YA Rate my Rigs Thread

[nageov3t]

just looking for some feedback before I confirm my latest Newegg order

Rig 1: primary desktop/gaming machine
-motherboard: Soltek "SL-K8TPro-939," VIA K8T800 chipset (link)
-cpu: athlon 64 3200+, socket 939 (link)
-heatsink: "Silencer 64" (link)
-ram: 4x512MB Corsair chips. (link)
-hard drives: 36GB raptor OS drive, and a 250GB content drive. no RAID.
-video card: Radeon 9600XT, 256MB (I don't really game enough to justify buying any of the pcie cards, though I might upgrade to a 9800 when I get the money)

Rig 2: PVR/HTPC, composed of old parts I have laying around
-MSI motherboard... don't know the exact modle #, but it's the one that's inside my current desktop. pretty stable.
-athlon xp 3000+
-768MB RAM... I'll eventually be upgrading to a gig, but I need to RMA one of my 256MB chips
-250GB ide hard drive (partitioned for a 10 gig os/programs partition and the remainder for data storage)
-2xHauppauge 150MCE cards (I'll be adding a third at some point in the future, more than likely)
-Radeon 9000Pro (not the greatest, but it gives me s-video/composite out; I'll eventually be replacing it with an AIW card)
-Antec Overture desktop case (link)

 

[mwmorph]

system 1
mb is ok, but better to get a nforce chip(or a xpress 200 chip if you dont want sli).
heatsink is ok but stick is very good
no go on 4 sticks of ram. use 2 so you can get dual channel performance at 1t. using 4 sticks forces 2t mode so you lose dual channel and 1t speed gains from the winchgester features(around 10% performance losss combined)
forget the raptor, grt yourself a bigger drive. 3 or 4 seconds is hardly a difference. also, dosent really help load smaller files signifigantly faster[unless .1-.5seconds is signifigant](like general use, ex. documents, apps, etc)
no 256mb. 9600 cant handle 256mb ,no performance gain from 128mb. get a 6600(pci-e) and oc it. it'll be faster for less $

rig 2
1 gig of ram is really good. you will see smoother performance at 1 gig.
looks good, but 1 gig of ram is really best for performance.
buy fans so the case dosent overheat. the stock fans are notorious for sucking.

 

[imported_Kensai]

I'd suggest you get an MSI K8N Neo4 SLI or MSI K8N Neo4 Diamond. Comes with onboard Creative SoundBlaster Live 5.1!

 

[nageov3t]

my big problem with the SLI motherboards is that I have no interest in upgrading my video card to a PCIE card any time in the near future.

the 9600XT is what's in my current rig, and I was planning on keeping it, at least until I get the spare change for a 9800.

 

[Ike0069]

Rig #1:
I like the MB choice for AGP if you don't plan to OC.
2X512 Ram is plenty.
Drop the 36 GB Raptor. Waste of money as you won't even notice any improvement ove a 7200 RPM drive.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: loki8481
my big problem with the SLI motherboards is that I have no interest in upgrading my video card to a PCIE card any time in the near future.

the 9600XT is what's in my current rig, and I was planning on keeping it, at least until I get the spare change for a 9800.

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-130-485&depa=1
this

and a 6600(overclocked) will easily beat out a 9600xt for about the same price.

good oc'er too. one of the fastest chipsets anand has tested i believe.

 

[ohnnyj]

Originally posted by: mwmorph
system 1
mb is ok, but better to get a nforce chip(or a xpress 200 chip if you dont want sli).
heatsink is ok but stick is very good
no go on 4 sticks of ram. use 2 so you can get dual channel performance at 1t. using 4 sticks forces 2t mode so you lose dual channel and 1t speed gains from the winchgester features(around 10% performance losss combined)
forget the raptor, grt yourself a bigger drive. 3 or 4 seconds is hardly a difference. also, dosent really help load smaller files signifigantly faster[unless .1-.5seconds is signifigant](like general use, ex. documents, apps, etc)
no 256mb. 9600 cant handle 256mb ,no performance gain from 128mb. get a 6600(pci-e) and oc it. it'll be faster for less $

rig 2
1 gig of ram is really good. you will see smoother performance at 1 gig.
looks good, but 1 gig of ram is really best for performance.
buy fans so the case dosent overheat. the stock fans are notorious for sucking.

You do not lose Dual Channel w/4 DIMMS, I have four in my machine and it is still running in DC, the only thing I lost was 2T.