New system... Suggestions?

[kreno]

Intel Pentium IV 2.4BGHz
Asus P4S8X
Corsair 512MB XMS PC3200 DDR SDRAM
Maxtor 2X 80GB DiamondMax Plus 9
Lite-On 40x12x48 LTR40125S
Pioneer 16X DVDROM
Leadtek GeForce4 Ti4200 64MB
Creative Lab Audigy Platinum eX
Antec SX830 w/300W PowerSupply

 

[Jeff H]

kreno, at first glance the P4S8X looks like a dynamite board. However, check out the forum at AsusBoards.com for what I'd consider an inordinate amount of issues w/ this board. Unless you're willing to baby this thing it might be prudent to hold off until Asus figures out what's going on w/ this thing.

Problems seem to center around memory and vcore issues. One thread discusses stability at 333 w/ one 512MB stick vs. two 256MB sticks. Another talks about fluctuating vcores. Another thread talks about the necessity of a p.s. greater than 300w. FWIW I'm currently running a SiS645 board (EPoX 4SDA+) and its been a good performer, so I'm not bashing SiS chipsets. It just seems this P4S8X has more than its share of issues out of the box.

Otherwise you have the makings of a great system. Are you going to RAID the two Maxtors? If so keep in mind the Promise onboard controller restricts you to a fixed stripe size (I think it's 64k, but if that's incorrect I'm sure someone will straighten me out!).

Jeff

 

[XBoxLPU]

I would replace the P4S8X with the Asus P4B533 and would also pick up a Lite On 48x12x48 . ( only $5 more )

But everything else is fine 🙂

 

[halkebul]

Western Digital Special Edition hard drives are better, faster and cheaper than Maxtor ATA133 drives.

Western Digital 80GB Special Edition Hard Drive $109 at newegg.com
Maxtor 80GB Diamond Max Hard Drive $119 at newegg.com

By buying the P4 1.8A and increasing the FSB from 100MHz (400MHz quad-pumped) to 133MHz (533MHz quad-pumped) you can obtain a processor that is the same as the 2.4B - saving ~$50 in the process. Don't worry about voiding your processor's warranty via overclocking as Intel can't tell if you overclocked. This overclock will take approx. 30 seconds to perform because only one setting in the bios needs to be changed, the FSB.😉

 

[XBoxLPU]

Originally posted by: halkebul

By buying the P4 1.8A and increasing the FSB from 100MHz (400MHz quad-pumped) to 133MHz (533MHz quad-pumped) you can obtain a processor that is the same as the 2.4B - saving ~$50 in the process. Don't worry about voiding your processor's warranty via overclocking as Intel can't tell if you overclocked. This overclock will take approx. 30 seconds to perform because only one setting in the bios needs to be changed, the FSB.😉

But don't forget that he can also change the FSB to 133 on 2.4BGHz and have an even better OC 😛

 

[halkebul]

But don't forget that he can also change the FSB to 133 on 2.4BGHz and have an even better OC

The FSB is at 133 on 2.4B by default. The 1.8A and 2.4B differ only by price, default speed and default FSB.

 

[kreno]

Thanks for all of the great tips guys I really appreciate it. I will change the P4S8X for sure after hearing about those issues you listed out. I'm picking up the 40x12x48 on account of my being able to pick it up at work for $35 lol.

I wanted best bang for buck and it looked like 2.4B was the best choice for me. I do not wish to overclock this one on account of it being a beginnings for a 3D workstation (don't worry I'm not gipping myself, I'm planning on picking up the NV30 when it comes out) and don't want any kind of instability remotely possible here...

I picked the Maxtors because of sound level as they have the fluid bearings. In fact I have one in my current system and couldn't be happier. I would have gone WD otherwise though. I have a band and we are going to be recording some songs with this thing and we need very low background noise. Keep the suggestions coming!