New System

[ryant]

Scope:

1. Purpose:
Primary: Heavy Programming.
Secondary: Games, Internet, Possible Multimedia Centre.
Requirements: DVD Burn, Gigabit + WIFI
2. Price:
To a maximum of $1600 AUD (or 1,200 USD) - No monitor.
3. Performance:
3DMark of 4000 - 5000 OCed, or 3700 - 4200 UnOCed
4. Upgradability:
Lifespan of 3 Years consistent with heavy programming and gaming.

Right - that should avoid overkill, now ive done my homework and so far this is what im looking at:

Decided Specs: [$980]

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 512K 2.0 GHz (939) 90nm [$326]
Gigabyte GA-K8NXP-9 AMD Socket 939 Motherboard (PCIe) [$300]
GEIL High Performance 512MB DDR 400 (3200) RAM SDRAM [$121]
Thermaltake Tsunami VA-3000BWA Black Case with 400W PSU [$233]

The case is not changing . I have some possible options on the 160 HDD, video card and the DVD.

Undecided Specs:

160 HDD:
Western Digital 160GB 7200RPM 8MB (ATA 100) [$160]
Maxtor 160GB 7200RPM 8MB (Serial ATA) [$144]

VID:
Leadtek (PCIe) PX6600GT TDH Extreme 128MB TV-out, DVI, CineFX [$367]
Asus (PCIe) Extreme N5900 TVD 138M PCX5900 VIVO [$382]

DVD:
LG (4160BBK) 16X +/- DVD Burn, Dual Layer [$124]
Pioneer DVR-108 DVD R/RW [$130]

Ive looked at the Anandtec posts here but these arent really suitable for me.

Anything Ive overlooked? Incompat? Suggestions?
Thanks

 

[stevty2889]

For the video card, definatly get the 6600gt over the 5900. Not sure if you have them available to you, but the NEC 3500a DVD burners are great. Either of those hard drives will perfrom about the same, but I don't really like Maxtors. May be nothing wrong with them, but I have had back luck with any maxtor drive I have ever had. Everything else looks good, although you may want to go with a gig of ram over 512mb.

 

[jterrell]

what kind of programming? linux is by far a better programming solution than any windows OS.
Nvidia has better drivers for linux than ATI by far.
I suggest cheaper value ram at 2x512. Corsair, Kingston, PDP, OCZ value lines all work fine.
I'd look at the Seagate SATA 2 drives with NCQ. Much better warranty at 5 years.

The AUS prices kinda throw me so not sure of exact conversions but I'd suggest the 3000+ verison of the same processor as they should OC to the same exact speed anyway. I'd also suggest the NEC 3520 DVD burner.

 

[Tyrial]

I'd say get the 6600GT over the 5900 for a vid card, it's not worth getting a vid card from last generation if you can afford it. Also try and find a Seagate, like jterrell said. As for the DVD Burner go for the Pioneer 108 I have one myself, excellent burner although that price dows seem a bit steep. Also good choice on the Case .

 

[biostud]

Originally posted by: ryant
Scope:

Leadtek (PCIe) PX6600GT TDH Extreme 128MB TV-out, DVI, CineFX [$367]
Asus (PCIe) Extreme N5900 TVD 138M PCX5900 VIVO [$382]

The 5900 is more expensive than the 6600GT???????

6600GT >>>>> 5900

 

[ryant]

I get a pref discount from here (where i usually order my parts) so i get probably get discounts on some parts but not others.

I heard somewhere that even though its a 5900 it has great performance for the price, but im not sure itll outscore the 6600GT - which i was tending to anyway for its other features.

 

[imported_brad]

where are you getting your prices? they all seem high unless you're using a different currency than the american dollar.

i would also go ahead and get 1gb of ram while you're doing it.

 

[Tyrial]

The prices are in AUS$ however some of the things are still a little overpriced, like the 3200+ and the DVD Burner.

 

[Budmantom]

If you can fit it in your budget A64 3500, 6800gt and a 3520a and a plain dvd rom.



Tom

 

[Ike0069]

Originally posted by: Budmantom
If you can fit it in your budget A64 3500, 6800gt and a 3520a and a plain dvd rom.



Tom

I agree, except get a 3200+ and use the savings for the 6800 GT.