First Build need prop feedback.

[LucMatthia]

I haven't purchased anything yet but this is what i had in mind. I make changes as I learn new things so this is subject to change. I plan to use this comp for playing Halo, Counter Strike and school work.
.....................Be gentle:D


ASUS K8N-E Socket 754 NVIDIA nForce3 250Gb ATX
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Newcastle 800MHz
ATI Radeon X700 Pro 256MB PCI Express
CORSAIR 1GB 184-Pin
Seagate Barracuda 120GB 7200 RPM

I was tempted by the Radeon X1600 PRO 512MB AGP but i am not that serious of a gamer.

[bluegreenshxt]

What's your budget?

The 6600GT is faster than the x700pro, I'm unsure of the differences in price. I also might go for a socket 939 setup.

If I was on a budget, I would go for generic memory to save a few bucks. Performance difference is nil if any.

[LucMatthia]

i am willing to spend $700-$1,000 on just the tower and its componets. The monitor, keyboard and mouse are not that important.


Who makes the 6600GT, newegg listed a couple. It's about a 40 difference beteween the x700pro and the various 6600GT i saw.

[chris000001]

Is there any particular reason you are goin with socket 754?

Thats pretty much gonna die off once AM2 is released this summer (or sooner hopefully)

[LucMatthia]

bluegreenshxt thanks for the reply


I am willing to spend $800-$1,000 on the tower and its components. monitor mouse and keyboard are secondary right now.

On the ATI site they have the X700pro for $179 but i am not sure who makes 6600GT. Newegg listed a couple but it ranges from $17-60 differnce.

from the reviews i have read on newegg and other places the socket 754 cpus don't differ that much than much to the 939. I don't have any plans to overclock my cpu so if there is a tech reason why you would suggest the 939 i would like to know for my understanding.

also i need a good cd/ dvd drive, do you have any suggestions. i haven't been reading much about that stuff.

[LucMatthia]

Is there any particular reason you are goin with socket 754?

Thats pretty much gonna die off once AM2 is released this summer (or sooner hopefully)

not really

[chris000001]

Socket 939 has an improved memory controller. i think 939 adds support for dual channel ram.

Plus 939 has a much better upgrade path, say a few months down the road you want to switch to dual core...you wont have to upgrade your proc and your motherboard...you'll jus have to flash the bios on you're motherboard

Do you want a dvd/cd burner?

[LucMatthia]

Socket 939 has an improved memory controller. i think 939 adds support for dual channel ram.

Plus 939 has a much better upgrade path, say a few months down the road you want to switch to dual core...you wont have to upgrade your proc and your motherboard...you'll jus have to flash the bios on you're motherboard

Do you want a dvd/cd burner?

well, i have more reading to do about 939, but i have already changed my cpu and motherboard to a 939.

no i don't have a dvd/cd burner, i have been tryin to find one. i haven't been readin about them. do you have any suggestions

[chris000001]

i have this one and it works like a charm

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152060

[LucMatthia]

does that come with a black face, my case is jet black

[chris000001]

im sure they make one thats black... jus seach around newegg for a little while

[LucMatthia]

i totally forgot about my power supply, the case i am gettin doesn't come with one. what should i look out for?

[chris000001]

dont get generic ones that are cheap...go for high quality.
Enermax, antec, Power PC and Cooling, OCZ powerstream, are all really good

I just got the Enermax Liberty 500W and it is worth every penny

[LucMatthia]

i have been doing some reading and i decided to go with this setup. i threw in the X2 for ****s and giggles..........what else i am i gonna do with my money.:rolleyes:

ASUS A8N5X Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4
eVGA 256-P2-N381 Geforce 6800XT 256MB
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Manchester 1GHz
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM
Seagate Barracuda 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s

[-=CrAnSwIcK=-]

yu couls save a few bucks and get the liberty 400w Avid said his worked just fine for his opty and 7800gtx...

[Dizzious]

socket 939 has faster processors available. so if you want to upgrade in the future; you wouldnt have to buy a new motherboard.
also i'm pretty sure socket 754 doesnt support pci-express; and you definitly want pci-express and not agp if you're building a new system these days, as word on the street is that there won't be any new agp cards coming out... ever again.

Also i just looked up your motherboard on newegg; it doesnt have pci-express. you can't use that videocard with that motherboard. you need to have a pci-express x16 slot on a motherboard to use pci-e videocards.
go with socket 939. it won't cost you any more money.

edit: oh i see you already did that. nevermind.

about your ram, are you using a 2x512mb kit; or a single 1gb stick? you'd be better off using 2x512mb; that way you'd have dualchannel (better performance).
If you're going to use it for gaming; you should go with a fast single-core processor instead of the X2. there arent really any games out that can take advantage of dualcore yet. use the money you save to buy a better graphics card. the 7600GT is right in the price/performance sweetspot right now.

[Skorp]

also i'm pretty sure socket 754 doesnt support pci-express; and you definitly want pci-express and not agp if you're building a new system these days, as word on the street is that there won't be any new agp cards coming out... ever again.

You can quite easily get PCI-E on 754. You can even get SLI for it; and from what ive seen lately, the difference between a 754 system and a 939 system can be less than $10USD. It.. really is maddening that people still get 754. "Hey kids! Lets go waste our money!"

If you're going to use it for gaming; you should go with a fast single-core processor instead of the X2. there arent really any games out that can take advantage of dualcore yet. use the money you save to buy a better graphics card. the 7600GT is right in the price/performance sweetspot right now.

Its been said quite a lot, dual core can speed things up a lot in real-world tests. Sites like hexus, anand, toms, they all make a fresh install of Windows and make sure absolutely nothing extra is on it when they review hardware. No antivirus, firewall, IM, or anything. In such cases, a dual core chip can make the system much, much more responsive, and up the frame rates as well.

Even if you were to take the same minimalist approach and gut all programs, the difference between a 4800+ and an FX-57 is so stupidly tiny as to be within the margin for error. And yes, there arent many games out now that benefit, but there will be, and lots of em. In the end, its all about how much you want to spend.

And please, for the last time, will SOMEONE kill off those orange smileys?!

[LucMatthia]

so i have taken into consideration all the advice that i got here and i made my first purchase towards my new computer. i bought a COOLER MASTER Wave Master Silver Aluminum without Power Supply. i didn't buy it from newegg they listed it for 108 and i only payed 81 and change for it. i'll post pics when i get it, i am soo exicted. Hopefully when i get it i would have ordered my motherboard and Hard Drive.

[-=CrAnSwIcK=-]

I didn't think s754 had dual channel support, so 2x512 or 1x1gb wouldn't matter at all...

and if you're looking at x700's and 6600gt's...check out the x1600 series...but if you can afford the extra...definately get the 7600gt...they pwn...i sorta wish they were on the market when i bought my x1600...bah, i would have spent an extra $$ easy...