Who built the computer

[xikecongtu]

I'm beginner and working on builting a new computer of my own... just wonder the list below is good set up or need any futher change?

Processor & Chipset:
Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor with HTt to Extreme Edition at 3.46GHz Intel® 925EX

Moterboard:
ASUS "P5AD2-E Premium" i925XE Chipset Motherboard For Intel LGA 775 CPU

Memory:
240-Pin 4x512MB DDR2 PC2-4200- DDR2-533

Video:
PNY nVIDIA Quadro FX3400 Video Card, 256MB DDR, 256-bit, Dual DVI/quad-buffered stereo, PCI-Express Model "nVIDIA Quadro VCQFX3400-PCIE-PB)"

Harddrive:
148GB (74GB x 2) Western Digital® Raptor? 10,000 RPM w/16MB Cache

DVD & CD:
Plextor 16X Double Layer DVD±RW Burner Model PX-716A/SW,
SONY Black 52x32x52 IDE Internal CD-RW Drive, Model CRX230ADK

Sound Card:
Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy® 2 ZS Platinum Pro High Definition 7.1 Surround with Dual Firewire (IEEE® 1394)
Creative GigaWorks? THX® S750 - 7.1 700-Watt Speakers

Power Supply:
PC Power & Cooling 510 Deluxe
Opti-UPS ES1500C 1400VA (980W Capacity)

Moderm:
US Robotics® 56K V.92 Performance Pro


Case:
450 watt up

20" LCD

 

[TheStu]

i see you are all about spending the big bucks....

what exactly do you plan to do with this machine anyway? If gaming I would suggest getting an A64 system instead. Don't get that graphics card... just because it is the most expensive doesn't mean it is the best at gaming.... that title goes to the 6800 Ultra or GT of whatever or maybe the X800 XT..... The sound card may or may not be necessary.... I know I run integrated SoundStorm sound it is at least as good as an Audigy 2 card.... The PSU is disputably the best out there and from what I've heard is very reliable... THe second optical drive may not be necessary.... Additionally if are going to be gaming on this machine.... or really doing anything and actually want to hit the 3.46 Ghz rating you will need a better heatsink.


Ok so if you are in fact insistent upon spending about $5200-5700 go right ahead... I will tell you this much... it looks like you will be doing graphics design or heavy 3D stuff with that graphics card....

An AMD system in the same price range is this


Processor & Chipset:
AMD Athlon 64 FX-55, 1MB L2 Cache, 64-bit Socket 939 Processor - Retail

Moterboard:
ASUS "A8N-SLI Deluxe" nForce4 SLI Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL

Memory:
184-Pin 4x1024MB DDR PC-3200- DDR-400

Video:
XFX nVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT Video Card, 256MB GDDR3, 256-Bit, Dual DVI/TV-Out, PCI-E, Model "PVT45GUD" -RETAIL (two of them... thats right 2!)

Harddrive:
148GB (74GB x 2) Western Digital® Raptor? 10,000 RPM w/16MB Cache

DVD & CD:
Plextor 16X Double Layer DVD±RW Burner Model PX-716A/SW,
SONY Black 52x32x52 IDE Internal CD-RW Drive, Model CRX230ADK

Sound Card:
Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy® 2 ZS Platinum Pro High Definition 7.1 Surround with Dual Firewire (IEEE® 1394)
Creative GigaWorks? THX® S750 - 7.1 700-Watt Speakers

Power Supply:
PC Power & Cooling 510 Deluxe
Opti-UPS ES1500C 1400VA (980W Capacity)

Moderm:
US Robotics® 56K V.92 Performance Pro


Case:
450 watt up

20" LCD

You will be saving $200 on the processor and it will be 64-bit... spending a little more on the RAM anywhere from 150-300 more but will be getting double... you will be spending $20 more on the mobo but it supports 2 graphics cards so why not... you save $50 on the Video Card, it would be more.... but if you have SLI why not get two graphics cards?

I would assume you would be getting the Dell Ultrasharp 2001FP which to the best of my knowledge is still the undisputed king of the 4:3 ratio LCDs.... if you want widescreen you can either look to Dell or Apple... .the Cinema series 20" Widescreen from Apple is absolutely gorgeous to behold....

I didn't take into account the modem since it is like $10 or something and case prices vary way to much to consider... I will say that I think you opted for the wrong PSU, if you are getting an PCI-E card (or two....) you will the the PCP&C 510 Express SLI... not the Deluxe...

So good luck on your $6000 computer.... I'm sure it wil be the king of the block until someone OCs their $2000-$2500 rig that completely out performs yours... oops did I say that out loud?

 

[Jassi]

xikecongtu - WOW! You are wasting a lot of money. Listen to TheStu. The extreme edition of the p4 is over rated, the fx-55 will spank it in most cases.

 

[TStep]

That's a lot of jack there to be messing around with for the first time builder. I would suggest adding a little local help from someone who understands computer assembly to your list, even if you have to pay them $100 for a couple of hours their time. $100 is cheap insurance for any of the parts on that list should you bork one or more of them up.

Good luck

 

[ts3433]

Good grief... save at least half of that money and spend it on an SO, car, or something. Seriously.

(I should clarify something... For the duration of this post, I am going to assume your primary use for the system is gaming, because
1: Most people on here asking for component choice help are looking to game.
2: You have a P4 EE listed right now--I'm currently looking past the Quadro--which I know wouldn't be considered by anyone working with stuff like 3D.)

Pentium 4s are poor values against A64s in general, but especially the 3.6, 3.8, and all EE's. If you don't mind a little easy overclocking, get a Socket 939 3200+, which will easily get to 2.6GHz (about equivalent to a 4GHz P4) on air cooling.

If you're gaming, don't get a workstation card. Get a 6800GT. Decide which flavor (AGP/PCIe) you want and whether or not you want to spend even more money for SLI and use that to decide what motherboard to get.

DDR2 = less performance for more money. $130 gets you 1GB (all you need for almost everything) of perfectly good value PC3200 (regular DDR) from Corsair or Mushkin.

Raptors may make your system feel a little snappier, and since you can spend the money I'd say go for one. However, I'd take just one 74GB Raptor for an OS and application drive. For data storage, get a larger 7200RPM drive (maybe a 16MB cache Maxtor if you want).

Plextor's drives are overpriced; I'd get the NEC 3520a.

Get the regular Audigy 2 ZS if you don't need that front panel. It may also be better to just get good 5.1 speakers, because I haven't heard of much yet that takes advantage of anything more.

A PCP&C PSU is probably overkill unless you're going to run a really loaded system with SLIed 6800 Ultras and a lot of hard drives. Get an Antec, Enermax, Seasonic, or Fortron rated around 400W (check the amperages).

Good cases include those made by Antec, Cooler Master, and Lian Li (or the off-brands that make their stuff). Stay away from the generics that are of dubious quality.

An LCD of that size many would recommend would probably be a Dell 2001FP or 2005FPW.

 

[imported_waldo]

On top of that, if you are doing 3d design work (which is the only reason to be buying that graphics card), you need a whole lot more HD space....148 just ain't gonna cut it. I have over 300GB on mine (I am a 3d graphic artist, and do some other stuff) and I barely make out with 300...I still have to burn stuff for backups regularly. If you want a good Pro Graphics card and you are just hopping in I have a Fire GL up for grabs. Other than that though, you may also want to look into Dual Processoor Machines if you are going workstation style...I built one a little bit ago, not bad, and yes it was my first build as well!

 

[Duvie]

Originally posted by: waldo
On top of that, if you are doing 3d design work (which is the only reason to be buying that graphics card), you need a whole lot more HD space....148 just ain't gonna cut it. I have over 300GB on mine (I am a 3d graphic artist, and do some other stuff) and I barely make out with 300...I still have to burn stuff for backups regularly. If you want a good Pro Graphics card and you are just hopping in I have a Fire GL up for grabs. Other than that though, you may also want to look into Dual Processoor Machines if you are going workstation style...I built one a little bit ago, not bad, and yes it was my first build as well!

I agree...

I would look at an Asus NCCH-DL....get 2x 2.8ghz p4s either noconas or even 533fsb chips and oc them a bit if you choose...should be able to get 3.3-3.5ghz....

Then look at getting a nice 6800 NU nvidia card and a simple software mod (wont void warranty) will turn it into a 2000 dollar workstation class Quadro FX4000 card...

Get dual 74gb Raptors and place them ino a Raid with an additional 120-200gb SATA backup drive....

Get 1gb to 2gb of ram....I use 1gb and I do plenty of CAD apps....

Any other help let me know...

HT is a very good friend in a lot of the apps I have tested....

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: Jassi
xikecongtu - WOW! You are wasting a lot of money. Listen to TheStu. The extreme edition of the p4 is over rated, the fx-55 will spank it in most cases.

current Nforce4 mobos suck. Simple as that.

I would stay will intel if you can wait until DFI or even MSI get their Nforce4 mobos out. And get a 3.8ghz prescot wit the 2 meg cahce if you can find one, although I don't think they are out yet. if not just get the ordinary 3.8 ghz prescot.

Also get a good, well ventalated case, just ask around here.

In summary, if this is for professional video editing, get an extra big hardrive, and get a single Raptor, and most importantly, IGNORE the amd fanbios (I am one of them usually) and AVOID the 3.46 Extreme Edition.