Did I get the most bang for my Buck?

[mbcrump]

All prices include shipping

Case: Aspire X-Dreamer II (Black) - $54.00 from newegg.com
Mobo: Abit AV8 - $119 from zipzoomfly.com
CPU: Athlon 64 3000 Socket 939 Winchester - $161 from zipzoomfly.com
RAM: PNY Optima 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - $45 ($30 rebate mailed in already) from outpost.com
HDD: Seagate 160GB 7200 RPM - $57 ($50 rebate mailed in already) from outpost.com
Video Card: XFX Geforce 6600GT - $180 ($25 rebate mailed in already) from buy.com

Used the following parts from previous system: Lite-On 4x DVD Burner/Lite-ON 52x CD Burner/Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0/Microsoft Internet Keyboard/NEC 19" Flatscreen CRT Monitor

Total Build Cost: $616

 

[Tarrant64]

It all looks pretty awesome to me. It looks like you took advantage of many of the rebates that were available and you made quite a bit on savings. I think if you wanted to OC a little bit too you could pump a little bit more power out of that.

Looks great. Enjoy!

 

[mbcrump]

I know I need another 512mb stick of ram, but dont' want to pay an arm and leg for it. I saw some Kingston Value Ram on sale but dont' know if it would work right in my system. I dunno if the dual channel would work or if I have to get another stick of PNY Optima ram.

 

[Tarrant64]

Your processor is a 939, so yes, Dual Channel support is there for you if you want it. Not needed though.

512 should be sufficient for you know. Moving up to 1GB in the future is a good plan if you don't want to pay for it now. Nothing wrong with that at all my friend.

Kingston Value Ram should work. But sticking with the same brand is recommended(at least by manufacturers). However a recent article has shown that you can actually increase performance sometimes by mixing memory. All in all, try to match the specs to be safe and insure that you won't have any problems. Purchase another stick of PNY sometime down the road.

 

[sirspotti]

i like this better than most of the "rate my rig" threads. there's so many of them and nobody is really impressed when somebody spends $2000 and puts it all together cause anyone can do that. assembling a nicely performing rig like this one for ~$600 is actually something to be proud of. on that note, good luck with them rebates.

 

[mbcrump]

Thanks sirspotti, I actually recieved the seagate and pny rebate last week and have already put them in the bank. The Geforce 6600GT was recently mailed. I appreciate the help I've gotton from this board. I even cleaned up the wiring in my case after some ATers gave me some recommendations. Check it out if you have the time: http://webpages.charter.net/mbcrump/wiring_job/

 

[beany323]

looks real nice, damn good job there buddy!!

btw, what power supply did you go with, its not on your list as far as i could tell...

:beer:

 

[Duvie]

Well if what I know about that board is true, your oc will be limited more so then it could have been with other boards...If you planned on ocing I would have to say "most bang for the buck"....NO!!!! I would have gotten the EPOX NF3 ultra board...If no ocing is planned then it is marginal.

great prices on the other stuff though!!!

 

[Horo]

how big of a psu would be recommended for a rig like that?? im planning to build one to but not sure of how much psu i would need

 

[Duvie]

I wouldn't get anything less then 400 watts and 24amps on the +12v rail....that is more of an ocing spin though....

NOt ocing and using that 6600get probably can get by with a high quality 350 to 380 watter, but who wants to chance power issues???

 

[KayKay]

thats really nice deals on the hard drive and ram. good luck with the rebates, sometimes companies don't mail them to you unless you bug them about it

 

[mbcrump]

Thanks guys, I have already done some overclocking but not really interested in messing with it anymore. If I was going to do serious overclocking then I would have to agree about the motherboard part and got the Epox or K8n neo2 platnium. But overall I'm EXTREMELY happy with my Abit Av8. It recieved techreports best hardware of the year (http://www.techreport.com/etc/2005q1/bestof2004/index.x?pg=1) and I believe after you get it setup right it will be ROCK solid mobo. The powersupply I used was a 350watt.

 

[Chosonman]

Originally posted by: Tarrant64
Your processor is a 939, so yes, Dual Channel support is there for you if you want it. Not needed though.

512 should be sufficient for you know. Moving up to 1GB in the future is a good plan if you don't want to pay for it now. Nothing wrong with that at all my friend.

Kingston Value Ram should work. But sticking with the same brand is recommended(at least by manufacturers). However a recent article has shown that you can actually increase performance sometimes by mixing memory. All in all, try to match the specs to be safe and insure that you won't have any problems. Purchase another stick of PNY sometime down the road.

Where did you see that 939 Winchester where comming out Dual core????????

It's comments like that that really make me mad.

AMD's dual-core Toledo will show up in Q3 and the only other processor named for dual core is the Opteron. So get your facts straight.

Also, Dual core is ment for workstations and not for gaming ATM. Unless you're the type to use a Nvidia Quadra for gamming.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: Chosonman

Originally posted by: Tarrant64
Your processor is a 939, so yes, Dual Channel support is there for you if you want it. Not needed though.

512 should be sufficient for you know. Moving up to 1GB in the future is a good plan if you don't want to pay for it now. Nothing wrong with that at all my friend.

Kingston Value Ram should work. But sticking with the same brand is recommended(at least by manufacturers). However a recent article has shown that you can actually increase performance sometimes by mixing memory. All in all, try to match the specs to be safe and insure that you won't have any problems. Purchase another stick of PNY sometime down the road.

Where did you see that 939 Winchester where comming out Dual core????????

It's comments like that that really make me mad.

AMD's dual-core Toledo will show up in Q3

The AMD roadmaps have stated that socket 939 will support dual-core with little more than a BIOS upgrade....if that. You can find them on Anandtech's site.

[edit]...whoops, I read your post wrong.

 

[Chosonman]

Originally posted by: Gooberlx2

The AMD roadmaps have stated that socket 939 will support dual-core with little more than a BIOS upgrade....if that. You can find them on Anandtech's site.

939 means socket not core. So even if a 939 dual core is introduced that has nothing to do with it being a Winchester. That's what the Toledo is I'm assuming... I can't find my AMD chart... now where did it go?

Ah here it is.... yes the Toledo NOT the Winchester is schedualed as Dual core.

AMD Road Map

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: mbcrump
All prices include shipping

Case: Aspire X-Dreamer II (Black) - $54.00 from newegg.com
Mobo: Abit AV8 - $119 from zipzoomfly.com
CPU: Athlon 64 3000 Socket 939 Winchester - $161 from zipzoomfly.com
RAM: PNY Optima 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - $45 ($30 rebate mailed in already) from outpost.com
HDD: Seagate 160GB 7200 RPM - $57 ($50 rebate mailed in already) from outpost.com
Video Card: XFX Geforce 6600GT - $180 ($25 rebate mailed in already) from buy.com

Used the following parts from previous system: Lite-On 4x DVD Burner/Lite-ON 52x CD Burner/Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0/Microsoft Internet Keyboard/NEC 19" Flatscreen CRT Monitor

Total Build Cost: $616

Close But I would have shaved some off if you truly mean best bang for buck.
Abit AV8 - $119 + Athlon 64 3000 Socket 939 Winchester - $161

totaling out at $280 would have become,

AMD ATHLON 64 2800+ + EPOX 8KDA3I = $180

Saving $100

 

[Chosonman]

Originally posted by: Tarrant64
Your processor is a 939, so yes, Dual Channel support is there for you if you want it. Not needed though.

512 should be sufficient for you know. Moving up to 1GB in the future is a good plan if you don't want to pay for it now. Nothing wrong with that at all my friend.

Kingston Value Ram should work. But sticking with the same brand is recommended(at least by manufacturers). However a recent article has shown that you can actually increase performance sometimes by mixing memory. All in all, try to match the specs to be safe and insure that you won't have any problems. Purchase another stick of PNY sometime down the road.

Oops... You said Dual Channel. Not Dual Core Har har..

But actually dual channel makes very little difference in performance.
If you don't believe me ask Zebo or check out his thread.
Zebo's Memory Thread

You spend a little more for dual channel RAM but you get very little back. It's actually better to have a faster CPU clock speed for better performance. (ie. Socket 754 3000 run at 2.0 while 939 3000 run at 1.8)

 

[mbcrump]

Thanks Zebo, for the comment but I really didn't want to go to a older Socket 754. To me "Bang for my buck" means, getting the latest technology at the cheapest price.

 

[fishmonger12]

Originally posted by: Chosonman
dual channel RAM

there's no such thing as dual channel ram

unless you just meant having 2 sticks.

 

[Duvie]

2 stick of ram does not mean dual channel either...I can put 2 sticks in and have single channel...depends on the dimm you place them in...

 

[beany323]

quick questions pertaining to the roadmap, so the fx-55 is the highest in 130nm that they are planning on making? So if i were to buy a fx-55 i am at the highest? (you know what i think i am asking!!

heck if thats the case and if i am not mistaken, i can't swap out 130nm for a 90....

thanks all!