Please help me with first system build

[DCoke]

I am planning to build my first system and these are some questions I have.

1. Heatsink
Considering Barton 3000+ and A7N8X Deluxe trying to decide on a good heatsink. Considering SLK-800A don't know what fan to put with it. Where would you get it from?


2. RAM:
I am planning to use Corsair ram and from their page:

434 MHz
CMX512-3500C2 2-3-3-7-T1

400Mhz
CMX512-3200C2 2-3-3-6-T1
TWINX512-3200LL 2-2-2-6-T1
CMX512-3200LL 2-2-2-6-T1
TWINX1024-3200LL 2-2-2-6-T1

333MHz
CMX512-2700LL 2-2-2-5-T1
CMX512-2700C2 2-3-3-6-T1
TWINX512-2700LL 2-2-2-5-T1
TWINX1024-2700LL 2-2-2-5-T1


Without overclocking the most we can take advantage of right now is 333MHhz becuase though ram and mobos like the A7N8X Deluxe are rated at 400mhz the processors themselves are only 333MHz frontside bus right? The advantage would be to take a higher MHZ rated pieces and being able to run it at more aggresive timings? Ie a piece of 400Mhz ram that is rated at 2-2-2-6-T1 at 400 Mhz could do 2-2-2-5-T1 at 333Mhz easily? The other advantage would being not having to upgrade when 400mhz capable processors came out? Since there is already ram rated at 2-2-2-5-T1 at 333mhz though there is little gain to using higher rated MHZ ram to achieve faster timings? I.e my best bet for 1Gb of ram for the A7N8X Deluxe would be TWINX1024-2700LL?


3. Dvd + Cdr-Combos:
I would really like to only have 2 optical devices in my system unless no way around it. Has anyone tried the DVD + cd-rw combos? Does lite-on have one of these in the wings? I know their dvd burner has been put off for awhile.

 

[mechBgon]

The SLK-800A would be nice with a low-noise 80mm fan such as the Panaflo L1A. You can usually find a good buy on the Thermalright heatsinks at SVC.com but they're perpetually out-of-stock on the Panaflo L1A 80mm fan and their next-quieter fan, the NMB 18-decibel one, is a little skimpy on the airflow for my tastes.

The SK-7 is a smaller heatsink from Thermalright that cools almost as well, and costs significantly less, so you might consider that one too. Either would be suitable for a 3000+, given at least an L1A 80mm fan.

If I were buying RAM for an nForce2 board at this point, I'd probably get Samsung Original PC3200. A few folks have had issues with even Corsair's 512Mb modules on nForce2 and I don't know for a fact that they've all been ironed out. I think you have a firm grip on how the whole thing plays out, though, so don't take that as carved in stone

I've worked with two Samsung DVD/CDRW combo drives, and they get quite warm... the discs come out feeling borderline HOT.

Have fun with your new rig, welcome to the Forums

 

[DCoke]

Is the correct orientation of power supplies with dual exhaust fans with the second exhaust fan facing the top of the case? Does anyone know if the Lian-Li cases can handle these as I thik I heard mention there was problem with some cases.

 

[ExtraMSG]

fyi, to see other ppl's diy rigs and commentary check out newegg. look right and scroll down and you'll see tons of wishlists for new rigs. ppl will rate the proposed rigs as well as offer substitutes. i've found reading about those setups as useful as read at forums.

 

[human2k]

Here is some help, add these items to your newegg cart:

Athlon XP 3000
Asus A7N8X Deluxe (you might be lucky and get a Rev 2.0)
SLK800
Panaflow 80MM L1A Fan (super quiet)
Corsair XMS 3200LL 1GB TwinX (2 x 512mb sticks)
Pick a Chassis of your choice
Antec TruePower 430W
Pick the optical drives you want (lite-on make good ones)
Sapphire Radeon 9700 PRO
WD 120GB SE (good value at $130)


then when you recieve the parts and have questions building, just log on.

 

[DCoke]

1. Athlon XP 3000 :
Is 3200 with 400Mhz supposed to be out this month?

2. Asus A7N8X Deluxe (you might be lucky and get a Rev 2.0) :
Any way to ensure this?

3. SLK800:
Will do.

4. Panaflow 80MM L1A Fan (super quiet):
panflow = 0 results. Tried panaflo L1A = 0 results. Tried panaflow and got a myriad. Are this the one that need tails or some such? No reason to go 92mm?

5. Corsair XMS 3200LL 1GB TwinX (2 x 512mb sticks):
Why 3200 over 2700 as proc can't do 400mhz until 3200. Any chance the 3500 would do 2-2-2-5-T1 clocked at 400mhz if I do end up getting a 400mhz capable proc?

6. Pick a Chassis of your choice :
Went with Lian-Li Pc69 from directron.com (Doesn't it suppose to ship with the top fan in?) Since it didn't any recommendations as what to use for a top fan?

7. Antec TruePower 430W:
Got the Antec TruePower550 Silent sitting in front of me. Wondering which side is supposed to go up in the case basically which way the fan is aimed, down towards cpu or up towards top of case.

8. Pick the optical drives you want (lite-on make good ones):
Indeed hope to get a combo(dvd cdr) and their burner when both are out. For now will use old pioneer dvd and slower liteon burner.

9. Sapphire Radeon 9700 PRO
Was thinking at least 9800 and may wait to see what 9900 and nv35 bring up and use old geforce 3 as games i play don't demand anything more yet.

10. WD 120GB SE (good value at $130)
Definetely will go WD all the way.

 

[MikeMike]

i believe almost every asus nf2 board is now rev 2.0

 

[DCoke]

>i believe almost every asus nf2 board is now rev 2.0
That is good to hear does newegg mind if you request 2.0?

Anyone know the answers to 1, 5, 6, or 7?

 

[WhiteKnight77]

The inside fan on the PS points to the CPU that and the fact that the screw holes in the case should only allow the PS to be installed one way.

 

[DCoke]

I was reading about one of the HSFU and the reviewer recommending not plugging it into the mobo header as it could cause problems. I don't remember the review but is this something you all generally avoid period or is there a certain list of fans that it is unwise to hook up to the fan power spots on mobo?

Another question is now that I have my case is WTF is the bottom rack in the Lian-Li pc69 for? My buddy has a Lian-Li pc60 and the bottom rack is where he chose to place his hds and it has a normal hard drive rack. Their placement makes sense as there are two fans there and won't be as cramped or hot as up in your 5.25 bays not to mention wasting 5.25 bays or not having enough for all your hds plus optical drives. So do you have to order a new hard drive rack from lian-li to use the bottom space or?

 

[DCoke]

Also if I go with the panaflos where is a good place to get them and what is the deal with "no fins or molex connectors" and them?

 

[DCoke]

I figured out that besides missing the top case fan the thing that was wrong with my hard drive rack is that it is missing its divder shown at
http://icrontic.com/images/reviews/mm/Reviews/Hardware/Cases/pc6070/6070/hddhorizontal.jpg
Anyone else get one of these with the divider missing?

 

[DCoke]

Bump

 

[bgeh]

1)barton 3200+ is coming out in may

panaflos are used in wide applications and not only for computers.
hence, they don'y include the connectors

 

[Schadenfroh]

there are some barton 3200s on ebay.

 

[DCoke]

>barton 3200+ is coming out in may
Since a few sites said it would be around the same price as the 3000 might as well go with it given it gets a thumbs up from anand etc. If I use Corsair:

434 MHz
CMX512-3500C2 2-3-3-7-T1

or
400Mhz
CMX512-3200C2 2-3-3-6-T1
TWINX512-3200LL 2-2-2-6-T1
CMX512-3200LL 2-2-2-6-T1
TWINX1024-3200LL 2-2-2-6-T1

Any chance the 3500 would do 2-2-2-5-T1 clocked at 400mhz? The review at htp://www.lostcircuits.com/memory/ddr400/ is definetely food for thought.

>panaflos are used in wide applications and not only for computers.
>hence, they don'y include the connectors
Where would you get the l1A it from? Anyone bought from http://www.frozencpu.com? So I need to get a "tail" for them which translates to a molex of motherboard header connection. Which leads me back to "I was reading about one of the HSFU and the reviewer recommending not plugging it into the mobo header as it could cause problems. I don't remember the review but is this something you all generally avoid period or is there a certain list of fans that it is unwise to hook up to the fan power spots on mobo?"

 

[DCoke]

>I've worked with two Samsung DVD/CDRW combo drives, and they get quite warm... the discs come out feeling borderline HOT.


Hearing about the really warm part makes be wonder what is going on there
to cause that much heat.Does lite-on have a DVD+cd-rw in the wings?
If not then Samsung would be the best bet hot and all? Anyone know
till when the Liteon dvd burner has been put off?

 

[EpsiIon]

As far as the HSF goes, I heartily recomment the SLK-800U if your motherboard has the mounting holes (and the A7N8X does). I'm (effectively) running an Athlon XP 2800+ (Barton) at 42 C with a VERY quiet fan (28 CFM @ 24 dB, I think). If you don't mind more noise, you can easily cool your CPU into the low-mid 30's.

One thing, though. If you do go with this HSF, DON'T get a shim! If you don't know what a shim is, don't worry about it. I had a shim for my old processor (TBird 1.33 GHz) and I killed it. The installation instructions for the 800U were very insistent about some little foam pads that were included, but they didn't say anything about not using a shim. So I didn't think about it, included the shim, and the heatsink didn't make proper contact with the core. *shrug* Live and learn, I guess.

BTW, since then I've done two successful installs of the 800U (one on a friend's computer) and it was a relatively painless task.

 

[DCoke]

>As far as the HSF goes, I heartily recomment the SLK-800U if your motherboard has the >mounting holes (and the A7N8X does). I'm (effectively) running an Athlon XP 2800+
>(Barton) at 42 C with a VERY quiet fan (28 CFM @ 24 dB, I think). If you don't mind more noise, >you can easily cool your CPU into the low-mid 30's.

What fan are you using? Recommendations on fans? Is there certains ones you don't want to hook into the mobo header? I read this somewhere still tring to dig it up think is was on the new Volcano where they entioned not hooking in mobo fan header.

>One thing, though. If you do go with this HSF, DON'T get a shim! If you don't know what a shim is, >don't worry about it. I had a shim for my old processor (TBird 1.33 GHz) and I killed it. The >installation instructions for the 800U were very insistent about some little foam pads that were >included, but they didn't say anything about not using a >shim. So I didn't think about it, included >the shim, and the heatsink didn't make proper contact with the core. *shrug* Live and learn, I >guess.

Don't have a shim nor have I ever used one. They don't include one in the package I hope? So you do use the pads and it is necessary to bolt it to the board? I am familiar with clips never saw a bolt on before. I was thinking about going with the 800A model as it uses the clip method I am somehwhat familiar with. The thought of frying new processor makes me shudder. Condolences for your loss even if it was some time ago. Any reason to go with the 800u over 800a? From everything I have read the one area that usually goes wrong in building is the thermal paste/HSFU install. I have read the Artic Silver instructions but this is the one area I am trying to learn as much as possible.