My First System Build - Advice Please

[Kootenay]

OK - All you guru's. Looking for help / advice / tips on installation, setup, configuration, etc.....
Did my research hope I've picked a great mix of components.
This is my first time building a system.

Early questions are;
1. Which MB raid setup should I use with the 2 X Raptors the NVidia or the Silicon Image Raid. Both are MB present. I want to setup a Raid 0 configuration for pure speed.
Then - what is the best install config. for Windows XP - just install it to the Raid 0 or set it up on one drive only? Looking for best performance for 1. applications, 2. DVD Video rip / burning, 3. Games.
Later I'll get a whopper SATA 300GB+ drive for data storage.

2. The CM stacker case I have 2 X 110 case fans, 1 X 80 top case fan, & cross flow fan, plus the Zalman has the huge 100 CPU fan. The case fans are all ATX power plugs - so how can I set things up to take advantage of the MB "Cool n Quiet" technology. MB has three small 3 pin CH fan plugs, one will be for the Zalman CPU fan.

3. Also thinking of installing XP 64Bit RC1 - but concerned about the lack of drivers available.

Appreciate any and all tips to setup, config. my new "toy"


Components;
Coolermaster CM Stacker Case
Enermax EG701AX-VE SFNA 600W PSU
Asus A8N SLI-Deluxe MB
AMD 64 FX55 CPU
Zalman CNPS7700 AlCu Fan
Corsair TWINX 1024-3200XL (2X512)
LeadTek Winfast PX6600GT 128M PCI-E
WD Raptor 74GB X 2
NEC ND-3520A DVD

Thanks !!

 

[KayKay]

good choice going with the stacker, that is a beast of a case.

some comments:

regarding the fans, unless the fans have an RPM line coming out of them, even if you purchase a 4pin molex to 3 pin fan header adapter, it won't be able to be controlled. So check if you have the RPM line coming out of the fans.

Wait until Win XP 64 has settled in, no point in going to it yet.

Also: 6600GT on your rig? are you going to game? because a better card is recommended, esp. for this machine

 

[Sqube]

Dear Lord, that's gonna be a lovely system.

My immediate and first thought, however, was to take some off the money you were going to use on the FX-55 and get a better video card. Otherwise, that 6600GT is gonna be a total bottleneck on the rest of your system.

Better to have your whole system on the same page with a slower proc than have the proc just sitting there most of the time because it can't get a steady stream of numbers to crunch. This is, of course, assuming you're working with a budget. If not, keep the FX-55, but still get a better video card.

Just my $0.02 though, and worth exactly what you paid for it.

 

[bob4432]

personally i wouldn't waste the money on the 2xraptors. read the anandtech article regarding raids and you will see why. buy one 74gb raptor and with the other money get the huge 300GB extra drive. also note that most of the current generation sata drives (except the raptors) are not really different than their pata counterparts, so if you can save a few bucks or two do it because since you will now be building your own rig, you will probably change stuff faster. remeber that in a matter of months, sometimes weeks prices drop considerably.

why are you going with the fx55 chip? isn't that like $900+ or am i wrong here. dropping this much on a chip is, imo, ridiculous.

don't go with xp 64 bit, wait until it is mainstream and has a lot of support.

 

[johnnyjay]

I agree with Sqube, get a better video card. Also you might as well get the all copper zalman if you're going to be spending that much money on a system.

 

[devilfish]

FX-55 = 995 bones... *OUCH*

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-492&depa=0

get an XP 3500 for like 250 and a better vid card... not like u haven't heard that already... but there ya go...

 

[bob4432]

read this report about the fx55 and look at the benches, the fx55 is faster than all other almost all the time but look at the actual numbers, they are not that much different. get a different chip and a better video card......

what applications? dvd ripping is usually based on the speed of your optical drive and burning is based on the burning drive. games - get a better video card!!!

 

[Kootenay]

Guys - The hardware is already in the basement.
Chose the 600GT card based on reviews - seems like a strong middle of the road card, figured I would wait awhile for the 68oo stuff to come down in price, plus my gaming is really limited 5% of time spent, that may or may not change over time.
After I'm up and running I want to pickup a good HD / PVR card

Picked the FX55 more for future proofing + wanted to learn / fiddle with overclocking.

As for the Raptors - What can I say, two of those in Raid 0 seem like a good performance choice for speed.

Thanks for comments so far .....

 

[bob4432]

if you already bought the stuff then why ask now? if you wanted to fiddle with o/c get a p4 "c" model or an xp-m, they o/c very well and easy and are cheap, don't try to learn how to o/c on a $1000 cpu. as far as future proofing, there is no such thing in the computer world. most of the regulars around here build new machines every year or so, that is why i stressed to get different cpu, man you should have asked us for assistance earlier....

 

[KayKay]

Originally posted by: Kootenay
Guys - The hardware is already in the basement.
Chose the 600GT card based on reviews - seems like a strong middle of the road card, figured I would wait awhile for the 68oo stuff to come down in price, plus my gaming is really limited 5% of time spent, that may or may not change over time.
After I'm up and running I want to pickup a good HD / PVR card

Picked the FX55 more for future proofing + wanted to learn / fiddle with overclocking.

As for the Raptors - What can I say, two of those in Raid 0 seem like a good performance choice for speed.

Thanks for comments so far .....

ahh i see. ok, check my comments about the fans above.

 

[Sqube]

+1 on the craziness of learning to overclock on a $1,000 processor.

 

[nick1985]

seems like a rig that could have been made for about $1200 less and 98% as fast

 

[callmesteve]

Originally posted by: nick1985
seems like a rig that could have been made for about $1200 less and 98% as fast

He speaks the truth, what can I say

Should have went with better VDO card. Full copper Zalman for the extra $5 would have done you well.

The case though... that really is a monster case. Saw it for the first time, thanks for introducing me to your baby

 

[Kootenay]

Man, You guys are ruthless.

Looking like the only decent choice was the case.

Anybody got anything positive to add?

 

[bob4432]

the rest looks good (in my opinion only i wouldn't have done the 2xraptors, but that is just me), good choice on the board but the chip is the real issue, it is so expensive. we are not ruthless, but truthful. you asked for advice and we are giving it to you

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: Kootenay

As for the Raptors - What can I say, two of those in Raid 0 seem like a good performance choice for speed.

Text

"If you haven't gotten the hint by now, we'll spell it out for you: there is no place, and no need for a RAID-0 array on a desktop computer. The real world performance increases are negligible at best and the reduction in reliability, thanks to a halving of the mean time between failure, makes RAID-0 far from worth it on the desktop." --Anandtech


and only a 6600GT? thats like a corvette with a 4 cylinder engine.

lets see...

you could have saved: (from newegg)

$800 on a CPU (3200 and overclock it to 2.6Ghz)
$200 on RAM (regular value RAM, with only a couple percent performance difference)
$250 on Hard Drives (regular 120gig SATA or something)

with the money saved you could have EASILY gotten two 6800Ultras in SLI mode. This would easily kick the living sh!t out of the computer that you instead ordered. man...i could make 2 computers that perform better, plus have money to save for the price you spent on this one

 

[Kootenay]

Read the Raid article - looks like Raid 1 is the logical choiceat this point.
Realize I've now lost 1/2 my storage.

I'll be looking for the big 300gb+ storage drive sooner than later.

 

[imported_NoGodForMe]

People will always tell you to buy the lower chip and OC it to save money.
Yes, some can get lucky and OC a 3200+ up to 2.7, but it's not guaranteed. You are starting at 2.6 to being with, and will most likely hit 3.0.
There's nothing wrong with the stuff you bought. The only thing is the Asus A8N-SLI hits a roadblock at 245mz in the OC department. 245 x 13 = 3185, which is way up there if you have the proper cooling. If you can live with this limit, fine. If you think you'll want to try for an extreme OC, then you need to go with the DFI Lanparty SLI-DR or Ultra-D.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: NoGodForMe
People will always tell you to buy the lower chip and OC it to save money.
Yes, some can get lucky and OC a 3200+ up to 2.7, but it's not guaranteed. You are starting at 2.6 to being with, and will most likely hit 3.0.

and thats worth $800?

hell, id rather buy 3 3200's and hope 1 hits 2.7 before i would buy 1 FX-55. 3 would still be cheaper.

btw, 3200's regularly hit at LEAST 2.5. my 3000 even hit 2.7

 

[Gunnman]

Hey guys,

Something on RAID!!

RAID-0 with 2 drives on a crappy motherboard controller with no cache memory is a waste. I agree.

You need more than 2 spindles to get a real advantage and a controller with some cache onboard to cache the RAID.

For SATA you need a 3ware or raidcore controller and 4 drives in RAID-0 will rule.

I have an Adaptec U320 2200S (512M Cache) Dual Channel RAID with 4xU320 drives at 15Krpm 16M cache in a RAID-0

Why is RAID-0 better? I'll tell you. With a good controller RAID-0 rules ass because it does not have to sync any mirrors, hince the increase in speed going from RAID-5 (who cares if it is slightly cached, no speed gain and RAID-5 does perity checking which slows her down.) Bench it yourself and you will see the same.

RAID-0 rules for the enthusiests out there. If your poor? Your SOL


My HDD solution was $1600.00

Also this business about the FX-55, I love mine! It blows all of my friends 64 3200+ away!!

Far away!

Alot of people tend to not have the $$$ to throw down and are extreamly proud of what they could afford so they tend to knock everything else.

If money is no object, go for the FX-55 it rules ass!!!

Check out my rig! Paid roughly $7000.00

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: NoGodForMe
People will always tell you to buy the lower chip and OC it to save money.
Yes, some can get lucky and OC a 3200+ up to 2.7, but it's not guaranteed. You are starting at 2.6 to being with, and will most likely hit 3.0.
There's nothing wrong with the stuff you bought. The only thing is the Asus A8N-SLI hits a roadblock at 245mz in the OC department. 245 x 13 = 3185, which is way up there if you have the proper cooling. If you can live with this limit, fine. If you think you'll want to try for an extreme OC, then you need to go with the DFI Lanparty SLI-DR or Ultra-D.

$900 for any chip is way to expensive, hell he could have done a dual opteron setup for that money with a agp 6800ultra and kicked @$$ and still have spent less. and to learn ot o/c on a $900 cpu is crazy, it is like learning to fly a plane in a f16, dumb idea.

 

[bob4432]

Kootenay - please ask for advice before you drop the $$$, is there any way you could return the cpu and get a different one?

 

[TheOasis]

what a fool, he buys everything then asks for advice.

sheesh, i hope he fries his FX-55 trying to overclock or one of his raptors fails and he loses all of his data. that would make my day

 

[Ike0069]

Originally posted by: TheOasis
what a fool, he buys everything then asks for advice.

sheesh, i hope he fries his FX-55 trying to overclock or one of his raptors fails and he loses all of his data. that would make my day

Don't be an ass. :disgust:

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: TheOasis
what a fool, he buys everything then asks for advice.

sheesh, i hope he fries his FX-55 trying to overclock or one of his raptors fails and he loses all of his data. that would make my day

come on man, chill out