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Please Help a Tech Rip Van Winkle Build A New PC!

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If i were you i'd shell out for the best CPU you can afford, a 4400 is a lovely chip, an opteron would be nice and for performance per $ when overclocked the 165 is unmatched. (Except maybe for that semperon that OC'd by 80%)

As for the RAM, go for value stuff, the performance increase you get from going for top spec stuff is rather limited. If you do go for good stuff then aparently low latencies is best.
 
If I want to OC, then better RAM will be a must. I was reading something yesterday comparing Corsair ValueRAM to their l337 stuff and while it wasn't much faster, it OCed much better.

I'm leaning toward the 3800+ (2GHz - $322) or the 4200+ (2.2GHz - $400) with the former being able to perform the same with only a 10% OC. Should I be able to pull that off with the stock cooler? The Tech Report says they had their 3800+ clicking at 2.4GHz (4800+ speed, albeit with half the L2) w/o a problem. Sharky Extreme OTOH was underwhelmed by its performance vs. faster single-core CPUs. Since the future is multi-threaded, shouldn't that be a priority?
 
Been shopping and getting a headache!😕

I'm really getting stuck on the case/PS issue. I've got old white Antec SX1030 and SX635 cases on hand, but I don't really want to reuse them because they're white and/or dingy. However, if I do, I can just toss in a big PS and be on my way. Or I can get something like...

Antec PERFORMANCE TX TX1050B w/500W ATX12V v2.0 Power Supply for $125+shipping.

Pros: 500W modular PS; lots of space for HDs, etc. with removable cages
Cons: Side holes need fans and filters; doesn't come with all fans; not SLI compliant

.....or......

GIGABYTE 3D AURORA ($140) plus ENERMAX Whisper II EG565P-VE ($90) = $230+shipping.

Pros: Badass case that's like my Sonata on steroids; well-regarded SLI-compliant PS
Cons: $$$$$$$$$$ - a hundred bucks is a hundred bucks.

Also, the Gigabyte case can be bought locally with tax for a few bucks more than the "lower" price and shipping. PS price can't be touched - Newegg = da shiznatch!

What to do? Splurge an uncomfortable amout of money or get the case that will fit my current needs for the minimal cost? I don't want to go cheap, but yeesh. Can I put a splitter on the PCI-e connector to SLI?

Here's what items I am almost set on:

Video: eVGA 7800GT N516 w/free Quake 4 - $300
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ - $400
Hard drive: Maxtor MaXLine III 7L300S0 300GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 - $115
Total: $815 plus shipping

Assuming I go with the most expensive case/PS option, I'm now up to $1055 - let's call it $1100 w/shipping - and my $1300 target price just went poof! Even bumping up to $1500 doesn't allow much room for the as-yet-unpicked mobo and RAM, much less optical drives, etc. (Need suggestions on a good DVD-RW and CD-RW, too.)

I want to get this stuff ordered ASAFP before the Xmas rush bogs down everything. Thanks for reading! 🙂
 
Originally posted by: forumposter32
If you don't know what's going on, they stopped making socket A CPUs so they're not a good deal for the money. They stopped making the Athlon 64 3700+ for socket 754 so there's only a few places like newegg where it's still selling at a price that's worth getting. Other than that, I'd go for single core to avoid any X2 issues. And I'd go for minimum Athlon 64 3700+ socket 939.

Overclocking is for people who like to take chances.
Click to expand...

X@ issues ? are you still touting this crap ?

OP, get an X2 3800+ and OC it easy to 2.4 . I don;t like to take chances, but an OC to 2.4 is very easy, sometimes on stock vcore. forumposter32 is just an X2 troll.
 
I wasn't giving any credence to the X2 bashing. The X2 4200 is 2.2 GHz and the 3800 is 2.0 Ghz. Will it OC to 2.4 on the stock cooler. I'm really trying to avoid the noise of a huge HSF combo. Saving $75 would be nice, but not if I give it back in additional cooling.

Still need a good mobo and RAM combo. I like the DFI LANParty for all the goodies and I may put off the X-fi for a little bit - wait for a sale after Xmas - but everyone's saying it doesn't play nice with Corsair RAM.
 
Well mine are all on XP90's ($35), but many say they get to 2.5 on the stock HSF ! So 2.4 should be easy !
 
well here is the one i just ordered,

i think its pretty nice 🙂

Antec P180
SeaSonic 500 W PS
ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe MB (FINALLY FOUND one in stock that wasnt $300 bux)
Opteron 175 Retail HS/FAN
Mushkin 2GB XP4000 REDLINE DUAL PACK (2X1GB)
eVGA Geforce 7800GTX 256-P2-N527-AX Video Card
WD4000YR hard drive
NEC3550A DVD burner
 
Man, when I built my current box it was so easy: Picked the case, picked the mobo and CPU, all no-brainer stuff. Spent today reading sites, going to stores and I have a headache (and that's before I accidentally slammed a door into my head) and I still haven't gotten a solid read on what mobo and RAM to get, etc. Disappointing response here, too. 🙁
 
Well, the headache is over. (I hope.) This has been such an ordeal, I'm not even geeked up over my impending rig. 🙁 Here's what's coming:

Case: Thermaltake Soprano w/430W PS (pulling for another PC) - $96
Power supply: Aerocool Turbine Power 550W modular - $106
Motherboard: DFI LANParty nF4 SLI-DR Expert - $199
CPU: Athlon X2 3800 - $325
RAM: Corsair XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) Twinx2048-3200c2 - $236
Video: eVGA 7800GT 256MB - $300 (w/free Quake 4!)
Hard Drive:: WD Caviar SE 320GB SATA - $131
DVD burner: Lite-On - $40
Total w/shipping: $1475:disgust:

Went with the LANPArty for the extra stuff and the fact the case has a window, may as well bling it up a bit. Hope it all works. Thanks to those who offered tips.
 
Looks good. One thing I'd definitely consider is a decent fan controller. Should run you $20-$30 or so.

I have a CoolerMaster unit in my machine (digital version), with four temperature sensors and four fan plugs. When the sensors reach pre-set thresholds, it spins the appropriate fan up to full speed, and then back down again once the temperature drops.

The result is that you can run all your fans at 1400rpm so they barely make any noise whatsoever, but can rest assured that if things get too warm, that the controller will kick the fans up to compensate.

I find that after an hour or two of Half-Life 2, the fans run at full speed for about two minutes once I've exited the game. Truly useful bit of kit.

Oh, if you get the CoolerMaster, remember to prise the beeper from the circuit board- it doesn't shut up until you press a button on the front otherwise 😉
Drove me mad.

Anyway, I can pretty much guarantee you that once you've had one of these things and experienced your virtually inaudible PC, you won't want to go back!
 
I will look into it. I'm gonna scrape the TIM off the stock HSF and apply some old Arctic Silver II I have around from the last build for starters before investigating alternate heat sinks. Thanks for the tip.
 
Wow, what a great thread. I am also a Tech Rip Van Winkle (and to think I used to post here on a daily basis). The last computer was a DELL (flamesuit on) in November of 2002 when they were running that awesome EPP special. Some Dimension 8250 for $300 after rebate or some ridiculous amount like that.

A few weeks ago I broke the socket level on the mobo and now need a new compuer since I can't find a motherboard to replace the Dell board. I am really enjoying reading this thead and will definitely be referring to it as I do my own computer shopping.

DefRef: you mentioned that you wanted to carry over your PATA drives. I just bought a 300gb PATA drive that I do not want to return to the store, so I'm trying to figure a way to make the best use of my two PATA drives. Don't most new motherboards only come with 1 IDE socket? How would you hook up your two PATA drives AND your optical drives to that sort of connection?

Are there mobos out there that still have two IDE and two SATA (or whatever combination they come in now?) I'm under essentially the same budget restrictions as you are.
 
All mobos have 2 IDE jacks, allowing up to four IDE devices, like 2 optical drives AND 2 PATA HDs. The old LANPArty board had 4 connectors with 2 acting as standard IDE channels and the other 2 able to act as RAID jacks. I was able to have four HDs and 2 opticals hooked up. If you need more than 4 PATA devices, you can always put in a PCI card.
 
Bought the Aerocool already. No one suggested it during the run of this thread, so it's a little late to mention it now. Hope the Aerocool works out.
 
Argh!!! Just checked my tracking info and half my order is out for delivery now and the other half is one state over and will arrive tomorrow. Oh well, I need to back up data and prepare for the move, plus I have a lot of other work to do, so it's for the best. (Not that I'm happy about it.)

EDIT: Just checked and everything but the case is coming today.
 
Well, I've got it all up and running (sort of) and this post is coming from it, but I'm having trouble getting the sound going. I'll update this as I progress, but so far the most impressive thing is how quiet it is compared to my old rig.
 
DefRef: Can you post an addendum to your original post with the entire configuration of your new rig?
 
GET A OTPERON!

the opteron (165 939) is almost at fast as x2 3800 stock, with twice the cache, but the overlcoks like crazy! even with stock colling, it is almost garteneed 2.4ghz and it has twice the cache
 
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