Rig

[bladephoenix]

Hi, I am looking into upgrading my rig after a little under 3 years, and after some wonderful advice from you expertly informed tech people (God bless you all...you make the world a betta place), I have come to this setup:

Canadian Dollars:

P4 2.53 Northwood 533 FSB >> AMD 3800+X2 ... $419.95
Gigabyte 667Pro (Intel 845 Chipset) >> Gigabyte GA-K8NSC-939 (Nvidia nForce3 Chipset) ... $119.95
Kingston DDR 333 512MB >> 2 x Micron Original 512MB PC3200 DDR400 >> 129.90
WD 80 MB IDE / 8 MB Cache >> WD 160 MB SATA / 8 MB Cache ... $109.95
ATI All-in-Wonder 9800 128 MB AGP == ATI All-in-Wonder 9800 128 MB AGP ... $0.00
SB Live 5.1 Platinum == SB Live 5.1 Platinum ... $0.00
TT Tsunami == TT Tsunami ... $0.00
VP201s TFT == VP201s TFT ... $0.00
Advice from you Anandtech posters ... $priceless

Total: $779.95 CAD == $663.89 USD

Yes/No/Maybe So?

I mostly use my system for 3dsmax, Photoshop, other typical yada, yada email/internet/winamp stuff, and Sims 2 (which by the looks of VGA requirements of most people here, doesn't qualify as a 'game', so to speak).

Now, I am not in any rush to get the new system. The issue here is that I heard AMD is releasing an 'M' socket (or something like 'M') by early next year. In that case, is it worth even getting this setup yet, or is it better just to wait and see if the X2 939 Pin will be outdated by that time?

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

The X2 3800 is a good choice and won't be outdated by next year . . . neither will 939 for that matter . . .

As for the RAM, I would get 2x512MB OCZ Gold . . .

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I'd look into the ASrock mb so you could use AGP now and still have PCI-e down the road.

 

[bladephoenix]

I was originally looking at the OCZ Ram before I posted here, it was about $65 USD more, but looked good. I heard though that quality of RAM doesn't really matter unless you do OCing though, which I am too lazy to do Doesn't quality RAM / low latency RAM improve performance by something like 1% under high load?

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Originally posted by: bladephoenix
I was originally looking at the OCZ Ram before I posted here, it was about $65 USD more, but looked good. I heard though that quality of RAM doesn't really matter unless you do OCing though, which I am too lazy to do Doesn't quality RAM / low latency RAM improve performance by something like 1% under high load?

Well basically yeah but I'm lazy as well and I OC . . .

The OCZ Gold are BH-5 I believe so they are very good RAM if you don't mind upping the voltage . . .

But yeah if you don't plan on OC, you might as well get some Corsair XMS 3200C2 and run it 2-2-2-5 @ 400 Mhz . . .

 

[bladephoenix]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I'd look into the ASrock mb so you could use AGP now and still have PCI-e down the road.

Thanks! I was looking for that feature ... seems to come in at the same price range also. Now I just have to nag my local store to special order it in :thumbsup:

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: 1Dark1Sharigan1

Originally posted by: bladephoenix
I was originally looking at the OCZ Ram before I posted here, it was about $65 USD more, but looked good. I heard though that quality of RAM doesn't really matter unless you do OCing though, which I am too lazy to do Doesn't quality RAM / low latency RAM improve performance by something like 1% under high load?

Well basically yeah but I'm lazy as well and I OC . . .

The OCZ Gold are BH-5 I believe so they are very good RAM if you don't mind upping the voltage . . .

But yeah if you don't plan on OC, you might as well get some Corsair XMS 3200C2 and run it 2-2-2-5 @ 400 Mhz . . .

Uhh..if he doesn't plan on OCing he might as well get value ram.

 

[bladephoenix]

OK, I've asked my local store if they can order an ASRock in, and indeed, they can. However, after a day of mulling, I came to realize that I'm getting a reasonable good processor, and sticking it into a value mobo. Here is the odd thing about my situation though: I would like to get a ATI AIW card, just because I use the capture and TV stuff quite often (its pretty fun). However, that it still quite limited in the PCI-E world, for one that doesn't want to get financial head chopped off. I can get a x-600, but that seems to be a slightly lower end card ... equal at best. So I will be paying $250 CAD for pretty much the same kind of card I have now, only in PCI-E.

I suppose I can get the X-800 Version, but that is around $550 CAD, and a little over what I would like to spend. I would ideally like to limit myself to $1000 CAD.

Do you think that the ASRock is worth getting or should I just wait a half year or so for the AIW X800 to come down in price?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: bladephoenix
OK, I've asked my local store if they can order an ASRock in, and indeed, they can. However, after a day of mulling, I came to realize that I'm getting a reasonable good processor, and sticking it into a value mobo. Here is the odd thing about my situation though: I would like to get a ATI AIW card, just because I use the capture and TV stuff quite often (its pretty fun). However, that it still quite limited in the PCI-E world, for one that doesn't want to get financial head chopped off. I can get a x-600, but that seems to be a slightly lower end card ... equal at best. So I will be paying $250 CAD for pretty much the same kind of card I have now, only in PCI-E.

I suppose I can get the X-800 Version, but that is around $550 CAD, and a little over what I would like to spend. I would ideally like to limit myself to $1000 CAD.

Do you think that the ASRock is worth getting or should I just wait a half year or so for the AIW X800 to come down in price?

What is your computer not doing now that you want it to? If it's nothing major, then yeah, you could wait it out until things lower in price.

Another thing to think about would be getting a separate capture/tuner card so you're not limited to AIW type cards in the future.

 

[alimoalem]

i would shop around for those parts...u can get an x2 3800 for $360 and the ram for $100 or maybe even cheaper...

 

[bladephoenix]

Originally posted by: alimoalem
i would shop around for those parts...u can get an x2 3800 for $360 and the ram for $100 or maybe even cheaper...

In Canadian Dollars though?

 

[bladephoenix]

Any more suggestions?

 

[Varun]

The dual cores are pretty pricey still - do you really need dual core?

You can get a 3700+ San Diego for quite a bit cheaper.

3700+ San Diego

You can price match it on NCIX down to $325 - that is $90 less than dual core and will give you great performance.

I really like the look of the Asus A8N-SLI Premium MB - mostly due to the heatpipe cooling of the northbridge, but it's quite expensive at $205, the MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum can be had for about $150 instead.

Also, I would ditch the Western Digital drive and go with the 200GB Samsung:
Samsung Spinpoint 200GB

The Samsung has great performance and is the quietest/coolest drive on the market right now.

For RAM, if you aren't overclocking the RAM you have picked out is fine, or go with Corsair Value Select.

As for the All In Wonder - you can just buy a good video card and add one of these TV Tuners so that you are never have this problem again.

As for the video card then, the 6600GT is a nice card, and isn't too much money yet in Canada, at around $200. The 6800 is quite a bit more, I found one for $243 but most places have them listed well over $300 yet.

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: bladephoenix

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I'd look into the ASrock mb so you could use AGP now and still have PCI-e down the road.

Thanks! I was looking for that feature ... seems to come in at the same price range also. Now I just have to nag my local store to special order it in :thumbsup:

NCIX.com has the AsRock, which i would really recommend over getting that AGP-only mobo.

Keep your 9800, since you aren't gaming anyway, but having PCI-e for later is very important IMO.
Also, try to get 2 GB of RAM if you can, or at least go with a single GB dimm, so you can just add another 1 GB dimm later for 2 GB.
4 dimms in an A64 = not so good; avoid if possible.

 

[bladephoenix]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: bladephoenix
OK, I've asked my local store if they can order an ASRock in, and indeed, they can. However, after a day of mulling, I came to realize that I'm getting a reasonable good processor, and sticking it into a value mobo. Here is the odd thing about my situation though: I would like to get a ATI AIW card, just because I use the capture and TV stuff quite often (its pretty fun). However, that it still quite limited in the PCI-E world, for one that doesn't want to get financial head chopped off. I can get a x-600, but that seems to be a slightly lower end card ... equal at best. So I will be paying $250 CAD for pretty much the same kind of card I have now, only in PCI-E.

I suppose I can get the X-800 Version, but that is around $550 CAD, and a little over what I would like to spend. I would ideally like to limit myself to $1000 CAD.

Do you think that the ASRock is worth getting or should I just wait a half year or so for the AIW X800 to come down in price?

What is your computer not doing now that you want it to? If it's nothing major, then yeah, you could wait it out until things lower in price.

Another thing to think about would be getting a separate capture/tuner card so you're not limited to AIW type cards in the future.

Thanks for your advice jello. I guess at this point I am considering an upgrade, though I'm not in any rush. I noticed Sims 2 does lag a bit, and takes quite a while to load a scene, but it is rather hard to justify a upgrade for just one game. Partially, I am looking at upgrade options because I do notice that the viewports lag a bit in 3dsmax as scenes become more complex, though it is not overwhelmingly unbearable. I would also be nice to up the speed of the scanlines a bit.

Largely, I do get around much of this by altering my style of workflow a bit. Doing a series of little things such as constantly cutting down the number of polygons as I work, hiding virtually all objects I am not working on, and working in low-res versions without actively displaying the Meshsmooth result, etc. Of course these are things that most intermidiary artists employ to varing degrees (after all, I have always believed that a good craft is in the crafsman, not in his/her tools). Nevertheless, it is nice to have a little bit of leeway if the technology allows it. For example, it would help a little bit, if I can do a great amount of detail with many polygons, get the object done perfectly, and then worry about cutting out verticies later.

Now, I had suggestions about just upgrading the GPU (I would love to own a 3DLabs Wildcat, but they are $$$ and I do other thngs with my comp as well besides rendering, so I don't want to make a hardcore 3D machine). Being a psudeo-techno-nut, though I have a good feeling upping a vid card would only make a limited number of variables more speedy, while leaving the other areas the same. Generally, for that reason, I like to keep all components of the system from around the same era/generation of technology the belong to.

Again, at this point, it is not a huge deal, but I would like to look into ideas now instead of pulling my hair out in frustration later, and rush to catch-up, run to the store, and do a poor job of rigging.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Originally posted by: Varun
The dual cores are pretty pricey still - do you really need dual core?

You can get a 3700+ San Diego for quite a bit cheaper.

.

If he's going to go single-core in s939, why recommend the 3700+? He would be better-served by the s939 Opteron 144 with a nice aftermarket cooler. He should be able to out-OC the 3700+ easily while paying less money to do it.

 

[Varun]

not everyone overclocks, plus an overclock is never a guarantee

 

[Powermoloch]

Originally posted by: Varun
not everyone overclocks, plus an overclock is never a guarantee

when overclock gets mad, it smash !!!!!!

 

[bladephoenix]

OK, I've designed a rig I think will last a few years. It'l over my budget, but...well...since when does anyone ever spend the planned amount? I usually upgrade every 3 years, which will be in December of this year, so I think I will just go with this overhaul by the beginning of next year in January.

AMD 3800+ X2 -- 419.95
MSI K8N Neo4 -- 159.95
Corsair Value 1GB Dual Kit -- 129.95
Samsung 200MB SATA II -- 114.95
Sapphire X800GTO 256 MB PCI-E -- 249.95
Haugepauge PVR 250 -- 169.95

SubTotal: 1244.70 + 7% GST Sales Tax
Total: 1331.82 CAD (1,123.40 USD)

Any more suggestions about this rig? On a side note, don't you just hate when you plan on spending a certain amount, then get carried away and end up spending like 2x?

 

[Maluno]

Originally posted by: DrMrLordX

Originally posted by: Varun
The dual cores are pretty pricey still - do you really need dual core?

You can get a 3700+ San Diego for quite a bit cheaper.

.

If he's going to go single-core in s939, why recommend the 3700+? He would be better-served by the s939 Opteron 144 with a nice aftermarket cooler. He should be able to out-OC the 3700+ easily while paying less money to do it.

I agree, he did mention he was going to oc, so this would be his best bet for the money. It should oc just about as well as a 3700+.

 

[bladephoenix]

Actually, I am too lazy to OC I haven't tried it before, but from what I read in manuals, it's not that it is difficult, just time consuming to go through all the testing, tweaking and retesting and retweaking.