My new P4 system is on the way!

[bocamojo]

I can't wait to get my "hard"ware

I've already got an aluminum skyhawk case w/ Antec 350w PSU, an IBM 40GB 7200RPM drive, 256MB Crucial DDR 2100, Lite-On 24x10x40x CD-RW, SB Live! sound card and 17in Envision flatscreen monitor, and I just ordered the following hardware to finish building my new P4 sys:

P4 1.6A Northwood - Newegg - 138 + 6.95 shipping
Alpha PAL8942 w/ ADDA (31.4CFM/28.3dBA) combo HSF - Pham Computer - 48.00 + 4.00 shipping
Asus P4B266-C mobo - MWave - 115.00 + 8.74 shipping
ATI Radeon 8500 64MB DDR (Retail 275/275) - Nova Computech, Inc. - 149.00 + 6.64 shipping
NewQ Platinum 3379 4 Channel Enhancer / EQ, Surround, DSP, FM Radio & Remote - Newegg - 86.00 + 6.00 shipping
Arctic Silver 3 Thermal Paste (3 gram) - 6.00 + 6.00 shipping
Case Badges (3) - Directron - 10.97 + 4.94 shipping

Gonna OC this baby to 2.4 GHz! Can't wait!!!

 

[KenAF]

Looks good.

I might have saved a few bucks and ordered the items from one place tho...

 

[JellyBaby]

Looks dandy. What component are you most excited about? That "NewQ Platinum 3379 4 Channel Enhancer" looks funky.

 

[bocamojo]

KenAF,
Yeah, I tried. I really like NewEgg, so I tried mostly to find stuff there... They had the proc, the NewQ, and the ASUS mobo listed, but were sold out of the mobo... So rather than wait, I ordered it from MWave for about 1.50 more total (worth it, considering I don't have to wait for another shipment to come in). As far as the Radeon, I couldn't find another deal even close, so... and the Alpha 8942 was hard to find, so you don't have too many vendors to choose from there. It's really hard to get all your stuff in one place, if you want to get the best prices... But I do try to stick with vendors I trust, when it's reasonably close (NewEgg and MWave being 2 such vendors).


JellyBaby,
Of all the components, I'd have to say I'm most excited about OC'ing the P4 Northwood. It's just unfathomable that you can pick this thing up for 138, and OC it beyond a 2.2GHz Northwood, which costs around 400 dollars more! I love technology! Also, I must say, I look forward to having some RAW video power (8500) at such a reasonable cost. Many 8500 owners have reported increasingly better drivers recently (the recent beta ones), so this seems like a good time to pick up this card. Sure, the nVidia cards have better drivers, but you sure as heck pay for it...

P.S. I love my AMD 1.33TB rig, but I've been itching to pickup this 1.6A Northwood. I really look for the best price/performance in all the components I shop for (that's why I have an AMD rig in the first place), and I have to hand it to Intel with this 1.6A Northwood, this baby is awesome for the price!

 

[JellyBaby]

bocamojo, sounds good. I'm waiting for the GF4s before pulling the trigger on something similar. Mwave had the PNY 4400 listed at $260 (no stock though) and now I see it's up to $273 so perhaps these cards won't be as "cheap" as I originally thought. I'll pay up to $300 since I upgrade video cards every 1.5-2 years.

The Radeon's drivers due look improved and the 8500 performs well for the price. New games may bring new issues but hopefully those fiesty Canadians will update their drivers quickly this time around. No reason they can't.

 

[bocamojo]

JB, Yeah, I considered the GF4 route, but I think I'll wait til' the GF4 Ti 4600 comes out, and drops below 300 bones... Until then, I'll be more than happy with the 8500. I have 5 machines setup, so when I upgrade a component like the vid card, I just pass it down the line, to the next most powerful system in my house...

 

[EdipisReks]

i am goin to order a 1.6a and mobo this coming tuesday! yeah, i love my athlon, but i can't wait to have a quiet computer. i'm cheap, though, and i'm going to get the gigabyte GA-8SRX (which seems to be a nice board with lots and lots of overclocking options). you have a nice setup, bocamojo. does anyone know if the avc sunflowers are already in retail boxes? the pics in the firingsquad.com soyo dragon review showed an avc sunflower with an intel sticker on the fan. if i got a sunflower with my 1.6a it would probably keep me from going out and spending cash on the PAL8942 (at least for a while).

--jacob