Building first rig. Parts listed, any feedback welcomed.

[Boyo]

First time decided to go custom and build one on my own. Here is what I have picked out. Haven't settled on memory, so I could use some help and advice. Any and all feedback welcomed. Thanks.

NZXT Lexa-NP ATX case
AMD X2 4400+
Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe
(2x)eVGA 256-P2-N515-AX Geforce 7800GT 256MB
(2x) Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 SATA 160GB 8GB Cache
LITE-ON ATAPI/E-IDE Burner with LightScribe
****ENERMAX Whisper II EG565P-VE FMA(24P) ATX12V 535W**** New PSU!!!!

 

[Ricemarine]

Good choices...

For ram... If you're not overclocking, just get the 2X1 GB of G.Skill or OCZ DDR400 ram rated at 2-3-2-5. Otherwise, if you are, get the G.Skill DDR500 HZ's or the OCZ DDR500 GXT's.

 

[markkleb]

I would get a Opteron CPU, prob the 165.
Second, and this is important. I use the Barracudas in my comp but look for 16 mb buffers instead. I used to use Raptors (10k rpm) in Raid 0 but after I sold them I got a 16mb buffer 7200 rpm hdd and it seamed faster.
And how about 1 ATI 1900 video card instead of the 2 7800's?

I have used the lightscribe but it takes too long and the disks are more money.

And I think you can save money with a 500 watt ps.

For memory I use the PQI ddr 400 Turbo lat 2 (only $94 for 1 gig)

The case is pretty though.

ABOVE ALL, HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!

 

[Ricemarine]

Originally posted by: markkleb
I would get a Opteron CPU, prob the 165.
Second, and this is important. I use the Barracudas in my comp but look for 16 mb buffers instead. I used to use Raptors (10k rpm) in Raid 0 but after I sold them I got a 16mb buffer 7200 rpm hdd and it seamed faster.
And how about 1 ATI 1900 video card instead of the 2 7800's?

I have used the lightscribe but it takes too long and the disks are more money.

And I think you can save money with a 500 watt ps.

For memory I use the PQI ddr 400 Turbo lat 2 (only $94 for 1 gig)

The case is pretty though.

ABOVE ALL, HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!

Lol, G.Skill's dual channel are about the same price, no difference really... If he's overclocking, the opteron 165 would be a good choice, but if he ain't, no matter. Saving money for a 500w is probably a not, since he is SLing, since they say the recommended wattage for a SLi machine should be 550w or more (IIRC). As for the x1900xt, he'd have to buy a crossfire motherboard if he wants to crossfire em later on, which will be more costly, but the performance poissibly could be worth it.

 

[vertigofm]

Yeah that PSU is OVERKILL! Hmm, go with the Opteron 170- its a little cheaper and you can OC it a lot- you just need some good ram (OCZ, mushkin, corsair). Don't go with two 7800's go with the x1900xtx

http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27972&page=3

This is an interesting thread that debates which vid card. In my opinion- the single card solution is best- it also depends on the games your playing and the settings you are using

 

[Ricemarine]

Originally posted by: vertigofm
Yeah that PSU is OVERKILL! Hmm, go with the Opteron 170- its a little cheaper and you can OC it a lot-

Aren't opty 170's in the $300-$500 range?

 

[atybimf]

PSU is overkill. I'd get one ATI x1900xtx instead of two 7800gt's. Everything else looks good.

 

[Ricemarine]

Originally posted by: atybimf
PSU is overkill. I'd get one ATI x1900xtx instead of two 7800gt's. Everything else looks good.

Overkill is good IMO, except for your electricity bill :laugh:

 

[Boyo]

According to nVidia, the Geforce 7800GT requires a minimum of 450w. It also states that a minimum of 550w is needed to run the SLI system. I thought it was a lot of power too, but better safe than sorry.

Interesting. It seems no one is really hot on the idea of (2x) 7800GT. Since I want an SLI rig, and I have been using nVidia for a few years now, I'm surprised that an ATI is recommended as the better choice. If I went with ATI, I would have to change out my mobo. Would someone mind explaining the benefits of ATI over nVidia??? I am open to all suggestions since this is my first rig, and I would like it to hold up for a few years......

BTW, are there any Corsair memory recommended???

Thank you for all of your input and feedback....

 

[atybimf]

No, you wouldn't have to switch mobos. Nforce4 mobo's run fine with ATI video cards.

 

[markkleb]

I think when ur at the top 7800 vs the ati 1900 they are both excellent.
i think the 1900 is next model above the 7800.

A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT THINGS!!!

1-DEPENDING ON THE RESOLUTION OF YOUR MONITOR (mine is 1024 X 768 max) Sli is worthless unless your 1600 X 1200.
2-I USE A 200 WATT MINI POWERSUPPLY (half a pack of cigs) for my micro comp. It is a p4 3.0 full size DVD, 2 3.5" hdd's,X800 gto video.(only needs 155 watts and 12.7 amps)
3-Memory is important but its only made by a few companys. Companies buy it and put their label on it. I use PQI Turbo 400 1 gig sticks lat2 and for $94 they work just fine.

I think the reason why they recommend such a high ps is because some people use cheap power supplies that are rated higher than they really are.
When I checked the diff in 600 watt ps is about $100 more than 500 watt one was.

Try to get value for your money... And remember HAVE FUN!!!

I sold my 3700+ and replaced it with a opteron 144 ($30 less) My opty oc's just as high.

 

[robertk2012]

get the n-16 instead of the n-15. It comes with a better stock cooler and overclocks.

 

[LW07]

Get a Radeon X1900XT rather than 2 7800GTs and reduce that CPU to an X2 4200+. The Extra 1mb of cache is not worth the extra $100.

 

[Ricemarine]

Originally posted by: atybimf
No, you wouldn't have to switch mobos. Nforce4 mobo's run fine with ATI video cards.

True, but in terms of adding a second card, he would.

 

[Boyo]

Ok, so I am dropping my PSU to an Antec True Power 550w. That will save me over a $100. I'm not really sure about the X1900XT. I need to read up on them, but they are kind of pricey. Would one X1900XT really out perform 2x eVGA 7800GT's???

Do you think I should hold off and wait until nVidia releases its 7900?

Also, I picked Corsair Twinx1024-3200C2PRO 2BG (2x 1GB). How does that sound???

 

[atybimf]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine

Originally posted by: atybimf
No, you wouldn't have to switch mobos. Nforce4 mobo's run fine with ATI video cards.

True, but in terms of adding a second card, he would.

Yeah. And if he wants to do SLI/Crossfire, I'd wait until the R580 or whatever ATI's next chipset is and do a Crossfire setup.

 

[Bobthelost]

Originally posted by: Boyo
Ok, so I am dropping my PSU to an Antec True Power 550w. That will save me over a $100. I'm not really sure about the X1900XT. I need to read up on them, but they are kind of pricey. Would one X1900XT really out perform 2x eVGA 7800GT's???

Do you think I should hold off and wait until nVidia releases its 7900?

Don't get a TP2, they are alright, but you would be much better off with an antec neo HE or even better an enermax liberty 500W.

A good 450W is enough to run any conventional SLI system i've heard of. The power ratings required by manufacturers is completely unrelated to real world power draw. More to do with crap generic PSUs that can't supply a fraction of thier rated power.

The 1900XT and SLI 7800GTs are almost the same for performance, if you can wait for the 7900 to be released then two 7900GTs will be better than the single X1900XT (probably), you can use the step up program with eVGA too.

 

[Boyo]

On another forum where I posted my hardware list, I was told that the Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe was a terrible choice because Asus mobo's in general do not perform well. I was a little shocked because every article that I have read about that Asus mobo have had nothing but great reviews. Is there something I don't know or I am missing? I thought Asus was a leader in mobos......

Also, outside of the parts that I have listed, is there anything else that someone could recommend to make my new PC complete. For example, should I be looking at a new sound card? Any thoughts or suggestions are welcomed...Thanks all.....

 

[alimoalem]

no i wouldn't worry about getting a new sound card. try the onboard first and see how it is.

i've never heard anything wrong with the asus a8n32-sli deluxe board. maybe they're hardcore OCers that told you it sucks or they're just plain dumb. if they are OCers, they probably promoted DFI

i personally would go with the x1900xt. by the time you're ready to crossfire it though, a newer, better card would be out so i still see no point in SLI.

i like your case choice and that corsair ram you mentioned is good. g.skill ram is good too

your psu is definitely overkill so the new 550w you mentioned wouldn't be bad.

for your hard drive, i would get the 250gb Western Digital SE16 instead of the seagate.

have a fun time building and welcome to the forums

 

[bklyn1028]

Originally posted by: Boyo
First time decided to go custom and build one on my own. Here is what I have picked out. Haven't settled on memory, so I could use some help and advice. Any and all feedback welcomed. Thanks.

NZXT Lexa-NP ATX case
AMD X2 4400+
Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe
(2x)eVGA 256-P2-N515-AX Geforce 7800GT 256MB
(2x) Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 SATA 160GB 8GB Cache
LITE-ON ATAPI/E-IDE Burner with LightScribe
Enermax EG851AX-VH(W) 660W power supply

 

[bklyn1028]

Originally posted by: bklyn1028

Originally posted by: Boyo
First time decided to go custom and build one on my own. Here is what I have picked out. Haven't settled on memory, so I could use some help and advice. Any and all feedback welcomed. Thanks.

NZXT Lexa-NP ATX case
AMD X2 4400+
Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe
(2x)eVGA 256-P2-N515-AX Geforce 7800GT 256MB
(2x) Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 SATA 160GB 8GB Cache
LITE-ON ATAPI/E-IDE Burner with LightScribe
Enermax EG851AX-VH(W) 660W power supply

boy i really said a lot up there,...lol...wanted to say . you're gonna love that case, it's an eye catcher, and keeps everything cool

 

[LiquidImpulse]

holy man, whats up with the overkill on the power supply?

 

[Boyo]

LOL......ok. My secret is out. I have no idea of what kind of power I need in a PSU to run my new system.........

Just to let everyone know-I have chosen the ENERMAX Whisper II EG565P-VE FMA(24P) ATX12V 535W....It $88.00 at Newegg, so how can I go wrong...Thank you all for helping to point out that I was buying a PSU to run a server, not a PC......

Can someone please explain the difference between OEM & Retail???? When I am looking at hardware on Newegg, some products say OEM, while others say Retail. I don't get it. Help???

Also, what RAID configuration should I use????

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: Boyo


Can someone please explain the difference between OEM & Retail???? When I am looking at hardware on Newegg, some products say OEM, while others say Retail. I don't get it. Help???

Read this:

What is OEM?

that should clear things up. Usually, the main difference is just what comes inside (or does not come inside) the box.

 

[Boyo]

Thank you for clearing that up, Keith.....