*Help me build New X2+7800gtx system, also selling P4 3.4/1Gig4300/6600gt system 500$!!

[Polish3d]

Hello,

I've decided to build an Athlon X2 system. I primarily wish to use it for gaming and general desktop applications.

I am new to AMD and so I am hoping to get some good suggestions on what to put in this soon to be killer rig.


I already own a 7800GTX BFG, 74gig Raptor, and SB Audigy 2 ZS that I'm planning to keep for the new X2 System. I also run on a 2005fpw 1680x1050 and Z680's from Logitech.

Therefore there is no need to consider a graphics, sound card or HDD in the budget. (I'm going to choose my own 2nd HDD).


I'd like to keep the expense to between 1000-1200 for:

Processor (I'm thinking the X2 4400+ but its very open to all of your suggestions)
Motherboard (SLI capable)
Ram (Perhaps 1, 1 gig stick of quality and I can buy a second gig a bit later)
PSU (<500 watts)
Case
DVD-RW drive
Cooling etc...


I *DO* wish to overclock this system, but do not need cooling to do so to extreme level.

Any suggestions are REALLY APPRECIATED.

I'd like this system to be more or less top of the line for at least 6 months or more.




(Also, I am selling here if anyone is interested or on Ebay for between 5-600$ (negotiable) the following system!:

P4 Prescott 3.4ghz, 925x, 1 Gig PC4300 533mhz 4-4-4-11, Asus 6600gt Oc's to 550/1200, Maxtor Diamond Max 9 80 gig HDD, NEC-3500 DVD-RW! + 2nd 48x CD-RW, Gigabit ethernet)

 

[xTYBALTx]

Athlon X2 4200+ $560
MSI K8N Neo4/SLI $129
ValueSelect 1GB $86 X2 = $172
Seasonic 500W $129
Antec Sonata $99
Any DVD Drive $50

Total = $1139

With all that said, I'd opt for an NF4-Ultra motherboard instead of SLi. But that's just because I am party to the school of thought that SLi is for using two graphics cards now, not one now and another later. By the time you buy a second 7800GTX, the next-gen card which is faster than two 7800GTX's in SLi will be right around the corner. That should sound familiar at least

If you're into overclocking, there are better 1 gig sticks out there; one of the companies "value" sticks are said to be rebadged ubersticks. Hopefully someone will chime in who knows for sure. Preliminary reviews suggest AMD's dual cores are killer overclockers on air cooling, so this should be a fun system to play around with. If you're really into overclocking, look into DFI's SLi board, even though overall I tend to favor MSI.

Awesome system by the way, I can't wait to go dual-core in the future.

 

[Polish3d]

Thanks man, I'm really excited about it.

I know what you mean about SLI, I'm going to have to study the pros/cons of SLI to non, I'm reading anandtech's SLI roundup now. (I've lurked on many tech boards and I tend to think anandtech is one of the better ones.)

I think though that the K8N (amazingly) is incompatible w/ 2 7800gtx's as well.


From my preliminary reading the 4400+ seems to be the sweetspot of price/performance ... ZZFLY has it for like 650.

Also perhaps it would be better to get 1 gig of quality ram now and get a second gig a bit later.

 

[Ronin]

It's not incompatible. The problem is that there is a row of 3 capacitors that sit right where the fan connector is on the card, but care in placing the card into the slot negates any sort of issues.

Note that the 4200+ listed above is a 512KB L2 cache model, and you may want to consider the 4400+, which has the 1MB of L2 cache on each core instead.

Other options for motherboards are:

Asus A8N-SLi Deluxe
DFI Lanparty SLi

 

[Polish3d]

I'm almost definitely going with the 4400+

What would you recommend for a non-SLI motherboard? (Still undecided about whether to get an SLI or not, if there is little difference price/performance probably will as at least I'll have the option of getting 2nd 7800gtx)

 

[boutrousboutrous]

Demand has jacked the price of the 4400+ up past the point where it's a good deal anymore. Based on the original pricing scheme, it was a no-brainer. Unfortunately, everyone intuitively understood that and they're out of stock all over. If you can find one for within $50 of MSRP, go for it. Even Newegg is selling them for over $720 now, which is absolutely ridiculous. Everyone who has it in stock is selling it for well over $700 - the only companies who still have it listed in the $600s are out of stock

We're left with the choice of either paying too much for the 4400+, settling for a 4200+, jumping up to a 4600+ or waiting for production to level out.

 

[keeleysam]

MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum for no SLI

For SLI, get the Gigabyte GA-K8NXP-SLI

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

SLI and non SLI get the DFI LanParty NF4 SLI/Ultra-D

No questions here. Forget the Neo4. LP offers more oc options. I say OC > Stock speeds. BTW, Monarch is selling for under 700... like $650 i think

 

[DaveSimmons]

> , Monarch is selling for under 700... like $650 i think

But none in stock.

With Monarch you also have to be more careful than newegg about "in stock" listings since people have posted here many times about "in stock" parts being backordered, sometimes without being told until they call to ask about the order.

 

[KoolDrew]

I would get the FSP550-60PLG PSU or a OCZ Powerstream 520w.

 

[50]

Also get the new P180 case from Antec it's only about 40 bucks more than the sonata (although it doesn't come with a PSU, it's a much nicer case)

 

[Polish3d]

Cool, great suggestions guys.

So the preliminary is:

Athlon X2 4400+ (Somehow)
DFI LanParty for OC'ing or Neo4, but probably DFI if it really is better
P180 Antec case


What would you recommend for ram with the notion of buying a second gig stick later?
Perhaps recommend best overall performer in your view and then best price/performance combo.

This is all very helpful and I appreciate it

 

[Polish3d]

Originally posted by: boutrousboutrous
Demand has jacked the price of the 4400+ up past the point where it's a good deal anymore. Based on the original pricing scheme, it was a no-brainer. Unfortunately, everyone intuitively understood that and they're out of stock all over. If you can find one for within $50 of MSRP, go for it. Even Newegg is selling them for over $720 now, which is absolutely ridiculous. Everyone who has it in stock is selling it for well over $700 - the only companies who still have it listed in the $600s are out of stock

We're left with the choice of either paying too much for the 4400+, settling for a 4200+, jumping up to a 4600+ or waiting for production to level out.

Man you're not kidding...this is screwy... and the 4600+ doesn't have 1mb of cache/core either... I was just going to OC the 4400 w/ the 2mbs like everyone else of course...


What do you guys think of ordering a system from monarch anyway? Have people been successful with them?

 

[imperium95]

What's the difference in performance between 512K and 1MB cache?

 

[Polish3d]

I'm not sure but I won't feel like I have as powerful as system without the 1mb

LOL



No seriously its on my list of things to research

 

[Cookie Monster]

Top of the line..... OCing..... SLi...... hmm lets see:

Asus A8N SLi-premium: Best SLi board ever, Able to turn Sli on desktop, fanless chipset cooler, OCable like the DFi boards, and looks cool

AMD A64 X2 4400, but if not try to find the 4200

Corsair TWINX2048-3200PRO Low Latency (2-2-2-5)

PSU- Enermax 600W noisetaker

Case- Antec P180 or Thermaltake Kandalf v9000a

Cooling-water or air?

 

[bob4432]

either stick with what you have and add the 7800gtx to it or get a 3200venice for the time being for ~$190 and o/c the sh!t out of it...then wait for the x2s to come back down to earth. i would say within a short time you will save more than $190 and still get a 4400. then sell the venice

i could be wrong but i really doubt you will notice that much if any difference than if you put your 7800gtx in your current system vs a x2 system for your needs.

the x2 system will be top of the line for no more than 3 mos at most and you will be out a lot of $$$ then because you will probably be able to pick up the 4400s for ~$400 as demand goes down and people realize that there is not a lot of smp/smt applications, especially for normal desktop and gaming uses

 

[Cookie Monster]

Hmm, people on budget could wait for the coming soon AMD X2 3800....

 

[KoolDrew]

Best overall performer for RAM would be Mushkin Redline. You would need the DFI board though to supply the volts needed.

 

[Polish3d]

the x2 system will be top of the line for no more than 3 mos at most and you will be out a lot of $$$ then because you will probably be able to pick up the 4400s for ~$400 as demand goes down and people realize that there is not a lot of smp/smt applications, especially for normal desktop and gaming uses

What would possibly come out to beat it? According to the AMD roadmaps I've seen the next gen dual-core won't be out until H1 of 06, which gives a minimum 5-6 months and possibly 7-8

 

[Polish3d]

After continued reading the 4000+ San Diego is looking very attractive, with a nice OC for about 300 less than the current dual core are selling for I could use the remaining surplus into other areas...

Hmmm... decisions decisions.....


Although I am still curious as to what would come out before '06 that would beat the current X2s

 

[n yusef]

4000+ SD is a waste of money. Get an X2, or a 3700+, and overclock. I doubt AMD will release a CPU that is more of a speedbump before socket M2 (coming H2 '06). If youw ant better prices on the X2s, get a CPU/mobo/RAM combo from Monarchcomputer.com. They have the 4400+ at $585, but it will ship on Monday.

 

[Polish3d]

Thanks for the suggestion re: monarchpc. The 4000+ seems like a nice chip but apparently there is essentially no upside in performance even on games compared to the 4400+, and the price is closer to 150 difference if one shops around.

I've settled on the X2, I just hope it comes out soon


What memory would you suggest? Either a single 1gb stick w/ intent to get a 2nd later, or 2 1gb sticks now.

Thanks for the help

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: Frackal

the x2 system will be top of the line for no more than 3 mos at most and you will be out a lot of $$$ then because you will probably be able to pick up the 4400s for ~$400 as demand goes down and people realize that there is not a lot of smp/smt applications, especially for normal desktop and gaming uses

What would possibly come out to beat it? According to the AMD roadmaps I've seen the next gen dual-core won't be out until H1 of 06, which gives a minimum 5-6 months and possibly 7-8

there will always be stuff that comes out to beat it, i was tired last night and should have stated that for the amount of $$$ you are going to put right now it will be wasted because in less than 3mos down the road the prices will be a lot less. maybe 6-9mos out it will be top, but that is about it. unless you are doing a lot of serious multitasking or smp/smt apps, a dc is a complete waste of $$$ especially what they are currently charging such a premium. having used true dp machines, they are nice if you get the software to utilize both processor, but for gaming that is not going to be the case. go with a 3000-3200venice with a thermalright xp90 and o/c to 2.5 and you will be very close to what the 4400 do in games and have saved ~$300+.

if you want to go with the x2 and pay the premium that is good for you, but a processor that will cost less than 1/2 or 1/3 the $$$ will perform just as good for your requirements.

regarding the ram, get decent 2x1GB

 

[Polish3d]

Thanks for the suggestion and I noticed you practice that in running a celeron but 300 is worth it for me as I should add I do very much enjoy benchmarking, tweaking etc to achieve higher scores. It's a secondary consideration but enough to make the difference for me