System upgrade/rebuild

[aking]

Hello everyone,

I'm new here - I was referred by a colleague at work. I'll get right to the point.

I'm dissatisfied with my current video card - ATI All in wonder 9700 pro - and I want to buy the Asus extreme n7800 gtx. One little problem however - my motherboard does not support PCI Express.

So, I've opened the floodgates. It's time to overhaul NEMESIS (my computer's name). After researching heavily, I found that the DFI Lanparty Ultra-D is probably the best motherboard for me. However, I need some seriously good advice on what other hardware to put in - what kind of RAM should I get, which CPU is the best? In the past I've tried just getting what I thought was the best and had problem after problem.

It's time to go to the pros for advice. I've been building all my own systems for years (at least the last 4 systems I've owned) so that's not the issue - I just want to know what parts to get so I can build this thing with the minimal amount of hassle. I generally do not overclock - I've never even tried to do so in all the years I've owned a PC.

Would you recommend AMD over Intel, and why? Also, which exact CPU? I've heard AMD has issues with overheating, and intel built in downclocking circutry to prevent that which AMD does not have. I am guessing this is old or incorrect information, and this problem has been resolved - or is a non issue with the water cooling systems available today.

Right now my specs for my system are as follows:

Asus P4C800-E Deluxe motherboard
Soundblaster Audigy Platinum 2 EX
ATI All in wonder Radeon 9700 Pro
1 GB DDR RAM
other peripherals that I will be able to move over to the new board. My hard drive is EIDE.

If it helps any, I play World of Warcraft a lot and I want something that will run that game smoothly - no choppyness in the video like I get now when I go to areas with lots of other players.

Thanks in advance!

 

[GML3G0]

AMD is cheaper for the same performance. The $233 San Diego core 3700+ can outperform a much higher priced Intel chip.

Yes, the DFI is the best A64 motherboard, but it can be either super stable, or super unstable for you depending on your selection of parts and the settings you set.

They do, however, have the best community support on their forums.

The OCZ PowerStream 520W is the #1 recommened PSU for this board.

7800 GTX is overkill for just WoW. Get an eVGA 6800 GS which performs the same as a 6800 GT at stock and overclocks a LOT. It's $200 at mwave.com.

For RAM, get the OCZ Platinum Rev. 2. OCZ too has amazing tech support.

 

[forumposter32]

RAM- OCZ Platinum, simply because it's the best bang for the buck for 2x1GB kits (timing:2-3-2-5)

CPU- Well, I suppose it depends which platform. For socket 939, I would not go less than 3500+ single core. If you want dual core, I'd get at least 4600+.

But, the best bang for the buck right now is either the combo deal at newegg or tigerdirect.ca or .com with a socket 754 3700+. In some benchmarks, it actually surpasses the single core 3800+ socket 939. But, the tigerdirect rebates are complicated and you have to follow ALL the instructions EXACTLY in order to qualify for your rebates. There has been talk of the justice department investigating how they handle rebates. I've gotten rebates from them before but I filled out everything on the Internet and then sent out everything they wanted by mail as well (photocopies of receipts, UPC codes and a print out of their rebate form etc).

I just ordered the 3700+ and Asus K8V SE Deluxe combo so I can keep the CPU and bring it with me when I move to another province. And I'm going to sell the Asus motherboard because it has an AGP slot. When I finally arrive where I'm moving, I'm going to order the same motherboard I have now because it has nForce4, PCI-E, firewire and a MIDI port you can add in a PCI slot. But, you're better off taking off the chipset fan and replacing it with a Zalman NB47J and putting a 40mm fan on it.

 

[aking]

Thank you for the responses. I know you said the video card I picked was overkill, but I really really want it. I'll think about it though - because I also do a lot of programming and graphic design in addition to WoW.

Anyway, so far, I've come up with the following specs from your recommendations and my own research:

Motherboard: DFI LanParty Ultra-D
Video Card: Asus Extreme N7800 GTX (debating)
CPU: AMD Dual-Core 4600+
Power Supply: OCZ PowerStream 520W
RAM: OCZ Gold Edition 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 500 (PC 4000) Dual Channel Kit System Memory
Case: Nemesis Elite
Cooling System: ThermalRight Heatsynch with accompanying recommended fan.

Parts I already have that I am salvaging from the old system:

Audio: Soundblaster Audigy Platinum 2ex
HD: Maxtor 120GB ATAPI/EIDE 7200RPM 8MB Cache
CD/DVD: Plextor CD/DVD/RW
Monitor: 22" Flat Screen CRT Mitsubishi Diamondtron

This system is going to ROCK THE HOUSE.

 

[forumposter32]

It's going to rock your bank account as well. LOL

 

[GML3G0]

Memory

Those are the sticks to get. Here is a rebate for the kit version. Unfortuanetely, everyone has them out of stock because everyone found out what memory chips they were using and now there is a shortage of ICs.

XP-90

92mm Panaflo M1A

You also need to buy the fan tail for that fan which is listed under that fan for $1.50.

Nemesis? I'd buy from a quality brand for a case. Look at Cooler Master, Lian Li, Antec, etc...

At $200 the 6800 GS is a killer deal. Your video card power really shouldn't have that big of an effect on programming and graphic design. That requires raw CPU power and RAM bandwidth, which the RAM I selected, and the CPU you selected, provided.

 

[vanvock]

The system in my sig is rock solid. I think you've got it backwards on the running hot issue. Definatley go with AMD. Since you're not OC'ing the stock cpu cooler should be fine. The OCZ mem is probably the way to go as well.

 

[aking]

Hi GML3G0,

Thanks for the advice. I wound up getting the Lian Li PC-777B case. And you're right, that memory is out of stock everywhere. From what I've been hearing (via the vendor I just called) OCZ isn't being specific on ETA. They are just saying sometime in December.

Is there any other RAM you can recommend that's comparable? Thanks!

 

[aking]

Sorry for the double post. I tried to order it from Atacom.com in hopes that when it came in they'd honor my order, but I got an email saying that my order had been cancelled.

I called them and they said they'd hold it and let me know when it was available, however, OCZ is telling them not until sometime in December. Upon looking at the rebate file - I notice it's only good on modules purchased on or before November 30, 2005.

Bummer man. I guess I won't be getting that rebate.

 

[GML3G0]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227210



Bandwidth doesn't give you any real world performance gains.

 

[aking]

Thank you, GML3G0! I've ordered it and I'm going to tell atacom to cancel my order completely.

Many thanks for all your help!