Please throw hot lava and rocks at my new computer configuration............

acid16

Senior member
Sep 20, 2001
278
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......... seriously, I want you to!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tell me what is wrong with my new computer im putting together, so I dont get another crappy comp like k7s5a (ok, it was good for a while, but now it sucks).. After a few months of bobbling back and forth and not knowing exactly what my next purchase would be, i've put together a basic system and it's ready to be mocked. My current system (listed in my signature) was bought in September, 2001 ..... so needless to say, it's time for a new one. Although my current system is ok, it's kind of slow and the k7s5a has never been really stable, it's always had troubles cold booting and stuff. You get what you pay for though. Anyways, here is my comp I want to put together. I'm buying all my stuff from newegg, of course!

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(Motherboard) - Asus A7N8X Deluxe
(Processor) - AMD Athlon XP 2100+ T-Bred (yes, Rev B)
(Video Card) - ATI Radeon 9500 Pro 128MB DDR
(Memory) - Corsair XMS 512MB PC3500 (434mhz)
(Hard Drive 1) - Western Digital "SE" 120 GB 7200RPM w/ 8MB Cache (RAID 1)
(Hard Drive 2) - Western Digital "SE" 120 GB 7200RPM w/ 8MB Cache (RAID 1)
(DVD-Rom) - Lite-On 16x (Black)
(CD/RW) - Lite-On 52x24x52 (Black)
(Floppy) - Alps 3.5 Inch (Black)

(Speakers) - Logitech Z640 5.1 (Black)
(Mouse) - Microsoft Optical Wheel PS/2 (Black)
(Keyboard) - Ortek MCK-800 Multimedia PS/2 (Black)
(Monitor) - Viewsonic 19" Flat-Screen CRT

(Case) - AMS Gmono CF-2029 Mid-Tower (Black)
(Power Supply) - Antec 480W TRUE
(OS) - Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/ SP1

... and a "BLACK" DigitalDoc5 (didn't know what to call it!)

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All together, this system should come to under $1500. Eventually (a year down the road) i'd like to upgrade to one of the bartons, as well as go up to 2GB of DDR, but right now I can only afford the 2100+ and 512MB ram... the new barton's are way too expensive at the moment. The reason I chose the asus board is cause I feel it's the best out right now and it's really popular, which means asus will support it for a long time and release new bios for it, to cover the barton's. The video card, i'm going to search around for one of the "old" modifiable ones that let you mod it to 9700. If I can't find one, then I will just pay the extra $100 and get a real 9700. Hard drives.. they are expensive, but worth it. I'm going to be running them in RAID 1, as data protection is important to me. The rest of my stuff is pretty much self-explanitory. I think it's obvious that i'm building an entirely black system, heheh... oh and for those wondering, yes, obviously I am planning to overclock :) - So please post opinions on my system, anything... you guys helped me pick my comp all the way back in 2001, so help me pick this one too! Do you think this will provide me with a solid upgrade path???

Thanks,
acid16
 

PCMarine

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 2002
3,277
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Looks pretty damn good to me. The only thing i'm unsure about is the RAID 1 config. I would pop those in a RAID 0 and just use CD-Rs to backup so you get the extra performance (unless of course you are really anal about data protection).
 

acid16

Senior member
Sep 20, 2001
278
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0
Originally posted by: PCMarine
Looks pretty damn good to me. The only thing i'm unsure about is the RAID 1 config. I would pop those in a RAID 0 and just use CD-Rs to backup so you get the extra performance (unless of course you are really anal about data protection).

Thanks. The reason i'm going with Raid 1 is for that extra data protection. I don't like using CD/R's for constant backups and I have important data on my hard drives which I couldn't afford to be lost.

 

minus1972

Platinum Member
Oct 4, 2000
2,245
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Knocking on wood vigorously.....

I've had RAID 0 running for nearly a year now with no data problems whatsoever and the performance is great.
 

Megatomic

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
20,127
6
81
Are you buying a PCI RAID controller card? You won't be able to set up a RAID-1 array on that board otherwise (unless you buy Serial ATA adapters).

And if you wait a few more days you'll be able to snap up a faster 333MHz FSB Tbred or maybe even a Barton.

Other than that things look good to me.
 

NumbaJuan

Golden Member
Feb 5, 2003
1,171
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Originally posted by: acid16
Originally posted by: PCMarine
Looks pretty damn good to me. The only thing i'm unsure about is the RAID 1 config. I would pop those in a RAID 0 and just use CD-Rs to backup so you get the extra performance (unless of course you are really anal about data protection).

Thanks. The reason i'm going with Raid 1 is for that extra data protection. I don't like using CD/R's for constant backups and I have important data on my hard drives which I couldn't afford to be lost.

its a good idea to have another backup copy. don't just rely on raid config. (fire, theft..etc.)
 

newbiepcuser

Diamond Member
Jan 1, 2001
4,474
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What heatsink and fan combo, and case fans? Do you care if this system is going sound like engine or purring like putty cat?
 

acid16

Senior member
Sep 20, 2001
278
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0
Originally posted by: newbiepcuser
What heatsink and fan combo, and case fans? Do you care if this system is going sound like engine or purring like putty cat?

It's going to have three 80MM case fans (1 front, 2 back) and the heatsink/fan combo will be the Alpha PAL8045U. I'm getting the DigitalDoc5 so I can adjust fan speeds to what I want, so yeah, noise is kind of a factor to me...... but not really. I'd rather be oc'ed to 2.3GHz and have my comp be really loud, than be oc'ed to 2.2GHz and have it be "sorta loud".......................... :)
 

newbiepcuser

Diamond Member
Jan 1, 2001
4,474
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Originally posted by: acid16
Originally posted by: newbiepcuser
What heatsink and fan combo, and case fans? Do you care if this system is going sound like engine or purring like putty cat?

It's going to have three 80MM case fans (1 front, 2 back) and the heatsink/fan combo will be the Alpha PAL8045U. I'm getting the DigitalDoc5 so I can adjust fan speeds to what I want, so yeah, noise is kind of a factor to me...... but not really. I'd rather be oc'ed to 2.3GHz and have my comp be really loud, than be oc'ed to 2.2GHz and have it be "sorta loud".......................... :)

Kewl, so you're not into the see thru cases? LED fans etc?

 

CTho9305

Elite Member
Jul 26, 2000
9,214
1
81
don't you need 2 sticks of ram to get the max performance out of that board? my friend just build a VERY similar box and his 2100 goes to 2700 or higher (havent figured out the max yet)
 

bocamojo

Senior member
Aug 24, 2001
818
0
0
Why not go with the 2400+? It rounds out to a very nice 2GHz, and it's under 200 bucks... Other than that, a very sweet setup. I would spend the extra and get the 9700 too, if I were you, but that's your call.
 

acid16

Senior member
Sep 20, 2001
278
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0
Originally posted by: Justorq
is it two sticks of memory or just one ?

Justin

It's just one. I don't really care about dual channel ddr..... I want to overclock pretty good, so am sticking with 1 stick of ram
 

human2k

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2001
3,563
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0
get two sticks of cosair 256mb pc3500 instead of the single (dual ddr!). Your spending $1.5k and only getting tbred 2100 and Radeon 9500PRO?? With your kinda budget a C1 P4 2.4B + Radeon 9700NP looks alot better!
 

acid16

Senior member
Sep 20, 2001
278
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Ok thanks for the replies all. I've somewhat revised my system... added it all up, everything below will cost $1400 (not including the cables I gotta buy). Opinions? The reason I am going with the 2100+ is because I want to overclock it (ive heard they can go up to 2.5ghz on air, im hoping to hit 2.2 or 2.3 with the SLK-800). And also, I dont need more than a 2100+ right now anyways. I want to wait a year and then after all the hammers have been released and all the hype is surronding them, I will by myself a nice Barton 3400+ or so ;) Anyways here is my new config................. notice how im compulsive and had to take up all 4 external slots! I hate empty external slots..... and I hate hard drives in external spots. But the fan control + system monitor will be a nice addition ;)

Asus A7N8X Deluxe Mobo
Athlon XP 2100+ T-Bred (B)
Sapphire Radeon 9700 Pro 128MB DDR
Corsair XMS 512MB PC-3200 DDR400
(2) Maxtor 200 GB 7200RPM ATA133 w/ 8MB Cache (RAID 1)
ArchTek SmartLink 56K v.92 Modem

DigitalDoc5 System Monitor (Black)
Lite-On 16X DVD (Black)
Lite-On 48x24x48 CD/RW (Black)
Vantec Nexus Fan Controller (Black)
Alps 3.5" Floppy Drive (Black)
Multi-Slot Card Pro III 3.5" Internal (Black)

Thermalright SLK-800(A) Heatsink
Vantec Tornado Double Ball Bearing HSF
(3) Vantec Stealth 80MM case fans
Artic Silver 3 Thermal Paste

Antec 550W TRUE550 Power Supply
AMS Gmono CF-2029 Mid-Tower Case (Black)

Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/ SP1
Logitech Z640 5.1 Speakers (Black)
Microsoft 114 Keyboard DLX (Black)
Microsoft Optical Wheel Mouse (Black)