What do you think?

[ChicagoPCGuy]

I was running a EPoX 9NPA+ Ultra motherboard with 3500+ Newcastle and 1 Gig Patriot XBLK with a Seagate 7200.8 200Gig drive. GeForce 6800GT. Chaintech AV-710, with Klipsch Promedia 2.1's (yeah, it rocks).

However, I was not ENTIRELY satsified with the speed increase over my older S754 3200+ on my Soltek nForce3 250Gb system (except video, of course). I gave away that A64 Machine with 6600GT to my father, and then bought the EPoX-based system. But, the saga continues....

So, I am now getting:

ASUS A8N-E mobo
San Diego 3700+
Thermalright XP-90C with Panaflow fan
OCZ Platinum Rev. 2 2x512 MB sticks
Hitachi T7K250 SATAII HDD, 250 Gig

The rest of the system will remain the same:

OCZ PowerStream 520 Watt PSU
Antec SLK-3700 BQE
eVGA GeForce 6800GT
Chaintech AV-710
NEC 3520A DVD burner
In-Win 7-1 card reader
2 - Vantec Stealth 120mm case fans
LG L1710B LCD using DVI

On the EPoX 9NPA+ Ultra I used the large blue Zalman passive northbridge cooler with Arctic Silver Alumina Thermal Epoxy, and intend to do the same thing on the ASUS (obviously, another one...since it permanently attached to the EPoX now!)

I will be using the nForce 6.53 standalone kit, as I am using with the current machine.

I will be GIVING away the resultant left-over parts to one of my friends. I have a habit of doing this. Many of my friends are poorer than I am, so I tend to actually give away about two complete PC's per year, and all part that I move on from end up in those machines, and people all experience a system upgrade (think chain reaction) as frequently as I upgrade.

After having read a LOT of reviews and having had experience with the new S939 PCI-E technology, I believe I have found the final system config that should last me the year out.

Anyone want to chime in as to possible improvements?

 

[imported_Kensai]

Ya don't need an XP-90C, just get the standard XP-90.

 

[ChicagoPCGuy]

Originally posted by: Kensai
Ya don't need an XP-90C, just get the standard XP-90.

Well, that XP-90C is very pretty to look at, a little more expensive, and will reduce my temps about another 2 degrees C. However, I can see your point. The other thing is that it is heavy. I have not heard of it actually causing any problems due to the weight--OK, you got me thinking...

 

[imported_Kensai]

Well, if you've got the money and you like the looks, by all means go for it. But personally, I can't justify the extra 10$ it will cost me per unit and the extra 5$ per unit for shipping.

 

[IEC]

Wow, you're a nice guy, your friends must love ya

 

[GuitarDaddy]

You will love that rig! I have an A8N-SLI with the SD3700+ and the same OCZ ram, it rocks. The only thing I would change is to swap the OCZ for two of these Patriot 1gb 2-3-2-5 $148

These sticks are Samsung TCCD w/brainpower just like the OCZ and have a lifetime warranty. But you get 2gb for a little more than the 1gb OCZ. Wish I'd have known that when I got my OCZ. The OCZ will definately overclock a little better, but on A64's its just not important, I would much rather have 2gb

 

[ChicagoPCGuy]

Originally posted by: ariafrost
Wow, you're a nice guy, your friends must love ya

Yeah, they do. I am the computer geek that gives gifts often! My whole family and close friends have PC's that I have built. Nobody ever has a problem with them. Between my family, friends, and machines I have actually built for profit over the years, I have at least 100 operating machines out there--some in the PII 350 class, and still running.

Edited to say--wish we could use the 440BX chipset still, for the newer CPU's. Jesus, what an awesomely stable and reliable chipset that was.....

 

[ChicagoPCGuy]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
You will love that rig! I have an A8N-SLI with the SD3700+ and the same OCZ ram, it rocks. The only thing I would change is to swap the OCZ for two of these Patriot 1gb 2-3-2-5 $148

These sticks are Samsung TCCD w/brainpower just like the OCZ and have a lifetime warranty. But you get 2gb for a little more than the 1gb OCZ. Wish I'd have known that when I got my OCZ. The OCZ will definately overclock a little better, but on A64's its just not important, I would much rather have 2gb

I had a negative experience with those very Patriot DIMMs. I switched to OCZ and will never look back. Agreed on the 2 Gigs, and now that I have the San Diego core, I can actually go 2 Gigs and not take a performance hit doing it...

 

[ChicagoPCGuy]

Originally posted by: Kensai
Well, if you've got the money and you like the looks, by all means go for it. But personally, I can't justify the extra 10$ it will cost me per unit and the extra 5$ per unit for shipping.

Just for the hell of it, I did order the XP-90C. I really have bought into pure copper heatsinks over the years. I am not short money, so the extra $15 was no biggie for me. The XP-90C is not JUST a heatsink, though. It is a frickin work of art.

All parts are on order. I cannot wait!!!!