Building a System... Need Help

[Titleistcm44]

So I'm gonna build a desktop PC and if you guys could let me know if this setup would be OK (or if there will be conflicts):

- AMD Athlon 64 3500+ socket 939 (or would you recommend 3200+)?
- ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe ATX AMD Motherboard
- Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10000 RPM 3.5" Serial ATA150 Hard Drive
- can a DVD burner drive read CD's and play them as well as DVD's?
- Rosewill TU-155 Black Computer Case With Side Panel Window
- ATI RADEON 9800PRO 128MB 256-bit DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card
- do I need a sound card?
- CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Dual Channel Kit System Memory

How does this look? Any of these component conflict? Thanks for the help :gle:

[SecretIkon]

everything looks okay to me.

but i'll go with an antec case. i don't know but thats just imo.

yes a dvd burner can read and play.

[Showtime]

Sounds good but i would go with a 3000+ or 3200+ and oc it a little bit. Save a hundred dollars and buy a much nicer video card with that money.

NEC 3520 DVD 16x black is like $47 at newegg right now. It's all you will need.

your video card is an agp... i am not sure, but i dont think that SLI board has an agp slot. So spend another $30 and buy a nicer PCI-e 6600GT instead.

it should have onboard sound. check the mobo specs.

You need a decent power supply. Antec and seasonic make nice ones. 400+ watts should cover you.

-j

[zippyjuan]

Second the vote on Antec power. Excellent and very reliable. Newer video cards need more power. Do you need the SLI feature? Do you plan on using two video cards in the future? They need to be identical to work well in SLI mode. Probably you would be more likely to either replace everything or move up to a new video card. Two 6600GTs have about the same performance as one 6800 GT does. And there will be faster cards available by then. On NewEgg the Ultra board is $60 less. Onboard sound will be fine- it is what I use. The motherboard has eight channel sound.

[Titleistcm44]

Instead of the ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe ATX AMD Motherboard, how would the SOLTEK SL-K890Pro-939 Socket 939 VIA K8T890 ATX AMD Motherboard be? Thanks guys.

[zippyjuan]

Asus and the NForce 4 series are both better than the Solotek Via board. Here is the Ultra board: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131530
The SLI Delux is over $170.

[SmokeyDP]

Make sure to get a CPU with the Venice core. I was reading a review of how they were able to overclock a 2.0Ghz to 2.7Ghz with stock cooling... Its a CPU with lots of potential.

[Daversinger]

what are the typical specs of a venice core. 1600 or 2000 bus do they make an AMD 64 4000 with the venice core?

I also suggest this case hurry only 1 left link (http://www.dumpinggoods.com/dumpinggoods/itemdesc.asp?CartId=ACCWARE-9947007JUYWK6901&ic=CS%2DGEN%2D0940&cc=&tpc=)
or just search antec sonata at dumpinggoods.com they list it for 44$!!!!!! Never mind it just sold out!!

or if you want a window they also have 1 of the x-navigator cases with aspires 500watt psu

[SmokeyDP]

I just ordered this setup:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813123236
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822148034
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145450
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103534
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814127147

[nate el bueno]

that doesnt make sence. i may be behind a little, but how are you going to stick an 8x video card into a pci express slot. i have heard about adapters, i dunno. nice setup though, i'm gonna try and get something like that in a small form pc. i too like the 6600gt!

[zippyjuan]

Smokey's card IS PCI Express. Titilist is still working on things.

[Titleistcm44]

How about now?

-EPoX EP-9NPA+Ultra Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard
-Rosewill TU-155 Black Steel/Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 400W Power Supply Included
-NEC Black IDE DVD Burner Model ND-3520A BK - OEM
-NEC Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP
-Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive
-LITE-ON SK-1688A/B Black PS/2 Wired Standard Keyboard
-CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory
-SAMSUNG 710N-BK Black 17" 12ms LCD Monitor
-AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Winchester Integrated into Chip FSB Socket 939 Processor
-MSI NX6600GT-TD128E Geforce 6600GT 128MB GDDR3 PCI-Express x16 Video Card

[Titleistcm44]

Guys how's the system look now? All help is appreciated :)

[Showtime]

Grab a Venis Based AMD 64 3000+ CPU and oc it a little bit. They are around $150 and seem to always oc past 3500+ speeds. YMMV but I am sure it will do 3200 speeds.

Might want to look for a deal on a Dell LCD. They have been having the 19" DVI one for around $300 shipped. 17"s should be pretty cheap.

Include your prices on all the stuff and we may be able to help you more. You are looking for performance per dollar, right?

-j

[AlpineJay]

Second on the Venice core. Winchester's nice but Venice is better for OC. Also it's probably best that you stick with your initial mobo selection with Asus. They are rock solid and well worth the price premium. It looks like you're buildnig an upper end system so to cheap out on the mobo would be silly.

Also, with OC you'll probably want better RAM. The Corsair value select is nice with CL2.5 setup but I'd try and get a 2-2-2-5 memory. OCZ, Corsair, and Kingston all have 1GB sets that back in January cost me around 200. It may be cheaper now. 2-2-2-5 will definitely matter given your needs (seems like mid-high end) so I'd try and make sure to get the faster mem.

[Showtime]

Actually outside of the FSB/ram mhz, Ram timing doesnt really affect performance much on AMD 64 systems. Cas 2 vs. Cas 3 isn't even 1 percent increase in most applications. Huge informative thread on it at AT forums. So the point is to buy the cheapest stable ram you can that will get to the mhz/fsb you need for the oc. Corsair value fits for a lot of people. Mine is stable at Cas 2.5, not sure the exact fsb/mhz right now. Better to upgrade the video card by $100 than to spend it on Ram. He could grab a X800XL for around $250 ($100) and see big improvments over even that 6600GT.

And he is not looking for SLI.... So he could also grab any decent nf4 board and should be alright. I really like my DFI nf4 Ultra, but would grab an ASUS or Epox if the price was right and didn't need a high oc.

-j

[Titleistcm44]

- EPoX EP-9NPA+Ultra Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #: EP-9NPA+Ultra
$109.00 $109.00
- Rosewill TU-155 Black Steel/Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 400W Power Supply - Retail
Model #: TU-155
$46.99 $46.99
- NEC Black IDE DVD Burner Model ND-3520A BK - OEM
Model #: ND-3520A BK
$48.99 $48.99
- SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP - OEM
Model #: MPF920 Black
$9.50 $9.50
- Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: WD740GD
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate
$186.00 -$2.00 Instant
$184.00
- LITE-ON SK-1688A/B Black PS/2 Wired Standard Keyboard - Retail
Model #: SK-1688A/B
$5.75 $5.75
- CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model VS1GBKIT400 - Retail
Model #: VS1GBKIT400
$80.00 $80.00
- SAMSUNG 710N-BK Black 17" 12ms LCD Monitor - Retail
Model #: 710N-Black
$249.99 -$7.00 Instant
$242.99
- AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3500BPBOX - Retail
Model #: ADA3500BPBOX
$274.00 -$4.00 Instant
$270.00
- MSI NX6600GT-TD128E Geforce 6600GT 128MB GDDR3 PCI-Express x16 Video Card - Retail
Model #: NX6600GT-TD128E
$178.00 $178.00


Subtotal: $1,175.22


Changed the Clawhammer 3500+ to the Venice 3500+. I think this is looking good. Remember that I want a system that will last me for at least 4 years, and is quick. I don't game that much, but might a little.

[Bires]

As long as you don't overclock, it should last four years, but it will cease to be quick in about 1.5 years.

[Showtime]

I still say to buy a 3000 or 3200 venis and use that hundred dollars to a nicer video card. Stock 3000+ or 3200+ AMD w/ X800 XL > 3500+ w/6600GT in gaming. Plus you can oc that 3000 to 3500+ speeds just raising the FSB.

-j

[Titleistcm44]

OK but which will last me longer? The 3500+ or 3200+/3000+ venice? As far as overclocking... I dunno if I'd mess with OC'ing that much because #1 i don't know how to and #2 i don't wanna fry my system. And as far as gaming... doubt I'll be doing much.