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Need some adice on a setup I'm buying...

EQTitan

Diamond Member
Case : Maxtop new
Fans : 92mm side, 92mm top fan, plus another 80mm front fan
PS : Linkworld 430W 3-fan PSU
Motherboard : MSI PT880
CPU : P4 2.8 - 800mhz FSB w/ HT (Northwood) .13 micron, 512k cache
Memory : GEIL 1Gb (2x512) PC3200 DDR400 2.5-3-3-6
HDD : WD 160 Gb 7200rpm (8mb) SATA converter
Drives : Pioneer (DVD-106S2)
Sound : SB Live! w/ digital output daughterboard
Goo : Generic thermal splooge..

$650 shipped for the above everything is under warranty...

Still need DVDRW and Video....any recommendations? I have about $300 left...

Thanks in advance
 
I woulden't get that case. I'd get a nice Antec for about the same price. Better looking imo and it'll come with a really nice PSU. No need for a SATA converter on that hard drive.. just use IDE. Everything else looks ok. For DVD RW get the NEC 2510A Bext buy out there atm. What are you llooking to do with this box? can't recommend video until I know that.
 
The rig you've configured is quite frankly, pretty crappy. Will post back with a better config in a sec.
 
Going to be used for High frame rate gaming and online gaming mostly UT2k4, Tribes2, Worlds of warcraft beta, and EQ2.

I ca buy the NEC 2500 and flash it to 2510a....Which antec do you recommend and what PS if not included.....
 
For high framerate gaming you're gonna need to spend at least $300 on a video card alone. Here's what i'd do: Ditch the extra DVDrom drive you've got on there and just use your burner. About the burner, I'd buy the actual 2510A if it was me just to be sure you get full functionality, but if you want flashing a 2500 will work. I would pick up This video card. As for a nice antec case This orThis would do nicley. The PSUs in thise are very nice. Your soundcard sucks too. If you're gaming get the audigy 2 ZS. To be honest if it was me I'd ditch the mobo and cpu you've got picked out and get an A642800+ and a nice mobo.
 
^agreed.

Good video Card is going to be #1, #2 should be an athlon64 S754 2800+ CPU is probably best bang/buck at the moment IMO.
 
Intel P4 2.8C - $175

Asus P4P800 SE - $95

Hitachi 160GB SATA - $98

Geil 1024MB PC3200 - $166

NEC 8X DVD +/- RW - $67.99

PNY GeForce 6800 - $255.25

Chaintech 7.1 Channel Envy24HT-S Sound Card - $24

Antec SLK-2650 BQE w/ PSU - $79

Total: $960.24

OR

Sub-out the Intel CPU/Asus Mobo for the following:

AMD Athlon 64 2800+ w/ Chaintech SK8T800 - $223

and the total would be $913.24.

If you don't need a video card:

Remove the 6800 and add a Samsung Combo-Drive for $43.99. The total would be $701.98 using your current 9800Pro.

Also, browse SVC for your CPU heatsink, case fans, round cables, thermal compound etc. They are always cheaper than Newegg. I would suggest a Thermalright or Zalman heatsink, Panaflo case fans, and Arctic Silver Ceramique for the thermal compound.
 
Wait a sec let's try this again. I have a total of exactly $915 total (can't go over that) for this rig, I can use the 9800 pro. I don't need to spend $332.00 for the 6800. With this in mind please continue...
 
Originally posted by: EQTitan
Wait a sec let's try this again. I have a total of exactly $915 total (can't go over that) for this rig, I can use the 9800 pro. I don't need to spend $332.00 for the 6800. With this in mind please continue...


you kinda needed to tell is about that 9800 pro if you want us to include it.... :roll:

Hang on I guess i'll put a config together.
 
Originally posted by: EQTitan
Wait a sec let's try this again. I have a total of exactly $915 total (can't go over that) for this rig, I can use the 9800 pro. I don't need to spend $332.00 for the 6800. With this in mind please continue...

Read my updated post; comes out to just under $915 with the A64 2800+ option.
 
Jpeyton whats the advantages disadvantages to using the 6800 non uber for the 9800 Pro (possible r360)?
 
Originally posted by: EQTitan
Jpeyton whats the advantages disadvantages to using the 6800 non uber for the 9800 Pro (possible r360)?

If you have a 9800Pro, getting a 6800 would be too small of an incremental upgrade and I'd recommend against it. If you have the funds for a 6800GT, I WOULD recommend upgrading because most GT's can overclock to Ultra spec, and that is a BIG upgrade from a 9800Pro.

If you can sell your 9800Pro and get a decent amount of cash for it, maybe you could pick up a GT? GT's are around $335, and would come in handy when Doom 3 is out a few weeks from now.
 
Originally posted by: DarkAmeba
Antec SLK2650-BQE w/ 350watt psu
NEC 2510A
WD 160gb IDE hdd
1gb Corsair XMS pc3200
MSI KN8 Neo Platinum
Athlon 64 2800+
Audigy 2 ZS

Total: 881.98

This is how I'd spend that money.

If you wanna spend a bit more you can up the cpu to a 3000+

If you want to spend less you can get some cheaper RAM. XMS might be an overkill, but I have had super good luck with mine and would recommend it to anyone.

Ok, I'm not sure if I wrote it out wrong or not so here goes, I have $915 total to spend and I have no parts at all this is a new build, no video card, not really in need of a good sound card if it comes onboard. Why is the Pc that started this topic "crappy". Thanks all your being a big help for me...
 
I thought you had a 9800 pro???????

Your previous solutiuon isn't crappy except for the soundcard and case/psu. Athlon 64, however, is much cheaper and will perform as well as or better than the P4 setup you lsited, so it is a waste of money. If you DON't have a 9800pro after all, drop the Corsair XMS from my setup, get some ValueRAM, and buy a 6800GT.
 
Originally posted by: DarkAmeba
Antec SLK2650-BQE w/ 350watt psu
NEC 2510A
WD 160gb IDE hdd
1gb Corsair XMS pc3200
MSI KN8 Neo Platinum
Athlon 64 2800+
Audigy 2 ZS

Total: 881.98

This is how I'd spend that money.

If you wanna spend a bit more you can up the cpu to a 3000+

If you want to spend less you can get some cheaper RAM. XMS might be an overkill, but I have had super good luck with mine and would recommend it to anyone.

Take out the Audigy 2 ZS, get an 80GB HD, and pick up the 9800 Pro. That should come close to your price.
 
We're just trying to suggest configurations that will give you a better value for your money. We know this from experience as builders. If you want to keep your original configuration, it's no skin off our backs.

Try this one:

AMD Athlon 64 2800+ w/ Chaintech SK8T800 - $223

Hitachi 160GB SATA - $98

Geil 1024MB PC3200 - $166

NEC 8X DVD +/- RW - $67.99

PNY GeForce 6800 - $255.25

Antec SLK-2650 BQE w/ PSU - $79

Arctic Silver Ceramique - $3.99

SATA Cable - $1.99

IDE Round Cable - $2.30

TOTAL: $897.52

Well within your budget, and a fantastic system for gaming at stock speeds. Even better if you overclock your CPU and/or video card.

Things you could change:

1)Start out with only one stick of 512MB RAM. It'll save you $83 dollars, and you can always upgrade later. The difference from 256 -> 512 is easily noticeable, but the difference between 512 -> 1024 is much smaller for most tasks.
2)If you absolutely prefer Intel, you could get the P4 2.8C and Asus P4P 800SE. But keep in mind that the 2800+ combo for $223 is the absolute best value for your money.

Things I would NOT change:
1)The 6800 is the best video card for your money right now. If given the choice between a 9800Pro for $200 and a 6800 for $255, I would go sell my plasma or semen to make the extra $55.
2)The Hitachi hard drive is a proven performer and value.
3)The Antec case and power supply are arguably the best combination on the market for the money.
4)The NEC 8X DVD writer is also the best value for the money. If you must go for a dual-layer drive, get the NEC 2510 for an extra $10.
 
Ok, i see what you mean by value vs. cost. I used to have a AMD64 3200+, on a Gigabyte 8VT800 Titan....with 1gb of offbrand...only PC2700 not PC3200.

As for the 120Gb HT, I think I''ll drop it and go for the $30 cheaper 80Gb SATA, and add the dvd rom. The ram I was wondering if the Consair would be ok to use it's only $4 more total, not sure if the timings are better....
 
Originally posted by: EQTitan
Ok, i see what you mean by value vs. cost. I used to have a AMD64 3200+, on a Gigabyte 8VT800 Titan....with 1gb of offbrand...only PC2700 not PC3200.

As for the 120Gb HT, I think I''ll drop it and go for the $30 cheaper 80Gb SATA, and add the dvd rom. The ram I was wondering if the Consair would be ok to use it's only $4 more total, not sure if the timings are better....

Corsair is a good brand; an extra $3 won't hurt for the reliability/service that comes with the name. BTW, I would suggest not getting the Pioneer slot-load DVD-ROM. Samsung tray load drives are quieter and more reliable. The Pioneer slot-load DVD-ROM I bought quickly became noisy and the slot-load mechanism was "rough".

Saving $30 by getting the 80GB vs 160GB is a unfortunate choice; you're paying 30% more per gigabyte of disk space by getting the cheaper one.
 
The Chaintech board above comes in the combo for the lower price. Otherwise, if you want a better overclocking board, look at the Chaintech VNF3-250; goes for around $81 shipped at ZipZoomFly.com.
 
Whats the price difference sorry, i'm multi-tasking like 10 thing atm looking up shipping info on a package that need to go out today....
 
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