New Motherboard and Processor

[2411]

New Componets, Asus Xpress 200 Crossfire A8R-MVP. Looking for Processor Ideas. Will be Gameing and doing Photography. Any help would be appreciated.Already have a Antec Sonata case and a Turbo-Cool 510.

 

[Wentelteefje]

How much do you want to spend...? No chance of getting a cheaper mobo...? Are you going to use the CF?

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

You'd probably be better off with an Epox board. The 9NPAJ ($83), 9NPA3 Ultra ($90) and 9NPA+ Ultra ($108) are all great choices, depending on the features you need. If you require an SLI board, the Abit KN8 SLI ($113) has a generous helping of features.

As for processors, you're generally looking at any of the following, depending on your budget...

Athlon 64 3200+
Opteron 146
Athlon 64 X2 3800+
Opteron 165

 

[2411]

Ok here is the deal. Just sold my system. Going to need case, board,processor memory 2 gig,hard drive and video card. Looking at 1,500 to 1,700 dollars. Oh forgot also sound card. Thanks

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

$349 Opteron 165 retail
$206 two 250GB Western Digital Caviar SE SATA hard disks
$167 2GB (2x1GB) Corsair ValueSelect PC3200
$144 eVGA 128-P2-N367 Geforce 6800XT 128MB
$108 Epox EP-9NPA+ Ultra
$94 M-Audio 9900-40765-00
$57 Fortron Source 450W PSU
$52 Ever Case ECE4502
total: $1,177

if you don't already have them, get these, too:
$40 NEC ND-3550A
$26 any DVD-ROM
$12 any 3.5" floppy
$11 any PCI modem
total: $1,266

 

[Wentelteefje]

Originally posted by: hurtstotalktoyou
$349 Opteron 165 retail
$206 two 250GB Western Digital Caviar SE SATA hard disks
$167 2GB (2x1GB) Corsair ValueSelect PC3200
$144 eVGA 128-P2-N367 Geforce 6800XT 128MB
$108 Epox EP-9NPA+ Ultra
$94 M-Audio 9900-40765-00
$57 Fortron Source 450W PSU
$52 Ever Case ECE4502
total: $1,177

if you don't already have them, get these, too:
$40 NEC ND-3550A
$26 any DVD-ROM
$12 any 3.5" floppy
$11 any PCI modem
total: $1,266

Seems right to me! :thumbsup: I would however at least get him a 6800GS... Not much of a difference (+ $ 60)... A nicer case maybe? Antec SLK-3000B or CoolerMaster Centurion 5 for the same price...

 

[2411]

Anybody want to comment. Need help here. Please!!!!

 

[halw]

If you are keeping the Sonata case, add a 120mm intake fan to the front to get more air flow.

 

[2411]

I already have the xtra fan in the case. Thanks

 

[Wentelteefje]

If you have a case already, just take all the components hurtstotalktoyou mentioned... They'll make for a very decent comp you know (except you'll have to change the graphics card then)...

If you can save out the money for the case and PSU, heck you could get a 7800GT already!

 

[GamerExpress]

Originally posted by: hurtstotalktoyou
$349 Opteron 165 retail
$206 two 250GB Western Digital Caviar SE SATA hard disks
$167 2GB (2x1GB) Corsair ValueSelect PC3200
$144 eVGA 128-P2-N367 Geforce 6800XT 128MB
$108 Epox EP-9NPA+ Ultra
$94 M-Audio 9900-40765-00
$57 Fortron Source 450W PSU
$52 Ever Case ECE4502
total: $1,177

if you don't already have them, get these, too:
$40 NEC ND-3550A
$26 any DVD-ROM
$12 any 3.5" floppy
$11 any PCI modem
total: $1,266

Dude no!!

Actually everything looks good, but if you look at the OP he says he is looking to do gaming with the machine. The video card you listed is hardly what I would want to play games on.

I would go with an eVGA 7800GT or even GTX, I would also pick out a better case then that one, maybe an Antec Solution.

 

[2411]

Do you guys think Invidia is better than ATI? If I go ahead with this I will probably use a Asus board . OCZ PC 400 Gold memory. I have always been a ATI guy.I'm really undecided about going Invidia.

 

[Wentelteefje]

No, we just listed the GeForce 7800GT because it's pretty "cheap"... If you want to take an ATI X1800XL, look for a decent price and go ahead...

BTW nVidia isn't bad at all... I always had ATI cards, and for now decided to pick a 6800GS, well I haven't regret it for one moment yet... Image Quality may still be a tad better with ATI, but it doesn't bother me (and I like good IQ BTW)...

The guy in this thread seems to know where to buy a X1800XT for $ 360... Let's just hope it's not a second-hand one...

 

[2411]

I hear ya, What is your feeling on processors. Should I go Optetron or to like a X2 3800 or larger Processor?

 

[Wentelteefje]

If you're going to buy the Asus A8R-MVP (which is a fantastic overclocker), I think you should go with the Opteron 165... The 2.7+GHz you'll most certainly reach, is a speed the X2 3800 isn't really going to make (they often hit around 2.4 - 2.5GHz, while the Opty's even hit 3.0GHz)...

The Opteron is only $ 25 more than the X2 3800+ (which costs $ 322 at NewEgg)... So I would pick it...

A larger processor... Isn't really needed if you're going to OC... IMO $ 350 - 400 for a CPU (albeit a great one in this case) is about the max without going insane...

 

[2411]

That si kind of what I thought. Will buy good cooling for the processor.

 

[Wentelteefje]

The cooler I advise anyone around here, is the Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro... It is just great, being silent and cooling extremely well... The price (some $ 38 on NewEgg I thought) also is a lot lower than the ones of other high-end coolers, such as the Zalman CNPS7700 and 9500, ThermalTake Big Typhoon and Blue Orb II, ThermalRight XP-120 and SI-120...

 

[2411]

Thanks for the info. I will check it out. NewEgg don't have the board I will have to get it from Zoomfly but I will get everthing else for NewEgg.

 

[Wentelteefje]

Good Luck with it :thumbsup: If you have questions, PM me (I answer pretty quickly ) or start a new thread of course...

 

[2411]

Thanks for all your help. I appreciate it.

 

[2411]

I have another Question. I will probably never run 2 video cards. I read somewhere that the Invidia ultra chipset would be better for running just 1 card. Is this true??

 

[2411]

BUMP!!

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Originally posted by: GamerExpress

Originally posted by: hurtstotalktoyou
$349 Opteron 165 retail
$206 two 250GB Western Digital Caviar SE SATA hard disks
$167 2GB (2x1GB) Corsair ValueSelect PC3200
$144 eVGA 128-P2-N367 Geforce 6800XT 128MB
$108 Epox EP-9NPA+ Ultra
$94 M-Audio 9900-40765-00
$57 Fortron Source 450W PSU
$52 Ever Case ECE4502
total: $1,177

if you don't already have them, get these, too:
$40 NEC ND-3550A
$26 any DVD-ROM
$12 any 3.5" floppy
$11 any PCI modem
total: $1,266

Dude no!!

Actually everything looks good, but if you look at the OP he says he is looking to do gaming with the machine. The video card you listed is hardly what I would want to play games on.

I would go with an eVGA 7800GT or even GTX, I would also pick out a better case then that one, maybe an Antec Solution.

Spending $300+ on a video card doesn't strike me as a wise decision, regardless of the circumstances, but if playing games is *that* important to him, I suppose he should get a GT.

 

[2411]

Have you had any issues with your Epox board?