Scrutinize this build please

[imported_Wish]

Case Lian Li PC-767 Classical Silent Aluminum EATX Tower Case 7X5.25 4X3.5INT 2X120MM Fan No PS
(PC-767) (sku: 16369) 2-5 days
$265.62

Processor AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Dual Core Processor S939 Toledo 2.2GHZ 1MBX2 90NM Retail Box
(ADA4400CDBOX) (sku: 14634) In Stock
$594.38

Motherboard ASUS A8N-SLI Motherboard ATX NFORCE4-SLI S939 DDR 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E 3PCI SATA RAID LAN Sound 1394
(A8N-SLI-UAY) (sku: 14047) In Stock
$154.04

Memory OCZ GOLD 2GB


IDE Hard Drives Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 250GB SATA W/ NCQ 7200RPM 8MB 11MS Hard Drive 5 Year MFR Warranty
(ST3250823AS) (sku: 13631) In Stock
$135.55

Floppy SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5IN FLOPPY DRIVE
(MPF920-1/121) (sku: 9047) In Stock
$10.28

Video Card EVGA E-GEFORCE 6800GS SLI 256MB 256BIT GDDR3 PCI-E VGA DVI-I Video Card Retail Lifetime Warranty
(256-P2-N386-AX) (sku: 16724) In Stock
$259.92

Power Supply Enermax All In One 535W ATX12V V2.0 20/24 Pin Power Supply W/ PCI-E SLI Ready
(EG565P-VE FMA (24 PIN)) (sku: 15772) In Stock
$105.80


DVD-ROM LITEON Black 16X DVD-ROM INT E-IDE OEM W/ SW DVD PLAYER
(SOHD-16P9S-BK) (sku: 8522) In Stock
$27.09


Operating System MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP HOME EDITION OEM (WITH SYSTEM ONLY)
(N09-01153OEM) (sku: 6526) Yes
$99.98



Any improvements you can think of?

Thanks!

 

[Maximilian]

If you really want the 1 mb of cache in the processor get an opteron 165 or 170. They overclock like hell too.

Also use the money you save on the opteron to buy a superior graphics card. An X1900XT or one of the 7800 varients (not the GS one) would be great for a new build.

 

[Bobthelost]

Is this for gaming? In which case buy a cheaper CPU and a 7800GT.

Also if you're not going SLI then you can save quite a lot of money by going for a non SLI mobo, smaller PSU (you're overpowered there anyway, fortron 450W will do SLI happily) So you'd be able to use a 400W one.

If you're overclocking then get a 165.

 

[Cinna696]

why are you going with a generation old video card?

also realize that the dvd-rom only plays dvds, it won't be able to burn any cd/dvd

the x2 4200 would be a better buy

 

[Bobthelost]

the 4200X2 is a very bad buy if you're going to overclock. If not overclocking then it would be better than the 4400X2 in terms of bang/buck.

We need more info.

 

[Cinna696]

i was thinking bang/buck for the 4200 as

also a less expensive case would save you alot of cash, something like the antec p-180 (125$)

where are you getting those prices also? that 4400 should be around 460$, not 600$ unless its a typo

 

[imported_Wish]

Thank you for the replies, here is more information.

I am using the NCIX.com PC Builder and those Opterons are not an option. I've also read up on the X2s and am comfortable with using one of them.

The PC is meant for everything, including gaming.

I have no intention (or knowledge) to overclock at all.

I didn't realize the 6800 GS was a generation old video card. I just wanted something mid-range for now that I can upgrade later, and eventually go SLI.

I selected the X2 4400 because I wanted to get the best CPU I could get for my spending limit ($1500), and the 4400 was the cheapest one with the 1mb of cache. I could probably be fine with just a 3800 really, but if the 4200 is well worth it over a 3800 then I'm uncertain as to how to proceed.

I could probably get a less hefty PSU, but the price is pretty low on the 535W as it is.

I am aware that the DVD is a player only, I can wait for a DVD writer for a month or so

I appreciate all the help you have given.


*wish*

 

[Cinna696]

o wait those are CAD prices, i don't know the conversion rate

 

[imported_Wish]

Actually those are US dollar amounts. NCIX has a US site as well.

 

[Cinna696]

just make sure you pay the right price, cause a x2 4400 is not worth 600 us dollars, if your going to build it yourself try newegg

 

[imported_Wish]

Is a 4200 X2 worth it over a 3800?

 

[Cinna696]

its about a 70$ difference between the two, you probably wouldn't notice the difference between the two plus you can use that extra money for a new video card like the 7800gt instead of the 6800gs which will see much more improvement

 

[Cinna696]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...56&ATT=14-130-256&CMP=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r

a evga 7800gt for 270, 250 after mir

 

[duragezic]

I'd get a cheaper PSU like the aforementioned Fortron 450W, slightly slower X2, and put this money towards a 7800GT or X1900. IMO, a 6800GS is too slow when you're building a $1500 gaming system. And personally I'd go with a cheaper mobo, MUCH cheaper case, and value RAM. Then you can just buy a DVD burner outright. Its only $40 for a decent DVD burner like a NEC. And now I'm just nitpicking, but $10 for a floppy? Damn! I haven't needed one in at least 2 years, maybe more. Possibly a 16mb cache drive like the 7200.9 would be better too.

 

[imported_Wish]

Great responses, thank you very much for the info.

I think I've almost got it, another question though, what is the difference between a SATA2 harddrive and an IDE ATA100? Thinking of going with a Western Digital 250GB but I do not understand harddrives enough to know the difference.

Thanks!

 

[Praxis1452]

Sata and IDE are different types of connections. the difference between Sata I and Sata II is negligible and doesn't matter at all. Sata is faster than IDE but it doesn't really make a difference.

 

[doan]

I'd spend $10 more and get a DVD burner instead of a DVD ROM

 

[Wall7486]

What doan said. Get a NEC 3550 in case you ever have to burn something. I think you should tone down on the case a little bit. Lian-Li are great cases, but I believe that money can be used on elsewhere. You can get a Lian-Li PC1000 for about 60 dollar less. Although, I think you should take a look at the Thermaltake Tsunami because good air flow = good stuff, and you save at least half the money.

I suggest getting the OCZ platinum series 1GB (512x2) instead and getting an opteron 165. That way you'll save some money and then use that to buy an after-market heatsink, like the Thermalright XP-120, and you can OC that thing to at least 2.4-2.6 ghz. Opterons are good chips, and you won't be disappointed.

Also, get the samsung floppy drive instead. Two of my friends and I have gotten the sony and it crapped on us, guess you can say we got some horrible luck but telling you just in case.

edit* Opterons actually have a very good heatsink already, so the after-market heatsink is not nececssary

You should definitely take a look in the 7800GTs as oppose to 6800GS, since budge doesn't seem to be a major problem for you.

You picked a good PSU, but I think you should take a look in the Enermax Liberty as its modular and it keeps the case clean and that helps air flow.

Good luck.

 

[doan]

Originally posted by: Wall7486
Also, get the samsung floppy drive instead. Two of my friends and I have gotten the sony and it crapped on us, guess you can say we got some horrible luck but telling you just in case.

Or just skip the floppy, I can't remember the last time I used a floppy.

 

[RussianSensation]

X2 3800+, but if you can afford it, 4200+ gets 400 extra mhz which is a lot
2 gig of value ram (dont get 2x512)
dont skimp on the PSU since it'll outlast all the components you have
X1900XT or at least 7800GT OC
no SLI motherboard, like DFI Ultra-D
case is way too expensive
Get a DVD writer right away, they wont improve much beyond this point

 

[imported_Wish]

Awesome, thank you so much for the replies!

 

[RussianSensation]

Sorry what I meant to say was 4200+ gets 400 extra mhz over Opteron 165; and 200 over x2 3800+. So if you do not plan to overclock, it makes sense to spend a bit more for 4200+ for example.

 

[MacVista]

Change the HD to a Maxtor Maxline 250/300gb with SATAII and the optical drive to a NEC ND-3550

 

[Bobthelost]

Originally posted by: MacVista
Change the HD to a Maxtor Maxline 250/300gb with SATAII and the optical drive to a NEC ND-3550

Why? The NEC is an inferior drive and the Maxtors aren't the fastest drives, nor do they have the warranty of seagate drives.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Bobthelost

Originally posted by: MacVista
Change the HD to a Maxtor Maxline 250/300gb with SATAII and the optical drive to a NEC ND-3550

Why? The NEC is an inferior drive and the Maxtors aren't the fastest drives, nor do they have the warranty of seagate drives.

The NEC burner is inferior to the read-only Lite-On drive? Not only that, I have not read of any problems regarding the 3550. Was going to buy one myself, in fact.