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My first rig. Ever.

H

hugejazz

Member
Hello. I just finished highschool and Im moving onto university 😀

Anyways, Im planning to build a decent system to last me through my studies. I don't need any extreme features (like Prometeia Mach I cooling 😀). I have never done anything close to this before, as all my previous computers were brought pre-built... I've done some research and blah blah blah, and I have come up with this rig which is something near my budget.

Thermaltake Xaser Tsunami Black Tower Case (2x120mm, 1x90mm fans)
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Processor
Zalman CNPS7700-Cu Copper Cooling
Asus A8N-E nF4 Motherboard
2*512MB Corsair XMS TWINX1024-3200C2 Memory
Leadtek WinFast GeForce 6600GT 128MB Video Card
Enermax EG-495P-VE SFMA NoiseTaker PSU

LG 52X CD-RW/16X DVD-ROM Combo Drive
D-Link 538TX 10/100 Mbps PCI Card
+mouse
+monitor
+keyboard
+speaker

Can you guys tell me if those components are compatible with each other or not? And please leave comments as to what I can do to make this baby better.
Thanks 🙂
 
tone down the RAM to the corsair value select, and use the saved cash for an X800XL. Much better performance if you do that. Cas2 does jack sh!t for the athlon64.
 
With the CPU cooler you're putting in there wouldn't it make more sense to get a 3200+ and just OC it to 3500+ speeds? I'm able to get a stable overclock with the exact same cooler as the one you're ordering and push my CPU up to 2.35 GHz.

^ That is if you're planning on overclocking. Just trying to save ya' some money. 🙂
 
What nick said.
Go Corsair Value Select and get an x800XL.
It would also be better if you made sure that your proccessor is a Venice core. (Known as "Rev. E")
 
That's a good looking system. I agree with the previous RAM comment, but I wouldn't go the overclock route unless you can afford to take a little risk with your system.

You do need to add a harddrive(s) to the system as listed, but I'm sure you have that and just forgot to give us the details.

I like the Western Digital 74GB Raptor - Sata for speed and the Seagate Sata drives for capacity.
 
don't get the xl. get 2 gb of ram, not 1. otherwise your computer won't last much longer than 2 years even if you add anohter gb (unless you don't want to run dual channel, which is stupid).
 
Originally posted by: johnnqq
don't get the xl. get 2 gb of ram, not 1. otherwise your computer won't last much longer than 2 years even if you add anohter gb (unless you don't want to run dual channel, which is stupid).
Click to expand...

why not the XL? cheaper ram with the XL will blow away the rig he has now
 
Originally posted by: johnnqq
don't get the xl. get 2 gb of ram, not 1. otherwise your computer won't last much longer than 2 years even if you add anohter gb (unless you don't want to run dual channel, which is stupid).
Click to expand...

I don't understand. Why would 1 gb of ram not last for 2 years? Im kinda new at this


 
Ok, Thanks everyone 🙂 I've read over ur comments and suggestions and I have a few questions. 😀

Would my rig setup support me overclocking a 3500+? Or a 3200+?

PPl are suggesting that I go with Corsair Value Select ram. Isn't dual channel better? Or does it not make any difference?

Also, PPl are suggesting that I go with a x800 xl. Which one do I go for? I see that there is an Asus x800 xl and a Gigabyte x800 xl? What is the difference?

Thanks
 
Welcome to AnandTech, hugejazz!

Don't listen to what johnqq said, it doesn't make much sense and it's confusing.

Here would be what I would build if I had your budget (I assume ~1000 - 1500?):

1. 3200+ Venice - Best CPU for your budget out right now, overclocks like a monster.

2. The Asus A8N-E is a great board, but it doesn't overclock that well. I'd recommend it though, because you're a beginner, and other boards like MSIs will just give you headaches.

3. Corsair Value Select - ram isn't a very important factor in overclocking when it comes to AMD. Get a gig of good brand name valueram and you're set.

4. 6800GT for the video card. I'm slightly biased towards nVidia, so I'll have to recommend this. However the X800XL is an excellent card, right on the 6800GT's tail.

5. That Enermax PSU is fine. The one I have (460w Enermax Whisper) is also very nice, I got it for about 70 dollars.

Those are the main components. Other things such as sound card and whatnot are up to you (you can get them if you need them).

I've got the Audigy Soundblaster2 ZS for sound and paired with my Logitech Z-530 5.1 speakers they sound great together.

For the mouse I'd say either the Logitech MX1000 for wireless or MX510/518 for wired. Best gaming mice out now. For keyboard it doesn't really matter, but in case you want to know I use the Logitech Elite keyboard and it's nice. It has a lot of features I don't use but it's a good keyboard overall.

Monitor - A good 8ms LCD, whichever size fits your budget (I'm guessing 17"). Viewsonic, Dell, LG among the better brands.

Good luck with your build!

PS - oh to answer your question about different video card manufacterors, they're basically all the same, just stick with a good vender like eVGA, BFG, XFX, MSI, Asus, Leadtek, etc (sorry I'm naming nVidia venders, I don't know that many ATI ones).

PPS - Dual channel does jack sh!t.
 
I have found that AMD likes low CAS ram and takes advantage of it.. I dont know where you guys get your info from know I know Intel doesnt care about CAS all there cpus want is high speed.. I would settle for the 1gig of ram andif you dont plan to play some high end games stay with the video card you have listed and maybe spend some money for a DVD burner so u can make lots of movies!! 😉 I have a 3000+ with 1GIG 2-512mb Kingston ram running 2-2-2-5 and system runs like a champ!
 
bf2 seems to like 2 gigs so its starting to happen, i have the psu your looking at, its good, dropped my cpu temps 4 degrees as an added bonus, drop down to 3200+, see if you can find 2x1gig value sticks and get an x800xl, the 6800gt is a little better but has a price premium

2 1gig ram sticks is a lot better futureproofing, it allows you to upgrade to 4 gigs total letting you use one of the major advantages of 64-bit computing, also windows can be configured to stop pagefiling at 4 gigs, anything that lets you access your harddrive less is great
 
Originally posted by: hugejazz
Ok, Thanks everyone 🙂 I've read over ur comments and suggestions and I have a few questions. 😀

Would my rig setup support me overclocking a 3500+? Or a 3200+?

PPl are suggesting that I go with Corsair Value Select ram. Isn't dual channel better? Or does it not make any difference?

Also, PPl are suggesting that I go with a x800 xl. Which one do I go for? I see that there is an Asus x800 xl and a Gigabyte x800 xl? What is the difference?

Thanks
Click to expand...


You should be able to overclock either cpu very easily.

There is no such thing as "Dual Channel" Ram. Dual channel means, you have two sticks of ram in specific slots on your motherboard, allowing you to get theoretically twice the memory bandwidth. All you have to do, is purchase two sticks of corsair value select to run them in dual channel. However, I recomend purchasing a single 1GB stick of corsair value select right now while it is cheap. Then when your pc seems to feel sluggish after a few years use, you can add another 1GB stick or 2. Dual channel really has very little impact on performance on an Athlon 64, so don't worry about whether you are running it or not.


A Radeon X800XL is a Radeon X800XL performance wise, but the different manufacturers differ in two things: The quality of the parts used to make the gpu(which could have a substantial effect on how long the card lasts), and the stuff the gpu comes with(maybe games, or video cables, or dvi-vga adaptors ect..).

Asus makes some pretty good ones, I would stay away from Gigabyte, since they make pos mainboards, I wouldn't trust them with my video card. Sapphire and ATI make the very best ones.
 
Ok thanks dguy and everyone who replied :cookie:

After reflecting on all of ur comments and suggestions. I am planning to get this configuation:

Thermaltake Xaser Tsunami Black Tower Case (2x120mm, 1x90mm fans)
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Processor
Zalman CNPS7700-Cu Copper Cooling
Asus A8N-E nF4 Motherboard
2*512MB · Corsair Value Select PC3200 DDR400 Kit
Asus EAX800XL/2DTV Radeon X800XL 256MB DDR PCI-E w/ VIVO, DVI Video Card
Enermax EG-495P-VE SFMA NoiseTaker PSU
Seagate 120GB (8MB Cache) Serial-ATA 150 Hard Disk

LG 52X CD-RW/16X DVD-ROM Combo Drive
D-Link 538TX 10/100 Mbps PCI Card (I need this for internet in my dorm right?)
+mouse
+monitor
+keyboard
+speaker

😀 Please tell me if this is good or not. Thanks
 
Looks cool, I'd get the AlCu over the Cu though.... heh, Cu's a bit heavy --> This is if you're sticking with Zalman. A better choice would be the XP-90 coupled with a panaflo L1A
 
Additionally dont get the Thermaltake case. It is all flash, and has enough fans to float; which actually to virtually nothing but make noise.

Look at the Coolermaster Wavemaster, Antec cases, Lian-Li.

FOr the CD/DVD drive, i would highly recommend the Pioneer 109 or the NEC 3540A. Both of which are ~$50. No reason to get anything else.

Do not get the network card. You dont need it. THe motherboard has onboard network that will be much better.

I love Asus boards, and Asus is always high quality and what not, but you might want to take a look at MSI and DFI's offerings. The DFI board has the Karajan audio module, which while sound quality is only marginally better, it uses MUCH MUCH less CPU than any other onbard solution (barring Soundstorm 🙂 )

-Kevin
 
Originally posted by: hugejazz
Ok thanks dguy and everyone who replied :cookie:

After reflecting on all of ur comments and suggestions. I am planning to get this configuation:

Thermaltake Xaser Tsunami Black Tower Case (2x120mm, 1x90mm fans)
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Processor
Zalman CNPS7700-Cu Copper Cooling
Asus A8N-E nF4 Motherboard
2*512MB · Corsair Value Select PC3200 DDR400 Kit
Asus EAX800XL/2DTV Radeon X800XL 256MB DDR PCI-E w/ VIVO, DVI Video Card
Enermax EG-495P-VE SFMA NoiseTaker PSU
Seagate 120GB (8MB Cache) Serial-ATA 150 Hard Disk

LG 52X CD-RW/16X DVD-ROM Combo Drive
D-Link 538TX 10/100 Mbps PCI Card (I need this for internet in my dorm right?)
+mouse
+monitor
+keyboard
+speaker

😀 Please tell me if this is good or not. Thanks
Click to expand...

Everything looks great except that case. It's ok, but I personally wouldn't get it. It's a tad flimsy and very flashy, I like solid, subtle cases. Look into Lian-Li, Antec, Coolermaster.

And I assume you already peripherals?
 
I think you're going a bit overboard with the copper heatsink, especially if you won't be overclocking. You don't need the Ethernet card, as a LAN controller is integrated onto the motherboard.
 
Oh, alright thanks. So Im not gonna get the network adapter.

Would a slight overclock be advisable on this rig?

And would this rig be diffcult to assemble? (Im tres new at this sort of thing)

Thanks for helping
 
Originally posted by: hugejazz
Oh, alright thanks. So Im not gonna get the network adapter.

Would a slight overclock be advisable on this rig?

And would this rig be diffcult to assemble? (Im tres new at this sort of thing)

Thanks for helping
Click to expand...

Yes, in fact a nice hearty overclock is possible on that rig. But not as much as some other rigs can provide...😛

Hmm, no I don't think it will be that bad. I'd advise you to get the Zalman 7700AlCu because the plain Cu version is much heavier and more expensive, and you won't really need the excessive cooling. The hardest part of piecing together a comp though is getting the hsf on properly, but I haven't really heard any horror stories of Zalman products. Just follow the instructions, make sure you use the backplate they give you, and follow through.

My first rig was assembled with the upsidedown mobo config that my case utilizes. Building the whole comp took about 5 hours. Bout five months later I got watercooling successfully setup. So it's not that hard. Just RTFM! 🙂

:thumbsup: Lots and lots of :beer: and good luck! Have fun!
 
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