RAM, Case, PSU Help

Cycloptis

Member
Oct 24, 2005
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I apologize if I'm violating some rule on the forums, but I don't think the rules have changed since four months ago when I first checked this place out.

Anyways, I've been deciding on parts for a new high-end PC, here's what I've got so far:

Athlon X2 4800+ OR FX-60
Radeon X1900XT
X-Fi Fatality
ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe

I have some other stuff, but I don't think it's necessary to tell you what mouse I want.

Anyways, my main problem is the three parts listed in the topic title. I've been reading and reading and reading and I'm no closer to deciding on what would be best.

For RAM I was thinking of a 2GB DIMM (2 x 1024) PC3200, since it offers low latencies. However, I've seen recommendations on PC4000, but that seems to be mainly for overclocking and the latencies are typically higher than 3200. Also, I'm not sure what brand to choose. Keep in mind I don't plan to overclock.

I have literally no knowledge on what makes a Case or a PSU good, other than how heat affects the power draw in a PSU or that higher wattage is required for more high-end parts.

I have to spend this money now, so no I won't be waiting for the Direct X 10 cards or the Socket AM2 processors/motherboards.

Thanks in advance to people who reply, and I'm open to comments on the other current components.
 

Cook1

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2004
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Well, I have always liked the Lian Li cases...you won't ever be disapointed by them. And I'm loving my Enermax Liberty PSU. As for RAM goes just get some Corsair XMS PC3200 if you don't plan on OC"ing.
 

Cycloptis

Member
Oct 24, 2005
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Originally posted by: Cook1
Well, I have always liked the Lian Li cases...you won't ever be disapointed by them. And I'm loving my Enermax Liberty PSU. As for RAM goes just get some Corsair XMS PC3200 if you don't plan on OC"ing.

Are latencies the main piece of information to be going on when deciding? I know 512mb sticks offer lower latencies, but it doesn't seem to be a huge difference anymore compared to GB sticks.

I've heard that Lian Li is good, I certainly wouldn't mind having a nice looking case with a window if at all possible. I'll take a look.

 

Bobthelost

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2005
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If it's for gaming then i wouldn't worry about going for an Fx60 unless you're already going for crossfire. Not cost efficent imo.

Lain Li is good, but have a look at coolermaster and antec as well.
 

Cycloptis

Member
Oct 24, 2005
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Originally posted by: Bobthelost
If it's for gaming then i wouldn't worry about going for an Fx60 unless you're already going for crossfire. Not cost efficent imo.

Lain Li is good, but have a look at coolermaster and antec as well.

If I ever intend on going multi-GPU, it won't be with Crossfire I can tell you that. But I do want the option of going multi-GPU, which is why I have the SLI board in there.

I'll take a look at those too.

 

Finns14

Golden Member
Oct 6, 2005
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It saddens me every time ppl want to go SLI its really a waste of money because upgrading to the next level of cards alwasy produce better performance at a lesser expense.
 

Broly

Banned
Dec 18, 2005
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Don't get an SLI motherboard with an ATI card, that's just ruining everything. you're going to have to spend THAT MUCH MORE.
Your call on that

I suggest a Seasonic 600w powersupply, or Fortron
People say nothing but good things about htem.
 

stevty2889

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2003
7,036
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Originally posted by: Cycloptis
Originally posted by: Bobthelost
If it's for gaming then i wouldn't worry about going for an Fx60 unless you're already going for crossfire. Not cost efficent imo.

Lain Li is good, but have a look at coolermaster and antec as well.

If I ever intend on going multi-GPU, it won't be with Crossfire I can tell you that. But I do want the option of going multi-GPU, which is why I have the SLI board in there.

I'll take a look at those too.

SLI borad + ATI card just doesn't make sense. The SLI board costs more, and you can't run ATI in SLI, you would need a crossfire board for that. If you want the option of SLI, it would make a lot more sense to get an Nvidia card...

As for power supplies, I recomend Fortron, Seasonic, Antec, enermax. Fortron is using the best bang for the buck, they are good quality, but still reasonably priced. 450w from any of those brands should be plenty, but if you really are thinking of SLI, then you'de want something a little bigger, thats SLI ready(has 2 PCIe video card power connectors). SLI really seems a waste though, because by the time you would actualy get a second card, a newer single card comes out thats faster.

For ram, I would just stick with 2x1gb of PC3200 value ram. PC4000 is usesless if you aren't going to OC, and the expensive low latency ram doesn't offer any huge performance advantage.
 

Cycloptis

Member
Oct 24, 2005
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Originally posted by: stevty2889
Originally posted by: Cycloptis
Originally posted by: Bobthelost
If it's for gaming then i wouldn't worry about going for an Fx60 unless you're already going for crossfire. Not cost efficent imo.

Lain Li is good, but have a look at coolermaster and antec as well.

If I ever intend on going multi-GPU, it won't be with Crossfire I can tell you that. But I do want the option of going multi-GPU, which is why I have the SLI board in there.

I'll take a look at those too.

SLI borad + ATI card just doesn't make sense. The SLI board costs more, and you can't run ATI in SLI, you would need a crossfire board for that. If you want the option of SLI, it would make a lot more sense to get an Nvidia card...

As for power supplies, I recomend Fortron, Seasonic, Antec, enermax. Fortron is using the best bang for the buck, they are good quality, but still reasonably priced. 450w from any of those brands should be plenty, but if you really are thinking of SLI, then you'de want something a little bigger, thats SLI ready(has 2 PCIe video card power connectors). SLI really seems a waste though, because by the time you would actualy get a second card, a newer single card comes out thats faster.

For ram, I would just stick with 2x1gb of PC3200 value ram. PC4000 is usesless if you aren't going to OC, and the expensive low latency ram doesn't offer any huge performance advantage.

Don't worry, I'm not THAT ignorant, I know that SLI motherboards are Nvidia cards only, but from the benchmarks I've seen I don't think Crossfire has come into its own yet, but the X1900XT is among the best cards out now that's available to me, so it's not like it won't work in an SLI board (on its own that is).

If I don't go SLI, then what motherboard is out there that offers the same performance?

 

Broly

Banned
Dec 18, 2005
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My friend,
I hate to say this,
but if you're a Crossfire supporter, You have to sadly buy, the lanparty UT rdx200

I had it, and it sucks.
 

Cycloptis

Member
Oct 24, 2005
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Originally posted by: Broly
My friend,
I hate to say this,
but if you're a Crossfire supporter, You have to sadly buy, the lanparty UT rdx200

I had it, and it sucks.

I'm not a Crossfire supporter, the only reason I've picked an ATI GPU here is because it's available to be now and it's the best card out there (aside from the XTX, which is only marginally better but $100 more).
 

Bobthelost

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2005
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So you're a single card user, but someday you may get 2 nvida cards for a sli solution.

Fair enough.