New Computer - Need Helpø.

[instant]

Hi, i'm looking to purchase a top of the line computer setup, and Just thought
I'd gather some recomendations and experiences from any of the helpfull members here
(Assuming there are some? Probably)..

I have some ideas as to what my system should do, but I am willing to
negotiate this to some extent, and also if there is no real benefit (i.e a 1 fps increase
is not needed if it costs 100$ more) I can discard that option.

What I am looking at right now is something like this.

- VapoChill Tower, so I can Overclock heavily.
- AMD AThlon 2700, 2800 or 3000+ CPU OR
- Pentium 4 2.6GHz or Higher. (Thinking maybe a 2.6GHz and then OC it to 3.1GHz or close)
- Corsair Low Latency Memory (fastest available) 2 x 512MB Modules (DDR 400, 433 or RAMBUS 1060?)
- I'd like to have Dual DDR 400 support - or 333 if there is no real benefit of the 400?, or RAMBUS if that
is better on the platform.
- 2 x 200MB Western Digital 8MB Cache ATA Drives (OR SATA - But is it any better? Why?)

Also, if there is some form of Bios Security (I.e, backup bios, or 100% way of fixing
a broken bios (not *THAT* broken..) that would be nice.

- Onboard AUDIO and VGA I would like to NOT have, but i seems like most
motherboards come with some of these features now.

To put it short : I want a VERY fast computer setup that is STABLE - QUIET and COOL. (Cold and Cool).

Regards,

 

[Duvie]

At those high level speeds I would go with the INtel p4...I personally didn't like the 3000+ barton getting beat by the 2800+ tbred too much as a real vote of confidence for that chip for that cost....

I would look at dual ddr for the p4 cause that much rdram is expensive even offsetting the higher GB cost...Now sis655 dual ddr is cheaper but don't count on ocing above 166 and/or check to make sure pci/agp locks are available on a particular model. I only recommend running ddr in synch with cpu on those mobos and sis and its ratios are always gimmicky. At default sis655 is the leader, but if you can get a GB mobo up their it likley will top out higher and thus better performance...

Go with the 2.66b chip and not the 2.6a....It has lower muliplier for more room to jack the fsb plus it starts at 133fsb instead of 100fsb...

Also remember it is probably more likely with the chip you are listing for intel that you will not get much near pc2700ddr let alone the need for pc3200 or 3500 models for either Dual DDR mobo...so spend wisely...

A couple of the boards have some high quality onboard sound with the cmedia chip (6.1 sound)....


Don't go with onboard video..it will likely limit the oc anyways...