new system - a couple of questions

[7zark7]

Well, I've lurked around here long enough to see that you guys give pretty good advice so I thought I'd ask a couple of questions about the new system I'm planning to build. The system looks like:

Asus K8N-E Deluxe
AMD64 3200+
1GB PC 3200 RAM - maybe Crucial Ballistix, maybe not (see question #2)
NVIDIA GeForce 6800GT
120 or 160 GB SATA Hard Drive - Maxtor, WD, or Seagate, whichever is less $
a DVD combo drive ???
Thermaltake Tsunami Dream
Ultra X Connect 500W PSU

Now for my questions....
1. I'm not planning to overclock so is the stock cooler that comes with the CPU good enough?
2. If I'm not going to overclock do I need to get the Crucial Ballistix or can I save $ with Geil value RAM?
3. Should I get 1 stick of 1024 MB RAM or 2 512 MB sticks instead? I'm thinking about leaving myself enough room to upgrade to 2 GB down the road....
4. Is the Ultra X Connect a good/reputable PSU or should I go with the Antec NeoPower 480?
5. I'm really having trouble making up my mind between the Asus K8N-E Deluxe and the DFI NF3 Lanparty. Does the latest BIOS for the DFI solve the temperature reporting problems? I've read the threads here but I'm not sure if the problem is fully resolved, if so I'll probably go with the DFI instead.
6. Is there any DVD combo drive I should stay away from based on copy protection issues? I haven't seen this discussed here so I don't know if it's an issue or not. Can anyone reccommend a good DVD-RW combo drive?

Thanks for listening.

Chris

 

[MustISO]

If you're not overclocking the stock cooler is fine. It may be fine IF you're overclocking a little as well.
Any ram will be fine as long as it runs at the core speed of your bus. It's an easier choice when not overclocking. Low latency is nice but you don't have to get something like DDR500 @ 2-2-2.

1GB is plenty, either is fine since dual channel won't affect your system.

 

[7zark7]

Originally posted by: MustISO
If you're not overclocking the stock cooler is fine. It may be fine IF you're overclocking a little as well.
Any ram will be fine as long as it runs at the core speed of your bus. It's an easier choice when not overclocking. Low latency is nice but you don't have to get something like DDR500 @ 2-2-2.

1GB is plenty, either is fine since dual channel won't affect your system.

Thanks, any suggestions regarding the mobo or dvd unit?

 

[Machine350]

1. The stock cooler is fine even if you do overclock a little. The A64 stock coolers are pretty good.
2. If you're not overclocking, you definitely don't need crucial ballistix (overkill), I would go with the geil or Corsair value select CAS2.5.
3. 1 stick of 1024 is much more expensive than two sticks of 512, so you would definitely save by getting 2 sticks. That still leaves one empty dimm slot to add later.
4. I've never heard of Ultra X PSU's, do yourself a favor and get the Antec.
5. If you aren't overclocking, the Asus is fine. However, if you think that you might ever get the itch to do some overclocking, go ahead and get the DFI now, it will more friendly.
6. I've always had good luck with TDK rewriters, although I can't vouch for their DVD burners. Stay away from Sony writers, they suck.

Have Fun

 

[JaRb0y]

ive read that alot of ppl are having problems with the K8N might want to look into it.

for the dvd drive, i have an nec 3500a which can be had for ~$76, writes 16x on fujifilm TY 8x media. i bought the drive over others because it was able to write cdrs at 48x, but i didnt know that nec limits the speed on certain brands. i.e. 32x on fujifilm TY cdrs.

 

[7zark7]

Originally posted by: Machine350
1. The stock cooler is fine even if you do overclock a little. The A64 stock coolers are pretty good.
2. If you're not overclocking, you definitely don't need crucial ballistix (overkill), I would go with the geil or Corsair value select CAS2.5.

Thanks, that'll save me around $100

3. 1 stick of 1024 is much more expensive than two sticks of 512, so you would definitely save by getting 2 sticks. That still leaves one empty dimm slot to add later.

I've heard that the AMD boards with 3 memory slots don't always let you use all three at once... I'll have to look into the mobos I'm considering more carefully...

4. I've never heard of Ultra X PSU's, do yourself a favor and get the Antec.

There was a link to a PSU overview a few days ago and several people around here were posting about ordering the Ultra X connect which piqued my interest...

5. If you aren't overclocking, the Asus is fine. However, if you think that you might ever get the itch to do some overclocking, go ahead and get the DFI now, it will more friendly.
6. I've always had good luck with TDK rewriters, although I can't vouch for their DVD burners. Stay away from Sony writers, they suck.

Have Fun

Thanks

 

[iwantanewcomputer]

3. get 2x512. this mobo/cpu/kind of ram will be obsolete way before you see a performance increase from another 1gb stick that justifies the extra money you will spend on it. very few current apps even benefit at all from 2 GB, and ddr is on the way out so you won't be using it in systems a few years from now

 

[mrupgrd]

5. DFI LAnParty mobo is SKT 754 I believe and 3200 is 939

 

[Machine350]

Originally posted by: mrupgrd
5. DFI LAnParty mobo is SKT 754 I believe and 3200 is 939

The 3200 is socket 754. They are just coming out with 939 3200's, but they are still hard to find.