your $3000 budget (budget?? haha) and you dont plan to overclock so its inability to ajust anything but FSB wouldnt hinder you in any way.

A couple things to consider:

1) since i havent read a comparison of this Elite PC FX tested vs. Falcon NW or Alienware or Voodoo PC, I cant tell you if its going to be faster and by how much, so you might want to see if someone who has those system provides you with their response. Again nothing is to say that Falcon or Voodoo with their top configurations (or same components) wont perform as fast. And personally, i am not too fond of the Chenbro case for Elite PC (for $3000 it has to be appealing at least like Falcon)
2) By buying an FX right now you are stuck on the 940 platform which will be displaced by the 939 as soon as FX53 comes out. Its not a money concern to hold off for 939, but from me its a personal suggestion as to have an extensive upgrade path afterwards.

So, if you dont plan to overclock, and the look of the Elite PC doenst bother you too much, it seems to be a very good system to get.

Now if money was to be of no concern to you this is the system to get without a doubt:
nVENTIV Mach II: The Athlon 64 FX at 2.8 GHz
In the review there are links on what stores might sell this setup in the US. However, i am sure you'd have to overclock yourself.

Also if you are really loaded you can check out here:
The L Store
but they have been a fairly unknown company and a lot of fuss surrounds them

Now maybe one day you'll mature to build a computer yourself. Without a doubt you could build a faster system yourself for $3000 (without monitor, speakers, mouse, like you are trying to)
by simply getting all those components + VaporChill

Sorry my response is lengthy.

Cheers
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,497
6,043
126
Pretty much agree on everything RussianSensation said, with one possible exception, the hard drive choice. The Raptors are speedy, but I prefer space over speed(within reason) and for that reason would go with a larger Maxtor or other 7200RPM drive.
 

klah

Diamond Member
Aug 13, 2002
7,070
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Originally posted by: sandorski
Pretty much agree on everything RussianSensation said, with one possible exception, the hard drive choice. The Raptors are speedy, but I prefer space over speed(within reason) and for that reason would go with a larger Maxtor or other 7200RPM drive.

If he is spending $3500 I am sure he can include a $250 250GB drive in addition to the pair of Raptors in Raid0.
 

JBT

Lifer
Nov 28, 2001
12,094
1
81
Originally posted by: klah
Originally posted by: sandorski
Pretty much agree on everything RussianSensation said, with one possible exception, the hard drive choice. The Raptors are speedy, but I prefer space over speed(within reason) and for that reason would go with a larger Maxtor or other 7200RPM drive.

If he is spending $3500 I am sure he can include a $250 250GB drive in addition to the pair of Raptors in Raid0.

dito I think if you are going to spend that much why not raid the raptors and get another large drive.
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,497
6,043
126
Originally posted by: JBT
Originally posted by: klah
Originally posted by: sandorski
Pretty much agree on everything RussianSensation said, with one possible exception, the hard drive choice. The Raptors are speedy, but I prefer space over speed(within reason) and for that reason would go with a larger Maxtor or other 7200RPM drive.

If he is spending $3500 I am sure he can include a $250 250GB drive in addition to the pair of Raptors in Raid0.

dito I think if you are going to spend that much why not raid the raptors and get another large drive.

Hehe, ya, I suppose you guys have a point. :) Haven't done the math, but if it can be done, could also just Raptor it up to a large capacity.