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09-05-2006, 05:23 PM
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#1 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 13
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New Build Critique
Hey all,
I recently suffered a small-scale basement flood which apparently didn't agree w/ my system  I'm looking to build the new system & would like opinions of what I've put together. I've only ever had Intel systems, but it appears that AMD offers a better "bang-for-the-buck". I'm looking for gaming (WoW, EQ2, HL2), and some work w/ video & audio editing/viewing. My periferals escaped w/out damage: 19" LG LCD, Logitech MX mouse, standard keyboard, & speakers. I'm not looking to max any settings, but certainly upgrade from my old Dell Dimension 4300...Here we go: Case: Antec Sonata II http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129155 Motherboard: Asus M2N-E (AM2) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131022 Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16819103735 RAM: Corsair XMS2 1GB PC2 6400 (DDR2) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145588 Hard Drive: Western Digital 160GB (16MB Cache) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136009 Video Card: eVGA GeForce 7600GT http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130017 CD/DVD Drive: LITE-ON Combo Drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106040 I can get the OS from a local guy, who'll help me load it; and hopefully put the pieces together. Any thoughts from you guys will be most welcome! Thanks! |
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09-05-2006, 05:31 PM
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#2 |
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Not so new
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
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Excellent choice of parts. You've done your research. I'd suggest a DVD burner though, for a bit more if you feel like you may need it.
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09-05-2006, 05:36 PM
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#3 |
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Staff
Premium Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Doncaster, UK
Posts: 3,563
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Good system. Concur with the DVD-Burner, at the price they're a no-brainer. My other suggestion would be to check the price of the 250GB version of that drive. You might find it's only a few dollars more expensive.
FK
__________________
-FK- "Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw, The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die, We shall not sleep, though poppies grow, In Flanders fields." - John McCrae, May 1915 |
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09-05-2006, 05:44 PM
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#4 |
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Member (11 bit)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: eastern nc
Posts: 1,349
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Good stuff. Well done.
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09-05-2006, 06:42 PM
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#5 |
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Forum Administrator
Staff
Premium Member
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Joplin MO
Posts: 37,765
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No, buy a dual channel ram kit, not a single module. AM2 needs all the help it can get with its ram issues.
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09-05-2006, 06:54 PM
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#6 |
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Not so new
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
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09-05-2006, 07:41 PM
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#7 |
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Member (11 bit)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: eastern nc
Posts: 1,349
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Oh, I see: He only had a 1 gig stick listed. Flew by that one. Duhhhhhhhhhhhh............
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09-06-2006, 02:50 AM
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#8 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 398
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the AM2 platform hasn't really progressed so far... dual channel ram is the way to go. If you do have any problems with the build after it is done, you are going to want to go to forums dedicated to your specific parts. Some ppl with AM2 socket complain that they needed too much assistance from people online and that it was more useful than the companies' tech support. Hopefully everything goes together well, it seems like it should. The dvd burner should be added, but other than that, you even have a nice display. Everything will be great in that computer.
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09-06-2006, 11:23 AM
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#9 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 13
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Thank you all for your responses. I was definitely cautious concerning the AM2 RAM issues, and glc & DarkPacMan (edit: sorry newbuilder14, thx u 2!), your point about the RAM kit makes perfect sense. Let me ask though, should I choose to upgrade that RAM further ($$ permitting), I'll obviously have the additional slots; would I need to go w/ another 2x512M kit, or could I expand w/ full 1G sticks at that time? Also, I spotted this DVD Burner & HardDrive w/ a little more investigation, is this a little more reasonable given current prices on the technology:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106015 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144701 Given the positive light of your comments on my choices  , I'll likely get these items ordered by the end of the week. Keep the suggestions/comments coming & I want to thank you once again!
Last edited by Savio; 09-06-2006 at 11:47 AM. |
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09-06-2006, 11:53 AM
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#10 |
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Staff
Premium Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Doncaster, UK
Posts: 3,563
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DVD Burner and Hard Drive both great choices.
FK |
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09-07-2006, 09:15 AM
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#11 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 398
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dvd burner and hard drive are definitely top-knotch.
Regarding the ram, yes, you could go ahead and buy a 1gb x2 ram kit that supports dual channel. That would be a smart thing to do actually, if you have the extra franklins. (a lot of people, when upgrading ram from 512x2 to 1gbx2 while keeping their original two 512 sticks, put the 1gb dual channel ram in the slots that the older ram was in, and move the 512 to the other available slots. I am not fully sure why people do that, but my guess would be that you want the highest capacity ram in the first two slots because it would use that primarily and perhaps increase performance. I cannot confirm that for sure, as it is merely speculation, and i do not know the answer myself.) honestly... you've put together one great build, im jelous... b/c i won't have a new computer until christmas... "maybe' |
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09-07-2006, 01:11 PM
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#12 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 13
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No need for jealousy! If you must, be jealous when it's together & working
 . You did raise another point that I hadn't considered, though. When installing the Dual Channel RAM, it seems obvious, but that should go into the color-matching slots of the motherboard & not the adjacent ones, right?The order for parts should be going in this afternoon, so I'll keep ya'll posted on progress! Thanks Again! |
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09-07-2006, 01:25 PM
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#13 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 398
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yes, whenever installing dual-channel ram, you need to install both sticks (that are the matching capacity, brand, and speed) into the color-coordinated slots.
((keep in mind im just an 18-y/o with some spare time between talking to the ladies)) edit: i will be online later tonight, much later, around 10PM eastern time, so i will not be able to help you further until then. glc, mr. ferrari, and blue are some especially helpful people that have helped me in the past. You can trust them, as well as others I haven't mentioned, more so than I. Last edited by DarkPacMan77; 09-07-2006 at 01:31 PM. |
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09-07-2006, 01:37 PM
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#14 |
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Staff
Premium Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Doncaster, UK
Posts: 3,563
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It depends entirely on the motherboard. In order to enable dual channel, I've had to install RAM into slots of the same colour, and of different colours.
Your motherboard's manual will tell you exactly which slots to install two DIMMs to enable dual channel. FK |
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09-07-2006, 09:00 PM
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#15 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 398
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chances are, however, that you will have to put the ram into the color coordinated slots.
some motherboards DO have you put the ram into the first slot of each different color though, but the majority do not. |
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09-08-2006, 10:15 AM
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#16 |
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Shiro Usagi
Premium Member
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Kaneohe, Hawaii
Posts: 34,002
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As Freakitchen mentioned in the previous post...consult your motherboard manual for the exact memory slots to use to enable Dual Channel DDR.
 Cricket
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09-08-2006, 06:16 PM
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#17 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 13
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Oh NO! not the dreaded directions
 lol I figured the paperwork would give me the skinny on that, but I didn't realize that it might not be the same for every board (if it was simple, anyone could do it, right?  ) I've checked order-status, and everything was shipped today, so next week I'll be yanking hair & cussing at inanimate objects!
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09-08-2006, 06:32 PM
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#18 |
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Staff
Premium Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Doncaster, UK
Posts: 3,563
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If there's one thing you need to read and re-read, its the motherboard manual. I've built many systems, and I still read thoroughly the manual of any motherboard I'm not familiar with. Check out the sticky thread "why some builders have more problems than others" for some great tips, that will hopefully cut down on the "yanking hair and cussing" :P
FK |
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