Next Build

[Boobs McGee]

Hi everyone, looking for some advice on my next build. I posted here for my first build and the help was great. Lost my logon info so had to start over with a new account. Main mission of CPU will be daily use with lots of gaming (mostly FPS, BF2....) I would like to improve over the performance of my current rig (in sig).
First Budget: around $1200

Components I will reuse:
Monitor 19'' Samsung CRT
Sound SB Audigy 2 ZS
Maxtor 200Gb 8Mb cache PATA
Keyboard/Mouse Microsoft Wireless combo
Speakers Logitech Z-560 4.1

Current plan:
Case: Antec Sonata II w/450 Truepower 2.0 (have a Sonata I now and I really like how quiet it is)
Mobo: ASRock 939Dual-SATA2 Audio/Lan/PCI-E/SATA or
EPOX EP-9NPA+ ULTRA
CPU: Need some help here, was looking at the Opty 146 or 165, then the prices shot up. I am open for suggestions maybe opty 144 or X2 3800+. I know there is a big price difference there which does not bother me. Performance is the key.
Cooling: THERMALRIGHT XP-90 + AS5, need suggestion for fan
GPU: 7800GT (best price/performance at purchase time)
Memory: 2X1Gb, needs to be able to OC
HDD: already have one but need another, still not convinced on SATA>PATA, can always use round IDE cables for airflow
Optical: whatever I see at purchase time

Now I am not dead set on any of the planned components and I am open to advice. I am not interested in SLI. I would like to OC whatever chip I end up with. Although I am not trying to squeeze every last MHz out of the chip. If I can do the build cheaper than budget that would open me up to maybe going for a LCD or upgrading something else. Like I said I am open to suggestions. Please be critical, I won't blush. Thanks in advance.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

If anything, the price of the Opteron 165 has gone down. You can buy it for $332 from Newegg. Of course, the X2 3800+ has gone down, too; nab that for $297 from zipzoomfly.com. Is twice the L2 cache and an extra 100 MHz or so worth the $35? Only you can decide.

Also, overclocking memory usually isn't a good idea except on the most expensive builds--and even then it's iffy. Just get some generic PC3200 from ms4me.com. It was $76 per GB, last I checked.

 

[jimbob200521]

looks like a good build to me. maybe a different mobo, though. ive never been a fan of asrock, although i have heard good and bad about them, this is just personal brand preferance. as for the cpu, i have the 3800+ and have oc'd it to 2.6ghz. performance is great, and its very stable. as for the ram, hurtstotalktoyou is right, just get whatever ram you like, cheap-o ram is fine. running a divider with a64 systems causes little to no performance hit. lite-on makes good, low priced optical drives, so that may be something to consider there.

welcome back

 

[alimoalem]

for your hdd, i'd still go SATA evne if you're not convinced. get the western digital se16 (whatever size you want).

ram can be corsair XMS or value. i'd go with value. consider g.skill too

cpu: go with the opty 165. it's like $30 more than the x2 3800

 

[imported_redlotus]

Out of curiosity, why the upgrade on the case? You could just upgrade to the same PSU as the Sonata II and save yourself about $60 (including shipping savings). If I understand things correctly, the II only adds the higher PSU and the fan duct that really doesn't help much (from what I've read).

-red

 

[Bobthelost]

I wouldn't get the mobo unless you're reusing an AGP card, otherwise there are better performers out there. It's a good board by all acounts, but DFI is better for overclocking and Asus do some lovely passive motherboards, perhaps the A8R MVP?

CPU: How high is up? Dual core will start to kick arse soon, nearly all upcoming games can be expected to be multithreaded, but then again the CPU is rarely the bottleneck anyway. If it's a choice between a high end CPU and a high end GPU then GPU is more important by a long way for gaming.

HDs: All the fast HDs are SATA, it's that simple really. The WD range is excellent, although the hitachi deskstar is better for 250gb and seagate's waranty always makes them worth a look.

Optical, try and get a BenQ 1640 or 1655, top notch drives and worth the extra $5 or so you may pay for them. If not then you can't go wrong with a NEC 3540 with hacked firmware (the stock one doesn't allow bitsetting = bad)

 

[Boobs McGee]

Originally posted by: redlotus
Out of curiosity, why the upgrade on the case? You could just upgrade to the same PSU as the Sonata II and save yourself about $60 (including shipping savings). If I understand things correctly, the II only adds the higher PSU and the fan duct that really doesn't help much (from what I've read).

-red

I plan on leaving my old rig intact, except I will take out one of my HDD and the Audigy 2. So thats why I was looking at the Sonata II.

I was looking mainly at the Epox boards as my choice. The reason I even listed the Asrock is that at monarch they have a combo with the Opty 144 and the Asrock board for just over $200. They didn't have the Epox listed for the combo offer.

I am open to suggestions for boards maybe one of the boards listed here: LINK

I have a Epox board now that turned out great and I read good things about the ASrock. Thats why I listed those two. I haven't decided on the Opty 144 I just though that was a good price so I might go that route to save some cash. If I do go with the X2 or 165 then I would look at the Epox probably.

Bob: Thanks for the suggestions. I may go for a SATA as my primary and then keep my extra PATA as a storage drive.
Thanks for the help so far guys.

 

[Boobs McGee]

Ok Order has been placed:
Monarch: Total with shipping $244.70. This combo required a HSF and came with free nero 7 ultra
MOBO: ASRock 939Dual-SATA2 $69
CPU: AMD Opteron 144 1.8GHz $130.75
HSF: Thermaltake A1770 $12

Newegg: Total with shipping $782.22
DVD+/-RW NEC ND-3550A BK % - OEM (Qty=1, Price=$38.99)
OEM Seagate 7200.9 250gig SATA2(Qty=1, Price=$110.00)
CASE ANTEC|SONATAII BLK RT - Retail W 450W PSU(Qty=1, Price=$99.99)
EVGA N GF 7800GT 256-P2-N516 R - Retail (Qty=1, Price=$295.00)
MEM 1Gx2|PATRIOT D400 PSD2G400KH R - Retail (Qty=1, Price=$159.95)
CPU THERMPASTE|ARCTIC SILVER5 3.5G% - OEM (Qty=1, Price=$5.99)
And random round cables for floppy and IDE drives

Total $1026.92 with 3 day shipping on everything. I figure I should be able to get a decent OC with the 144. I just couldn't pass on finding a 144 at that price. I went ahead and got a SATA HDD. Thanks for everybody's help. I will post again once its running later this week. Once again thanks to those who posted.