New System Help: Getting my facts right...

ajaju

Senior member
Feb 4, 2001
233
0
0
Hi All:
Finally, its that time of the year when I upgrade my system (but o'course its that year when I am upgrading it after 3 FULL YEARS!!) - so I decided to update myself with the new lingo around here... and read through the posts here - and now have tentatively decided on a few things. Just need to pass it through you gurus:

MB: ASUS "P4P800 Deluxe"LINK - $126 (newegg)
(anything better in this price range - can move +/- $20 on the MOBO)

Case: RaidMax Model:278WSP(Silver)LINK - $40 (newegg)
(I already have ANTEC PSU 350Watts from the current system)

CPU: Pentium 4/ 2.8C GHz HTT LINK - $205 (newegg)
(Just wondering if I should save another $35 and get 2.6Ghz instead!!)

Memory: 1x 512 DDR PC2700 LINK - $80 (crucial #CT6464Z335)
(BTW, is there a preference for mushkin versus crucial? - should I even bother looking around?)

Video: Nvidia Geforce4 TI4200 128MB LINK - $129 (newegg)
(Wonder if I can get it someplace else cheaper)

So what do you guys think about this? any help will be highly appreciated in terms of spec modifications or anything w.r.t. the place I should get it from (cheaper).

thanks much!!
 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
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For board look at the Gigabyte GA-8IPE1000
CPU = 2.6C overclocks well and cheaper
Ram = 2 slabs of PC3200. You need 2 to run in Dual Ch. memory
Video = Radeon 9600
 

ajaju

Senior member
Feb 4, 2001
233
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Thanks Marlin for the wisdom

Quick questions: any particular brand of Radeon 9600 you would recommend?

As for O'clocking - somehow I have to admit - I am not much of an enthusiastic O'clocker or a gamer. So the objective of this new assembly is to have a simple, stable and basic system with not much frills as such.

thansk !
 

Mullzy

Senior member
Jan 2, 2002
352
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If you go Radeon 9600, get the XT or Pro models... you don't want 9600 or 9600 SE. Also, some XT/Pro's ship with a coupon for HL2 and some don't - so if you see prices varying $20-$40, check the details as that may be the reason.
 

wnied

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
4,206
0
76
Ajaju

Only thing I could see that you might want to do is go with a GFX5900. They go for as much as a 9600 will run you on NewEgg, and with the newer drivers, theyre perfectly capable of giving you at least three more years of great service at a reasonable price. i have a P4p800 deluxe I got at NewEgg refurbed for $80.00 bucks. Very stable board, thats great for gaming. I would however try to stick with a 400W or above power supply. Todays computers are energy leeches and 400 seems to be the standard. Just be sure its P4 compatible. Also the difference between a 2.4C and a 2.6C is negligable at best. You really dont see any difference between the 2.XCs until you jump upto 3.X and even then your lucky if you do. I do agree with Marlin with the two sticks of memory to go with dual channel mode, and my preference is Crucial for their excellent support of product if something goes wrong with it. I use crucial in ALL the machines I've built over the years and their stability speaks for themselves. So unless your seriously thinking of overclocking, stick with crucial.

Just my .02 cents.
~wnied~
 

Jeff H

Golden Member
Oct 11, 1999
1,611
4
81
ajaju, to reiterate what others have said:

Memory - get two sticks, or you won't be running the board/memory in dual channel configuration. If you're not going to overclock get a matched pair (from the manufacturer, such as Corsair TwinX or Kingston HyperX) of PC3200. If you're going to overclock then go w/ PC3500.

Vid card - you'll be holding back that system w/ the Ti4200. Not so much on DX8 games, but when (if?) DX9 games become commonplace you'll see the difference between that 4200 and cards such as the ATi 9600XT or nVidia FX5900SE. Don't get caught up in the nonmenclature differences between ATi and nVidia. ATi uses the SE designation to denote a budget solution, while nVidia is using it on the FX5900 to denote an upside offereing vs. the standard 5900 - maybe a tweak at ATi by nVidia <g>.

CPU - if you're going to overclock, go w/ the 2.4 first, then the 2.6. If you're not going to overclock then the 2.8 looks to be reasonably priced, unlike the 3.0.

What else are you going to hang from that power supply? If it's more than one hard drive, and a complement of optical drives, some USB and a number of fans, you're going to want to consider a 400W+ unit. The 9600XT doesn't come w/ a dedicated power input, while the 5900SE does. In any event, many of the troubles people seem to be having w/ these vid cards are centered around inadequate power, from what I've read.
 

ajaju

Senior member
Feb 4, 2001
233
0
0

Thanks !
you folks are awesome help.

so what I get from this discussion:-

1) RAM: get 2 sticks instead of 1 - just have to shop around for a good deal on 2x256 PC3200 now.

2) CPU: 2.8C P4

3) MB: Gigabyte GA-8IPE1000 or a P4P800 Deluxe: just checked that 8IPE1000 is cheaper than the Asus - so unless I get a refurb or something for Asus - I think I should be going with the former.

4) Vid Card: Here's where I am quite confused. You folks have suggested that I get a GFX5900 - and I checked - its like $200 (almost) - I wonder, since I am not an avid gamer - this seems like an overkill to me? or maybe I am wrong? My budget for a vid card was $100-150. What do you folks think - would you all suggest that this is THE card to get? If this is a consensus, the I certainly will, or would you all recommend a slightly inexpensive option?

5) Wnied/Jeff - thanks for the info about the PSU - yes, I completely agree with you on that. I do have 2 HDDs + 2 drives + multiple USBs etc. - undoubtedly I might end up needing a better PSU.

oh, and BTW, is newegg still a good place or do we have any new alternatives for such stuff?
 

Jeff H

Golden Member
Oct 11, 1999
1,611
4
81
ajaju, I'll recommend another board to look at, along w/ the Gigabyte and Asus models. Check out the EPoX EP-4PDA2+ board. After good luck w/ two previous EPoX boards (EP-4SDA+, EP-4PEA+) I agonized over an i865E board, and had more or less settled on the Asus P4P800 Deluxe. However, I took a closer look at the 4PDA2+ and went with that. I'm hoping to get it set up next week.

Re CPU choice, it's a matter of how much $$ you want to spend, and if you're ever planning on overclocking it. If no, then it's a simple $$ vs. performance issue. If overclocking is in your future, then I'd go w/ the 2.4 first and the 2.6 second.

Re vid card, the suggestion was for the FX5900SE, which Newegg is selling for $188. Another good choice, for less $$, would be the Sapphire Radeon 9600XT for $155 @ Newegg.

Re memory, I did a check on Newegg and found twin 256MB sticks starting at $78. Again, if you're not going to overclock then you don't need the fastest PC3200 or PC3500.

IMO if you're going to get a new power supply, don't go less than 400w. Lots of good brands out there; I've had good luck w/ Enermax and Antec.