Need Help W/New System Setup

[RationalThoughts]

I've been out of the loop for three years and am looking to build a new system was looking at the new ASUS SLI board for the Athlon. Any input would be great. Thank you

 

[WA261]

If you want cheap.... A64 3200 CPU and oc it. My work rig runs one at 2.6 on air no problem. You may be able to keep your mem and just run a divider. PSU is also fine. I would also go with the K8N-Neo, great board to oc with, and cheap. Vid card...well, you could get away with a 6600GT (again cheap, and something else I run in my work rig) and can play anything I want...not maxed, but to where it looks very good and great FPS. But you saying SLI...do you plan on going SLI? If so, go with the DFI Ultra D, great board to oc with. If going SLI I would think about a new PSU and prob some 6800s. But that is just pushing the cost. With what I have mentioned above you will have a great rig for cheap.

I would look for all of this stuff used and save even more. =)

Just some cheap options.

 

[MarkLuvsCS]

AMD x2 3800+ ($300)
DFI Ultra-SLI ($150)
2GB cheap memory (can use dividers for overclocking) ($150)
7900GT (1 now, buy one in a yr for less then half the price) ($300)
36/74 Raptor for Boot drive ($70/150)
250-320 GB SATA for Storage ($100-120ish)
PSU - Antec/Enermax 550W PSU ($80-100)

*edit for my stupidity*

 

[RationalThoughts]

I'm looking to keep this old system and give to someone. I will be building a fresh new system entirely. What's this raptor boot drive for? Also what are the dividers?

 

[WA261]

Yes, nice option, but quite a bit of $. I was going cheap and fast.

 

[MarkLuvsCS]

The raptor drive has super quick seek times so boot times and load up will be fast. Also it helps having a drive seperate for your OS so in case stuff happens, you can just format and start fresh (same can be done if you partition the drive).

Memory dividers are used so when you boost the FSB (or HTT on a64 platform) u can have ur memory run slower then the speed of the FSB. Helps a lot because u can keep the memory running at stock speed, but overclock your CPU 500mhz. The speedboost from overclocking the CPU will be quite noticable.

 

[996GT2]

I don't think the Raptor is worth it for a few seconds off the boot time and load times. Not unless you're really impatient and have $$$$$$$$$$ to burn.

This config by MarkLuvsCS is pretty nice:

AMD x2 3800+ ($300)
DFI Ultra-SLI ($150)
2GB cheap memory (can use dividers for overclocking) ($150)
7900GT (1 now, buy one in a yr for less then half the price) ($300)
36/74 Raptor for Boot drive ($70/150)
250-320 GB SATA for Storage ($100-120ish)
PSU - Antec/Enermax 550W PSU ($80-100)

I have a few suggestions on this tho:
-Ditch that PSU and get a Fortron 450W instead-$50 bucks and more than enough for your config
-You don't need SLi. When you upgrade and get an other 7900 It will probably be outdated anyways. Besides, one 7900GT is already overkill for most people.
Get a DFI Lanparty Ultra-D mobo instead. It is not a "SLI certified mobo", but it is essentially the same mobo as the SLI-DR, and if you search on anandtech you will find a very simple mod to change it to SLi, as it has two PCIe X16 slots. This mod involves painting 2 things over with conductive paint, and the resulting performance is the same as the SLI-DR, because the 2 mobos are essentially the same

If you want to save a bit more $$, get the EPoX 9nPA+ Ultra. It OCs very well and is an overall great mobo.

-You don't need the Raptor...save the $$$

K that's about it I think...Unless you have a specific budget or specific requirements??

 

[TecHNooB]

Budget Budget Budget

 

[LOUISSSSS]

wtf is a dfi ultra sli lol

 

[996GT2]

I think he meant DFI LanParty SLi-DR.
You can technically have a "DFI Ultra-SLi" tho. Just perform the SLi mod on your Ultra-D to make it an SLi-DR, and then you can call it an Ultra-SLi

 

[RationalThoughts]

Thank you for all of the feedback so far. I will have to check these other boards out since I haven't yet. I don't plan on going SLI right out the gate, just the option available for later use. Now who makes the raptor, I'm assuming everyone makes these drives? I've heard nothing about memory yet which to me is normally the most important overlooked part in the past. Anyone?

 

[996GT2]

Western Digital makes Raptors-nobody else makes them

As for RAM just get some valueRAM from Corsair, OCZ, G.Skill, etc. Don't go Corsair with a DFI mobo tho. If you OC the type of RAM isnt too important, unless you're pushing over 3 GHz, then you want some OCZ Platinum or something like that.