How does this sound for an upgrade?

[KameLeon]

Video Card: ATI Radeon X800XL 256MB PCI EXPRESS (Pre-ordered from ShopATI) $263.86
Motherboard: DFI LANPARTY NFORCE4-ULTRA ~$160
CPU: AMD ATHLON 64 3000+ ~$155
PSU: Zippy HP2-6460P 460w $63.87
HeatSink/Fan: THERMALTAKE XP-90 ~$50
MEMORY: 512MB PC3200 DDR (total 1gb, already have 1 stick pc3200 512mb) ~$60
Sound Card: Chaintech AV-710 $30
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL $782.73

How does this sound as an upgrade from my current rig.. A7N8X/XP1700+/Ti4200/512MB?

My ti4200 had died so i had the choice of buying another AGP vid card or build a new rig.. I decided with this...

What do you guys think? This is after weeks of waiting and deciding.. hopefully I can get the DFI mobo and my ATI card by the end of the month... pci express/future-proof.. atleast for a while...

 

[KameLeon]

I guess I'm good to go?

 

[MDE]

Make sure you're getting the correct CPU (Socket 754 or 939) for your motherboard.

 

[amol]

i wish i took advantage of the x800 xl deal

 

[stevty2889]

You will need to get a fan for the XP-90, it doesn't include one, great heatsink by the way. Not to sure about the zippy PSU either, they may be ok, but I haven't heard much about them..personaly I would go with around a 400w+ enermax, fortron, or antec.

 

[Mem]

Sound Card: Chaintech AV-710 $30

I would try the onboard sound,btw the DFI has "Karajan 8 channel onboard sound",HardOCP did a review of the Karajan onboard sound on a different DFI model.

Audio ? Subjective Listening

One of the only ways to really test if an audio subsystem performs is by simply listening to it. This Realtek CODEC and Karajan sound system performed flawlessly and I would welcome its addition to any computer system I own.

So my advice is to try the onboard sound first to see if you like it,never know may save you $30 .

 

[piroroadkill]

Originally posted by: stevty2889
You will need to get a fan for the XP-90, it doesn't include one, great heatsink by the way. Not to sure about the zippy PSU either, they may be ok, but I haven't heard much about them..personaly I would go with around a 400w+ enermax, fortron, or antec.

I thought Zippy PSUs were of the highest quality, more so than any of the manufacturers you mentioned?

 

[biostud]

never heard of Zippy before either.

 

[Ike0069]

If you plan on OC'ing, check prices for the 3200+ 90nm. They have dropped recently, and likely will drop more in the very near future. It has a 10X multiplier vice a 9X for the 3000+.

 

[bigpow]

I concur.
3200+ 90nm: better value than 3000+

And you need a 92mm fan for that XP-90

never heard of Zippy PSU.
I'd go with one of those new PSU with single 140mm fan

 

[Dijital]

i'd definitely go with a reputable company for your power supply. i've never heard of zippy either.

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: Dijital
i'd definitely go with a reputable company for your power supply. i've never heard of zippy either.

Zippy is ultra high end. Puts budget PSU like Antec to shame.

 

[DEredita]

Originally posted by: Naustica

Originally posted by: Dijital
i'd definitely go with a reputable company for your power supply. i've never heard of zippy either.

Zippy is ultra high end. Puts budget PSU like Antec to shame.

I second that. To my knowledge they are the ultimate top of the line.

- Mike

 

[blackinches]

make sure you get the same ram as you have now to run dual channel.

 

[KameLeon]

Originally posted by: blackinches
make sure you get the same ram as you have now to run dual channel.

Well, I currently have a stick of Geil PC3200 512mb.. and I plan to buy a stick of Corsair Value Select 512mb PC3200. Are those ok?

Also, Yes, I do plan to buy a fan for the XP-90... Any suggestions? I need a quiet fan.. I had a panaflo in my previous rig and I could barely hear the thing running.

Regarding the PSU, I got this from a deal via hot deals. Apparently, Zippy is supposed to make top of the line PSUs for servers etc. Right up there with PCPower&Cooling, and It is a 24 pin PSU. So, I think 460W should be enough.

Finally, The 3200+ is going to cost ~$40 more than a 3000+. Is it really worth the price difference? I do plan to overclock.

Thanks for the suggestions guys!

 

[SrGuapo]

Originally posted by: KameLeon
Finally, The 3200+ is going to cost ~$40 more than a 3000+. Is it really worth the price difference? I do plan to overclock.

Thanks for the suggestions guys!

I you just stick with the onboard sound, it is really only about $10 more.

I find it hard to believe a $60 PSU that is rated at 460 watts (My antec true480 cost alomst $80) is that high quality, but I may be wrong. I have heard zippy mentioned before, but never in a good light... You can give some reviews on it once you get that awesome system going.

That is an awesome seal on the X800XL BTW. Do you already have the mobo on order, or are you going to try and fight for one later?

 

[KameLeon]

Originally posted by: SrGuapo

Originally posted by: KameLeon
Finally, The 3200+ is going to cost ~$40 more than a 3000+. Is it really worth the price difference? I do plan to overclock.

Thanks for the suggestions guys!

I you just stick with the onboard sound, it is really only about $10 more.

I find it hard to believe a $60 PSU that is rated at 460 watts (My antec true480 cost alomst $80) is that high quality, but I may be wrong. I have heard zippy mentioned before, but never in a good light... You can give some reviews on it once you get that awesome system going.

That is an awesome seal on the X800XL BTW. Do you already have the mobo on order, or are you going to try and fight for one later?

I'm really picky about sound quality, and I hear the digital out on the chaintech cards is really good. I'm mainly concerned about music, I don't care about gaming sound.

Regarding the PSU, It is selling for $120 lowest at any of the online retailers (Look for Zippy HP2-6460P).. I just happened to get a good deal through the hot deals post.

I have the mobo pre-ordered from ncix.com with an eta of 1/31/05.