|
|||||||
 |
|
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | Rate Thread | Display Modes |
11-27-2006, 08:34 PM
|
#1 | ||
|
Its the Dark Side!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,111
 |
Potential new build endeavor
Ive been using my Dell Dimension 8300 for quite some time now, but I've been thinking of upgrading to something more powerful. I do a fair bit of heavy A/V stuff, gaming, and things that are not running at max efficiency anymore because of system bottlenecks. So I'm thinking of getting the gears going toward a new system. Although after doing some price quoting it wont be such a slump on my wallet as I will be reusing all the expansion cards (minus the video card), and the HDD's.
Now the big issue for me is what platform..Ive noticed that Intel seems to have taken the cake for having the superior processor at the moment. But In my opinion of Intel...I rather distrust their heat sink design. Simply having 4 plastic hooks right into the board doesn't strike me as sturdy. Thats why I'm considering an AMD build simply for that reason. Im looking at the AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 2.4GHz for a good balance of power and price. heres what else im looking at: Asus M2N-E Mainboard OCZ (OCZ2P8001GK) 1GB (2x512) 800MHz Haven't decided on the video card. I probably want to keep it to less than $450 CAD. Its not like i'll be running any workstation graphics or be playing Crysis anytime soon. What do you all think is the current stand on video cards? I know that ATi and AMD are a single item now so does that at all affect whether I go nVidia or ATi? These are the 4 main components i'm looking after. cases, PSU's and such, nothing fancy, I can get a plain case w/o PSU for $14 CAD, and Im thinking on a 460W Zalman PSU. My main goal is to get significantly better performance than the build in my Sig. Anyway this is not a critical thing, I'm just doing some thinking on this. Cheers
__________________
CN 
|
||
|
|
|
11-27-2006, 08:44 PM
|
#2 |
|
Kickin' it
Staff
Premium Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 7,723
 |
I would reconsider an Intel build. The Core 2 Duo systems will outperform any AMD system significantly, and I haven't heard anything about spontaneous heatsink collapse. The Intel heatsinks are quite sturdy.
450CAD for a video card will buy a nice card. I'd look at the Geforce 7900 series. Right now the AMD/ATI merger hasn't had any effect on the market, so don't worry about that.
__________________
Fold for PCMech: Team 13761 |
|
|
|
|
11-27-2006, 08:46 PM
|
#3 |
|
Not so new
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
|
I like all your suggestions, but don't get the OCZ memory. Get Corsair XMS2 to ensure compatibility. ATI or nVidia would work just fine for you. The 7600gt is a very good choice for you in my opinion.
__________________
“To me there are three things everyone should do every day. Number one is laugh. Number two is think -- spend some time in thought. Number three, you should have your emotions move you to tears. If you laugh, think and cry, that's a heck of a day.” - Jim Valvano |
|
|
|
|
11-27-2006, 09:27 PM
|
#4 |
|
Its the Dark Side!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,111
|
Alright, so if I choose to go Intel (which judging by current trends and the specs between Intel and AMD seems to look the case), heres what changes I will make:
Video card: http://www.canadacomputers.com/index...81&cid=999.243 mainboard: http://www.canadacomputers.com/index...805&cid=MB.157 CPU: http://www.canadacomputers.com/index...886&cid=CPU.84 The corsair memory seems to be quite expensive. Is it worth it to get sticks at 800MHz? Most sticks seem to be at 667MHz, and I have to wonder if its enough to settle for that. |
|
|
|
|
11-27-2006, 09:30 PM
|
#5 |
|
Not so new
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
|
Your choices are solid. Go with some Corsair ValueSelect DDR2 667 - as you can see I have a similar setup as you.
|
|
|
|
|
11-29-2006, 10:24 AM
|
#6 |
|
Its the Dark Side!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,111
|
We'll ive got the case. Im gonna get the actual system components after the Christmas chaos subsides and potential boxing day specials arise. I just got an inexpensive $20 case. Its not the greatest, but i'm no longer superficial about how my case looks especially as its below my desk, and I don't really see it half the time.
Actually one quick question on PSU's. Which brands are generally the quietest? I know Zalman's are, i just want to see if there are more options. TIA Last edited by ComputerNut; 11-29-2006 at 10:49 AM. |
|
|
|
|
11-29-2006, 04:05 PM
|
#7 |
|
V12
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Houston, T.E.X.A.S
Posts: 3,488
|
Actually the zalman psu's are top tier Fortron/FSP Units. Not exactly the most super silent around. Not exactly loud either.
For quiet, in order from favorite, I prefer Seasonic, then Enhance, then Andyson. Some companies that use these units would be Corsair, Ultra, Silverstone, Aerocool...
__________________
“We must not let ourselves get driven off course, no matter what happens we must stick to our natural game” -Zenedine Zidane Last edited by Mr.Ferrari; 11-29-2006 at 04:25 PM. |
|
|
|
|
12-02-2006, 02:56 PM
|
#8 |
|
Its the Dark Side!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,111
|
So heres the RAM ive chosen, Any thoughts?
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index...68&cid=RAM.475 TIA |
|
|
|
|
12-02-2006, 03:49 PM
|
#9 |
|
Wrench Bender
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Plymouth,MN
Posts: 5,961
|
This is the XMS stuff that New suggested: http://www.canadacomputers.com/index...66&cid=RAM.475
__________________
"When sliding down the banister of life; look out for splinters pointing up."
|
|
|
|
|
12-02-2006, 07:01 PM
|
#10 |
|
Its the Dark Side!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,111
|
Out of curiosity whats the advantage to the XMS stuff? is it lower latencies or something like that?
|
|
|
|
|
12-02-2006, 07:25 PM
|
#11 |
|
Not so new
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
|
For the Core 2 Duo if you aren't overclocking you do not need XMS memory, get Corsair ValueSelect.
If you are using an AM2 processor you still don't need it, but the DDR2 800 would perform best. |
|
|
|
|
12-02-2006, 07:41 PM
|
#12 | |
|
V12
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Houston, T.E.X.A.S
Posts: 3,488
|
Quote:
At first this was the only stuff that would be compatible with new Core2Duo and AM2 motherboards. Valueselect is a good replacement now that its out. |
|
|
|
|
|
12-02-2006, 07:46 PM
|
#13 |
|
Its the Dark Side!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,111
|
Well I don't really intend to overclock. So i'll probably stick with the value select and save the 30 bucks
|
|
|
|
|
12-02-2006, 08:10 PM
|
#14 |
|
Not so new
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
|
Even if you did get the ValueSelect you could still overclock your processor a bit simply because the frequency of the FSB to the memory is 4:5.
|
|
|
|
|
12-06-2006, 09:13 PM
|
#15 |
|
Its the Dark Side!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,111
|
Ive been doing some browsing on Motherboards, and Ive noticed that some are cheaper than the P5B. Here's one that caught my eye:
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index...199&cid=MB.157 Now the specs dont say explicitly but would it still be compatible with the Core 2 Duo's? TIA |
|
|
|
|
12-06-2006, 09:16 PM
|
#16 |
|
Not so new
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
|
That doesn't support the C2D - you'd need the P5LD2 R2.0 - even at that I'd still choose the P5B if I could.
|
|
|
|
|
12-07-2006, 12:01 PM
|
#17 |
|
Its the Dark Side!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,111
|
Well i'll stll go for the P5B. I just wanted to see if I can shave off a couple of bucks. Although I did get the video card. its a 3D fuzion, 7600GS 256MB video card. Got it for 99 bucks at staples.
|
|
|
|
|
12-08-2006, 10:39 PM
|
#18 |
|
Its the Dark Side!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,111
|
Just an update on my little endeavor. I've got the CPU and RAM. the CPU is a Core 2 Duo E6400. Didnt want an overkill CPU, but based on those specs I'd say i'll be getting a performance increase for the price. Ive also been looking at PSU's. Now my goal is to get the best bang for my buck, and Im still cognizant of the use for quality PSU's. I came across this:
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index...321&cid=PS.808 Looks like a good price for what I get eh? All I need afterwards is the board and HDD, then I can get ready to build. |
|
|
|
|
12-09-2006, 10:12 AM
|
#19 | |
|
Shiro Usagi
Premium Member
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Kaneohe, Hawaii
Posts: 34,002
|
Quote:
Cricket
|
|
|
|
|
|
12-09-2006, 11:00 AM
|
#20 | |
|
V12
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Houston, T.E.X.A.S
Posts: 3,488
|
Quote:
Last edited by Mr.Ferrari; 12-09-2006 at 11:02 AM. |
|
|
|
|
|
12-19-2006, 11:14 AM
|
#21 |
|
Its the Dark Side!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,111
|
Well just to update. My new build endeavor has resulted in a completed system. Just got the board and SATA II HDD yesterday, and threw it all together. the CPU temps seem to run at a steady 46C. Which seems to be not bad considering the temp threshold.
|
|
|
|
|
12-19-2006, 12:49 PM
|
#22 |
|
Shiro Usagi
Premium Member
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Kaneohe, Hawaii
Posts: 34,002
|
Congrats!
Is this your first actual build? Cricket
|
|
|
|
|
12-19-2006, 06:42 PM
|
#23 |
|
Its the Dark Side!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,111
|
No, ive built a couple other PC's around the house, for friends, and the many I built at work. You could say this is my first high end build though.
Here's a pic of what ive done http://vaderman.sytes.net/img/newsys.jpg Does that look clean? It was quite a pickle to shove all the excess cabling to areas so they wont restrict airflow and at the same time, not putting any undue pressure, but I think I did good. Thats why I love SATA cables and how they eliminate such issues by getting rid of most of those IDE cables. Last edited by ComputerNut; 12-19-2006 at 09:30 PM. |
|
|
|
|
12-23-2006, 09:37 AM
|
#24 |
|
Its the Dark Side!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,111
|
Alright, I have an interesting question. What I have is two devices that utilize the Line-in input on my sound card (onboard): My TV Tuner card, and my GuitarPort. I could throw a stereo splitter so they can share the input. Trouble is that could potentially cause sound conflicts (like I accidentally start playing my guitar while im recording my favorite TV show,
 ). And I would like to avoid installing a second sound card just for the sake of getting an additional line-in. So I had an idea...The auxiliary CD audio inputs that are used for CD-ROM drives. Are those running under standard line-in impedance? Because i'm not using those things and I thought I could use them as additional line-inputs instead.TIA |
|
|
|
|
12-25-2006, 07:25 PM
|
#25 |
|
Its the Dark Side!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,111
|
Bump. Any Ideas?
|
|
|
|
|
12-28-2006, 06:29 PM
|
#26 |
|
Member (9 bit)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Georgia, USA.
Posts: 313
 |
If you're imputing sound, you'll really wanna get a second card made for that.
__________________
97 point Nerd God! Haha 2 points higher now. I increase!  Yeah, I know you wanna be like me. The DJ will spin your disks.
|
|
|
|
|
| Bookmarks |
| Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
| Display Modes | Rate This Thread |
|
|
Similar Threads
|
||||
| Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
| Major Problems with new build... Please Help | nicolivolkov | Build Your Own PC | 32 | 11-08-2006 12:34 PM |
| New Build - Taking forever... | JTally | Build Your Own PC | 10 | 10-04-2006 12:51 PM |
| budget build: pre-built vs. custom build | roaming_builder | Build Your Own PC | 4 | 09-12-2006 02:13 PM |
| Cheap but decent build | roomwithamoose | Computer Hardware | 10 | 09-11-2004 11:10 AM |
| potential build | ti3468 | Computer Hardware | 7 | 03-17-2004 06:54 PM |
Linear Mode
