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Review My New PC

C

chicsdiggit

Member
NOTE: I made changes since my OP. I just ordered this computer from newegg, but fed ex lost all the packages! So, newegg did a claim on it, and I cancelled the order and got a refund.

I want a good, solid mobo that has lots of features, but do I go SLI or not? I want a good future proof rig that I won't have to mess with for awhile. I figure to get a eVGA 6800GT Video Card. I don't plan on overclocking, but maybe in the future. What do you guys think?

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ (changed my mind from X2 3800+)

HDD: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB

Monitor: SAMSUNG 940B-SILVER 19" 8ms Analog/Digital

MOBO: ???

VC: eVGA 256-P2-N516 Geforce 7800GT CO SE 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail

RAM: Mushkin Green 2x1GB unbuffered ddr400 (upgraded from 2x512 corsair twinX)

Optical Drive: LITE-ON Black 16X DVD-ROM 52X CD-R 32X CD-RW 52X CD-ROM 1.5M Cache IDE Combo Drive

Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS SB0350 7.1 Channels PCI Interface

Speakers: Logitech Z-5500 970181-0403 315 Watts 5.1 Speaker

PSU: Fortron AX450-PN, 12cm FAN, version 2.0, 2 SATA, PCI Express, 450W Power Supply - Retail

Case: Lian Li PC-60USB B2 Silver Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ? Retail
 
Optical drive, HDD, monitor = good.

Ok, if you're overclocking then just get the 3800X2.

Value RAM is the best bang per buck, only go for the shiny stuff when everything else is maxed out.

Sound card is nice enough, although there are conflicts with the 2 serries and A8N32 range. you have been warned

PSU: Not bad, but it's 1) Overkill, 2) An older design which is slighlty weaker than optimum on the 12V rails for that rating 3) Not good for noise or effiency. If you want to save a few $ then get a fortron 450W, even for SLI systems it's got enough power and it costs $50.

Mobo: It's nice, i have one. But do you really need SLI? It's a waste of money otherwise, look at the more expensive epox single slot boards or the DFI range for good overclocking single card solutions.(saves you $80)

Graphics card, buy an eVGA one instead, then when 7900GT comes out you'll have the option to upgrade, as well as a much, much better warranty.
 
Originally posted by: Bobthelost
Optical drive, HDD, monitor = good.

Ok, if you're overclocking then just get the 3800X2.

Value RAM is the best bang per buck, only go for the shiny stuff when everything else is maxed out.

Sound card is nice enough, although there are conflicts with the 2 serries and A8N32 range. you have been warned

PSU: Not bad, but it's 1) Overkill, 2) An older design which is slighlty weaker than optimum on the 12V rails for that rating 3) Not good for noise or effiency. If you want to save a few $ then get a fortron 450W, even for SLI systems it's got enough power and it costs $50.

Mobo: It's nice, i have one. But do you really need SLI? It's a waste of money otherwise, look at the more expensive epox single slot boards or the DFI range for good overclocking single card solutions.(saves you $80)

Graphics card, buy an eVGA one instead, then when 7900GT comes out you'll have the option to upgrade, as well as a much, much better warranty.
Click to expand...

quote for emphasis
 
i agree with bobthelost on the graphics card. get eVGA

i'm guessing you're OCing cause you have the mushkin ram so get the x2 3800 and save the money. people do get 2.7 on air with it.

your system looks good. enjoy the system

btw, the 450w fortron would suffice

you made a good choice going to 2gigs of ram
 
For Bobthelost:
1. I prolly won't be overclocking the comp. What conflicts are you talking about with the MOBO and soundcard? It seems they would have a fix for this by now.

2. I got SLI because I want to play the best games and have em look the best, and if it has SLI capability, I can just get a new board some time down the line, and still be able to keep up wit h the latest games.

3. Pardon my current ignorance, but what is eVGA? Do you recommend any Vid Cards around the same price?

For alimoalem:
1. The 4200+ was only 60 dollars more. It doesn't overclock well? But, either way, I don't really plan on overclocking, at least right now.
 
Well i and at least one other poster around here have had DVD problems with the A832 and the Audigy2 cards, when the card is in the system there's some conflict that makes some DVDs not work right. There may be a fix but i've been too lazy to hunt it down 😉

SLI is all well and good, but if you're never going to use the second slot then it's a waste of your money. Ask yourself when you really think you'll be upgrading the graphics card, if it's within 6 months then i'd stay with SLI, if longer then i'd save some cash and get a faster graphics card (like the X1900XT a wonderful, wonderful card, if a bit over the top for your monitor)

eVGA is a brand of card, they have the best warranty there is, basically as long as you don't break the card on purpose they'll replace it. (overclocking is covered by the warranty) Also they have a very nice "step up" program that let's you upgrade to the next card for a small fee. So in a month or so you could send off your 7800GT and gett sent back a much faster 7900GT for a little extra money.

Oh, if you're not overclocking then obviously the more money you put into the CPU the better, but for gaming performance the limit is going to be the graphics card.
 
Originally posted by: Bobthelost
Well i and at least one other poster around here have had DVD problems with the A832 and the Audigy2 cards, when the card is in the system there's some conflict that makes some DVDs not work right. There may be a fix but i've been too lazy to hunt it down 😉

SLI is all well and good, but if you're never going to use the second slot then it's a waste of your money. Ask yourself when you really think you'll be upgrading the graphics card, if it's within 6 months then i'd stay with SLI, if longer then i'd save some cash and get a faster graphics card (like the X1900XT a wonderful, wonderful card, if a bit over the top for your monitor)

eVGA is a brand of card, they have the best warranty there is, basically as long as you don't break the card on purpose they'll replace it. (overclocking is covered by the warranty) Also they have a very nice "step up" program that let's you upgrade to the next card for a small fee. So in a month or so you could send off your 7800GT and gett sent back a much faster 7900GT for a little extra money.

Oh, if you're not overclocking then obviously the more money you put into the CPU the better, but for gaming performance the limit is going to be the graphics card.
Click to expand...


Ok then, if I change the MOBO, what do you suggest? And how would you rate my monitor for games? I don't want to get a vid card that is too much for the monitor to handle, so I guess good, smart choices is what I am aiming for, but at the same time future proof.

I planned on probably upgrading the graphics card much later than 6 months. A mobo is a major decision, and so without SLI, what mobo and graphics card brand do you recommend?
 
The monitor is a good gaming screen, not the best but good enough. ( I have it's older slower brother infront of me and i love it to bits).

The 7800GT is pretty much perfect for 1240x1080 gaming, much more power than that just gets silly imo. I'd get an eVGA 7800GT, then when the 7900GTs come out you can either pay a bit more to upgrade or stay happy with what is a kick arse graphics card.

Motherboard: Asus A8N E, it's stable, got all the features you need (probably, but check first) and much cheaper than the A8N32.
 
Originally posted by: Bobthelost
The monitor is a good gaming screen, not the best but good enough. ( I have it's older slower brother infront of me and i love it to bits).

The 7800GT is pretty much perfect for 1240x1080 gaming, much more power than that just gets silly imo. I'd get an eVGA 7800GT, then when the 7900GTs come out you can either pay a bit more to upgrade or stay happy with what is a kick arse graphics card.

Motherboard: Asus A8N E, it's stable, got all the features you need (probably, but check first) and much cheaper than the A8N32.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll surely check em out. Does anyone else have any input?
 
Originally posted by: chicsdiggit
I just ordered this computer from newegg, but fed ex lost all the packages! So, newegg did a claim on it, and sent me a new one. I opted to change the RAM and the CPU. The difference in price was just over 100 bucks (60 for the CPU, and 70 for the RAM), and they upgraded my shipping to overnight. What do you guys think of this one? Since they are still processing the claim, I can still make changes.

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ (Upgraded from 3800+)

HDD: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB

Monitor: SAMSUNG 940B-SILVER 19" 8ms Analog/Digital

MOBO: ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce SPP 100

VC: Leadtek WinFast PX7800GT Extreme TDH Geforce 7800GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO PCI Express x16 Video Card

RAM: Mushkin Green 2x1GB unbuffered ddr400 (upgraded from 2x512 corsair twinX)

Optical Drive: LITE-ON Black 16X DVD-ROM 52X CD-R 32X CD-RW 52X CD-ROM 1.5M Cache IDE Combo Drive

Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS SB0350 7.1 Channels PCI Interface

Speakers: Logitech Z-5500 970181-0403 315 Watts 5.1 Speaker

PSU: Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-480 ATX12V 480W Power Supply 115/230 V UL, TUV, CB, FCC CLASS B, CUL

Case: Lian Li PC-60USB B2 Silver Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ? Retail
Click to expand...


C... can't break 3Dmark 06 4600 barrier
 
Thanks for the suggestions, I'll surely check em out. Does anyone else have any input?
Click to expand...

My input is that bobthelost is right -- SLI doesn't futureproof your system, because the next generation of cards always comes out and supports new features that your old setup doesn't--- even in SLI. So for picking the MoBo I'd say that the A8N-32SLI is about $100 more than you really need to spend on a MoBo. Boards by ASUS, ABIT, DFI are the big name brands and you'll likely be very happy with. A board supporting SLI is fine (I have it myself) but don't expect to actually use it.

As far as the card, I didn't realize that eVGA has that upgrade policy, which sounds totally tits and I think makes a person insane to NOT purchase their card. Damn XFX...if only I'd known...


 
i would wait a week or two for the 7900GT to come out first. it's only a few days til its release

the epox 9npa+ ultra board is pretty good at $105. the DFI and cheaper ASUS boards are too.

if you're not OCing, then get the 4200

for your ram, why don't u get the G.SKILL CAS 2.5 DDR400 ram? not only does it have faster timings, it's cheaper too. and it's also made by a reputable manufacturer. if you but the sticks individually, you'll save $3 so you could do that too
 
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