Yes, yet another 'check my specs' thread. ***Update*** Done deal, w00t!!

[FrustratedUser]

I like to upgrade (see sig and LOL!). It does not need to be high-end but still OK for some gaming without spending to much $$$ on the latest video cards.
Gaming on a P4 2.8c + 9600Pro at work have been great so I'll base it upon that card w/ option to upgrade in the future.

So here it goes:

Case: Antec Life Style Series Black Case With 380W Power Supply, Model:Sonata. - $93

DVD burner: NEC 4x DVD+RW/-RW Drive, Model ND-1300A/GEN w/SW, OEM bundle. - $106

Floppy: NEC FD1231H-304/FD1231H-305 1.44MB Floppy Drive, OEM DRIVE ONLY - $11.99 (yeah, I am old fashioned)

HD: WESTERN DIGITAL SPECIAL EDITION 80GB 7200RPM IDE HARD DRIVE, Model WD800JB, OEM DRIVE ONLY. - $74

512MB memory: Crucial 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - OEM - $94

MB: ABIT nForce2 Ultra 400 Motherboard for Socket A AMD Processors Model "NF7-S" RETAIL. - $101.99

CPU: AMD Athlon XP 2500+ "Barton", 333 FSB, 512K Cache Processor - Retail - $90

Video: SAPPHIRE Atlantis RADEON 9700PRO, 128MB DDR, 256-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, BULK. - $238

$826.98 shipped.

Any red flags? I appreciate your input since I've never built a rig myself.

:beer:

Update 2003-12-18 #2.

 

[MDE]

I'd go for an Abit NF7-S (about $100-110) and an XP 2500+ (about 90). Also, if you want to try overclocking the processor, PC3200 memory would be a good idea, and I'd recommend Buffalo (about $80 for a 512MB stick at Newegg)

 

[Sid59]

Originally posted by: MonkeyDriveExpress
I'd go for an Abit NF7-S (about $100-110) and an XP 2500+ (about 90). Also, if you want to try overclocking the processor, PC3200 memory would be a good idea, and I'd recommend Buffalo (about $80 for a 512MB stick at Newegg)

i second PC3200. prolly best to get faster speed ram.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Looking into this now.

 

[magomago]

Kudos to u for persevering on a PC that long ^_^

for your processor maybe you'll want to go down to the 2500+ as it'll shave off around 40 dollars from your cost

oh- if you don't plan on overclocking at all I see NO reason why you need pc3200 ram. If you will overlock though, go for it ^_^ (But be forewarned, 2500+s are starting to come with locked multipliers)

As for the mobo...It really depends on if you will overclock. If you will, then i reccomend an nforce2 (8rda+ are cheap), but if you won't then its your choice as to whether the ~5% gap between kt600 and nforce2 is worth the cash to you

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

I think you've mayde some nice choices if you're looking to run things at stock speed. If you're an overclocker, get a 2600+ Barton with an nForce2 Ultra 400 board (some of them are quite cheap). Also FYI: Buffalo RAM seems to be hit-or-miss as far as overclockability is concerned.

 

[FrustratedUser]

I am considering a nForce2 board instead. Possibly with the IGP to run a dual monitor sometime.

Have I got this right? The 2500 Bartons have been unlocked from factory?
To me it looked like the 2700 was a good choice, kind of middle of the road. I am no OC'er so me = clueless about which AMD to get.

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
I am considering a nForce2 board instead. Possibly with the IGP to run a dual monitor sometime.

Have I got this right? The 2500 Bartons have been unlocked from factory?
To me it looked like the 2700 was a good choice, kind of middle of the road. I am no OC'er so me = clueless about which AMD to get.

The 9600 Pro will run dual monitors, so don't bother with the IGP, as it's the equivalent of a GeForce 4 MX (abysmally crappy 3D performance). The 2500+ is based on a different core than the 2700+ (2500 is Barton, 2700 is Thoroughbred-B). The 2500+ is the lowest rated of the Barton cores, and it usually overclocks to 3200+ speeds without a hitch. All of the newer 2500+ chips have been multiplier locked, but still can be overclocked by increasing the bus speed.

 

[FrustratedUser]

You mean I can run a 333FSB 2500 Barton at 400FSB and get it to run at 2.2GHz (3200 speed)?
That would be sweet.

 

[dnuggett]

Also, if you want to try overclocking the processor, PC3200 memory would be a good idea, and I'd recommend Buffalo (about $80 for a 512MB stick at Newegg)

I'd go with Kingston Hyper X it's much better if you will be oc'ing.

(But be forewarned, 2500+s are starting to come with locked multipliers)

Still not a prob to hit 3200+ w/ an FSB adjustment.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Cool

 

[MDE]

If all he's doing is overclocking to 3200+, then PC3200 is all he needs. The Buffalo RAM is more than enough to get to a 200MHz FSB. HyperX is wasted money for flashy heatspreaders in this case.

 

[adams828]

i agree with the nforce2 and pc3200 suggestions. as for hyperX vs. buffalo.. seems like it's hit or miss, good or bad depending on individual experiences as to how modules OC.

but if you're just going to OC to 200fsb, and you get pc3200, then your memory won't be OCed and it shouldn't be a problem anyways

btw, if you are going to consider getting a 2500+ and OCing it, you may want to look into an aftermarket cooler. both the slk800/900a with a good 80/92mm fan are highly rated/reccomended to keep your new cpu nice and cool

 

[FrustratedUser]

I juyst found $606 a didn't knew I had yesterday.
The new rig will come alive.

 

[Budmantom]

dell

 

[dnuggett]

Originally posted by: Budmantom
dell

He wants to build his own.

 

[poppyq]

I'd stay away from the KT600 chipset and go with NForce2

 

[dnuggett]

He said he wil not be oc'ing. VIA is fine.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Good advice from all of you.
Did some thinking and modified specs.

nForce2 MB
Kingston PC3200 RAM, just in case of OC.
New case + PSU
Barton 2500+ CPU retail for warranty and included HS+Fan. (Can be changed later on for OC)

:beer:

 

[FrustratedUser]

Bumpage

 

[Sid59]

Fortron is a great brand and earned great remarks on the anandtech.com psu round up.

Soltek and FIC have great nforce2 boards. less expensive than the ASUS
Abit NF7-S is prolly the best nforce board, imo.
the NEC 1300A is around 100 bucks and you prolly wont notice much of a difference from the pioneer


those 3 items can save nearly 150 bucks.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Thank you for the suggestions. I'll look at them.

 

[Sid59]

if you go with the above .. you can put 40 or 50 more towards your GPU and get a 9800 NP or 5900NU, which will be loads faster than the 9600 XT

 

[BaboonGuy]

i'm not sure how good the build quality is on a $25 case, if the newegg reviews say its good then it'll probably be safe. otherwise you might wanna still consider getting the sonata, as its build quality is good (i know from experience)

buy an Abit NF7-S it's cheaper than the ASUS board and many would agree that it is the best nf2 board out there

also get some buffalo memory instead of the kingston stuff it's pretty cheap, u can get PC3700 w/Micron modules for $90 512MB. i would suggest that, if you wanna save a little bit go for some PC3200 w/Samsung modules for only $76. although i am betting you will be able to run a 200 FSB (PC3200) at much tighter timings with the 3700 than the 3200 stuff. remember tight timings are key for a fast computer, also when u get it set the DDR voltage at 2.8, that'll get the most from the RAM.

This is also a great case/CPU 80MM fan it's a coolermaster blue LED fan and it's very quiet and pushes a lot of air, very similar to a panaflo l1a actually.

oh and if you get an slk-800 make sure u get the kind that fits your mobo (there are two different types of it), whichever mobo you get. don't skimp on your cpu cooling, it's absolutely essential for overclocking.

if you have some more money to spare, buy this 8x dvd burner i dont know much about dvd burners but i believe that that burner is the top of the line burner right now.
and
get an ati 9800 pro too. it's a great card that will last you a long time. it's not too expensive anymore @ $300 since it comes with a coupon for HL2.

 

[FrustratedUser]

A few more questions.

Out of the MB mentioned here, which ones have the possibility to lock the PCI/AGP bus frequency? I suspect that upping the FSB will change the speeds unless I am succesful and can go all the way to 400 (or is is called 200 with clock doubling?).
I might just leave it stock and upgrade the CPU later on.
Isn't it better to run 2x256MB instead of 1x512MB in a Dual channel setup?

9800NP sounds interesting. How is the 9800SE? Roughly the same price as 9600Pro or is the 9800SE clippled with fewer pipelines and smaller bus? It's clocked lower than the 9600Pro IIRC.
The plain 9800 is ~$250 and I am not sure I like to spend that much yet.

No matter what parts I go for here, It will be a huge upgrade from a 500MHz Celeron and around $800 is about what I like to spend.