The system I plan to build... any comments?

[MonkeyK]

Would anyone care to comment on the machine that I plan to build? I want to use it as my personal machine and also an MP3 server for my wife's machine and our home sterio (plan on getting a slimp3). I am a gamer, but most of the games I play do not require a high end machine (starcraft, and I will get Warcraft 3). I also do light development work on my machine (right now, some VB and some Java).

I want the machine to stay up 24x7 so stabilty is key, but I will probably shedule weekly reboots. I also want it to be relatively quiet.


Thanks,
Mike


MB:
MSI KT3 Ultra2 or Shuttle AK35GT2 - $70-90

CPU:
AMD Atlon XP 1900+ - $110

RAM:
256MB Mushkin DDR PC2700 - $90

HDs
1 Maxtor 30GB 7200rpm drive on the IDE controller (from my last machine) - $0
2 Seagate Barracuda IV 80GB drives in raid 1 attached to a 3Ware Escalade 7500-4 - $450

Video:
Hercules Prophet II MX (from my last machine) - $0

Audio:
Onboard

Optical drives
TDK CDRW 40x12x48x - $50

Case:
Lian-Li PC-68 - $125

Power Supply
Enermax 430W whisperquiet - $75

OS:
MS Windows XP pro - $100

TOTAL: $1070-1090

 

[amdskip]

Looks good but you may want to considering upgrading that video card a little bit. It seems like that would be the only thing holding you back.

 

[Ausm]

I agree with AMD Skip....I own Warcraft 3 and it has awesome graphics and I think you need to upgrade yuour video card also


Ausm

 

[NeoMadHatter]

Originally posted by: ausm
I agree with AMD Skip....I own Starcraft 3 and it has awesome graphics and I think you need to upgrade yuour video card also


Ausm

woah, starcraft 3. btw, nice computer. vid card needs upgrading.

 

[MonkeyK]

would a ATI Radeon 9000pro - $100 do the trick?

-Mike

 

[majewski9]

Radeon 9000 would more than do the trick!

 

[murphy55d]

Doesn't the R9000 Pro perform worse than an 8500? As someone else put it, it's like ATi's GF4 MX... faster in name but not in performance?

I could be wrong but I think that's what this is...

If you need ATi get an 8500, or better yet, get a Ti4200.


Also, the 'sweet spot' for Athlon XP IMO is the 1800+..if you get an AGOIA, which alot of them seem to be now, it'll overclock past that 1900 and maybe farther. Save you a bit of cash for that new vid card.

 

[PHiuR]

i think you should ditch your 30 gigger and just run your 80gig in raid.. it will be FAST

 

[MonkeyK]

The raid subsystem will be used for an MP3 server (serving music to this machine, my wife's, and my sterio). The requirements for such a system are that it be able to simultaneously respond to multiple requests for data, all of which may not be located close to each other, and transfer that data without having to do lots of additional seeks (which would cause hiccups in the mp3 playback). I want to use them in raid 1 so that I can deal with the fact that I have no way to back up 80GB worth of music (other than the CDs which they came on ). I want to use the 3Ware card to do this because it is the only card, that I know of, which can do two reads in raid 1. If I used the 80GB drives for my main drive, then I would be processing writes during reads, which would hurt the performance of the raid subsystem.

 

[Dumberthandirt]

Nice System, The Radeon 9000 will be AWSOME, I have the 8500/64mb It is great. I would suggest a better sound card. My set up is really good and CHEAP!!! I bought a 4.1 card from Computer Surplus for $15.00 delivered, and Creative Labs 4.1- 5 pc speaker system for $34.00 !! Creative sells "Factory Refurbished" on their site and off E-Bay. Al;so my wife bought an AWSOME surround sound set up for our TV for $60.00 at Overstock.com. Good luck...Billy

 

[Dumberthandirt]

Sorry...I forgot ... Tiger Direct has a sound card for $15.00 + Shipping, I think it supports 4.1 and 5.1..Can't find my catalogue right now, check on line. Dumb-Dumb Billy