New AMD System Build-Need some Suggestions

Herse

Member
Jul 2, 2000
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Hello Fellow ATers:

I am putting together a new system on the quick. I was planning to wait a little bit and maybe get the ASUS A8N-32SLI and Corsair 3500LL, but I have a home office PC that is dying and needs replacement right away. So I get an early Christmas present. :D

PC will be used for gaming, office apps, photo editing, lots of multi-tasking. After a while I may do some overclocking (on air). EDIT: Though I won't overclock to start I may do some lgiht OCing down the road. I currently have a P4 2.8 overclocked only to 3.1. Retail HSF.
Unlikely to go SLI, but the option is good to have.

I'm thinking about:

AMD X2 4400+
A8N-SLI Deluxe or Premium
2GB (2x1GB) RAM: Corsair 3200cspt or maybe OCZ 3200 Platinum
eVGA 7800 GTX 256 MB
WD Raptor
A 200-300GB SATA Drive
Antec P180 Performance Mid-Tower
NEC 3550A DVD-/+RW Drive
Audigy 2 ZS
Antec Neopower 480
Windows XP

1. I know about the Opterons but I am in a hurry and it looks like you ATers bought them all up anyway.
2. A8N-SLI or Premium? Price negligible. Which is better? I'm open to perhaps a DFI.
3. I open to suggestions for RAM but I am partial to Corsair. Never used OCZ but have heard great things about them. Should I go for greater than 3200 with looser timings.
4. I was waiting for the Seagate 7200.9s to come out and go down in price a bit, but now my hand is forced. I thought I'd just pick up a Raptor for an OS drive and another larger drive for games/apps. SATA 3GB is preferable. I have despaired of trying to figure out which brand is "reliable" so I have a solid backup system. I guess I should go for speed here.
5. I already have the Audigy ZS, but I may pick up an X-Fi instead.
6. I like the Antec P180 a lot.
7. I need a very good power supply. I was thinking about the Antec NeoHEs but now that they are out there are some issues especially with ASUS A8Ns. Even though some claim the problem has been resolved with newer MB revisions. I just don't even want to take the chance. PC Power and Cooling is too much. Looking to spend about $100-$140 or so. Remember that I need long cables to work with the P180 and I won't buy a PS until I know it fits. Suggestions are very welcome here. Seasonics? EDIT: Enermax Liberty's look nice.
8. Heatsink and fan?
9. Any other suggestions?

Thanks a lot for your time. I appreciate all your good advice.

Herse
 

wanderer27

Platinum Member
Aug 6, 2005
2,173
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2. How much OC'ing ? If alot go with DFI, otherwise I'd get the Premium.
3. Really depends on how much you're looking to OC. If a fair amount, I'd look at some higher speed RAM.
4. I've had good luck with Maxtor, and the Drive I have now is fast and quiet, plus it has 16MB Cache vs the 8MB just about everyone else has.
7. Yeah, I think the Neo cables may be a stretch in that Case. I paid like $75 for my PSU and I'm extremely pleased with it. It's stable and I can't hear any of the fans on the thing. It even stays running for a few minutes after you shut down your Computer to vent the heat in your Computer - still can't here the fans running. There are of course larger versions available as well.
8. The stock cooler is pretty good. If you're looking for higher OC's the Zalmon 9500 is supposed to be incredible.
 

Herse

Member
Jul 2, 2000
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Thanks for your comments wanderer.

At first I don't think I will do any overclocking. Maybe after a while I will try some but I don't think I will do a lot. So, overclocking isn't really a priority. I'll clarify this is in the original post.

What PSU did you get?

Herse
 

ribbon13

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2005
9,343
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1. The 165s dissappeared fast, but luckily, people are cheap. The higher models (170,175,180) are still available. Get an Opteron 170
2. A8N32-SLI is the only good Asus board out. It's also the best 939 board out. If you can't wait to afford it/wait for stock, don't go Asus at all.
3. This appears high-end, therefore you should go for a pair of these and run them at 128-bit DDR333 1.5-2-2-7-1T. Otherwise just get the cheapest 1GB CAS2.5 DDR400 DIMMs you can find.
4. These WD4000YRs make one vorpal raid setup, and are awesome even on thier own
5. If you have to cut yourself short on other parts that would be useful for multitasking, why buy another sound card? Is the ZS2 insufficient for you in any way?
6. I like the Gigabyte Aurora myself.
7. I've heard of a few people running Antec P180 + Seasonic S12 PSUs.
8. Stock
 

wanderer27

Platinum Member
Aug 6, 2005
2,173
15
81
I got the Enermax Noisetaker EG495P-VE.

It's the first Enermax I've had. I pretty much used Antec before that.

I have complaints with Antec, it's just the quietness and Post shutdown venting of the Enermax that I really like.

 

Herse

Member
Jul 2, 2000
31
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Originally posted by: ribbon13
1. The 165s dissappeared fast, but luckily, people are cheap. The higher models (170,175,180) are still available. Get an Opteron 170
2. A8N32-SLI is the only good Asus board out. It's also the best 939 board out. If you can't wait to afford it/wait for stock, don't go Asus at all.
3. This appears high-end, therefore you should go for a pair of these and run them at 128-bit DDR333 1.5-2-2-7-1T. Otherwise just get the cheapest 1GB CAS2.5 DDR400 DIMMs you can find.
4. These WD4000YRs make one vorpal raid setup, and are awesome even on thier own
5. If you have to cut yourself short on other parts that would be useful for multitasking, why buy another sound card? Is the ZS2 insufficient for you in any way?
6. I like the Gigabyte Aurora myself.
7. I've heard of a few people running Antec P180 + Seasonic S12 PSUs.
8. Stock

1. OK ribbon13, you make a good point about the Opterons and after looking at some of the other threads about Opterons and X2s, including your replies, I think that I am convinced and will probably get a 170.
2. Any motherboard suggestions? I am not sure I can wait for A8N32 and the price premium is a bit steep even if you can find them. Maybe I can though if it is really worth it.
3 and 4. That RAM and HD is sweet.
5. I'll probably skip the X-fi for now. I love sound in games though, so maybe I'll get one later when I can find a deal.
6. That is a pretty cool looking case.
7. Thanks for the info about Seasonic S12.
8. Stock sounds good.

If I go with an Opteron that really means that I should overclock more. Does DFI make more sense?

Thanks for your comments. You've got quite a rig in your sig.

Herse
 

Herse

Member
Jul 2, 2000
31
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Originally posted by: wanderer27
I got the Enermax Noisetaker EG495P-VE.

It's the first Enermax I've had. I pretty much used Antec before that.

I have complaints with Antec, it's just the quietness and Post shutdown venting of the Enermax that I really like.

Looks like a good PSU. As I added in my original post, the Enermax Liberty's look nice too.

Herse
 

orangat

Golden Member
Jun 7, 2004
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Stick with the ZS, the x-fi is overrated. The dacs may have improved just a little but the entire x-fi line except for the elitepro still uses the same old opamps as the A2 series.