New System Specs - Need Check Over

[DaredevilUK]

Hello, I will be building a new system this week and would just like to check that all the components are ok. I need the PC for general office/web use and also the ability to play games such as C&C Generals.

CD-RW: Liteon 52x24x52 IDE Internal CD-RW Drive - Retail Box
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 60GB 7200rpm UDMA100 IDE Hard Drive - OEM
Motherboard: MSI K7N2-lan SKT A NForce 2 Chipset 8x AGP 6Ch-Sound & LAN
CPU: AMD ATHLON XP2200+ 266MHz FSB - OEM
CPU Cooling: Coolermaster CP5-6J31C Socket A Upto XP3000 AMD Approved
Graphics Card: Sapphire 9500Pro 8x AGP 128MB DDR DVI TV-OUT Retail Box

It would also be cool if someone could recommend a good wireless mouse/keyboard combo (optical if possible). Thanks for reading this.

DaredevilUK

 

[DaredevilUK]

Oh for the memory I will be using:

2 X Crucial 256MB DDR PC3200 ? CL=3 ? Non-parity ? 2.5V ? 32Meg x 64

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Well, I recommend that you stay the (asterisk-ampersand-exclamation point-dollar sign) away from wireless, IMHO. Last thing you want is for your keyboard or mouse to fritz out midgame, or interfere at a LAN party.

I'd say that's more than enough on the main box specs though. Should be overkill for Generals. I assume you'll be overclocking. Shooting for a 333 or 400 FSB?

- M4H

 

[Corporate Thug]

if it's from newegg, i'd rather get the 80GB WD SE

 

[DaredevilUK]

I have no plans to overclock, just not into that stuff at the moment.

Im in the UK and will be buying most the components from ebuyer.com, apart from the graphics card which I'll be getting from komplett.co.uk and the memory direct from crucial.

 

[Tavoc]

I would go with an Epox 8RDA+ and memory with better timings.

 

[EdipisReks]

Originally posted by: DaredevilUK

It would also be cool if someone could recommend a good wireless mouse/keyboard combo (optical if possible).

it's not a combo, but the logitech MX-700 was about the best computer purchase i ever made.

 

[Malladine]

Looks excellent man. Very good choices with the mobo, vpu and HDD

Where are you buying all that in the UK? I lived there for 19yrs and my father still does. If I knew of a decent online (or otherwise?) store over there I can help him build a good gaming rig.

 

[jdogg707]

I second a vote for the MX700, so much better than anything wireless of Microsoft's! System looks good, may I suggest something like a Kingston, Corsair, or OCZ stick for the memory, prices are about the same but you'll be able to have tighter memory timings which will help tremendously. Also, you might want to check out the cost of a 2500+, it gives you the 333MHZ FSB and 512KB L2 Cache and shouldn't be too much more over the 2200+. Also try putting one of the Special Edition Hard Drives in that system, you can get them at 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 160, 180, 200, and now 250 Gigabytes and they will help with load times and just increase overall system performance! I also agree to possibly get the Epox 8RDA or 8RDA+, they should be around the same cost, maybe a little more but will offer you a few more options, plus the features you get are nice too! As far as a keyboard goes, I've got the Logitech Cordless Elite and it works great! Hope this gives you some ideas...

 

[Malladine]

I'd stay away from WD...Seagate make quality HDD.

Far as the Barton goes, for $50+ extra, the slight performance increase you'll see just isn't worth it IMO. Hey, why not go for a 2100+ and o'clock it to 2.2ghz and above?

 

[newbiepcuser]

Originally posted by: DaredevilUK
Oh for the memory I will be using:

2 X Crucial 256MB DDR PC3200 ? CL=3 ? Non-parity ? 2.5V ? 32Meg x 64

From what I've read on the boards, Crucial PC3200 isn't up to par with Kingston Hyper X or Corsair XMS series.

 

[carlsburg]

I was thinking of a system very similar to this but would like to know what power supply would be best for the MSI mo bo, and the 2500+ barton athlon xp? Sorry kinda a n00b when i comes to building puters

Carlsburg

 

[jdogg707]

if you don't feel like spending the money on a Barton, at least spend 17 bucks and get the 2400+, Western Digital Special Editions are awesome drives, and they will noticeably outperform a Seagate drive, the only thing you'll notice is that the Seagate is quieter.

Carlsburg:

A good quality Antec or Enermax 333 or 350 should suffice depending on what you're looking to add later.

 

[Malladine]

In all benchmarks i've seen, there's very little difference in performance between Seagate, Maxtor and WD. If you'd care to post evidence for your statement...

Although I suppose in the end it depends on how you define a difference.

 

[KuRnUp]

another vote for the MX700, by far the best wireless optical mouse out there. But i would reccomend a wired keyboard, believe me, its so irritating to all of a sudden not straife left because your keyboard is low on batteries, or just the signal loosing a package along the way. so MX700 and a logitec wired keyboard is best.

 

[jdogg707]

If you go the Storage Review website and read the article concerning the speed of the drives you'll find that the Special Edition drives outperform the Seagate drives consistently, and considering the small difference in price, why would you go with a lower performing drive for just a few dollars less than a better drive with a three year warranty!

Average Transfer rates:
Begin:
WD SE - 56.5 (ATA 100)
Seagate - 43.8 (SATA)

End:
WD SE - 32.8 (ATA 100)
Seagate - 24.7 (SATA)

ZD Business Disk WinMark 99:

WD SE - 16.4 (ATA 100)
Seagate - 8.8 (ATA 100)

ZD High-End Disk WinMark 99:

WD SE - 39.2 (ATA 100)
Seagate - 29.4 (ATA 100)

Just a few numbers from the review of the Barracuda V, both SATA and IDE versions.

From the place you are buying from I would say grab the Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 80GB 8MB Cache ATA133 Hard drive for £64.98 vs. £50.19 for the 60GB Seagate...