Building New Computer_Need Opions

[RetroEclipseMan]

Ok, with the help of Blazestorm I'm buying everything to build a new computer. It's basically going to be speicifically for doing 3d work (i.e. 3dsmax and Maya) so I'm definately looking for something powerful for rendering as well as playing HL2 on the side. My budget is pretty much a grand for the box itself. So here's what I think I'm going to go with.

-Aspire Dreamer X case (already have)
-Seagate 80 GB Barracuda 7200RPM SATA with NCQ Hard Drive-$69
-Mushkin 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200(1 gig worth)-$130
-AMD Athlon 64 3200+ -190
-ASUS "K8V SE Deluxe" K8T800-$116
-Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit PCI Sound Card (SB0410) -$27
-XFX nVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT Video Card, 256MB -$389
-Samsung 16X DVD±RW, Model TS-H552B-$68.50

Total from newegg.com=989.50

[FooTemps]

get a DTR clawhammer and a dfi lanparty board

lol... then again... dfi boards are expensive... the the winchester can compete with the clawhammer now...

bah, save money, just stick w/ it

Joe knows what he's talkin about so whatever her reccomends should be good for the price.

[Darken Sun]

Sounds good, but like FooTemps said, check out the DFI board (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-136-147&depa=0).

[WickeDKlowN]

I have the same mobo with a 3000+ running at 2.4GHz(3400+) with stock cooling, which isn't too bad if you ask me. Those DFI boards kick major assage though. Kinda wish I'da got ont of those instead.

If you've got the money though, those DTR chips Foo reccomended have a meg of L2 cache and are generally better overclockers. The downside is they cost more, any you need to buy a seperate HSF since they're all OEM.

[SAW]

All-around great setup, but I've always loved the ATI graphics cards.

[RetroEclipseMan]

Thanks for the replies guys. I checked out the other chip and yeah, it is awsome. I think for now though i'm gonna stick with what I have and save the money I would end up spending on the Clawhammer. I also checked out the DFI boards and they actually are cheaper by about $8 over the ASUS K8v that I have listed. I'm just not sure about what really makes the DFI a better board. Any thoughts?

[sarpadian]

I mostly agree that would be a great setup, however I personally would go a little different route. Here's where I would go and I will tell you why.......

ASUS "A8V Deluxe" For AMD Socket 939 CPU - $139

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ 939-Pin 64-bit Processor - $155
or
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 939-Pin 64-bit Processor - $215

I am looking forward, since you are building your own you are probably going to want to upgrade peices here and there down the road right? By going with the Socket 939 technology, which is what all of AMD's new chips are in, you can later upgrade to a better chip without having to purchase a new mobo. The fastest socket 754 chip is a 3700+, while the fastest socket 939 chip is the FX-55. As time goes on the prices will drop dramtically for those higher end processors. When they do just a small investment and you just just plop one in your machine and you're done. It might cost a little more now, or you don't quite purchase as nice of a processor, but in the long run it's a much better purchase.

Just my $.02

[Darken Sun]

I am looking forward, since you are building your own you are probably going to want to upgrade peices here and there down the road right? By going with the Socket 939 technology, which is what all of AMD's new chips are in, you can later upgrade to a better chip without having to purchase a new mobo. The fastest socket 754 chip is a 3700+, while the fastest socket 939 chip is the FX-55. As time goes on the prices will drop dramtically for those higher end processors. When they do just a small investment and you just just plop one in your machine and you're done. It might cost a little more now, or you don't quite purchase as nice of a processor, but in the long run it's a much better purchase.
Not only that, but AMD is moving to true 90nm processing for the (soon in the) future s939 chips. Here's a good read (http://www2.amd.com/us-en/protected/Weblets/1,,7832_11175_12416_12365,00.html) on 90nm processing and its benefits.


ASUS "A8V Deluxe" For AMD Socket 939 CPU - $139

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ 939-Pin 64-bit Processor - $155
or
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 939-Pin 64-bit Processor - $215
I agree with you on the processor, but not on the board. MSI K8N Neo2 Plat all the way! Hands down, it is THE best nF3 s939 board.


I'm just not sure about what really makes the DFI a better board. Any thoughts?
(Supposed to be) stabler, and it does offer more overclocking options.
Wait, then there's that part about it using the nF3 250 instead of the VIA K8T800 chipset. Let's not forget the tip that the one customer on N00begg gave too: Google "ASUS K8VSE "System Failed CPU Test""
Failed! (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=ASUS+K8VSE+%22System+Failed+CPU+Test&btnG=Search)

[FragTek]

Go with the EPoX socket 939 mobo, it rocks the nforce3 ultra chipset and is the best current platform for mad overclocks. I have mine built up with a 3000+ OC'd to 2.45ghz and a FSB of 290mhz thanks to some OCZ Gold Edition PC4400. Can we say rippin'?

Edit: Oh yeah, i'd suggest the Leadtek A400 WinFast TDH GT over the XFX vid card, the Leadtek rocks a massive heatsink setup that sets you up for mad video overclocking as well. Plus it's only 389 :)

Here's the setup i'd go with....

EPoX 9NDA3+ Mobo
Athlon 64 3000+ (S939, not S754)
10k WD SATA Raptor
Leadtek 6800 GT
OCZ Gold or Platinum ram PC3200 or higher (512 will do)
yadda yadda yadda

[RetroEclipseMan]

Thanks again for the help guys.

After doing some more reading I think I'm definately going to go with the EPox board Frag mentioned along with the s938 AMD 3200+. Or do you think that by saving $60 and getting the 3000+ and just over clocking it to the 3400+ is better and cheaper. Or am I better off spending the $60 and not risking the chip? I've also deciided on the Leadtech 6800gt. For the price nothing seems to beat it, not to mention it does have that monster heatsink on it.

So even with going with the better board and chip I'm only spending an extra $30 which is not bad at all.

[FragTek]

Retro has seen the light :D I'd personally say save the money and get the 3000+ and OC it, but that's all up to you and your personal preferences. The 3000+ can be overclocked to a 3800+ and still be aircooled, just make sure you get a nice Thermaltake heatsink for it, wipe off the thermal compound that comes on the heatsink and use Arctic Silver 5 instead, that stuff is mad good.

EPoX rules! :D :hail:

[FragTek]

Here's a few pix i took a couple of weeks ago when I did my mobo swap (wasn't happy with the VIA K8T800 Pro chipset, just not made for overclocking)...

http://www.fragtek.com/pix/mobos1.jpg
http://www.fragtek.com/pix/mobos2.jpg
http://www.fragtek.com/pix/epox1.jpg
http://www.fragtek.com/pix/epox2.jpg

The EPoX board also comes with a super nice full color manual, parts list, and a nifty EPoX screwdriver :) Only problem i've found so far with the EPoX board is that SATA ports 1&2 can't be used when u rock a video card like the Leadtek A400 GT or any 6800 Ultra because the heatsink covers the ports. Fortunately the EPoX board has 4 SATA ports, ports 3&4 are still easily accessed! You also have to love that EPoX decided to put a fan over the nVidia chipset to keep it cool, and supplies mini heatsinks to put on all of the small components that are often neglected by other companies as being "hotspot" areas, you can notice where I have placed them to the left of the CPU and a couple right above the chipset.

Edit: If anyone is looking for an MSI K8T Neo2-F mine still has a couple hours left on it over on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=6737662583&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT :)

[Darken Sun]

The 3000+ can be overclocked to a 3800+ and still be aircooled, just make sure you get a nice Thermaltake heatsink for it, wipe off the thermal compound that comes on the heatsink and use Arctic Silver 5 instead, that stuff is mad good.

Thermaltake? Bah! TT HSF's blow for OC'ing! I really hope you mean Thermalright :ninja:.

I just have to defend my board (K8N Neo2 Plat) as the king of overclocking :cool:
http://www.albumpark.com/data/a0ba2648acd23dc7a5829968ce531a7d/3483_p57886.jpeg
Done on a 3500+ Winchester with a Thermalright XP-90 and 92mm Vantec Tornado. Load temp: 31.8C. Hopefully, my new project will help me reach my goal of 300 - 335 x 10. But yeah, its a damn nice board!

Also, go check around on XS. Most extreme A64 OC's are done on this mobo.

[FragTek]

I hated my MSI board....

I love my EPoX though :)

[JoshK]

Dont get a nVIDIA GeForce if your main point is going to be rendering. I suggest the Fire series by ATi...those things are amzing.

[Darken Sun]

nForce3 (your board + my board) > VIA K8T800 Pro (that other one that no one cares about). It definitely explains a lot :argh:.

[FragTek]

nForce3 (your board + my board) > VIA K8T800 Pro (that other one that no one cares about). It definitely explains a lot :argh:.

your board + my board > than anything :D

[Darken Sun]

your board + my board > than anything :D
I concur. :cheers:

[Blazestorm]

Not exactly sure if brandon is into overclocking as much. I didn't realize how fast the 939 sockets came around. When I bought my 754, the 939's or whatever they were, at the time were only for FX Procs...

But I do agree, now that I see how available 939's are, to get one... 754's are still around 200, with the motherboard around 120-130.

Honestly, I don't think brandon cares as much for overclocking as he does raw stock performance. He's not really too computer inclined ;)

[RetroEclipseMan]

Hahah, that's right, I'm not that computer inclined yet. Trying to learn though. And that's why you're helping me buddy.

[xmetal2001]

Go for a bigger hard drive, you won't regret it and it won't cost too much more.

[RetroEclipseMan]

Yeah, now that I'm saving money with going with the 3000+ I'll probably get a bigger HD to go with my 80g portable.

I know you guys recomended a Thermalright Heatsink for the CPU but which one actually goes with the AMD 3000+ or will any of the ones that say "up to 3200+ or 3500+" work?

[RetroEclipseMan]

Alright, so here is pretty much what I'm going to order here in a couple days:

-Samsung 16X DVD±RW, Model TS-H552B/WRCH Black
-Seagate 120GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model ST3120026A, OEM
-Mushkin 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 (x2)
-EPoX "EP-9NDA3+" NVIDIA nForce3 ULTRA Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 939 CPU
-AMD Athlon 64 3000+, 512KB L2 Cache, Socket 939 64-bit Processor
-Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit PCI Sound Card (SB0410)
-Leadtek nVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT Video Card, 256MB GDDR3, 256-Bit, TV-Out/DVI, 8X AGP, Model "A400 GT TDH"

Just need some opinions on heatsinks to toss in there.

[Darken Sun]

Thermalright XP-90s are really nice. An XP-120 would be better if it fits your board.

[Potatoboy]

You can build an awesome machine on a budget as well:

2500+ Athlon XP Mobile
DFI NF2 Ultra Infinity
2x 512MB Corsair Platinum
Antec P160 Case
Ultra X-Connect 500w PSU
ATI 9800 Pro with ATI Silencer
Samsung 160G SATA 7200 RPM Disk Drive
Thermaltake Silentboost HSF (New Vantec Tornado fan on it's way)

[RetroEclipseMan]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll check out those heatsinks. That's pretty impressive Tato.