New rig - to build in December

[KnickNut3]

Hello. I'm currently in Australia studying, and I get home the first week in December. I'm treating myself to a new rig when I get home, so I have the added benefit of having 3 months to plan with no temptation to impluse buy. I have time to weigh my options and wait for good deals. I don't game as much anymore but am hardcore when I do (FPS/TPS and sports, mostly), and I play a lot of poker that involves using Access and PostgreSQL databases. I want to overclock just so I'm getting my money's worth, but won't push it to its limit and instead just want an ultrastable machine. (I'll give up 2fps in exchange for not having hours of headaches troubleshooting.) Here are my approximate specs:

MB: DFI NF4 Ultra (mod to SLI-DR) $130 or Epox 9NPA+ Ultra $95
CPU: Athlon 64 3000+ Venice $146 or 3700+ San Diego $273
HS/F: XP-120 + Panaflo 120mm ($50 + $15) $65
RAM: Need a good deal on 2x512 PC3200 that will overclock decently $100
HD: Seagate 250GB SATA 150 (deal) $100
Video Card: ATI X800 Pro Refurb PCI-E $175 or X800XL $230 (Go for one that can SLI?)
Case/PSU: Antec Sonata 2 w/450W $100 or deal on case + Fortron AX450-PN ATX12V 450W $110
Approx Total: $780 -> $1000

I'd appreciate thoughts, feelings as to which ones to keep an eye out on deals for, which to wait until the last minute to buy, and any other suggestions. Anything I don't pick up on special deals I'll probably get from Newegg.

 

[superfly27]

heatsink: Zalman 7000 alcu

The rest, real hard to tell. I've done research on stuff lately but looking at cases, there's too much of them around.
Anyway, I know there's a review on power supplies on tomshardware. Worth a look.

 

[KnickNut3]

Thanks.

Yeah, I was looking at a Zalman. I'll probably do that if I don't find a deal or spring for an XP-120. Case wise I'll probably just wait for a deal. Is it easy to turn those fan LEDs off? I'm assuming there's no easy off switch if I get a case with a window. Also, if I get something like an Aspire Dreamer which has those intigrated glowing lights, if they turn off easily...

 

[GamerExpress]

This is a much better build here dude for the same price.

Epox 9npa+ Ultra=$95
AMD 3000+ Venice=$140
ThermalRight XP-90=$50 + Panaflo 90mm fan=$12
Corsair or OCZ Value 1GB or 2GB if you choose=$100 for 1GB or $200 for 2GB
Antec Sonata II with a 450W Antec Smart power 2.0==$100
x800xl=$245
300 GB Seagate 7200.8=$174

The prices are approximate but pretty close and it comes to right at $900, should be less when you go to buy in December.

 

[KnickNut3]

Explain how that's better? Aside from a slightly slower processor and slightly better graphics card? And many people would put the DFI ahead of the Epox, if I've done my research right.

My main concern in this thread is to get a better idea of what prices might go up and down before December (e.g. "the ATI refurbs won't last, so get them," or "the next gen of GPUs will drive video cards way down, so wait"), as well as what specific things will be best to look for deals for.

 

[KayKay]

3400 Athlon 64 socket 939 is a crippled processor ( 800 MHz fsb max on it) get a 3700 san diego or x2 if the price is right

by that time a better video card can be had for that price, hold off on that for a bit
also can't use 2 ATI's in SLI

Thermalright XP-90 is a better choice than the zalman heatsink

Fortron is a good choice for power supply.

As for ram, make your decision at a time closer to december, the ram market fluctuates and new products are always coming out

 

[KoolDrew]

Get a Athlon 64 3000+, Thermalright XP-90 w/ Tri-Blade delta, Crucial Value RAM, don't bother with RAID-0. Buy a better video card with saved money in other areas. For the case a Cooler Master Centurion 5 or something like a Chieftec Dragon. For the PSu I would bump up to a Fortron AX500-A.

 

[tropic]

Wait until December.

It's fine to do some research now so that you're prepared to make some intelligent choices, but prices on current offerings are just going to get better.

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: tropic
Wait until December.

It's fine to do some research now so that you're prepared to make some intelligent choices, but prices on current offerings are just going to get better.

:thumbsup:

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: tropic
Wait until December.

It's fine to do some research now so that you're prepared to make some intelligent choices, but prices on current offerings are just going to get better.

Yeah, planning ahead a few months is a very good idea for some things, but I don't think it makes much sense for computer building because products are on such short cycles.

I'd suggest just hanging around here until December and looking at what comes out by then and look at the system builds that are close to your budget for other ideas. There's bound to be a couple hundred by the time you're going to buy stuff

Looks like the rest has been covered above (like ATI SLI stuff)

 

[KnickNut3]

Didn't know about ATI SLI. I thought for sure I saw some tomshardware reviews that included two X800s in SLI. I just figured that it would be easier to aim above my target for now (since I won't be buying anything brand new) and watch them come down. I'll definitely look at the other suggestions (would the XP-120 be worth it? I'd rather have a big, quiet fan since I live in a dorm and sleep with my PC).

Don't think getting higher grade RAM is worth the $$?
So, I'm better off getting a 3000 or 3700 than a 3400? The 3000 will OC better to compensate, I assume? (Haven't been able to read this board as much as I'd like to, I apologize--no internet at the apartment)

 

[LarryK]

as far as what case to buy what's wrong with this? Antec Solution SLK2650-BQE it comes with a good PSU or for more room Antec Solution SLK3700-BQE or does overclocking and all that Jazz require a more powerfull PSU? I am a Cheep bastard so thats what i am going with for:

 

[KoolDrew]

and sleep with my PC

:shocked:

 

[KnickNut3]

What do you think those leftover PCI slot holes in the back of your case are for? :disgust:

 

[ChoppedBroccoli]

Here's an idea...don't think about this stuff, and enjoy Australia while you're there!

 

[bdww00]

looks good to me

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: KnickNut3
And many people would put the DFI ahead of the Epox, if I've done my research right.

Anandtech doesnt. Do some more research

 

[DavidoFoo]

MB: Epox 9NPA+Ultra if you want less headaches
CPU: A64 3000+/3700+
HS/F: Thermalright XP-90 + Japanflo L1A @ jab-tech.com
RAM: OCZ Value 2X1GB
HD: RAID 0 is worthless. Get a Seagate 7200.8 250-400GB
Case: An Antec BLK case?
PSU: Move up to AX500?

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

Originally posted by: GamerExpress
This is a much better build here dude for the same price.

Epox 9npa+ Ultra=$95
AMD 3000+ Venice=$140
ThermalRight XP-90=$50 + Panaflo 90mm fan=$12
Corsair or OCZ Value 1GB or 2GB if you choose=$100 for 1GB or $200 for 2GB
Antec Sonata II with a 450W Antec Smart power 2.0==$100
x800xl=$245
300 GB Seagate 7200.8=$174

The prices are approximate but pretty close and it comes to right at $900, should be less when you go to buy in December.

Go with this. You'll get a nice overclock with the 3000+ Venice, XP-90, and the EPoX mobo. I wouldn't really trust refurbs if I were you. Especially Newegg ones. I've heard that Newegg refurb cards are crap.

 

[KnickNut3]

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: KnickNut3
And many people would put the DFI ahead of the Epox, if I've done my research right.

Anandtech doesnt. Do some more research

Hmm...
Self pwned?

So, out of seven boards in this roundup, two clearly rise to the top. The Epox 9NPA+ Ultra at $110 is an amazing performer with virtually everything that an Athlon 64 enthusiast could want - except official support and voltages for OCZ VX and Mushkin Redline memory. It will, however, handle every other memory with abandon. If you want all that the Epox offers, a little better bus overclocking and official support and voltages for OCZ VX and Mushkin Redline at a little higher price, then the DFI LANParty nF4 Ultra-D is your choice.

I read that article already (and it doesn't prove your point). We can agree that they are very similar with the DFI slightly better with better overclocking, and since I may switch to a graphics card that supports SLI, DFI becomes the favorite.

 

[KnickNut3]

Originally posted by: t3h l337 n3wb

Originally posted by: GamerExpress
This is a much better build here dude for the same price.

Epox 9npa+ Ultra=$95
AMD 3000+ Venice=$140
ThermalRight XP-90=$50 + Panaflo 90mm fan=$12
Corsair or OCZ Value 1GB or 2GB if you choose=$100 for 1GB or $200 for 2GB
Antec Sonata II with a 450W Antec Smart power 2.0==$100
x800xl=$245
300 GB Seagate 7200.8=$174

The prices are approximate but pretty close and it comes to right at $900, should be less when you go to buy in December.

Go with this. You'll get a nice overclock with the 3000+ Venice, XP-90, and the EPoX mobo. I wouldn't really trust refurbs if I were you. Especially Newegg ones. I've heard that Newegg refurb cards are crap.

The Refub is an ATI, which comes with a 3 year warranty (better than most new cards).

 

[l Xes l]

xp90 is so much better than 7000!!!

 

[Pollock]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew
Get a Athlon 64 3000+, Thermalright XP-90 w/ Tri-Blade delta, Crucial Value RAM, don't bother with RAID-0. Buy a better video card with saved money in other areas. For the case a Cooler Master Centurion 5 or something like a Chieftec Dragon. For the PSu I would bump up to a Fortron AX500-A.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Blue Storm 500W actually rated for 450W? I'm pretty sure it's the same as the AX450-PN, except blue, sleeved, and stuff.

 

[KnickNut3]

Thanks guys. Unless people have other thoughts I'll revive this thread in November when I start ordering. Just to be clear, I'm not on a specified budget--I'm going for value, so I'm not going to spend more money on something because I cut money elsewhere. I'll spend if I think it's worth it.

 

[johnnqq]

MB: DFI NF4 Ultra
CPU: Athlon 64 3000+ Venice $146
HS/F: zalman 7000 or 7700
RAM: find a pair of 2x 1gb
HD: Seagate 250GB SATA 150 (deal) $100. where did you find this "deal"? that's a nice deal...
Video Card: ATI X800 Pro Refurb PCI-E $175 or x800 for around $160ish (but not a refurb. i saw a thread where a guy bought that refurb and it was broken. ati would only give him store credit...)
Case/PSU: Antec Sonata 2 w/450W $100

that is a nicer system