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Opinions on putting together this RIG

M

Mattax

Senior member
$347 CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Dual Core Processor Model ADA3800BVBOX - Retail

HEATSINK&FAN: XP-90c Heatsink and Panaflo (92mm) fan

$163 MB: DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 SLI-DR Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD

$145 RAM:OCZ Platinum Series with Enhanced Bandwidth technology (EB) 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 500 (PC 4000) Unbuffered System Memory Model OCZ5001024EBPE - Retail x 2

$159 PS:SeaSonic S12-600 ATX12V 600W Power Supply - Retail

$124 CASE:Antec Performance I P180 Silver Computer Case - Retail

$168.99 HD 1:Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB 10,000 RPM 8MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM

$182 HD 2:Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 ST3300831AS-RK 300GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - Retail

HD 3:Maxtor 300GB

$41.99 BURNER/ROM: NEC Silver IDE DVD Burner Model ND-3540A - OEM

$349 VIDEO: eVGA 256-P2-N517-AX Geforce 7800GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail

$399 SOUND:Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Elite Pro 8 (7.1) Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail

$435 SPEAKERS: Creative GigaWorks S750 700 Watts 7.1 Speaker - Retail

I would like to get final opinions on this RIG before I place the order today.

Thank you to everyone who already helped to give their feedback on the this set up.

Thanks.
 
I've never been a fan of the Raptor, but that's just me. More importantly, why the hell are you going with three different manufacturers for your hard drive? Why not two Maxtors or two Seagates in addition to the Raptor? That's just weird to me, but whatever.

Other than that... your system is looking downright sexy. BFG has on overclocked 7800GT, and I think there's another manufacturer that has one, but the name escapes me right now.

I would probably go with a 3700+ as opposed to the X2 3800+, but that's purely whether you're working for the moment or whether you're future-proofing your box.

That RAM is solid but, if you're not overclocking, allow me to suggest this ram. Note the nice 2-3-2-5 timings. But that OCZ RAM also got a quality review on AnandTech, so I'm definitely not knocking it.

Overall though? Your system is boss.
 
whats the fascination with the raptors? is there really that much difference? seems like a waste of money to me. $168 for 74gb, when you can probably get a 300gb sata drive for that much, if not less.

and i have to ask also, why 3 different hd brands??

and do people really need a $159 psu? seems like a major waste of money to me.

$399 sound card?

$435 speakers?

someone has too much money.
 
HD differences based on three reasons. One: I already have the Maxtor. Two: I want a fast high performance HD for the OS and general programs. Three: Seagate was recommended as a good HD and I need one for Gaming. If I did not already have the Maxtor, I would get two Seagates.

HD 1: OS
HD 2: Gaming
HD 3: Video and photo editing / storage

On the RAM: Is the one you recommended Patriot 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) System Memory - Retail better than or equal to the OCZ?

CPU: I am going with the X2 because it is $24 more than the 3800 and it is a much better CPU.

SOUND: am looking for the best external sound card. If another compares, I will go with the one that is best performance vs money.

SPEAKERS: I need 7.1 speakers, if you know of other 7.1 speakers, I will gladly look at them. My computer room is in wall wired for 7.1.

On speakers cost, almost every speaker out there has a 200% markup. When I was able to purchase my home speakers in the past through a friend whom worked for an audio/video store, I got them at half price through his discount. The discount opportunity is null and void now, so it is not a possibility.





 
Looks good. Even for video encoding my raid-0 raptors only made a differance of like 2 minutes, so not really worth the cost in my opinion, but they are fast drives none the less. Deffinatly gotta love the X2 when it comes to encoding.
 
definately get 2gb ram. you dont need that expensive stuff. get 2x1gb ocz value, or oc platinum if you must.
 
For the RAM, you are suggesting one 2GB stick vs two 1 GB sticks? I think the MB can only handle 4 GB total. So if I buy two 1 GB RAM now I can expand to another two 1 GB sticks later.

My concern now is what is supposed to be the best RAM for this MB?

RAM Timing?

I want 2GB of RAM to start.

 
Originally posted by: pontifex
whats the fascination with the raptors? is there really that much difference? seems like a waste of money to me. $168 for 74gb, when you can probably get a 300gb sata drive for that much, if not less.

and i have to ask also, why 3 different hd brands??

and do people really need a $159 psu? seems like a major waste of money to me. $399 sound card?

$435 speakers?

someone has too much money.
Click to expand...

Well let me tell you 4 years down the line you might be on your 3rd or 4th PSU and his Seasonic will be purring right along!!

You definately get what you pay for when buying a PSU!!
Its been my experience that you get rock solid rails no waivering even under laod!

What can we say about quality......

But in the end what really counts is are you happy with the PSU that you have!!

Spec wise I would put his seasonic or my PCPC up against any PSU on the market.....

🙂
 
Originally posted by: Mattax
For the RAM, you are suggesting one 2GB stick vs two 1 GB sticks? I think the MB can only handle 4 GB total. So if I buy two 1 GB RAM now I can expand to another two 1 GB sticks later.

My concern now is what is supposed to be the best RAM for this MB?

RAM Timing?

I want 2GB of RAM to start.
Click to expand...


OCZ Platinum 2x1 GB with 2-3-2-5 timings
Your Power supply is awesome....but it's overkill
CPU looks great Heatsink looks great
I don't kow why you would choose a SLI motherboard
Great case
You could lose the Raptor and the other two drives and go with a Seagate 7200.9 500MB monster, very fast drive and tons of room
I know you want 7.1 speakers, sorry it's really overkill a nice 5.1 set would sound better anyway
That soundcard is serious overkill unless you are using the machine for mostly audio reasons
I think I would shave some money in cartain areas and step up to a 7800GTX
 
I am in the process of hunting down prices before ordering what I have listed. So I have not place any orders yet.

OCZ Platinum 2x1 GB with 2-3-2-5 timings
Click to expand...
Yes, am going with that RAM in a DUAL pack.

Your Power supply is awesome....but it's overkill
Click to expand...
Probably but will stick with more power and it is half the cost of the last power supply I bought that was close to top of the line.

CPU looks great Heatsink looks great
Click to expand...
Thanks.

I don't know why you would choose a SLI motherboard
Click to expand...
What other choice and why?

Great case
Click to expand...
Thanks

You could lose the Raptor and the other two drives and go with a Seagate 7200.9 500MB monster, very fast drive and tons of room
Click to expand...
I know, but I have explained the reasons for seperate HDs. Another reason which I may not have explained is I prefer to keep the OS seperate from everything else due to wiping the OS and failures. HD failure, the content that is affected is contained. Both situations I have run into on more than one occasion.

I know you want 7.1 speakers, sorry it's really overkill a nice 5.1 set would sound better anyway
Click to expand...
I can, however, I purposely set up the computer room for 7.1 and want to ultilise it.

That soundcard is serious overkill unless you are using the machine for mostly audio reasons
Click to expand...
What other external 7.1 sound card will handle the task?

I think I would shave some money in cartain areas and step up to a 7800GTX
Click to expand...
I can shave the money on the sound card if their is a viable alternative. I already have the 300 GB Maxtor HD so nothing to shave there.

What advantages does the 7800GTX have over the 7800GT?

Thanks.
 
gt co is going to be within 5 to 10 % fps of the gtx...some instances closer than that...the only thing you would notice is more money in your pocket....
 
Thanks that is what I thought. I will stay with the 7800GT.

The only thing I am willing to part with at this pont is the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Elite Pro 8 (7.1) Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail

As long as there is another external 7.1 sound card. The only other one I found was the audigy 2ZS for $299.

 
As of now, I purchased the RAM only.

I will be doing some more homework this week on pricing before making any more purchases.
 
If you're not going to go SLI, I would just choose an Epox NForce 4x. You can also use a less costly power supply from Fortron or Enhance. They both make 500watt 24pin SLI compatible power supplies below $99.
 
OP - are you planning to go the SLI route, either now or perhaps a bit later on?

If not, don't drop $163 on that board.

Epox has a fine board at the $100 point as does ASUS (around $115, the A8N-E), if you don't need SLi.
 
Thank you both for the money saving tips, however, I am going the SLI route.

Once it is up and running I will add the second VIDEO card within 1-3 months.

My concern with the RIG is the components working together and performing top notch.

I am still on the line about the SOUND card, but so far have only heard not to buy it, but have been given no alternatives that support 7.1.

 
cpu is good but u could go with a single core 3700....it's better in gaming

mobo looks awesome

ram is a good choice

PS is too expensive

Hard drive u definitely shouldn't be getting. get a regular SATA II drive or go SCSI if you want speed.

u could go a little cheaper on sound
 
Getting conflicting messages on the CPU. Some say to get the X2, others saying step down to non X2. 3800.

Already purchased the RAM.

Will stick with PS.

So which harddrives to get? Brand, type? I already have the Maxtor. What HD for the OS and for the Gaming?

What sound card that supports 7.1? Everyone continues to tell me to get a cheaper sound card, but provides no alternatives.

Thanks.
 
definately go for X2. dont know what else i can say about that. seagate barracuda 7200.8 or 7200.9 are really good drives.
 
ok will stay with X2 CPU.

Do you have a link to the Seagate HD? Newegg if you would.

I see you have the Logitech MX700 Wireless Optical Mouse. I have one of these as well. The recharge function failed about 8 months ago and I have never been able to get it to work again. I changed batteries and they will not charge either.

I loved the unit but am having second thoughts about buying the same replacement. Thoughts?
 
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