So I need a new PC tower & having not really kept up with all the latest hardware of late, what's folks' advice on the following?
(Gonna build it ourselves, running WinXP Pro)
(Prices are AUD$ found recently via online research)
MAINBOARD: ASUS A8N-E, nForce4 Ultra, S939, DDR400, PCI-Ex, SATA-II, GigLAN, RAID, ATX - $181
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3700+, Socket 939, "San Diego Core", HT2000 MT/s (HyperTransport System Bus), 128K L1 Cache, 1MB L2 Cache, Frequency 2.2GHz - $390
RAM: Some reputable brand of 2 x 1GB paired DDR in dual channel (2GB total)
(e.g. GeIL 2048MB (2 x 1024MB) High Performance Dual Channel DDR400 w. Heat Spreader - $336)
HD: 1 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 250GB 7200rpm SATA-II HDD 8MB Cache - $199
VIDEO CARD: ASUS EN6600-TD-256 Extreme N6600, GeForce 6600, 256MB, TV/DVI, PCI-Ex16 - $186
CASE: Some sturdy medium tower with good quality/rated PSU & an extra cooling fan or 2
I was originally thinking:
- A "Venice core" Athlon 64 3200+ or some such cheaper CPU with 512K L2 cache, but expect the 1MB L2 cache in the "San Diego core" would be worthwhile.
- 1GB Single channel RAM or 2 x 512MB Dual (1GB total), prob don't need more but am a fan of a lot of RAM.
- 2 x HDs in RAID0 (striped/performance) array, but am convinced would be better off saving the money as the system will be for general home use.
- Onboard video may suffice, but thought better of it as I'll probably get into more 3D gaming and reasonable SATA-II mainboards appear not to have it anyway, so considering a cheap PCI-e card.
Main usage will involve many multiple windows apps/utilities running all at once, or sometimes graphical gaming.
Want the guts to hum along nicely for as many years as possible.
Thoughts?
New PC Tower Advice
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- Sojourner
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New PC Tower Advice
BEER
sounds like you got a good setup going, lots of quality products,
suggestion, invest in a better graphics card.
the e-vga 7800 gt (289$) is an amazing card for the price.
suggestion, invest in a better graphics card.
the e-vga 7800 gt (289$) is an amazing card for the price.
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Ruxur wrote:sounds like you got a good setup going, lots of quality products,
suggestion, invest in a better graphics card.
the e-vga 7800 gt (289$) is an amazing card for the price.
Definately! I have that san diego core and I honestly don't see much of a performance gain from my s754 newcastle (2.0ghz). Don't get me wrong, you'll want s939 for future concerns and duel channel memory, but you may want to look at a cheaper chip. I've heard nothing but great things from the dual core opterons and those are pretty budget.
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the best deal in dual core cpu's is the 3800+ 300 bucks and can easily be overclocked to 2.6ghz
Cofen group-says 'wtf, why am i missing a cursed khanjari?'
Alendar group-says 'i r rednek i can only afford the monitor i have mud on and the broken monitor under it'
Nonox tells you 'i think someone casted 'power word gay' on pril'
Malacar ASSOC:: 'must... mp...soon...underwear...cringing...at...oncoming...onslaught...'
Alendar group-says 'i r rednek i can only afford the monitor i have mud on and the broken monitor under it'
Nonox tells you 'i think someone casted 'power word gay' on pril'
Malacar ASSOC:: 'must... mp...soon...underwear...cringing...at...oncoming...onslaught...'
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- Sojourner
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Still researching, this case looks like it will do the trick:
CASE: Thermaltake Soprano Silver Steel case w/side window, 2x 12cm fans, 430w PSU - AUD$154
As for CPU, the only Opteron that appears to be within my price range might be:
AMD Opteron 148, 1MB L2 Cache, Frequency 2.2GHz, Socket 939 Box CPU - AUD$429
(or theres an Opteron 146 which has a 2.0GHz frequency I think, for a bit cheaper).
Am still researching the differences between those and the Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego.
CASE: Thermaltake Soprano Silver Steel case w/side window, 2x 12cm fans, 430w PSU - AUD$154
As for CPU, the only Opteron that appears to be within my price range might be:
AMD Opteron 148, 1MB L2 Cache, Frequency 2.2GHz, Socket 939 Box CPU - AUD$429
(or theres an Opteron 146 which has a 2.0GHz frequency I think, for a bit cheaper).
Am still researching the differences between those and the Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego.
BEER
You will need to put a bigger powersupply in the case. I think the minimum you'll have to run without problems is a 550. I had to put a 550 in mine because that is what the mobo requires. Check the specs on your asus mobo on their website.
L8r
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antec sonata 2 piano black, sleek elegant, nice case. comes with a truepower 450w
Cofen group-says 'wtf, why am i missing a cursed khanjari?'
Alendar group-says 'i r rednek i can only afford the monitor i have mud on and the broken monitor under it'
Nonox tells you 'i think someone casted 'power word gay' on pril'
Malacar ASSOC:: 'must... mp...soon...underwear...cringing...at...oncoming...onslaught...'
Alendar group-says 'i r rednek i can only afford the monitor i have mud on and the broken monitor under it'
Nonox tells you 'i think someone casted 'power word gay' on pril'
Malacar ASSOC:: 'must... mp...soon...underwear...cringing...at...oncoming...onslaught...'
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- Sojourner
- Posts: 1446
- Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2001 6:01 am
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Thanks for your input guys, I am still researching and examining how far I can stretch the budget.
From my research thus far, my list of probable core components is now:
(prices AUD$)
---
CPU:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core Processor, Socket 939, "Manchester Core", HT2000 MT/s, 2 x 512K L2 Cache, Boxed - $435
MAINBOARD:
ASUS A8N-VM Motherboard - NVIDIA GeForce6100 + nForce410, HT2000, Dual DDR400, PCI-X16, int. VGA, SATA300 RAID, LAN, USB2.0, 6ch, mATX - $145
VIDEO CARD:
Onboard video for now, possibly toss in some lower-end PCI-e card later
RAM:
Corsair TWINX1024-3200C2 1024MB (2x XMS512MB) PC-3200 Dual Channel DDR RAM, 2x64Mx64non-ECC, 184-pin DIMMs, Unbuffered, CL2, Lifetime warranty - $222
HDD:
1 x Seagate 80GB 'ST3808110AS' SATA II 3Gb/s NCQ HDD 7200rpm 8MB Cache 5-year warr - $121 OR
1 x Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10,000rpm Serial ATA150 HDD 8MB Cache - $253
(Primary windows/apps drive)
1 x Seagate 160GB 'ST3160812AS' SATA II 3Gb/s NCQ HDD 7200rpm 8MB Cache 5-year warr - $159
(Secondary storage/data drive)
CASE:
Thermaltake Soprano Silver Steel case w/side window, 2 x 12cm fans, 430w PSU - $154 OR
Antec Sonata II Piano Black Quiet Midi Tower Case with 450W SmartPower - $188
PSU:
Other PSU's I will try and look into include:
SilverStone Strider Series ST46F 460W ATX Power Supply with 120mm Fan - $121
Antec TruePower 2.0 480W ATX 4 SATA Connectors - $165
Antec Neo Highly Efficient 2.2 500W ATX & EPS 12V Power Supply SATA Connectors - $189
Cooler Master RealPower RS-550-ACLY
---
Unsure if I can even get some of those PSU's easily here.
The raptor as the primary/apps drive idea came up recently.. from what I hear those things hum along very nicely.
More food for thought..
From my research thus far, my list of probable core components is now:
(prices AUD$)
---
CPU:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core Processor, Socket 939, "Manchester Core", HT2000 MT/s, 2 x 512K L2 Cache, Boxed - $435
MAINBOARD:
ASUS A8N-VM Motherboard - NVIDIA GeForce6100 + nForce410, HT2000, Dual DDR400, PCI-X16, int. VGA, SATA300 RAID, LAN, USB2.0, 6ch, mATX - $145
VIDEO CARD:
Onboard video for now, possibly toss in some lower-end PCI-e card later
RAM:
Corsair TWINX1024-3200C2 1024MB (2x XMS512MB) PC-3200 Dual Channel DDR RAM, 2x64Mx64non-ECC, 184-pin DIMMs, Unbuffered, CL2, Lifetime warranty - $222
HDD:
1 x Seagate 80GB 'ST3808110AS' SATA II 3Gb/s NCQ HDD 7200rpm 8MB Cache 5-year warr - $121 OR
1 x Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10,000rpm Serial ATA150 HDD 8MB Cache - $253
(Primary windows/apps drive)
1 x Seagate 160GB 'ST3160812AS' SATA II 3Gb/s NCQ HDD 7200rpm 8MB Cache 5-year warr - $159
(Secondary storage/data drive)
CASE:
Thermaltake Soprano Silver Steel case w/side window, 2 x 12cm fans, 430w PSU - $154 OR
Antec Sonata II Piano Black Quiet Midi Tower Case with 450W SmartPower - $188
PSU:
Other PSU's I will try and look into include:
SilverStone Strider Series ST46F 460W ATX Power Supply with 120mm Fan - $121
Antec TruePower 2.0 480W ATX 4 SATA Connectors - $165
Antec Neo Highly Efficient 2.2 500W ATX & EPS 12V Power Supply SATA Connectors - $189
Cooler Master RealPower RS-550-ACLY
---
Unsure if I can even get some of those PSU's easily here.
The raptor as the primary/apps drive idea came up recently.. from what I hear those things hum along very nicely.
More food for thought..
BEER
you are paying WAY too much for that cpu man
newegg has it for 300
newegg has it for 300
Cofen group-says 'wtf, why am i missing a cursed khanjari?'
Alendar group-says 'i r rednek i can only afford the monitor i have mud on and the broken monitor under it'
Nonox tells you 'i think someone casted 'power word gay' on pril'
Malacar ASSOC:: 'must... mp...soon...underwear...cringing...at...oncoming...onslaught...'
Alendar group-says 'i r rednek i can only afford the monitor i have mud on and the broken monitor under it'
Nonox tells you 'i think someone casted 'power word gay' on pril'
Malacar ASSOC:: 'must... mp...soon...underwear...cringing...at...oncoming...onslaught...'
You forget that he's in Australia. Take the conversion factor into account.
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