40 replies to this topic

[TheChozeLa]

That was what I originally intended to buy, but I was told that it might bottleneck the 8600ultra I plan on getting. Besides, I have just enough cash to squeeze up to the 4200 so I might as well.

the normal athlon 64 3800 will bottleneck the 8600 but not a dual core 3800!!!

[rangerpost53128]

Anode turned me onto this place and it is very reputable, I did not put in the video card and just left it as on board and awaiting ur decision but i would consider visiting this place and do ur own coniguring ( www.cyberpowrpc.com ), but this is what I came up with for what it seems to be ur budget:

$650.00 (before all applicable rebates)
CASE: CyberPower X-Titan Tower 420Watt Case with 8 Open Bays & Side Window (BLACK COLOR)CPU: (Socket AM2) AMD Athlon™64 X2 4200+ Dual-Core CPU w/ HyperTransport TechnologyMOTHERBOARD: (Socket AM2)MSI K9N4 SLI-F nForce 500 SLI Chipset DDR2/800 SATA-II RAID MBoard w/ Dual 16x PCI-ExpressMEMORY: (Req.DDR2 MainBoard)1GB (2x512MB) PC6400 DDR2/800 Dual Channel Memory (Corsair Value Select or Major Brand)VIDEO CARD: None, or On-Board 16X PCI-Express Shared 128MB Integrated 3D Graphics Video CardVIDEO CARD 2: NONELCD Monitor: NONEHARD DRIVE: Single Hard Drive (160GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 8MB Cache 7200RPM HDD)Data Hard Drive: NONEOptical Drive: NONEOptical Drive 2: NONESOUND: HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO

P.s. did not know about optical drives but check it out it is worth the trip

Ranger

[AnonymousFlash]

Yes, I already know about cyberpower. I had at one time debated between them and building my own, and I figure that it's time for my first build. (hope I don't blow anything up ) Thanks anyway.

Chozela, I know that the x2 3800 won't bottleneck much, but again, I have enough cash for the 4200 so I might as well....

[AnonymousFlash]

THE FINAL DECISION


Choice 1: The above build. Main advantages: MUCH sexier case and I am disappointed that I can't afford it in the other build, MUCH bigger case, Vista(not sure if this is a pro or con), and a better power supply.




Choice 2: Advantages: C2D, C2D, and umm...C2D...

Linkworld F3131-C2628-P4 Black/Silver Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case -------- http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811164004

BIOSTAR TForce965PT LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard --------
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813138037

Geforce 8600 Ultra (not out yet)

ePOWER ZU-550W ATX12V Version 2.0 / EPS12V 550W Power Supply --------
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16817101021

Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Dual Core processor --------
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16819115005

Kingston 1gb DDR2 667 (to go dual channel with the same stick i already have + 2x256mb of default dell stuff for a total of 2.5gb) -------- http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820134045

Western Digital 160gb w/ 16mb cache --------
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822136062

Windows XP Home with Vista Upgrade coupon --------
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16832116169

ZALMAN CNPS9500 LED 92mm 2 Ball Cooling Fan with Heatsink --------
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835118223

SB Audigy 4 that I already have

19 inch Dell lcd that I already have

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Please help me decide...

[glennwood_quagmire]

Anon, what kind of Mother board do you have now (I see you already have a 1gb stick of 240pin DDR2). Also I'd go with an ASUS board.

GQ

[AnonymousFlash]

Being a noob a year and a half ago, I bought a Dell XPS 400. It's an intel board and comes in XPS 400's, but other than that I don't know.
Currently running:

P4 3.2ghz
1.5gb DDR2 (1gb of it being the same Kingston stick)
Geforce 6800 256mb version


Even though I really want a C2D system, I just can't squeeze it into the budget, so I'll be getting this(not the same as above, I didn't bother to update it):

The specs after I build it will be:
AMD Athlon X2 4000 Brisbane 65nm
Geforce 8600 Ultra (probably EVGA)
2 gb Kingston ddr2 667 PC 5300
OCZ GameXstream 600w power supply
Sunbeam Transformer full tower case
BIOSTAR Nforce 4 Ultra ATX motherboard (I know that BIOSTAR isn't the biggest namebrand like ASUS but the reviews are good)

[UberHaven]

With an AMD chip your going to want DDR2 800 rather than 667, especially if your going into over clocking. Big differences in benchmarks with DDR2 800 compared to 667. The only way I'd recommend DDR 667 is if you were heading for a C2D setup. I have used the same Biostar motherboard and it is amazing. I've never had a biostar die (selling hundreds to customers) and the board has alot of nice features for over clocking.

[AnonymousFlash]

With an AMD chip your going to want DDR2 800 rather than 667, especially if your going into over clocking. Big differences in benchmarks with DDR2 800 compared to 667. The only way I'd recommend DDR 667 is if you were heading for a C2D setup. I have used the same Biostar motherboard and it is amazing. I've never had a biostar die (selling hundreds to customers) and the board has alot of nice features for over clocking.

I would go DDR2 800 except I already have a stick of 667, and I can't afford to get 2 x 1 DDR2 800, and I really don't want just one gig.

[UberHaven]

Oh, gotchu. Well, you should still see some nice performance.

[glennwood_quagmire]

That's not a bad Mobo and chip, in fact it's a daul core chip, have you thought about up-grading the memory and video card and running like that.

GQ

[AnonymousFlash]

That's not a bad Mobo and chip, in fact it's a daul core chip, have you thought about up-grading the memory and video card and running like that.

GQ

I know the mobo supports dual core, but the processor isn't a dual core as far as I know...

I had thought about doing that, but there are several annoying things about it.

-No overclocking
-No real uber processor support (no C2D support, so the highest end I could go would be a pentium d of some kind ( bleh)
-No DDR2 800 support for whenever I upgrade again

I'll keep thinking about it, I still haven't completely decided.

[AnonymousFlash]

Ok, I squeezed out a little more cash, and this is my final build. (I really need to stop changing it I know)

Intel Core 2 Duo E6300
2gb Kingston DDR2 667 PC 5300
Gigabyte S3 Motherboard
Hiper HPU 580w power supply
Geforce 8600ultra (probably EVGA)
Coolermaster Centurion Mid-tower case

If anyone can find specs on how well that RAM OC's I would appreciate it. I don't want to get a C2D system if my RAM isn't good enough for processor OCing... (kind of have to get it since I already have 1 gig of it and can't afford a new 2x1 set)

Here's the link to the ram:


http://www.newegg.co...?...045&Local=y

[UberHaven]

Corsair Value>Kingston Value.

I've used both and neither over clock well

I know your budget but just sharing my opinion/experience .

[Vanquish]

Say flash have you thought about selling your XPS on ebay? You could sell it with the ram and get a pretty penny for it i'm sure. Might solve your memory problem

-Vanquish

[AnonymousFlash]

I want to, but my folks say they want to keep it and use it. Of course, they are prone to change their mind....with some...persuading...

[Vanquish]

I want to, but my folks say they want to keep it and use it. Of course, they are prone to change their mind....with some...persuading...

Well I don't imagine your folks will need it for anything like gaming or cad will they? If not then tell them you'll sell it and make them a brand new one that works just as good.....then go put together a cheap celeron setup for them. I am totaly serious here.

-Vanquish

[AnonymousFlash]

Actually, when I talked to them yesterday they told me they didn't want me to sell it on eBay(don't ask me why) but that I could sell it locally. I have 2 friends that are looking into new computers so I might be able to sell...

[Vanquish]

Actually, when I talked to them yesterday they told me they didn't want me to sell it on eBay(don't ask me why) but that I could sell it locally. I have 2 friends that are looking into new computers so I might be able to sell...

While that's all well and good I would check up on ebay what the going prices for your system are so you know your getting the best deal possible. I have been dealing on ebay for over 6 years and it hasn't failed me yet

-Vanquish

[AnonymousFlash]

Holy crap, if I can actually sell this for 500 or more, I can get:

E6400
2gb corsair xms2 ddr2 675 (lots of reviews say its good for ocing because of 4 cas latency)
8800gts 640 mb version
Gigabyte DS3 motherboard
ocz gamexstream 700w (holy quad rails)

Pray that this sells......

[glennwood_quagmire]

Holy crap, if I can actually sell this for 500 or more, I can get:

E6400
2gb corsair xms2 ddr2 675 (lots of reviews say its good for ocing because of 4 cas latency)
8800gts 640 mb version
Gigabyte DS3 motherboard
ocz gamexstream 700w (holy quad rails)

Pray that this sells......

get DDR800-PC6400 memory with the E6400.

GQ