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New build for additional computer.

S

Sirfelixcat2

Member
Hey ya'll...new some feedback on this build.

Last Dec. I built a similar system and am quite happy with it, but that WAS 8 months ago and I have really been out of the loop since. That being said here is the build...I would REALLY appreciate any helpful feedback...need to order this by tomorrow.

TIA


Case: Update Thermaltake SOPRANO VB1000BWS Tower

Mobo: EPoX EP-9NPA+ Ultra

Processor: AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego

Pwr Supply: Update FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX500-A

Vid Card: SAPPHIRE 100154SR Radeon X1800XT 256MB

Ram: Patriot 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200)

HDD: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB
& 2 other currently owned HDD's here at the house.

Optical Drives: Sony DVD-Rom & NEC 16x DVD Burner

Cooling: ZALMAN VF700-CU 2 Ball VGA COOLER & ZALMAN CNPS9500 LED 92mm 2 Ball Blue LED Light Cooling Fan with Heatsink

Speakers: Logitech X-530 70 Watts 5.1 Speaker


I know some of you will not like the case, but she likes it. Also, there will be NO OC'ing to this rig. The BIG questions that I have are on the Video Card (esp.), Mobo and CPU. I currently have these mobo and cpu in my Christmas build and have been happy with them, but I really do not know if they are the best bang-for-the-buck, w/o throwing my budget outta whack.

I really would appreciate any/all feedback/suggestions that you knowledgeable folks here can give me. You steered me right on my last build, so I come to you again.

Thanks a ton!
 
AM2 makes a lot more sense then 939 at this point, I like the Asus M2N.

RAM; try Corsair, Muskin, or Crucial, value series is fine.

2.1 speakers make a lot more sense in that price range, two mid-range speakers are going to sound 10x better then five low-end ones.

Thermaltake sucks, try Lian Li.
 
Honestly Id suggest holding off on building any computer from now until the release of AM2/Conroe (6x00) later/next month. Id hold off buying them right away (2-4 weeks) to because of the price premium- if for nothing else, the price drop in current stuff.
 
Ok, guys, many thanks on the advice. I will go with the AM2 processor...like I said I've been out of it since last Dec. Thanks for the heads up.

And waiting to build is not an option. That being said, I'm reading that AM2 processors don't play well with DDR2 800 RAM...is this true?


And video card feedback...anyone?
 
No, AM2 processors can run with DDR2-400(IIRC)/667/800/1000 perfectly fine. There may be incompatibilities between certain mobos and memory, but it has nothing to do with memory speed.

EDIT: I would go with an Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro instead of the Zalman. It's much cheaper and only slightly worse at cooling. And does she really need the X1800XT?
 
Originally posted by: Howard
No, AM2 processors can run with DDR2-400(IIRC)/667/800/1000 perfectly fine. There may be incompatibilities between certain mobos and memory, but it has nothing to do with memory speed.

EDIT: I would go with an Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro instead of the Zalman. It's much cheaper and only slightly worse at cooling. And does she really need the X1800XT?
Click to expand...


Ok thanks...and to be honest, I'm swapping out my 7800GT and taking the X1800XT 😉


One thing I'm noticing on the AM2 mobos, though, is the lack of IDE connectors...the one linked above only has one 🙁 Ideas?

And thanks for the heads up on the cooling 🙂

 
 
Originally posted by: Howard
Yeah, I figured you were the type to take something from it. 😉

I'd go with the FSP400-60GLN over the AX500.
Click to expand...


May I ask why? I currently have the AX500 in my Christmas built comp. and have been very happy with it...I'm open to other ideas though 🙂

 
Originally posted by: Sirfelixcat2
Originally posted by: Howard
Yeah, I figured you were the type to take something from it. 😉

I'd go with the FSP400-60GLN over the AX500.
Click to expand...


May I ask why? I currently have the AX500 in my Christmas built comp. and have been very happy with it...I'm open to other ideas though 🙂
Click to expand...
The AX series have been found with capacitors (Fuhjyyu, to be specific) that fail early, compared to other brands of capacitors. To the best of my knowledge, the only popular PSUs that use Fuhjyyu caps (there are other brands of equally ****** caps) are the AX series and Antec's SP2/TP2/Neo lines. Maybe the NeoHE, too.
 
lol operandi. wise man... wise man indeed =p. Anyways, I don't like the look of the G.skill ram, Why not go for some proven ram, like kingston, corsair, OCZ, etc? Change the PSU for a seasonic S12. It's probably one of the best you can get. I'm still trying to look for the indestructible PSU... but I think that's what i'll have to settle for at the point in time =p. Oh and all those mobos have 3 and 4 phase regulation. I wouldn't touch them with a 10 metre pole. perhaps a bit more $$ into the mobo? If it burns, your cpu does too and possibly the ram as well =p. But if you HAD to... the epox is my choice.. 4 phase regulation. I don't know the quality of the caps though.
 
Originally posted by: bamacre
I would consider this case...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119074

The Soprano has a lot of plastic and the door is flimsey. The case linked above is all metal, including the door, which is solid. You may want to replace the side duct with an 80mm fan (easy, only need a screw driver).
Click to expand...

That?s an "OK" case, but probably much better then Soprano.

The Cavalier is still what I would consider a "average" case however in terms of build quality. I also wasn't very impressed with it's tool-less features and it's limited to single 80mm intake.
 
Originally posted by: Operandi
Originally posted by: bamacre
I would consider this case...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119074

The Soprano has a lot of plastic and the door is flimsey. The case linked above is all metal, including the door, which is solid. You may want to replace the side duct with an 80mm fan (easy, only need a screw driver).
Click to expand...

That?s an "OK" case, but probably much better then Soprano.

The Cavalier is still what I would consider a "average" case however in terms of build quality. I also wasn't very impressed with it's tool-less features and it's limited to single 80mm intake.
Click to expand...

My big beef with the Soprano was the door, plastic and very flimsy. I am actually using the Cavalier for my current build and the door is built exactly way one should be. Sturdy, metallic, and it also uses a magnet to keep it closed, which unlike a lever, won't break.
 
I agree 100% with the Cavalier. We actually were considering it...I will change. As for the PSU...I appreciate the feedback, but I've had good experience with the AX500.


Can you explain to me the 3 & 4 phase regulation on the mobos? I'm at least a little knowledgeable, but that's new to me...please expound. And I currently have the EP-9NPA3ULTRA in my current rig and love it, so I'm partial to the EPoX boards.


Thanks again for all the feedback, y'all. Keep it coming until noon tomorrow 🙂


eta: OCZ, which I have in my current rig, does NOT play well with AM2 builds from everywhere I read...so....
 
Originally posted by: Howard
Originally posted by: OSX
AM2 is just stupid, and a waste of money.
Click to expand...
Explain.
Click to expand...

Because socket 939 is still current and purchasing an entirely new board + processor+ RAM would have the same costs as going to Conroe, especially with it releasing so soon.
 
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