***update*** Computer questions on parts! Show off your computer skills:D

[Googer]

Here is an old article on a good quality PSU. They also stress the importance of enough power on the 12v. Look at page two, you will see how wimpy enermax really is.

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1399

Buy one here.
http://pcpowerandcooling.com/

 

[Toro 45]

$220 after rebate Ram= OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Dual Channel Platinum System Memory<--Don't know what other ram to get:\ help? Please

Good ram, good price, no rebate and it will save you a few bucks

 

[harobikes333]

hmmmmm that does look like good ram... seeing the lifetime warranty... but then why do some people say to stay away from Patriot ram?....

 

[ribbon13]

Because they expected too much from it. I agree, that's a nice kit for the price.

~

Googer... did you totally ignore everything I wrote?

Originally posted by: Googer
Second fans are inefective marketing aides that do not help much in cooling. I reality they remove or waste space in that should used by more important parts like Transformers, Capacitors, Heatsinks, etc. That is the stuff that matters. With limited space in there, they had to shrink those important parts to fit that second and almost poinless fan in there. Nice Concept but a bad idea.

What the fsck are you talking about? Seasonic uses a theramally controlled 1x120mm. You mean this power supply you're about to suggest?

Dont get me wrong Seasonic is nice, very nice; but for $20 less I would rather recomend this Antec over it (seasonic).

Self pwnage. What were you just saying about multiple fans in a PSU? That's an alright PSU for those are qualified to take it apart and replace the fans in it (I've had to do this multiple times for multiple customers on this EXACT model.)

Shared 3.3 and 5v lines are things you find on cheaper PSU's costing less than $45-55. For $110 I would expect better.

But none of your points really matter much when the unit that you recomend has voltage on the 12v line that can be as loose as that, possibly violating some warrenties.

Once again, the -12v and the +12v rails are entirely different, and the +12v rails that are actually important have 5% regulation. And how about you put your money where your mouth is and show me documentation of where 10% regulation on the -12v rail (thats really only there for backwards compatibility with server motherboards that use -12v) will void any components warranty. Are you afraid to admit I tore your argue to pieces, with facts and not flames?

 

[ITPaladin]

You only mentioned Sims1. The system you are building seems like you want to play the latest FPS.

List the programs you actually plan on using, then build the system around them, giving a realistic margin for growth.

 

[harobikes333]

Thanks for the replies

I'm planning on getting the seasonic for now. So could anyone answer these questions now?

Question #1:

Which ram should I get?

Patriot PDC2G3200ELK 2GB Kit DDR400 PC3200 Dual Channel Eased Latency Memory Kit Retail ***Free 2nd Day*** Lifetime warranty

or

OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Dual Channel Platinum System Memory ***$3.83SH***

or

G Skill 1gig ***3.83SH***

or

CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM ***3.83SH***

or some other different ram? I donno thats why I'm asking all you smart people

 

[ITPaladin]

I don't understand timings on memory, but the patriot is cas 2-3-3-6, the ocz is 2-3-2-5, and the corsair only says Cas Latency 3 with no heat spreader while the first two have one.

Here is the same Patriot listed on ZZF on Newegg for 8 reviews and technical specs.

Newegg lists timings as 3-3-3-7-T1

Patriot Extreme Performance Eased Latency is targeted specifically towards PC enthusiasts and gamers who do not want to spend significant sums on memory upgrades.

The ocz does have the $30 rebate if you care for that plus heatspreader plus cas 2. Weekend sale only.

 

[ribbon13]

Get the Patriot kit, but if you need to contrain your budget more, just get a nice single 1GB that way you at least get something even better in the end for having to wait.

Your budget is pretty tight given that you're trying to get a high-end video card AND a nice lcd with the rest of the computer. If your time is valuable to you, I'd reccomend cutting back on your vid card/RAM to get a nice Opteron 170 and a quality LCD, because it's easy to replace/upgrade RAM and video cards.

 

[harobikes333]

Thanks for the replies!!!

Ribbon, why do you say to get the Patriot kit, could you give me a reason? Please?

I've decided that if necessary I'll kick in some more money and spend about 200 more dollars... Only if I have to though.

My CPU pick is now a Opteron 170

 

[pillage2001]

Originally posted by: johnnqq
windows 32 bit can only use 2 gigs

:shocked:

 

[ribbon13]

Well The official specs put it at decent timings for it's price point. $200 shipped for a 2GB kit is a pretty sweet deal. If it runs as advertised. When I first looked, I actually though it was the LLK, not the ELK. The LLK at $200 would be a steal. But at $250 it's barely even 'alright'

 

[ITPaladin]

I just looked at the ocz rebate on newegg. You have to get it postmarked by the 24th.

 

[ITPaladin]

thanks for the questions on ram btw. This Patriot is cheaper than the two sticks of gigaram I was looking at on newegg.

 

[harobikes333]

whats the difference between LLK and ELK?

People always say brands like OCZ and G Skill are "recommended". But you think the Patriot Kit will be good?

If so here is my #2 question:

If I get the 170 dual core opteron and the Patriot ram what mobo do you suggest? I don't plan on OCing until CPU warranty is gone and then I'll OC at stock voltage<--you recommended that

 

[ribbon13]

Originally posted by: pillage2001

Originally posted by: johnnqq
windows 32 bit can only use 2 gigs

:shocked:

Clarification, 32bit windows can address 4GB of ram, and any single application can only use 2GB. But some other things take address space (like the system BIOS for example) This comes from the 4GB limit heading backwards. For example, say your system components need 200MB address space. This address space is between 3.8GB and 4GB, limiting windows maximum addressable RAM to 3.8GB. If your system components need 300MB address space it comes between 3.7GB and 4GB, which limits windows to 3.7GB of ram.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: johnnqq
windows 32 bit can only use 2 gigs

Incorrect.

the 32Bit limit is 4GB.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: ribbon13
Because they expected too much from it. I agree, that's a nice kit for the price.

~

Googer... did you totally ignore everything I wrote?

Originally posted by: Googer
Second fans are inefective marketing aides that do not help much in cooling. I reality they remove or waste space in that should used by more important parts like Transformers, Capacitors, Heatsinks, etc. That is the stuff that matters. With limited space in there, they had to shrink those important parts to fit that second and almost poinless fan in there. Nice Concept but a bad idea.

What the fsck are you talking about? Seasonic uses a theramally controlled 1x120mm. You mean this power supply you're about to suggest?

Dont get me wrong Seasonic is nice, very nice; but for $20 less I would rather recomend this Antec over it (seasonic).

Self pwnage. What were you just saying about multiple fans in a PSU? That's an alright PSU for those are qualified to take it apart and replace the fans in it (I've had to do this multiple times for multiple customers on this EXACT model.)

Shared 3.3 and 5v lines are things you find on cheaper PSU's costing less than $45-55. For $110 I would expect better.

But none of your points really matter much when the unit that you recomend has voltage on the 12v line that can be as loose as that, possibly violating some warrenties.

Once again, the -12v and the +12v rails are entirely different, and the +12v rails that are actually important have 5% regulation. And how about you put your money where your mouth is and show me documentation of where 10% regulation on the -12v rail (thats really only there for backwards compatibility with server motherboards that use -12v) will void any components warranty. Are you afraid to admit I tore your argue to pieces, with facts and not flames?

No matter how you shuffle it, you cannot ignore the simple fact that this PSU cuts corners by sharing 5v and 3.3v, most PSU's in this price class have separate lines for that. It's junk.

I might have mis-read that. I did thought it was on the + side. So I am probably wrong there.

 

[harobikes333]

Ok.... well lets just "say" I'm getting the seasonic for now:

Could you guys answer my question?

Originally posted by: harobikes333
whats the difference between LLK and ELK?

People always say brands like OCZ and G Skill are "recommended". But you think the Patriot Kit will be good?

If so here is my #2 question:

If I get the 170 dual core opteron and the Patriot ram what mobo do you suggest? I don't plan on OCing until CPU warranty is gone and then I'll OC at stock voltage<--you recommended that

 

[ribbon13]

The difference is the timings
2-3-3-8 (ELK) vs 2-3-2-5 (LLK)

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Toro 45

$220 after rebate Ram= OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Dual Channel Platinum System Memory<--Don't know what other ram to get:\ help? Please

Good ram, good price, no rebate and it will save you a few bucks

I have not seen anyone find anything better or cheaper than this Corsair RAM. Just buy two of these and get 2GB for $173 or 4GB for $246. Fast and Cheap stuff!
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80098-34

Matched pairs are just a marketing tool and are completly unesesary. In reality any two identical pairs will work, kits do not really contain perfecly matched DIMMs. It's pure psychological to believe it works better.

 

[l Xes l]

go two sticks of 1gb. gg.

 

[harobikes333]

:\ crap I can't decide between the Rams:\

Whats the timings for the Corair ram? I don't see where it lists it.

Patriot kit= Extreme Bandwidth PC-3200 (400MHz) Eased Latency (2-3-3-6) for System Performance

Corair ram= ???

1gig Gigaram= 2-3-2-5, cas latency 2

 

[ribbon13]

the Corsair timings are at best 3-3-3-8, which suck ass, and at worst 3-4-4-11, which sucks more ass.

 

[harobikes333]

hmmmmmm so thats why they don't list the timings....:? lol

I'm just wondering if I should get one gig of good good gigaram and then buy another gig later or else get the patriot kit......

will they have that same ram in about.. say 2 years:\

 

[ribbon13]

it will take you 2 years to save $120?