Opinions Please!

[Giants415]

Hello Everyone!
I just ordered all the components for my first custom-built PC. Total
came out to $725 after coupons/rebates. Let me know what you all think!
Thanks!!!

CPU
Intel Pentium 4 / 2.4CGHz 512k socket 478 Hyper Threading Technology
800 MHz FSB

MOTHERBOARD
ABIT IS7,Intel 865PE chipset for Socket 478 P4 ATX motherboard

VIDEO CARD
MSI Geforce FX 5600 Model FX5600-VTDR128 VGA Card.with VIVO and Remote

RAM
GeIL Golden Dragon Dual DDR 512MB(2x256MB) 400MHz Model GD3200-512DC

CASE
Chenming Model# AX-01 (Silver) w/ Side Panel Window 420W Power Supply

HARD DRIVE
WD WESTERN DIGITAL "SPECIAL EDITION" 120GB 7200RPM EIDE HARD DRIVE
MODEL # WD1200JB

CD/DVD ROM DRIVES
1) Mad Dog MultiMedia 16x48 Internal DVD-ROM
2) Cendyne 52x24x52 Internal CD-RW Drive

 

[Corporate Thug]

all looks well. a few comments:

-since the 2.4C has a multipler of only 12 pc3500 might have been a better choice
-i think the 5600 will be a bottle neck

 

[MasterHoss]

Swap the video card. How much are you paying for it?

 

[b3b0p]

From reading this forum and the benchmarks, I would say you should pick a different video card.

I just bought parts for a similar setup but I went for the ATI Radeon 9600 Pro. The 9700 Pro was too much, the 9500 Pro was not in stock, and it was only about $45 more then a 128MB Ti4200 from NewEgg. So I splurged (for me $178 on a video card is a splurge) and got the 9600 Pro. Seems like a nice in between card that can run everything out there just fine.

Chris

 

[tbates757]

Originally posted by: b3b0p
From reading this forum and the benchmarks, I would say you should pick a different video card.

I just bought parts for a similar setup but I went for the ATI Radeon 9600 Pro. The 9700 Pro was too much, the 9500 Pro was not in stock, and it was only about $45 more then a 128MB Ti4200 from NewEgg. So I splurged (for me $178 on a video card is a splurge) and got the 9600 Pro. Seems like a nice in between card that can run everything out there just fine.

Chris

I think the 9700 non-pro is the best buy right now... it seems like people are only focusing on buying Pro's of the 9500, 9700, and 9800 but aren't recognizing the great value/performance of the non-pros

 

[brettjrob]

Not bad. I'm getting stuff similar to that and I went for Corsair XMS PC3200 with hopes of pushing the FSB up a little higher... but maybe the GeIL will do it too. As far as the video, I don't think the 5600 is all that bad (as long as you didn't pay a lot for it), but a 9500 or even 9700 may have been a better choice.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: tbates757

Originally posted by: b3b0p
From reading this forum and the benchmarks, I would say you should pick a different video card.

I just bought parts for a similar setup but I went for the ATI Radeon 9600 Pro. The 9700 Pro was too much, the 9500 Pro was not in stock, and it was only about $45 more then a 128MB Ti4200 from NewEgg. So I splurged (for me $178 on a video card is a splurge) and got the 9600 Pro. Seems like a nice in between card that can run everything out there just fine.

Chris

I think the 9700 non-pro is the best buy right now... it seems like people are only focusing on buying Pro's of the 9500, 9700, and 9800 but aren't recognizing the great value/performance of the non-pros

Yeah, no sense in getting a 9700 Pro when a 9800 non-pro is cheaper and performs the same, and can possibly be overclocked to the speed of a 9800 Pro.

 

[Giants415]

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

I was looking at the ATI Radeon cards but they all seem to push my budget over the limit. I didn't want to spend more than $700, so I decided to go with MSI GeForce FX5600-VTDR128 after reading the following review:

http://www6.tomshardware.com/graphic/20030714/index.html

I ended up paying $138 shipped for the MSI GeForce FX5600-VTDR128. Regarding the RAM, would PC3500 over PC3200 make that much more of a difference? It would cost me about $40 more to upgrade to the Geil Golden Dragon PC3500! Let me know what you all think!

THANKS AGAIN!

 

[Giants415]

?

 

[John]

Get a GF4 TI4400 instead of the 5600.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: Giants415
Thanks for the feedback everyone!

I was looking at the ATI Radeon cards but they all seem to push my budget over the limit. I didn't want to spend more than $700, so I decided to go with MSI GeForce FX5600-VTDR128 after reading the following review:

http://www6.tomshardware.com/graphic/20030714/index.html

I ended up paying $138 shipped for the MSI GeForce FX5600-VTDR128. Regarding the RAM, would PC3500 over PC3200 make that much more of a difference? It would cost me about $40 more to upgrade to the Geil Golden Dragon PC3500! Let me know what you all think!

THANKS AGAIN!

i dont think it is absoluetly necessary but the 2.4C has a mulipler of 12 so you need a higher FSB for max ocing. i guess you can get away with pc3200 and pick some mem/fsb ratio when ocing

 

[Wheatmaster]

Originally posted by: John
Get a GF4 TI4400 instead of the 5600.

yea...you'll be happier with the TI series than the FX series

 

[Jeff7181]

I wish I had money to throw around like that...

 

[Giants415]

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