Which one to build??

[superflymx6]

Ok, I want this computer to last me a while and I want to play video games on it. It will be used for school as well. I want to play the racing sim games mostly, so keep that in mind. And this needs to stay less than $900, rather be less than $800 but I want to make sure it is very upgradable for the future. But as you will see I went with a SLI board since I thought after a while I could add another 6600Gt card, I know some of you will say just get the 6800GT. I have read tons of stuff about all this hardware I am buying but I am looking for your ideas.

Thanks

Total now $831

Case:

Antec Solution SLK3000-B Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$50 newegg.com

PSU:

Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-550 ATX12V 550W Power Supply
$89 neweeg.com

MOBO

ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI
$165 newegg.com

Video Card

Leadtek PX6600GT TDH Geforce 6600GT 128MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16
$173 newegg.com

CD/DVD Combo Drive

NEC Black IDE DVD Burner Model ND-3540A
$42 newegg.com

Memory

Update CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model VS1GBKIT400
$79 newegg.com


CPU

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice Integrated into Chip FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3000BPBOX
$146 newegg.com


Hard Drive

SAMSUNG SpinPoint P Series SP1213C 120GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive
$78 newegg.com

Floppy Drive

SAMSUNG Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive

$8 newegg.com



OR


Or how about this built instead, NON SLI.

Antec SONATA II Piano Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450Watt SmartPower 2.0 ATX 12V V2.0 for AMD & Intel systems Power Supply

$120

ECS KN1 Extreme Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard

$100

Leadtek PX6600GT TDH Extreme Geforce 6600GT 128MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card

$199

Leaving the other hardware the same but using the PSU that comes with the case in this post. This drops the cost down to $774

Remember I will be playing racing simulation most but I might get into other games too.

 

[SrGuapo]

Do you plan on OCing? I assume you don't need a monitor/kb/.mouse/speakers? Here is what I'd build:

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ venice ($150)
DFI Ultra-D nf4 ultra ($130)
value RAM (corsiar seems to have problems with DFI, look at mushkin) ($80)
A non-"extreme" 6600gt (look at EVGA, i love mine) ($170)
Samsung spin point 120GB ($78)
Antec 550W is a good deal (plenty of power) ($89)
case is yuour choice ($up to $100 for this type of build)

With a cheapish case ($50) your total is $740. Plenty of room for a NEC 3450A, floppy drive and xp90. That will bring your total to around $850-900 after shipping. If you don't mind spenging an extra $100, the x800xcl is a much superior card. It has performance close to a 6800gt ad should be around $250-300...

Anyways, you will be able to OC that CPU to 2.5 at least and the video should give at least 550, 1120 (that is the speed of the 6600gt "extreme" - my AGP card goes to 594, 1188).

 

[superflymx6]

I have a monitor for now and a mouse and keyboard. I dont plan to OC but it could happen later down the road. I have read great things about the Leadtek 6600GT card. But I will look into what you posted, thanks

 

[SrGuapo]

Originally posted by: superflymx6
I have a monitor for now and a mouse and keyboard. I dont plan to OC but it could happen later down the road. I have read great things about the Leadtek 6600GT card. But I will look into what you posted, thanks

Yeah, it just seems silly to shell out an extra $30 to get what you could do in 3 minutes with Riva Tuner. Leadtek is a great brand though and I think they use a pretty good cooler (not sure though). Maybe you could look at the regular card?

 

[superflymx6]

I was looking at the regular Leadtek 6600GT card when it was around $160 or so and now its $173. I know i picked the extreme though not meaning too

I am looking into the RX800XL card now, which brand would you pick. I am going to look for some review right now and see how it compares to the 6600GT.

Is there anything wrong with the ECS KN1 Extreme Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard, i read up on it and read maybe 4 reviews and they all seemed to love it. But i know alot of people love DFI MOBOs.

 

[SrGuapo]

Originally posted by: superflymx6
I was looking at the regular Leadtek 6600GT card when it was around $160 or so and now its $173. I know i picked the extreme though not meaning too

I am looking into the RX800XL card now, which brand would you pick. I am going to look for some review right now and see how it compares to the 6600GT.

Is there anything wrong with the ECS KN1 Extreme Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard, i read up on it and read maybe 4 reviews and they all seemed to love it. But i know alot of people love DFI MOBOs.

ECS is an decent budget manufacturer IIRC. I have no idea what features the board has or how overclockable it is, though. I figured if you were already paying $120 for a board, it might as well be top of the line... Maybe I should read up on the board. Another, cheaper choice is the chaintech vnf4 ultra. It is under $100 and should have all the features you need. It is a great budget board and should allow a little OCing...

 

[superflymx6]

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1815077,00.asp

thats a bad review of the ECS board

i just got done reading some other review that say its has BIOS problems and its not a good OCer. just got done reading some more bad reviews so I will not go with that board still looking...

i have added the RX800XL to the wish list, read a few good reviews and how it is as good as the 6800GT but $100 less.

How about a MSI mob?? an ultra chip set or just the nForce4

 

[superflymx6]

Is the RX800XL worth getting over the 6600GT. I see that the most of the scores and review show that is preforms better on just about every benchmark. I just want to play F1 racing sim and the NASCAR racing sim mostly. I think i will go with a MOBO for around $100. I mean I want this computer to last me if i choice to play a game like Far Cry or HL2.

Antec SONATA II Piano Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450Watt SmartPower 2.0 ATX 12V V2.0

Or I saw a Thermaltake case i like the Soprano with a PSU with it 430W


And i have picked out the MSI RX800XL or the LeadTek 6600GT graphic card.

Mother board is still up in the air

 

[Cares]

I'm not sure about the SLI build but for non-SLI, why did you choose that ECS board? You could get a DFI LanParty for only $10-20 more. I'm selling one by the way in my FS thread.

 

[superflymx6]

I read a few good review about the ECS board last night but later on i read some bad ones, so that board is off the list. I have heard all about this DFI LanParty board and I will take a look at it. I am not going to build a SLI system any more just to much money for me right now, its going to be NON SLI. Just looking for the best case, PSU combo. Motherboard and Graphic card.

Does the DFI board have Memory problems, i read that some where and if so what type of memory works well with it. I think some one above posted that so I will look there, thanks

 

[Cares]

If you want a case/PSU combo, then I would say Antec all the way. As for the DFI board, it has been known to have memory problems so make sure you get a RAM that is on the compatible list. I used Corsair TWINX-512LL (not on the compatible list) and had no problems.

 

[AATRuler]

DFI is picky on the memory.. certain brands work BAD with it.. ( some ppl say it works with them so its picky ) Ppl here suggest the chaintech with nForce 4 Ultra. i dont like the lay-out of it since im taking some nice cooler for my vid card which takes 1 pci slot for the cooler and 1 for the airflow which leaves me with that bord with 1 maybe 2 pci slots while i dont use the special pci slots. So im taking ASUS a8n-e which i can buy here over in Holland which isnt available on NewEgg..

 

[superflymx6]

Yea I really like the Antec cases that come with the PSU since I think they will work the best.

Question: Will this PSU that comes with this case be enough. I just research the PSU wattage use topic my self i know.
Antec Life Style SONATA Piano Black 0.8mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 380W Power Supply - $99

OR I can get the Sonata II which comes with a larger PSU.

Seems to be a very probaly case.

Also where is the list of memory that DFI suggests?

Thanks for the help

 

[superflymx6]

What do you think about this:

Antec Solution SLK3000-B Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
and
Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-500 ATX12V 500W Power Supply

Total $125

Antec Life Style SONATA Piano Black 0.8mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 380W Power Supply

Total $99

OR

Antec SONATA II Piano Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450Watt SmartPower 2.0 ATX 12V V2.0 for AMD & Intel systems Power Supply

Total $120

 

[xTYBALTx]

Why would you get SLIif you're not running two video cards?

 

[Cares]

I forgot where I saw a list of compatible RAM exactly. I think it might have been on DFI-Street.

 

[superflymx6]

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx
Why would you get SLIif you're not running two video cards?

I was going to wait and get another one later on but I am not going with that set up now.


Thanks

 

[superflymx6]

What if i change the RAM to,
OCZ Performance Series 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Copper Heatspreader Model OCZ4001024PFDC-K

$109

Or I can save about 20-30 with a value pack. Just was reading on that link that AlphaQ sent that you should not put the value ram on this board. This ram here is not a value ram and is still within budget.


Why is it that people say get a DFI motherboard when it seems to have soo many problems??
One reason i see is that its great OC board.

 

[LyNX31]

i say just get the chaintech vnf4 ultra and 1gig corsair value ram.. u get both of those for about 160 bux and u can mildly overclock! can't beat that for the price

 

[xTYBALTx]

Originally posted by: LyNX31
i say just get the chaintech vnf4 ultra and 1gig corsair value ram.. u get both of those for about 160 bux and u can mildly overclock! can't beat that for the price

:thumbsup: