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My new PC... is this a decent setup before I buy?

M

mcjimbo

Member
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3500+, 512K, L2 Cache, Socket 939 Windows Compatible 64-bit Processor - Retail
MOTHERBOARD: MSI "K8T NEO2-FIR" VIA K8T800 Pro Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL
MEMORY: Kingston 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - Retail x 2 (1 gig)
VIDEO: Sapphire ATI Radeon X800 SE Video Card, 256MB DDR, 256-Bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "102-A26126-00-AT" -OEM
HARD DRIVE: Western Digital 120GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model WD1200JD, OEM Drive Only
SOUND: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS PCI Sound Card, Model "SB0350" OEM
DVD: NEC 16X Double Layer DVD±RW Drive, Black, Model ND-3500A BK W/SW, OEM with software
CASE: Aspire X-Dreamer II(Black) ATX Mid-Tower Case with 350W Power Supply, With Window, Model "ATXB4KLW-BK/350"

Total cost is: $1,158.00 from newegg.com (without shipping)

I've compiled the above setup from reading articles for the last couple of months on Anantech, Tomshardware and Sharkyextreme. However this is a big purchase for me, so I want to get it right the first time. If there is any change you would recommend, and think its justified please tell me.

I want to use the machine for gaming (HL2), web development and mp3/dvd authoring. I guess I would classify it as a middle of the road rig.

Thanks in advance for your feedback and suggestions. I really appreciate them,

James



 
Are you planning on overclocking or keeping stuff at stock speeds?
 
Is overclocking still a viable option? Sorry i'm a little old school. My current PC is a Socket A Athlon 1ghz, ASUS Mobo with a 20gig Seagate 7200RPM Drive and a Matrox G450. So you can tell i'm a little out of touch.

My experience with overclocking this system wasn't the best. It would lock up, and anything more than 100mhz seemed to cause stability issues. So I guess my answer to you is, sure if viable/reliable?

Thanks and please guide me on the video card... i do not want to get stuck with a lemon... but I don't want to spend $500... I guess $250-$350 is my limit. But I definately want a 256mb card from what i've read... next gen games need this sort of memory?

Thanks again

James
 
Maybe I should of said.... here is $1200 build me a kick ass system? BTW Azzy64 what are the performance increase of 16 pipes vs 12? Have you noticed any increases in benchmarks?

Also Azzy which brand on the X800 pro cards should I buy for the upgrade in the article you mentioned? Powercolor, Asus, Connect3D? There is about $60 difference on new egg between some of the cards... is there really that bigger difference in performance btw them?


 
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ S939 90nm - $194

ThermalTake Silent Boost K8 - $30.99

Asus A8V Deluxe S939 - $133.99

PDP Dual Channel 1GB w/ XBL - $227.91

Leadtek GeForce 6800 GT - $385

Seagate 200GB 7200RPM 8MB PATA - $113.69

NEC ND3500A 16X DVDRW Silver - $74

Antec SLK3700AMB W/ 350W PSU - $69

$1228.58 Shipped + Tax

Overclocking with this setup should be extremely easy. Just make yourself familiar with the BIOS first. Then lower the HTT ratio to 4x or 3x, raise the HTT frequency steadily, and counter any system instability by increasing the Vcore slightly (no more than 1.65v to be safe). The RAM that I chose can run at very high frequencies, so you can just set the SPD to auto and not have to worry about RAM dividers keeping the memory in spec.
 
Originally posted by: mcjimbo
Maybe I should of said.... here is $1200 build me a kick ass system? BTW Azzy64 what are the performance increase of 16 pipes vs 12? Have you noticed any increases in benchmarks?

Also Azzy which brand on the X800 pro cards should I buy for the upgrade in the article you mentioned? Powercolor, Asus, Connect3D? There is about $60 difference on new egg between some of the cards... is there really that bigger difference in performance btw them?
Click to expand...

quite a big diff indeed. any brand really, as long it has VIVO.
 
Do yourself a huge huge favor and not use the aspire psu. Buy a good psu from makers like Antec, Seasonic, OCZ, Fortron, Enermax, etc. With a high end system like that, or any system, try not to skimp on the psu. If the psu blows up, your whole system goes with it ~ makes for a very angry and annoyed mcjimbo.
 
Originally posted by: Tiamat
Do yourself a huge huge favor and not use the aspire psu. Buy a good psu from makers like Antec, Seasonic, OCZ, Fortron, Enermax, etc. With a high end system like that, or any system, try not to skimp on the psu. If the psu blows up, your whole system goes with it ~ makes for a very angry and annoyed mcjimbo.
Click to expand...

I'll second that. When i moved to an Antec 480W PSU from my 380W generic crap, i solved all my system instability problems - no more random reboots. I am also able to reach a higher stable o/c as well now 😀
Defo worth getting a good, solid PSU. Good PSUs make for a stable system.

So, buy a case without a PSU and get a PSU seperately.
 
Thank's a lot everyone. It's really good to get some insight from people who know what they are up to! If anyone else has anything to chip in... let me know
http://forums.anandtech.com/i/...e-icon-small-smile.gif</a>" border="0">

James
 
Hi guys,

One more question. Most of the motherboards support RAID these days. Is there any performance advantage to running RAID on this type of system?

Thanks again

James
 
Here is the final spec i'm going to settle on I think, from all recommendations/pricings:

Cases (Computer Cases, ATX Form)
Aspire X-Dreamer II(Black) ATX Mid-Tower Case with 350W Power Supply, With Window, Model "ATXB4KLW-BK/350"
Item# N82E16811144026
$56.00

$56.00



CD/DVD Burners (RW Drives)
NEC 16X Double Layer DVD±RW Drive, Black, Model ND-3500A BK W/SW, OEM with software
Item# N82E16827152029
$68.00

$68.00



Hard Drives
Seagate 200GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model ST3200822AS, OEM Drive Only
Item# N82E16822148033
$115.00

$128.00



Memory (System Memory)
Kingston 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - Retail

Item# N82E16820141424
$78.00

$156.00



Motherboards - AMD
MSI "K8T NEO2-FIR" VIA K8T800 Pro Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL
Item# N82E16813130463
$117.50

$117.50



Processors
AMD Athlon 64 3500+, 512K, L2 Cache, Socket 939 Windows Compatible 64-bit Processor - Retail
Item# N82E16819103463
$267.00

$267.00



Sound Card
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS PCI Sound Card, Model "SB0350" OEM
Item# N82E16829102178
This item has a quantity limit of 1
$80.00

$80.00



Video Cards
Leadtek A400 GT 256MB Video Card -RETAIL (Nvidia Gforce 6800 GT)
$379.00

$379.00




Product total: $1,238.50
 
Originally posted by: mcjimbo
Hi guys,

One more question. Most of the motherboards support RAID these days. Is there any performance advantage to running RAID on this type of system?

Thanks again

James
Click to expand...


Well you can setup either a RAID-0 or RAID-1 array (these are most commonly supported by most mobos these days). RAID-1 is used simply to create a backup of all files to a second HDD and will offer no performance advantages (no increase in read performance as some people believe).

Advantages of a RAID-0 setup however is a topic of HOT debate. Advocates of RAID-0 swear it really improves their system performance and game load times etc, but many benches, including some put out a little while back by Anandtech, simply show this not to be the case.

I myself am inclined to agree that RAID-0 offers hardly any performance gains for the typical desktop system, although i have no personal experience. You may be tempted to have a go nonetheless, but just remember that by setting up a RAID-0 array across 2 HDDs, you are in effect doubling the chances of losing data and messing things up through HDD failure. This alone can be a good enough reason not to bother playing about with RAID-0.
 
Originally posted by: mcjimbo
Here is the final spec i'm going to settle on I think, from all recommendations/pricings:

Cases (Computer Cases, ATX Form)
Aspire X-Dreamer II(Black) ATX Mid-Tower Case with 350W Power Supply, With Window, Model "ATXB4KLW-BK/350"
Item# N82E16811144026
$56.00

$56.00



Processors
AMD Athlon 64 3500+, 512K, L2 Cache, Socket 939 Windows Compatible 64-bit Processor - Retail
Item# N82E16819103463
$267.00

$267.00
Click to expand...

I would definitely get a case without a PSU and buy a PSU seperately, unless you plan on getting another PSU anyway and disregarding the one that comes with your case. A good, solid PSU is a must these days for ensuring system stability. A decent PSU alone can cost more than a case that comes with a PSU >>> think that tells you something about the quality of the PSUs included with cases 🙂

Someone reccomended getting a 3200+ and o/c'ing as opposed to getting the 3500+. If you are planning to o/c, then getting the 3200+ may be the cheaper and better value for money alternative. If not, then i suppose the 3500+ is a good way to go.

 
You really should just follow jpeyton's suggestions and build that out as close as possible.
The 512 ram with a 3500+ is like putting cheap gas in a 350K sports car.

Lower the proc to a 3000+ or 3200+, overclock it to be better than a stock 3500+ in about 3 minutes.
If you have any probs then just ask here and you'll likely get it resolved asap and have a system that doesn't lag and you can feel proud of.
You will undoubtedly find someone who bought an alienware or ibuypower and will own their 2000$+ systems with a 1300$ system you built your and configured yourself.
 
whats the diff what he gets in cpu? I own a 3500 whinchester and so doesnt that mean i can overclock that to be be like a 3800?
 
Originally posted by: CaMSpoon
whats the diff what he gets in cpu? I own a 3500 whinchester and so doesnt that mean i can overclock that to be be like a 3800?
Click to expand...


Good question - anyone know?
 
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