Your Opinion Please

[imported_dave56]

Hi All,

I'm about to build my first PC and I could use some expert advice. My priorities are stability, reliability and performance, in that order. Price is important, of course, but not as important as those three. I also probably won't be doing much overclocking and I'm not a gamer.

Here's my proposed system. What do you think?

AMD Athlon 64 3400+ with 1MB L2 cache ($369)
ASUS K8V SE Deluxe motherboard ($117)
Crucial DDR PC3200 RAM (2x512MB) ($186)
Antec Sonata case with 380W PSU ($119)
ATI All-In Wonder 9800 Pro video card ($275)
Two WD 120GB 7200RPM SATA drives in RAID 0 ($188)
One WD 250GB 7200RPM PATA drive (already owned)
Sony DRU-510 DVD burner (already owned)
Additional optical drive (already owned)
Floppy drive (already owned)
Sound ? on motherboard (not important to me)
Network (for DSL connection) ? on motherboard
CPU Heatsink and Fan ? included with CPU
Windows XP Pro ($200)

Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks

 

[Sonic587]

I'd suggest this Epox board.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-123-219&depa=0

OOS ATM, but I haven't heard anything bad about this Epox yet.

Also, you're wasting a bit of money on that RAM if it's just plain stuff. Pick up two of these for $150

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-146-219&depa=0

You have listed a much more expensive Clawhammer core A64. Go with this Newcastle core. It has 512k less cache, but it's 200MHz faster. So, they are about the same speed and YOU save money!

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-484&depa=0

Save 20$ on the Sonata as well.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-129-127&depa=0

If you are ok with getting an OEM version of WinXP pro, you can save even more cash.

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=37-102-143&DEPA=0

With this extra money you get, you should be able to pick up a 6800, or a 6800 GT if you wanted to. Or assorted other goodies


BTW, Welcome to AT!

 

[joecool]

looks pretty good ... i know the aiw cards really wow some folks, but i'd get seperate video and tv tuner. as with any integrated item, if one part fails or you want to upgrade it, you have to replace/fix the whole thing. i've had one aiw card and have an ati tuner in one of my pc's and i personally am not impressed with ati's tv software.

alternative:

avertv
hauppauge

and i'd second the recommendation on the 6800 - it is one very sweet card!

 

[imported_dave56]

Great advice. Thanks, guys.

 

[iamskew]

sonic pretty much hit it right on the nose...especially on the processor thing...l2 cache is not as important as you think...they just like to sell you on big numbers...

 

[trexpesto]

ZZF has the clawhammer for $280, but call first - or call in your order - they don't have great real-time inventory.
LINK

 

[n7]

I'll second Sonic587's motherboard recommendation.

Don't get the K8V SE Deluxe. I have it, & i don't like it.

Pretty much any nForce 3 250GB mobo would be better.

 

[imported_dave56]

But I see no mention of a RAID controller on the EPoX board.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Don't worry about the epox board if your not going to OC, but if you want to switch over to nf3 I sugest MSI neo plat or the cheaper version of it. Clawhammer is fine if it's the same price; it performs better in some applications and not better in others (doom 3 is the only one I've seen it perform better). If it's not then newcastle is better. If you need a tv tuner get a seperate one and a normal 9800 pro. Otherwise just go with a 6800.

 

[amol]

awesome rig . . . hope ya enjoy it

 

[trexpesto]

The new DFI board should be out soon, think Sept. 2
Might rule.

 

[Adn4n]

Don't go for the 3400+, go for the 3200+. The price difference is enourmous, while the performance difference is minimal. Since you won't be overclocking, sticking to the 1mb l2 cache would be good. I vouch for the Asus K8N-E Deluxe mobo, it is simply amazing. The only flaw on it, as of now, IMHO is that the Ram voltage only goes to 2.7v, but that won't be a problem since you're not overclocking.


Also, the Asus K8N-E Deluxe has an option in the bios, which automatically overclocks your system by 10%. This is perfectly stable and won't cause you any harm, but most of all: a 10% increase moves your 3200+ from 2Ghz to 2.2Ghz, which is the operating frequency of the 3400+.

 

[imported_dave56]

Why don't you like the ASUS K8V SE Deluxe? I've been reading a lot of good reviews on it.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

NF3-250GB boards have a lot of neat features. If he gets a 3400+ and uses the 10% option it'll go up even further... He isn't sacraficing anything else in his setup to warrent a downgrade there.