What do you guys think about this rig?

[imported_Skorpio]

Ok, this is going to be first time building a new computer. My pentium III has lasted me around 6 years, and Am using it as I type right now. However, I might be building one to replace the PIII, while the PIII will exist primarily as a file server and what do you anandtech computer experts think about this rig ?

I would like someone to verify if the corsair ram could fit into the epox motherboard.
+ I heard that the AMD Processor have problems with high tempertures? Is getting a better brand of thermal paste and a extra fan worth it?

Thanks in advance for the answers and suggestions.

Basically the new rig would consist of

AMD 64 3500+ Processor (939 Socket Config)

ANTEC Performance Series II Case w/ 350 watt psu

EPoX Nvidia NForce 3 Chipset Motherboard

Crucial Tech 1GB Ram (Wow...expensive)

Chaintech FX5700LE 256MB DDR Ram Vid Card

Hitachi 80GB SATA HD

Lite-On 16X DVD ROM

ASUS 16X Dual Layer DVD Burner (Didnt know ASUS made dvd burners)

NEC 1.44 Floppy Drive

 

[Balt]

What are you planning on using this computer for?

If gaming, get some cheaper ram (1GB DDR400-3200 Corsair Value Select 2.5cl for ~$150-160) and spend the rest on a stronger video card.

 

[Anubis]

yes get the raqm Balt suggested and get 2x512 of it so you can run dual channel

and spend teh extra money on a 6800 or 6800GT

 

[imported_Skorpio]

Gaming / DVD Shrinking? (Changing AVI to DVD). Thx for the comments / suggestions

Sorry Im a newbie, but what is this talk about 2X512, I know that you could buy 2X512, but is that like buying two 512MB ram sticks?

 

[Anubis]

for gameing you definitly want a better video card, definitly go with a 6800GT

id also add another HDD if you can

no the AMD cpus run COOLER then the P4s the stock fan on it will be fine, if you plan on overclocking you should invest in a better HS and fan

that case comes with 2 80mm exaust fans that is good, i recomend getting at least 1 80mm intake fan to put in teh space for it, 2 is better but louder, if you go with a panaflow they are quiet

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Skorpio
Gaming / DVD Shrinking? (Changing AVI to DVD). Thx for the comments / suggestions

Sorry Im a newbie, but what is this talk about 2X512, I know that you could buy 2X512, but is that like buying two 512MB ram sticks?

yes 2 512 meg sticks of ram

 

[ts3433]

Yes, get cheaper RAM (and the right kind too--you're linking to ECC DDR2). 2 sticks of Corsair Value is good.

You should be fine with the stock cooler on that if you're not overclocking too much.

For a gaming video card: 9800 Pro, 6800 NU, or 6800 GT, according to budget. If necessary, get the new 90nm 3000+ or 3200+ instead of the 3500+.

(edit: Oh yes, and don't bother with SATA right now--not worth the extra cost or the headaches for newbies.)

 

[imported_Skorpio]

Thanks anubis & balt for your great suggestions...I dont know about shelling out 300+ for a 6800...as much as I like gaming....Im not that hardcore though...haha...the 512 is a good idea....thinking about that...thx

 

[stelleg151]

Yeah buddy DONT BUY THAT RAM ITS DDR2 240 PIN. You need DDR 184 pin, and if you want best performance/overclocking get TCCD ram or Ballistix.

 

[imported_Skorpio]

what is the right kind? the 184 pin one?...ahaha I see...thx guys for correcting that

 

[scaryclownsarefun]

i would suggest saving your money and buying a chaintec VNF3-250 motherboard (socket 754) and an athlon 64 2800+ CPU. socket 939 isn't all it's put up to be, and going from 754 to 939 usually only yields a 5% increase in performance. get the 2800 because all of those cores overclock to the same speed (they all use the same core. actually) as long as you get the newcastle variant (very important). like balt said, ditch the costly ram, and buy some good old value ram. corsair value select is good, and i was planning on getting this really cheap A-DATA stuf, but i am not sure if thats a good idea. Pick up a really nice video card, the 6800/ 6800GT's are nice if you have the money, and a 9800 pro overclocks well. if you are willing to take some chances a 9800SE can usually softmod into a 9800Pro, and will come much more cheaply. if you get the 9800SE get the one from powercolor that ends with C3 in the model number.

good luck.

 

[ts3433]

That's quite valid. A 754 system is probably better with regards to price/performance ratio if you don't upgrade components very often (I'd assume that since you've used your P3 rig for 6 years), but if you do plan to migrate to NF4/PCIe/whatever very quickly, you may still want to consider a 939 chip.

If you want to overclock the 9800 Pro as much as you can (without modifying yourself), I believe there is one with an oversized cooler (a VGA Silencer) preinstalled for around $240. I don't remember the manufacturer off-hand, though.

 

[FreshFish]

If you are a gamer, but not so hardcore then I would go with a 9800 Pro. It's a great midrange card, though you would be limited by your vid card then. I have one and it runs Doom3, UT2k4, etc just fine.

 

[imported_Skorpio]

thx guys for the comments / suggestions

Is there a huge noticible difference of dual channel 2x512 compared to just buying one stick of 1GB?

I dont do OC though, I might.....

The 939 and 754 comparsion, I think Im sticking with the 939.

But could this chaintech vid card, lets say play like doom 3 or half life 2 on the highest settings?

 

[scaryclownsarefun]

if you can find a single 1GB stick that is the price of two 512MB sticks, then get it, and tell me where you got it. if you really want to run socket 939, then get two 512MB sticks, but if you want to run 754 (recomended) then get a single 1GB stick, if it doesn't cost any more than two 512's. the reason is that you can push a single chip to much better speeds/ latency than you can with two of the same chip.

 

[effee]

Decent rig

 

[9enisP]

Originally posted by: Skorpio
But could this chaintech vid card, lets say play like doom 3 or half life 2 on the highest settings?

No, you would need a least something like a FX 5900 and that would still be hurtin.

 

[magratton]

Also, I would recommend the Antec SLK3700-BQE. Very nice box, roomy, easy to setup and saves you a few bucks.

Also, edit your original post with the changes you are making so we can all see where you are at.

 

[PumpActionWalrus]

That power supply isnt going to cut the mustard man, I'd go with at least 480 watts to be safe, more if overclocking

 

[Anubis]

even if he is over clocking a 480w PS is overkill, a nice 430 would be fine

i recomend teh Antec Truepower 430 its a tank, my comp sucks more juics then thisone he is building will and its solid

I also agree on the comment about SATA, its not any better/faster then normal IDE, the cables are just smaller, if you want small cables then its fine, but there is no preformance diffrence

 

[Kazrath]

I would have to dissagree on the SATA aspect.

SATA drives not only are higher quality/faster. They also increase airflow inside the case thus cooling the system more efficently.

If you check out http://storagereview.com/comparison.html you can get some specs on different HDD's Stay away from SCSI unless you are trying to build a server. (Or are indipendantly wealthy)

 

[gsellis]

Originally posted by: Kazrath
I would have to dissagree on the SATA aspect.

SATA drives not only are higher quality/faster. They also increase airflow inside the case thus cooling the system more efficently.

If you check out http://storagereview.com/comparison.html you can get some specs on different HDD's Stay away from SCSI unless you are trying to build a server. (Or are indipendantly wealthy)

I started to post something similar, but I think the point that ts3433 was making is that it does not require a driver for stock XP. My OS builds have the devices in the PnP path, but a general build may not recognize the controller out of the box. You need to do F6 and floppy action on install. Am I remembering that correctly?

BTW, if you do a new install, get SP2 or the critical fixes on a CD and install them BEFORE you plug this puppy onto the wire. If you are firewall-free, chances are you will get wormed before you can get the security updates.

 

[biostud]

5700=Sux

Radeon 9800pro or GF 6600GT is absolute minimum for a decent gaming machine.