My first Non-Gateway Custom PC - Comments and Insight Please

[Rigwald]

Here is a proposed setup (mostly via Monarch w/ graphics card purchased through AJump.com ($60 bucks cheaper)

Please note I know nothing about overclocking, but am looking for performance now and in the future. My needs are gaming and DVD/Video editing and creating.

$182 Asus GeForce EN6600GT/TD 128MB DDR PCIe TV-Out and DVI (SLI Ready)
$85 Thermaltake Soprano Mid Tower Case w/NO PS Black
(VB1000BWS)
$117 Thermaltake W0057 PurePower 2xPCI-E ATX 12V 500W Power
Supply (Black)
$170 DFI Lan Party UT nForce4 SLI-DR Audio/GB-LAN/IEEE/
PCI-E/SATA/DDR/ATX 939
$950 Athlon64 X2 +4800
$49 Thermaltake A1772 AMD Recommended for Athlon 64
(Socket 754/939/940) (OEM)
$281 2GB (2x1GB) Corsair (TWINX2048-3200PT)
$119 Western Digital 250GB SATA 8 MB Cache 7200 RPM
(WD2500JD)
$58 Pioneer DVR-109BK Dual-Layer DVD±RW 16x4x16x-DVD+RW/
32x24x40x-CD-RW (Black) (OEM)*Max. 6x writing speed
for DVD-R Dual Layer and +R Double Layer Discs!
$37 Sony DDU1615 16X DVD-ROM (Black) (OEM)
$23 Round Cables Kit 24" IDE, 18" FDD, 2 x 18" SATA(CLEAR)
$89 WinXP Home w/ SP2
$49 3 Years part and labor plus
$38 Logitech Cordless Desktop EX100 Keyboard and Mouse
Combo (Black) (967499-0403)
$59 Build Fee
$45.5 Fed Ex Shipping
------
2351.50 TOTAL

Is there anything missing or incompatible? Is anything beyond what I really need (besides the mem and processor)? Anything not beefy enough?

Thanks!

 

[CreativeTom]

Wow many things in there I would change but let's start with the most obvious, that video card is pretty much a bottleneck for your system. I think you at least need to go with a x800xl, it doesn't look like you are real concerned about money so go with a 7800gtx. I would also think about a non SLI version of that board the Ultra-D is great, then think about maybe some OCZ Platinum EL 2x1GB kit, it's like $30 cheaper and will work much better in that board. I could go on and on, but these are the main things i would look at, also think about maybe a diferent PSU maybe an Antec or Fortron.

 

[Rigwald]

Thanks for the insight. Money is an issue as I originally set my budget at $2000 and have upped it to a max $2400. Already looking at a different set of Mem (OCZ EL DDR PC-3200 / 400MHz / Platinum / Dual Channel) for $276

Why would I not want SLI for possible future expansion?

 

[nick1985]

wow....so many things i would change. i have to go so i dont even have time to post them all.

 

[ReliableData]

Everything looks decent, except for, as tom said, the grafx card. I would go with the SLI mobo, as it's not that much more, and it leaves more room for upgrading. Go with the cheapest 7800GTX you can find, and the OCZ memory. Proc is good i guess if you want to do video type stuff. Maybe a different psu, remember you might upgrade to SLI so maybe look at an SLI PSU such as an Antec TPII 550watt. Right now i have a Silverstone Zeus sz65F 650 watt SLI, and it is awesome.

 

[Bona Fide]

Alright, here's my revisions.

(Old part - New part)

6600GT - 6800GT / X850XT / better if you can
SLI-DR - Ultra-D (you're only running one gfx card anyway)
4800+ X2 - 4400+ X2 (200mhz overclock is nothing)
TtPP550W - Antec Truepower 2.0 480W
Corsair TwinX - OCZ EL Platinum
Build Fee - Build it yourself (Save money)
Warranty - Drop it (Individual parts have warranties too)
Included Mouse - Logitech MX510/MX518 (gaming will need it)
Tt Heatsink - Zalman CNPS7000-Cu (cooling boost)
Tt Soprano - Get it from Newegg ($10 cheaper)

More to come as I find them

 

[feelthaflo]

Dude, somebody's building you that whole system for a mere 59 bucks?! You're getting a crazy deal there...should be more like 59/hr.

Anyways, unless you can afford two graphics cards now, SLI is impractical in my opinion. You know that there will always be the next greatest thing and by the time you want another graphics card, something else will be the new rage. I agree with Tom about the x800xl: an inexpensive, powerful single graphics solution.

The DFI board is very strong, and it should also come with all the cables you need. Go to the DFI website and check out what's in the box. That should save you at least a few bucks on cables.

There are much less expensive dual-core A64's available as well - the most important thing to look at is the L2 cache (Manchester or Toledo core). Once you get into overclocking (as you surely will with that motherboard), you should be able to achieve similar clocks with those as with their Venice and San Diego brethren. The bottom line is, with the motherboard that you have chosen, you should be able to get the same speed as the 4800+ for at least a couple hundred bucks less. Why pay more?

 

[Rigwald]

Thanks everyone! Keep 'em coming. I have to say, there is no way I am attempting to build this beast myself. I am just not that handy! I have been looking at different sites (ibuypower, polywell, etc..) and monarch tended to have the best pricing for the parts, hence that is my base, and therefore restrict in some of the available components not easily installed by me (built in components vs plug in the card stuff).

With that said:
Bona Fide: The only Zalman option in the configurator is : CNPS7000B-AlCu which is aluminum and copper. It is cheaper than the above listed Thermaltake ($42 vs $49) Is this still a better option?

Steve and Feel: Through pricewatch I see an x800xl for 286 (ATI Raedon)

I am going to try and reconfig without the SLI version just to see pricing. THanks everyone and keep the info coming!

 

[Rigwald]

Here is an updated Pricing without the SLI component but with an x800xl:

80311 Monarch Furia Custom Desktop w/PCI-E 1 $59.00 $59.00
Case: 100551 - No PS - Thermaltake VB1000BWS Soprano ATX $85.00 $85.00
Power Supply: 100241 - PS 550W - Antec True Power 2 SLI ATX 12V $135.00 $135.00
Case Fan: None
Motherboard: 110224 - DFI Lan Party UT NForce4 Ultra-D Audio/GB $129.00 $129.00
Processor: 120231 - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Dual-Core 1MB Per $950.00 $950.00
Thermal Grease: None
Heat Sink Fan: 130099 - Zalman CNPS7000B-AlCu Silent CPU Cooling $42.00 $42.00
Memory: 140226 - DDR (400) 3200 - 2 GB (2 pcs 1GB) OCZ Dua $273.00 $273.00
2nd Memory: None
Hard Drive: 150938 - SATA - Western Digital (WD2500JD) 250 GB/ $119.00 $119.00
2nd Hard Drive: None
RAID Setup: None
RAID Controller: None
CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW: 160324 - DVD-ROM - Sony DDU1615 16X DVD-ROM (Black $37.00 $37.00
CD-RW/DVD-RW: 160527 - DVD-RW - Pioneer DVR-109BK Dual-Layer DVD $58.00 $58.00
CD-RW Software: 210613 - Ahead Nero 6.3 Suite DVD+-RW Software (OE $6.99 $6.99
DVD-ROM Software: 210601 - Cyberlink PowerDVD 6.0 (OEM) $6.99 $6.99
Floppy Drive: 170110 - Mitsumi 1.44 MB 3.5" Floppy Drive (Black) $20.00 $20.00
More Storage: None
Sound Card: None
Video Card: 190527 - ATI (Connect3D) Radeon X800 XL 256MB DDR/ $279.00 $279.00
Modem: None
Network Card: None
Wireless Network Card: None
Add-On Card: None
Case Function Add-On: None
Round Cables: 270152 - Round Cables Kit 2-24" IDE 1-18" FDD 1-18 $23.95 $23.95
Operating System: 210112 - Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition w/SP2 $89.00 $89.00
Additional Software: None
Antivirus: None
Warranty: 800009 - 3 Year - Parts & Labor - Plus $49.00 $49.00 $49.00
Hot Rush: None - Standard Order ( ships within 8-13 business
Far Cry Promotion: 270332 - FREE Full DVD Version of Far Cry 64/32 -
Napster Promotion: 270136 - FREE Napster Music Download for 4 Months
Half Life 2 Promotion: 27F854 - FREE Half Life 2 Full Version Coupon with
Molex Connector: None
Video Capture: None
TV Tuner: None
220235 Logitech Cordless Desktop EX100 Keyboard and Mouse Combo (Black) (967499-0403) 1 $38.00 $38.00
Sales Tax: $0.00
Estimated Shipping: $0.00
Total: $2,399.93

I see that I probably can downgrade the Powersupply since I don't need the SLI support. Any suggestions there? Maybe:
Enermax Noisetaker EG495AX-VE SFMA 2.0 (PFC) ATX 12V 2.0 485W Power Supply ($95)
hermaltake W0057 PurePower 2xPCI-E ATX 12V 500W Power Supply (Black) (117)

I have gotten some mixed messages here and over at Tom's about the heatsink and the need for thermal grease.

Anybody wanna give me some more insight here (performance, noise, etc....)? If I cut some costs I can get some speakers (instead of trying to use my good, but possibly incompatable Boston Accustic BA735's).

 

[Twsmit]

Drop down to a slower X2 chip . Spending $1000 on a CPU is ridiculous. Also look into the newest Hitatchi hard drives. Your ram is ok but pricy. you can get a gig of value ram for less than $100 yet your spending $270 on 2 gigs? Thats alot of money. Go with the stock heatsink you dont "need" a zalman.

 

[ND40oz]

If you can wait 10 days, monarch is supposed to have the 3800+ X2s in stock. I'm sure if you're ordering all that stuff from them, you'll get one of the first ones. Then overclock that sucker to a 4600+ speeds and save 600 bucks.

 

[Rigwald]

No matter what, I need to wait because the 4800 won't be avail through them until 8/20. I guess my logic is this:

People say buy lower processor and oc it to be better than the higher one. Since I don't know how to overclock, that doesn't help me. If I learn to overclock, then my reaction would be to take the higher one and overclock it to get even better performance. It might just be my "technical idiot" type of logic though. ;-)

 

[shoRunner]

you still don't need the 4800+ the price increase over the 4400 doesn't justify its price.

also i'd go with the enermax PSU.

i'd also go with the cheapest 2gb possible, ram timings mean little in overall system performance.

and since monarch is building the computer for you i doubt you'll need thermal grease, some usually comes with the heatsink anyways.

 

[coomar]

their are patriot 2x1gb's that are cheaper than the ocz with the same timings on monarch, i have the board and the enermax psu, its a good combination, the difference between the 4400/4800 will be hard to see, the difference between videocards is quite easy to see, get at least an x800xl/6800gt, another option since your waiting is the 7800gt, if you can get it for around 400

 

[Rigwald]

Which enemax psu do you recommend. What wattage?

 

[Rigwald]

What about the OCZ OCZ52012U ModStream ATX 2.0 520W Power Supply? It is listed on DFI-Street as " very good... & .. recommended." when dealing with the nForce4 Ultra.

 

[coomar]

Enermax Noisetaker EG495AX-VE SFMA 2.0 (PFC) ATX 12V 2.0 485W Power Supply ($95)

though i got it for 87 canadian before tax (so 100 after) in april

 

[coomar]

the modstream is more expensive but has adjustable pots, basically you can adjust the voltage of the 3 rails (3.3, 5, 12volts), this is important with ram which is on the 3.3 volts thats like volts like vx

 

[Rigwald]

Here is what appears to be the final configuration. I sticking with the processor, mem, and mobo.

Is there anything physically wrong with this set up? If not, I will submit my order in case the processor gets in early. I did go over budget by $45.95 though. :-(

220136 Logitech Cordless Desktop LX700 Keyboard and Mouse Combo (967418-0403) 1 $69.00 $69.00
250125 Creative Labs SBS 5.1 560 Speaker RT 6W per sat/5" Subwoofer Black (51MF4005AA001) 1 $59.00 $59.00
80311 Monarch Furia Custom Desktop w/PCI-E 1 $59.00 $59.00
Case: 100551 - No PS - Thermaltake VB1000BWS Soprano ATX $85.00 $85.00
Power Supply: 100162 - PS 520W - OCZ OCZ52012U ModStream ATX 2.0 $94.00 $94.00
Case Fan: None
Motherboard: 110224 - DFI Lan Party UT NForce4 Ultra-D Audio/GB $129.00 $129.00
Processor: 120231 - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Dual-Core 1MB Per $999.00 $999.00
Thermal Grease: None
Heat Sink Fan: 130099 - Zalman CNPS7000B-AlCu Silent CPU Cooling $42.00 $42.00
Memory: 140226 - DDR (400) 3200 - 2 GB (2 pcs 1GB) OCZ Dua $273.00 $273.00
2nd Memory: None
Hard Drive: 150939 - SATAII - Western Digital Caviar SE 250 GB $127.00 $127.00
2nd Hard Drive: None
RAID Setup: None
RAID Controller: None
CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW: 160324 - DVD-ROM - Sony DDU1615 16X DVD-ROM (Black $37.00 $37.00
CD-RW Software: 210613 - Ahead Nero 6.3 Suite DVD+-RW Software (OE $6.99 $6.99
DVD-ROM Software: 210601 - Cyberlink PowerDVD 6.0 (OEM) $6.99 $6.99
Floppy Drive: 170110 - Mitsumi 1.44 MB 3.5" Floppy Drive (Black) $20.00 $20.00
More Storage: None
Sound Card: None
Video Card: 190527 - ATI (Connect3D) Radeon X800 XL 256MB DDR/ $279.00 $279.00
Modem: None
Network Card: None
Wireless Network Card: None
Add-On Card: None
Case Function Add-On: None
Round Cables: 270156 - Round Cables UV Kit 2-24" IDE 1-18" FDD 1 $22.00 $22.00
Operating System: 210112 - Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition w/SP2 $89.00 $89.00
Additional Software: None
Antivirus: None
Warranty: 800009 - 3 Year - Parts & Labor - Plus $49.00 $49.00 $49.00
Hot Rush: None - Standard Order ( ships within 8-13 business
Far Cry Promotion: 270332 - FREE Full DVD Version of Far Cry 64/32 -
Napster Promotion: 270136 - FREE Napster Music Download for 4 Months
Half Life 2 Promotion: 27F854 - FREE Half Life 2 Full Version Coupon with
Molex Connector: None
Video Capture: None
TV Tuner: None
Sales Tax: $0.00
Estimated Shipping: $0.00
Total: $2,445.98

 

[feelthaflo]

<Whistles>....With the same budget, I would do much different things, but then again, we all have our own tastes. Just so you know, chances are very good that the 4800 will not overclock any better than the 4400 because they are the same core. The only difference is in the maximum multiplier, but both cores should max out at the same frequency. Oh yeah, Newegg has the 3800+ now for about 400 bucks if you wanted to get in under your initial budget in one foul swoop: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103562. Oops, sorry, I forgot you're not building it yourself. You could save so much...

 

[Rigwald]

I greatly appreciate all the comments. Any last input?

 

[crimson117]

If you want to cut off that $40, drop the Sony DVD-ROM. You'll never be duping DVD's on the fly (too error-prone), or both burning a DVD and watching a DVD at once.

EDIT: In your most recent config, you don't have a DVD burner - just a reader. Is this your intention?

Also, save $10 and install a floppy drive yourself (if you're up for it): at newegg.

You have overclocking memory and an improved heatsink. I know you said you want to keep the processor, but I really suggest you drop the 4800+ down to a 4400+ (and save $350). With that motherboard and that ram and that heatsink, the 4400+ will reach 2.4 ghz (4800+'s clock speed) easily. Unless you were planning to OC the 4800, too

 

[preacherofdoom]

I would get the Thermaltake Kandalf. It's pricey but it rocks. Quiet fans and good airflow.

 

[preacherofdoom]

enermax noistaker 485 instead of antec too

 

[nick1985]

you revived a 4 day old thread.