Last check for home CAD build

[guruboy]

Hey everyone, down to business. I work with Autodesk's 3DS Max, AutoCAD, and Inventor and and finally decided my current home computer just wan't cutting it. I'm also into gaming and needed a computer to keep up with the latest content. I've done a huge amount of research and put together the following list of components:

Processor - AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Windsor - $159
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103735
I am aware that dual core has only just started being taken advantage of in professional apps like video editing, the newest games, and of course CAD apps. Since the prices recently plunged, I choose this over a 3800+ San Diego

Motherboard - ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe Socket AM2 - $145
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131013
I decided I didn't need the WiFi edition one, which costed more. I also plan on going SLI later with another of the same graphics card (see below), because by then the price for that card will hopefully have dropped significantly.

RAM - CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) - $177
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145015
All professional workstations have more RAM, so I choose some slower RAM with more storage over the high-quality stuff with less storage.

Video Card - Leadtek PX7900GT Geforce 7900GT 256MB - $270
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814122244
Did lots of research to find this one to be the best value for my dollar. I would have gotten a specialized for CAD card from eVga, but those won't work for games at all. Either way this should triple my render speeds from my current card, an x300.

HDD - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250Gb - $83
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144701
This has the new 3.0Gb/s speed, which is supposedly supposed to be faster than a 10k rpm one (this is 7.2k)

PSU - HIPER HPU-4B580-MS - $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817128001
I've read too many rave reviews about this PSU to not consider it.

Total cost (including a couple DVD drives and 2 120mm fans) - $1011 @ Newegg

I've modded an old PC case myself so that it fits everything and made sure that it works with seperate hardware. I also have my own monitor, mouse, speakers, and keyboard. I also have my own copies of Windows XP.

My only compatability concern (at the moment) concerns the RAM here. When I used Corsair's memory upgrade finder, I realized that my motherboard wasn't on it, only the WiFi edition one was. Wanting to make sure my RAM would be compatible with my mobo (the Newegg comments said this mobo is picky), I emailed Crucial and they said the correct RAM for my mobo was DDR2 PC2-6400 ECC memory. Does it really have to be ECC? The RAM with ECC seem to be specialized and expensive. Does my RAM even have to be PC2-6400? I'd appreciate some light shed on this subject.

Obviously other concerns and comments are greatly appreciated.

[blue60007]

You *need* to have DDR2-800 with AM2. It's very picky about RAM, and having less than DDR2-800 has been shown to have *lower* performance than an equivalent Socket 939 build. I think whoever you talked to at Crucial was either on something, or trying to sell more than necessary. You don't need ECC RAM, but the ASUS spec page does say it'll take either. I think we had some other forum users saying they had good luck with Cosair PC2-6400 (DDR2-800) - AM2 is really picky with RAM.

I think this might be a better value PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103931

Also, here's a better card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130032
eVGA is nVidia's primary brand - quality is great

[guruboy]

Ok thanks a lot for that response. Since that video card is the same price and lower with the rebate, and has higher clock speeds, I'll certainly take your word for it.

The Hiper PSU is wicked cool, but I'll consider your recommendation for the time being instead.

[blue60007]

I've heard they are pretty good too - looks like it's out of stock at Newegg - just throwing some options in.

[guruboy]

The red and grey ones are still available...whatever I'll make a decision.

Any more comments are great. I'll have to respond later though, I'm going to go see Body Miller play for the Nashua Pride! (random, but cool. I'll try to get an autograph)

[Mr.Ferrari]

I would never ever touch that hiper psu when there are so many better things for the price range. IMO your paying for the bling.

The FSP 500W blue storm and Antec TP2 550W (what blue suggested) will make that hiper run in fear.
And the Tagan U22 (albiet currently not in stock) will make it cry.

[guruboy]

Ok you've convinced me to go with the Antec TP2. It's not the high-profile of the Hiper, but it obviously gets the job done better. And free shipping is free shipping. What's the difference between the TP2s that you guys posted? Can't seem to find any, but there must be something worth the $20.

[Mr.Ferrari]

Ah sorry, the one I linked to is the eps version. Comes with a 8 pin p4 connector. Alot of the boards for dual cores use to use it. But your board has no need of it. I also prefer it because of the extra cooling power as the regualr tp2 really lacks that. But in no way is it worth 20 bucks. I fixed the link and both blue and mine are the same.

[guruboy]

Ok thanks a lot guys. I'm going to go ahead and order.

Btw Bode Miller struck out the two innings he played, but he made all three of his catches playing left field, one of which was a spectatular dive!