My New MEGA Rig :)

[Rimnet]

I am making a computer 1 month from now. Below is what it will consist of. Since I have a month, I can still change things around, so if anyone wishes to comment on the rig pelase do so. If you think i should change it, I really may consider changing it, since I am not the best in this field.

Monitor: ViewSonic P90f
Case: Lian Li PC-86
Processor: AMD 2100+ XP
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-7VRXP
Video Card: Gainward 4400 700XP
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum
Primary HD: WD800JB Special Edition (80GB)
Secondary HD: WD1200JB Special Edition (120GB)
PSU: Antec True550 550W ATX12V PSU
RAM: Samsung Original DDR333 PC-2700 512mb
Speakers: Altec Lansing 641
Fan: coolermaster HHC-001 heatpipe

questions? comments? suggestions? Please do.

btw, this rig is mainly for gaming =)

edit: how many fans do i need? this is my first rig that i am making myself, so im clueless. Do any fans come with the lian li case? DO i needa make holes in it?

 

[Adul]

nice

 

[SHoddyCOmp]

Goodluck with the creative card and via chipset. Thats the actual same setup I want (mb and sound) but i dont really feel like finding out with the supposed problems those 2 can create. I was looking at the TurtleBeach SantaCruz as an alternative.

 

[Rimnet]

is this VIA and Audigy problem something everyone is facing? That sucks, cause the audigy kicks booty.

 

[wfbberzerker]

Originally posted by: Rimnet
is this VIA and Audigy problem something everyone is facing? That sucks, cause the audigy kicks booty.

personally, i havent had any problems with the soundblaster/via chipset thing. im running with a sblive and epox 8k7a, which is amd northbridge, via southbridge. i think the only real problems crop up with a via northbridge, and i think now they can be solved with the latest via 4in1

 

[tokamak]

looks nice. seems like a 550w power supply might be overkill, though. what on earth do you need 200gb of storage for?

 

[Neurofreeze]

Originally posted by: Rimnet
I am making a computer 1 month from now. Below is what it will consist of. Since I have a month, I can still change things around, so if anyone wishes to comment on the rig pelase do so. If you think i should change it, I really may consider changing it, since I am not the best in this field.

Monitor: ViewSonic P90f
Case: Lian Li PC-86
Processor: AMD 2100+ XP
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-7VRXP
Video Card: Gainward 4400 700XP
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum
Primary HD: WD800JB Special Edition (80GB)
Secondary HD: WD1200JB Special Edition (120GB)
PSU: Antec True550 550W ATX12V PSU
RAM: Samsung Original DDR333 PC-2700 512mb
Speakers: Altec Lansing 641
Fan: coolermaster HHC-001 heatpipe

questions? comments? suggestions? Please do.

btw, this rig is mainly for gaming =)

edit: how many fans do i need? this is my first rig that i am making myself, so im clueless. Do any fans come with the lian li case? DO i needa make holes in it?

Yes, the Li-Li's come with ADDA fans, they're about 34dB/38CFM. I find your speaker and heatsink choice uncommon, but I don't know much about those two particular models.

 

[Maverick2002]

I find your speaker and heatsink choice uncommon, but I don't know much about those two particular models.

Ditto. That heatpipe cooler looks sweet, yes, but it's by far not the best. I'd go with a PAL8045 + quiet 80mm fan.

PSU rocks
HDDs rock
sound card rocks

Is that registered memory?

 

[ShadowDJ]

Why not go with two 80gb drives in raid 0? It'd be a bit faster.
I've heard the Abit Siluro Ti4400 has a quiter fan and a bit better 2d quality, all with a lower price and same overclocking.
The speakers look sweet to me. I've read a few reviews on them because I own a Logitec Z-340 system and I'm dissapointed in the slow bass respone. Supposedly these ones have nice room thumping that won't develop into the Logitec subwoofer roar.

 

[jar5tyle]

Originally posted by: tokamak
looks nice. seems like a 550w power supply might be overkill, though. what on earth do you need 200gb of storage for?

Man HD space is getting to be like RAM, can never have enough.

Looks very nice, someone is jealous ;p

Ever thought of RAID? Just another thing to add

 

[Paulson]

I have an audigy platinum and have an Asus A7M266 w/no problems whatsoever... works like a wonderful charm...

 

[jaeger66]

The power supply is extreme overkill.
The hard drive configuration makes no sense.
The MSI KT3-Ultra is a better board than the Gigabyte for the same price, RAID or non-RAID available.

 

[MrGrim]

Keep buying them VIA chipsets so I can get the Intel/SiS ones cheaper.

 

[Rimnet]

oh wow, a lot to reply here

about the hard drives, i do not want RAID. Yes it will be faster, but i am plannin on working my system a little different. First hard drive is for system, games and other things that i want running nice and fast. I want to be able to reformat this drive if anything is to go wrong. Second drive is for storage, downloads, mp3s, divx, etc. Yes, i could run a RAID and then partition (i think) but I would like to do clean reformats when needed, meaning I want to be able to format the entire drive without worrying about all my mp3s, and stuff.

550W may seem like overkill, but this system will be with me for a while, and i have created it so that i can update it as needed. The lian li case is big, and can hold a lot, and if ever filled it will proabaly need the 550. Hey, better to get a big one now then replace it later.

The 641 has been rated as very high quality computer speakers. Gamespot.com has them ranked #1. If there is a better one in the price range, i may consider. But these look nice.

what is the difference between registered and unregistered??

I was actually going to get the Abit originally, but the Gainward has ViVo.

How is the MSI board better then the gigabyte? TomsHardware.com says it is the best mobo out of the ones they reviews (MSI was included), they said the MSI was: "weak on preformance". Motherboards.org ranks it 3, MSI 5. Also a number of people told me the gigabyte is the best choice to go with.

As for teh VIA/SB Audigy thing, i will see what happens. I can hold my breath and hope it works.

Hey, thanks for the input everyone. I really appreciate it. Please keep it coming. All this info really helps. I agmit im not the best at this, and I need all the help i can get

 

[jblondi]

Looks like a nice rig you have going. My only beef is how you feel that the VIA problem is something minor, and like if it is a problem that a big light will come on and let you know that there is a problem with your sound card and chipset. I personally used to have a MSI mobo, an older via chipset, with a SBlive. It took months of instability, crackling sound, freezing DVD's etc. to finally narrow it down to either a VIA or SB problem. What was the fix.....? They both pointed fingers at each other and said the other was to blame. Creatives poor tech support and lack of downloadable drivers finally put me over the edge. I have now boycotted any SB product, and will aviod VIA at any cost! Thats the only way these guys are going to get the picture, hit them in the pocket. Think long and hard about researching sound cards and chipsets to save yourself months of buggy drivers and horrible support. Im going to get off my soap box now, sorry for the little vent, but I feel better!

 

[Rimnet]

hehe, that is totally understandable. However, what am i supposed to do? VIA is the best mobo currently and SB is the best sound card(for gaming). No, i do not want to go to intel, cause they are too darn expensive for me. Is AMD releasing their own chipsets or anything like that soon enough?

 

[jaeger66]

Originally posted by: Rimnet
oh wow, a lot to reply here

about the hard drives, i do not want RAID. Yes it will be faster, but i am plannin on working my system a little different. First hard drive is for system, games and other things that i want running nice and fast. I want to be able to reformat this drive if anything is to go wrong. Second drive is for storage, downloads, mp3s, divx, etc. Yes, i could run a RAID and then partition (i think) but I would like to do clean reformats when needed, meaning I want to be able to format the entire drive without worrying about all my mp3s, and stuff.

OK, but you do not need a 7200RPM drive for storage. It's a waste, you'll never be able tell what speed it's running.

How is the MSI board better then the gigabyte? TomsHardware.com says it is the best mobo out of the ones they reviews (MSI was included), they said the MSI was: "weak on preformance". Motherboards.org ranks it 3, MSI 5. Also a number of people told me the gigabyte is the best choice to go with.

Tom's Hardware is run by idiots. It's been brought up again and again here and everywhere else. Anyway, the performance differences among boards with a given chipset is not worth deciding over. Read the user opinions. I guess the GB isn't really bad, but the MSI is just better board. GB's BIOS support is kind of flaky too.

 

[Rimnet]

Yah, i might go for a slower HD for storage. That will save me a bit too. Then again, if the price difference isnt that much i rather go for the high end drive in case i run outta room on the 80. Sounds crazy, but remember this system going to last me a long time, through many upgrades.

Anyways, about the MSI board. What is better about it specifically. Why would you get a MSI board over any other KT333?

edit: oh yah, what about them new Soyo Dragon boards. Expensive, but sexy =P

edit2: "A few words about performance results: even when used with fast DDR333 modules (CL2), the board only reached the level of our reference board with the KT266A chipset" --tomshardware.com

ok, tomshardware.com may be made up of a bunch of idiots, but that quote scares me, a lot. What site do you guys go to for hardware reviews. Tomshardware always has reviews on new stuff, i guess thats why i like it. While anandtech is awsome and reputable in their reviews, they dont seem to review all that much. Any suggestions on new sites i should visit?

 

[MisterDuck]

Sounds crazy, but remember this system going to last me a long time, through many upgrades.

You have much to learn, grasshopper.

 

[Rimnet]

Originally posted by: MisterDuck

Sounds crazy, but remember this system going to last me a long time, through many upgrades.

You have much to learn, grasshopper.

ok, i think you must have misunderstood. Monitor, speakers, case, PSU, HDs, and a few other things will last me a good 4, 5 years. The sound card i would upgrade whenever the new one comes out. The CPU, mobo, more ram in 2 years. GFX card, depends on my budget. Does that not seem reasonable.

Yes, i am a newbie at rig designing, but come on, im making some sense right?

 

[Grminalac]

Well to be honest your setup is ok, but not all that great if you ask me.

First off why a 2100? You are basically paying an extra hundred bucks or so for a chip that is only marginally faster. Right now you can get a 1800 for 108 bucks with shipping from newegg. I have one and its running happily running on a 138Mhz FSB. I'm sure it will go faster but I am holding back because I'm using a retail heatsink.
RAID is a must. It is truly unbelievable. Honestly. I administer computers all day, reboot after annoying slow reboot watching the hard drives grind. When i get home my comp fires up FAST and the raid was easy enough to configure. Who wants to put two devices on the same IDE channel anyway? RAID is the way to go. Big deal, You take the money you saved from going for an 1800 and buy 2 7200 40 GIG drives for 68 bucks a piece instead of the 80 gig. Stripe those bad boys and gain a 50%+ increase in speed instead of a 6% you would have gotten from the AMD 2100. Oh yeah and that frees up an IDE port so you can still plug in your 130 Gig backup. Its FOOLISH not too; its free speed.
This is the way i look at it, I upgrade My motherboard, Memory and CPU once a year to whatever is the most price effective. Which is right now a KT266A motherboard and 1800 and 266 memory. You'd be basically paying twice as much for a top of the line setup. Doing this means you can save that money upgrade the system a bit down the road, and always have a fast machine.

 

[Rimnet]

is raid really that fast? wow.... hmmmmmmm im begining to consider it. Any good articles on it?

edit: how is this idea: instead of getting a 80 and a 120, i get 2 80s and then RAID them. Then i partition 20 for the system and the rest for my other drive. Can you partition on RAID?

 

[Grminalac]

There are some decent articles on RAID on anandtech and toms hardware, just do a search. Above and beyond what the articles state I can tell you there is a definite benefit. Software installs are much faster, moving large files is much faster. I play the game morrowind quite a bit and there is a lot of periods when it loads game data, it helps out a LOT. My friend has his machine over the other day, we booted them at the same time, he has a faster processor, however only one drive. My machine killed him on boot even though the HPT raid screen added a few more seconds during post.

 

[Rimnet]

ok, i will go with the 2 80GB drives in RAID 0.

As for the processor, i will go down to a 1900 or a 2000, maybe even to a 1800. Do you really think I should stay with the 333 ram or go 266 ram? Does that mean, that when i do a upgrade in 2 years or something, i should replace the mobo, the ram, and the processor. Or can i still keep the ram?

In reality i am spending 1800 smacks no matter what, so if i go down in one thing i want to go up in another. Do you think these above changes are good for that senario.

 

[VTrider]

Yeah you might as well go with the RAID model. I'm in the same boat as you. I'm not too hyped up on the performance increases that RAID would give 'me', but if you decide later that you want/need it, like if you get into video editing/transferring large files, ect. - you'll probably be glad you have it if you need it.

Besides, I also am looking into the GA-7VRXP board - don't worry, it's a fast, nice board with great features - I'm sure you'll be happy with it, many are. Thing is there are always going to be people bashing this product or that product for some personal reason, there's not one product ever made that 100% people agree on. With RAID also, you'll have 4 nice independent IDE channels to play with in a non-RAID fashion.

You might as well get the 72000rpm drives also, be dumb not too really, no practical sense in getting 5400rpms drives anymore. If you want to save some $$, look into the XP 1900 or 2000 - seems to be the sweet spot (in regard to cost/performace increase of that 2100).

That Samsung DDR333 PC-2700 512mb stick is a sure bet also. Yeah, you can probably get 266 RAM right now, but why? The Samsung has been praised up and down these forums, will be there if you ever want to overclock/future - great RAM.

Either way you look at it, it looks like a great system your building there, good luck!

-VTrider