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NEW RIG - suggestions and set up procedures

M

Mattax

Senior member
1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

Gaming, video and picture editing, music, play movies

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

$1200

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.

AMD, Pentium, nvidia

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

Here is the list of current parts:
CPU: AMD|PH X4 9950 2.6G AM2+ R

HEATSINK&FAN: STOCK with CPU

MB: MB ASROCK AOD790GX/128M AM2+ RT

RAM: 2Gx2|OCZ OCZ2RPR10664GK R

PS: SILVERSTONE|DA850 850W RT

CASE: ANTEC|P180 SIL RT - Retail

HD 1: 500G|WD WD5001AALS

HD 2:Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 ST3300831AS-RK 300GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - Retail

HD 3:Maxtor 300GB

BURNER/ROM: SAMSUNG|SH-S222L 22X LS

CD-ROM:

DVD-ROM: BLU-RAY DVD ROM LITE-ON|iHES206-08

VIDEO: VGA EVGA 01G-P3-1280-AR GTX280 1G R

SOUND:Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Elite Pro 8 (7.1) Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail

MONTIOR: LCD SCEPTRE 20" WIDESCREEN

OS: MS WIN VISTA ULTIMAT SP1 64BIT




6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

Did some searching and am not sure what to believe - so bringing all the questions and answers to one thread.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

NO OVERCLOCKING

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?

I have all of the above parts and am ready to assemble. Is there any suggestions on incompatible parts above and what should I replace them with?

I plan to do a standard build.

Assemble the CASE, PS, MB, CPU, MEM, one HD and VIDEO CARD with MONITOR, MOUSE and KB.

Set up:
Following SLUGBAIT's info here in 3rd post: http://forums.anandtech.com/me...ab=arc&highlight_key=y
I will start the process of loading.

If anyone has another method that has been updated or is smoother, let me know.

Thanks,

Matt
 
If you could provide the prices/links on the items you have I could cross-check the prices and such to see if there's something out there with a better cost/performance ratio. Slugbait's guide is still on track so definitely use it.

Are you sure you want to use a Phenom quad? The Phenom II's just came out, better performance from those, give me the cost estimates on each component and I'll see if I can build something better for you.
 
Don't buy the X4 9950. Old technology, hamstrung by small L3 cache (see the recent article on the main AT page). Buy the Phenom II 920 instead ($235).

I generally avoid OCZ RAM, too many bad experiences (personally & feedback from around the boards) with compatibility problems. Go for Mushkin, G.Skill, or Corsair, they're all solid with fewer problems. I think there's a 4GB G.Skill DDR2-1066 kit at newegg for about $55 shipped.

That PSU is major overkill, look at the Corsair 650TX instead (made by Seasonic) for around $100 (rebate I think).

Only buy Vista Ultimate if you will actually use the few features it offers above Home Premium (most people don't even know the difference, if you don't - buy HP64 instead).

Finally, the GTX 280 is major overkill for a 20" LCD. Either upgrade to a 24" or downgrade to a GTX 260 216 or a 1GB 4870.
 
Wow, that was an old post...you really did search and/or read similar threads.

Some changes to that "guide" that I would suggest:

Move the page file to a freshly formatted Barracuda, and make it permanent at 8 gigs. Although the Barracuda is a bit slower than the primary drive, you will still see a significant system perf increase by doing this.

Regardless of the page file location, do not bother disabling the page file before defragging...you cannot disable it any more, Windows will automatically create a dynamic page file on C: if it detects your settings are 0.

My old recommendation of an 8G system partition was OK for XP back then (as long as the page file was moved), but these days I use 10G, and have 3.25 free, which is comfortable. Vista is different...12G was barely enough back then, today I recommend 20G.

Asrock...hmmm. You probably don't want to use the generic SATA drivers that come with Vista. And it appears both the Black and Barracuda supports AHCI...which is hit-n-miss for people in the performance dept (I saw a huge perf increase over IDE mode). Your call on this one, but I would recommend you have a floppy drive ready for the OS install.

AutoPatcher was killed off by MS last year, but considering you already have an SP1 disc of Vista, no worries. Besides, MS offers direct downloads of their service packs now, no need to use Windows Update.
 
Originally posted by: yh125d
I think you guys are missing that those are his CURRENT parts
Click to expand...

Indeed it seems we are 😀 My tip to the OP is just use common sense when you're assembling the system, along with Slug's guide. I had fun building my first one from scratch not too long ago.
 
Thanks Slugbait!

Yes, those are my current parts. Is there any parts other than the monitor which I plan to upgrade later this year, that I need to change due to compatibility?
 
Originally posted by: krnmastersgt
Originally posted by: yh125d
I think you guys are missing that those are his CURRENT parts
Click to expand...

Indeed it seems we are 😀 My tip to the OP is just use common sense when you're assembling the system, along with Slug's guide. I had fun building my first one from scratch not too long ago.
Click to expand...


OP? I understand common sense but what is OP?

It seems based on your previous post that I screwed up with getting some of the components. Is there any I should definitely replace?
 
Originally posted by: Mattax
Originally posted by: krnmastersgt
Originally posted by: yh125d
I think you guys are missing that those are his CURRENT parts
Click to expand...

Indeed it seems we are 😀 My tip to the OP is just use common sense when you're assembling the system, along with Slug's guide. I had fun building my first one from scratch not too long ago.
Click to expand...


OP? I understand common sense but what is OP?

It seems based on your previous post that I screwed up with getting some of the components. Is there any I should definitely replace?
Click to expand...

OP = Original post/poster, aka the person who started the thread

Nothing wrong with your build at all, just that recently the Phenom II quads came out, better micro-architecture I suppose since they perform on par with Intel quads, which the previous models didn't really. Also the sound card might not have been totally needed, onboard sound is pretty good these days.
 
Originally posted by: krnmastersgt
Also the sound card might not have been totally needed, onboard sound is pretty good these days.
Click to expand...

Not just any onboard sound...OP's mobo has the Realtek ALC890, which is regarded as much better than previous Realtek chips. It has really good dynamic range, supports DTS, etc.

However, OP is installing Vista64. There are quite a few issues with Realtek HD drivers on that flavor, such as low rear speaker volume, distorted or overly reverbed rear speaker, speaker fill feature doesn't work right, wonky system settings to even get rear speakers to emit sound, etc.

If it were XP32 or XP64, sonic bliss, skip Creative. But on Vista64, the X-Fi is the superior choice...at least until Realtek comes out with better drivers. But it's been awhile now, so they've had time to fix, they simply haven't yet.
 
Originally posted by: Slugbait
Originally posted by: krnmastersgt
Also the sound card might not have been totally needed, onboard sound is pretty good these days.
Click to expand...

Not just any onboard sound...OP's mobo has the Realtek ALC890, which is regarded as much better than previous Realtek chips. It has really good dynamic range, supports DTS, etc.

However, OP is installing Vista64. There are quite a few issues with Realtek HD drivers on that flavor, such as low rear speaker volume, distorted or overly reverbed rear speaker, speaker fill feature doesn't work right, wonky system settings to even get rear speakers to emit sound, etc.

If it were XP32 or XP64, sonic bliss, skip Creative. But on Vista64, the X-Fi is the superior choice...at least until Realtek comes out with better drivers. But it's been awhile now, so they've had time to fix, they simply haven't yet.
Click to expand...

I ahve Vista64 with ALC888 and haven't had any problems. I've heard more peoblems with Creative still on Vista64.
 
Thanks everyone! I will begin building the weekend after next. Hopefully, I won't run into any issues. I do need to obtain a floppy drive as I do not have a spare until I finish the other two computers and scrape this 6 year old one.

I want the Xi-Fi in the system as it is a nice external hook up. Hopefully, it does not create any issues.

I will be following Slugbait's install process with the updates mentioned above. I am guessing the whole process will take 6-7 hrs.

In addition to the above parts, I also have the Logitech MX1000 Laser mouse and Creative Speakers INSPIRE P7800 7.1 RT - Retail I wired the room for 7.1 prior to drywalling and finishing it.

Later down the road I will be upgrading the monitor. I think the desk can handle a 24 inch widescreen.

Is there anything else I need to know about the components I have and Slugbait's procedure's?

Thanks!
 
Bump.

Still seeking a monitor and I need another HD in addition to the 500G|WD WD5001AALS. I removed the other two and used them in my older computer.
 
I actually ordered two more 500G|WD WD5001AALS from Newegg based on other reviews and opinions here. I think I just need more cables to hook these HD's up.
 
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