First Build Parts

[TripleB]

I've finally decided to build my own computer and I want to know if there are any compatability issues with any of my parts. Also, how well will this computer work for games like Doom 3, Half-Life 2, Etc. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thermaltake Silver XASER III LanFire Aluminum ATX MID Tower Chassis with X Large Side Window, Model "VM2000A" -RETAIL-$102.

ASUS "K8V SE Deluxe" K8T800 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket 754 CPU -RETAIL-$113

AMD Athlon 64 3200+, 512k L2 Cache, The Only 64-bit Windows Compatible Processor - Retail-$265

Crucial 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 8T - OEM-Getting two of these for $180

ATI RADEON 9800 PRO Video Card, 256MB DDR, 256-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP -RETAIL-$265

Western Digital 160GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model WD1600JD, OEM Drive Only-$109.50

SONY 16X DVD-ROM Drive, Model DDU1613, OEM-$29

Mitsumi 1.44MB 3.5Inch Floppy Disk Drive, Model D359M3, OEM-$12

Thermaltake Silent PurePower, 420W ATX power supply.UL, CSA, TUV, CE Approved. Intel Pentium 4 Compliant-$42

Arctic Silver Premium Silver Polysynthetic Silver Thermal Compound, Model "Arctic Silver 5", 3.5-gram( 1 cc. ) tube-$7.50

Total - $1125

 

[brunswickite]

I am sure you could get the 9800 for a little cheaper, if you search the hot deal forums, and instead of getting the sony dvd-rom, you could get an NEC dual layer dvd burner for IIRC ~75 at newegg, otherwise i think everything looks good

 

[Malladine]

Dude, you know this is a fast system: in the top 5% of systems out there right now. Those parts will all play nice.

 

[TripleB]

Thanks for the input!
I am mainly shopping at Newegg because I want one shipping charge so I'm going to stay with the 9800 I'm getting unless there's some other suggestion for a card. I'm going to get a DVD burner later when I have more money too, but for now I'm just gona stay with a reader. And I guess I should rephrase my question, how much lasting power will this have before major upgrades are needed? I'm planning on upgrading my motherboard and videocard once PCI-E becomes available and cheaper.

 

[Danzilla]

If they have any left in stock, BestBuy has the Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB for $179.99 (229 - 50 rebate), this week (through saturday). I know you have the 256MB version there, but saving almost $100... I'm not sure the extra memory is worth it.
As for the DVD, Instead of paying $29 for a DVD-ROM or ~$70+ for dual layer, you can get the NEC 2500A this week from OfficeMax ($89.99 - $40 rebate). It comes repackaged as the Maddog 8x 6-in-1 dual drive. It's also supposedly dual capable, but you have to flash it with a modified firmware to get that.

Again, both offer were for this week and will end on Saturday. The Officemax DVD offer actually may have been last week in your area, depends. The stores may or may not still have them in stock.

Mad Dog - NEC DVD+-RW 8x at Officemax
Radeon 9800 Pro at BestBuy

 

[TripleB]

Is there much of a performance difference between the 128MB and 256MB. Right now I wouldn't have any idea because I am going from a Radeon DDR 32MB. Yeah I know its horrible, but I got it from Dell in the beginning of the P4 era.

 

[Malladine]

well yeah, PCI Express is the next major leap beyond this. Maybe that's why you're deciding on the cheaper and slower 754 motherboard/cpu? Buy a 939/PCI-Express when price drops?

In the end it all depends on how much $ you have to put into this!

 

[Malladine]

Originally posted by: TripleB
Is there much of a performance difference between the 128MB and 256MB. Right now I wouldn't have any idea because I am going from a Radeon DDR 32MB. Yeah I know its horrible, but I got it from Dell in the beginning of the P4 era.

In Doom3 apparently there will be a reasonable difference. Other than that and from what I know there is no difference worth mentioning

 

[TripleB]

I was thinking about just upgrading my mobo and video card once PCI-E becomes cheaper if 939 is still out of my price range. If 939 gets into my price range, I will try to go for a whole upgrade with the mobo, video card, and cpu.

 

[Malladine]

I would definately upgrade to 939/PCI-E...it has a better future than 754. Anyone disagree with that?

EDIT: 2nd upgrade I mean

 

[TripleB]

Yeah I know it does but its just too overpriced right now. I'll probally update to it in a year or year and a half.

 

[jpeyton]

I'd hold off on nearly all those parts. Hopefully Nick or I can config a better system for you tonight, but I'm on my way to work.

Not exactly the best computer your money can buy.

 

[TripleB]

I wasn't planning on ordering any of this until next week, I still have to raise some money, so I can wait for any help.

 

[Delorian]

I wouldn't get the 256mb 9800 pro, it's a waste of good $. If you're looking on spending 265 on video, pay 285 and get yourself a 6800...

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
I'd hold off on nearly all those parts. Hopefully Nick or I can config a better system for you tonight, but I'm on my way to work.

Not exactly the best computer your money can buy.

yeah, ill help out later, i gotta head off to work too. all i can suggest right now is to dump that cas3 crucial ram. you can get cheaper FASTER ram.

 

[Malladine]

Originally posted by: Delorian
I wouldn't get the 256mb 9800 pro, it's a waste of good $. If you're looking on spending 265 on video, pay 285 and get yourself a 6800...

This based on the HardOCP Doom 3 article by any chance?
If you can find an in stock 6800 for $285 you better get your ass to the store and by some lottery tickets cause you're a lucky sumb!tch.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: Malladine

Originally posted by: Delorian
I wouldn't get the 256mb 9800 pro, it's a waste of good $. If you're looking on spending 265 on video, pay 285 and get yourself a 6800...

This based on the HardOCP Doom 3 article by any chance?
If you can find an in stock 6800 for $285 you better get your ass to the store and by some lottery tickets cause you're a lucky sumb!tch.

how many lotto tickets should i buy?

 

[TripleB]

Nick, what ram would you recommend for me?

 

[Delorian]

Originally posted by: Malladine

Originally posted by: Delorian
I wouldn't get the 256mb 9800 pro, it's a waste of good $. If you're looking on spending 265 on video, pay 285 and get yourself a 6800...

This based on the HardOCP Doom 3 article by any chance?
If you can find an in stock 6800 for $285 you better get your ass to the store and by some lottery tickets cause you're a lucky sumb!tch.

No, but definitely a key point! Any pc would benefit from a 6800 vs 9800 pro 256mb no matter what you're going for and it's only $20 more! Pricewatch has a list of at least 10 online retailers selling the 6800 NU for ~285. I'd go newegg as the link nick had suggested. The 9800 pro doesn't have near the power of the 6800 and the 6800 isn't really capped by only having 128mb.

 

[sisooktom]

Boy, it's a good thing that you're not buying right away, because the "experts" are gonna fix you up when they get home from work. . . whatever. Triple B, your system looks good. 754 is still where it's at for the A64, it's not going away anytime soon, and 939 is way overpriced. Like 939, PCI-e is already out, and the benchmarks already clearly show that it gains you nothing in it's current incarnation. As for that CAS3 Crucial RAM, it's quality stuff. Timings don't mean practically nothing on an A64 system, and Crucial is a good brand. That is the exact RAM that I use. The only thing I would do is go with the 128MB 9800Pro. The general consensus is that the 256MB model is no better, just cost more. The 6800 will serve you well also if you'd rather go with that.

 

[newb54]

Originally posted by: Delorian

Originally posted by: Malladine

Originally posted by: Delorian
I wouldn't get the 256mb 9800 pro, it's a waste of good $. If you're looking on spending 265 on video, pay 285 and get yourself a 6800...

This based on the HardOCP Doom 3 article by any chance?
If you can find an in stock 6800 for $285 you better get your ass to the store and by some lottery tickets cause you're a lucky sumb!tch.

No, but definitely a key point! Any pc would benefit from a 6800 vs 9800 pro 256mb no matter what you're going for and it's only $20 more! Pricewatch has a list of at least 10 online retailers selling the 6800 NU for ~285. I'd go newegg as the link nick had suggested. The 9800 pro doesn't have near the power of the 6800 and the 6800 isn't really capped by only having 128mb.

Yeah I agree. If you are thinking about getting a $265 9800 Pro, you should really pay the little extra for a 6800. If you can wait and shop a little I would try to score a 6800 GT for around $300. If not get the PNY 6800 for $284.

 

[nick1985]

vid card $294

Case--keep what you have if it suits your fancy. $102

PSU--Seems fine to me $42

DVD drive--seems fine, go with it. $29

Floppy--use what you had picked out. $12

Arctic Silver that you had--$7.50

Heatsink $30


RAM *2 = $158

Motherboard $88

CPU $211

Hard Drive $93.49

TOTAL: $1066.99

you will easily be able to hit 3200 speeds on that CPU with your nforce3 board. any questions just ask.

 

[Frew]

Does he really need that heatsink or could he just buy the 3000+ box.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: LeadFrog
Does he really need that heatsink or could he just buy the 3000+ box.

he could do that. its up to him.

 

[JackHawksmoor]

The only thing you need to change for sure is that video card. Like a couple people said, it makes no sense to spend that kind of money on a Radeon 9800 when for only slightly more you can get a Geforce 6800. A Geforce 6800GT for $400 is even a much better deal than that.

Besides that, personally I would get Asus' Nforce 3 board over the VIA one, and a Seagate drive over the Western Digital (because they're quieter, and I've personally had the best luck of late with Seagate).