First build compatability check!

[Moronicus]

I'm back!

You may remember me from a thread a good number of months ago, also with a parts list. At the last moment I decided not to go for it, but keep my hard earned € together for a bit longer so I wouldn't have to settle for a computer that wasn't really what I wanted. What's the use to build a gaming rig if you don't have the graphic card you need for decent gaming? Exactly. So here I am again with what I hope is a good choice of parts.

As always with these threads, compatability is the name. Are these parts compatible? And if there are good alternatives to the parts I selected then I'd like to hear them! Thanks in advance!

Case: SonataII, 450W

MOBO: Asus P5B S775 I965P ATX

http://www.zercom.nl/index.php?p=35&f=1&s=1&a=22636

Processor: Intel Pentium 4 processor 541 S775

http://www.zercom.nl/index.php?p=35&f=1&s=1&a=7486

or Intel Pentium D 820 2.80GHz FSB800 2M S775

http://www.zercom.nl/index.php?p=35&f=1&s=1&a=6521

or Intel Pentium D 915 S775

http://www.zercom.nl/index.php?p=35&f=1&s=1&a=25154

As you can tell I could use some help making my mind up with that one.

I'll be gaming a lot with this one, so clockspeed is of the essence. Which kinda leaves out duocore since I'm not willing to drop hundreds on a processor when basically I fail to see the use of a duocore for me. I've been working on a celleron 2.000Ghz, and multitasking for years with in general little lag. Sure, sometimes it would freeze up but that was the exception, not the rule. Talking about msn with two cams running, yahoo with audio running, two or three windows open and actively browsing, running a well known p2p program and often added to this WMP for some music. So to spend hundreds on a duocore with decent clockspeed, decent in gaming terms, to elliminate the minor lag seems foolish to me.

Memory: Corsair 1GB DDR2 SDRAM DIMMs

http://www.zercom.nl/index.php?p=35&f=1&s=1&a=5052

HD: Western digital Caviar SE 320GB Serial ATA II HDD

http://www.zercom.nl/index.php?p=35&f=1&s=1&a=17791

DVD: Samsung SH-S182M DVD Writer, Black

http://www.zercom.nl/index.php?p=35&f=1&s=1&a=27607

Now I read many times that LITE ON is recommended because it comes with a software package. What exactly is in that package that doesn't come with a Samsung DVD writer?

Soundcard: Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic Retail

http://www.zercom.nl/index.php?p=35&f=1&s=1&a=9852

GraphicCard: XFX PCIe 256M 7600GT XT HDTV

http://www.zercom.nl/index.php?p=35&f=1&s=1&a=20053

or XFX GeForce 7600GT

http://www.zercom.nl/index.php?p=35&f=1&s=1&a=26412

DVB-Terrestrial: Hauppauge WinTV HVR1100 Retail

http://www.zercom.nl/index.php?p=35&f=1&s=1&a=12957



Edit: OS: XpPro

I'll be staying away from Vista till they got it all patched up. I suspect they released it online right before the end of the fiscal year to boost their figures, not caring if the customer gets a faulty product. Yeah, I guess you can tell that pisses me off.

[Panama Red]

Watch the language. Dissatisfied with MS or not, that's no excuse for ignoring our Fourm Rules.

----------------------moderator--------------------------

[Moronicus]

Sorry, I never read the forum guidelines!

Thanks for the edit.

[freakitchen]

I'd switch any of the Pentium processors you list for a Core 2 Duo. Clockspeed is MUCH less important these days, and the C2D chips consistently outperform the older Pentiums - even the base E6300. The P5B you picked is a great choice for one of these chips.

You would need to up the RAM to DDR2-667, however.

Lite-on drives ususally come with Ahead Nero burning software - that, plus their consistent reliability, is why we recommend them. Samsung drives do not have the same reliability record, I've personally had quite a few duds from them. If you need to find an alternative brand for availability reasons, look at NEC drives.

I'd avoid choosing an XFX video card, as they are owned by PC Chips / ECS. Try and find eVGA if you can, failing that, Gainward is quite popular in Europe.

Unless you're a bit of an audiophile, you won't need that top-of-the-line soundcard. The P5B comes with on-board surround sound.

With the money you save, it might be worth getting 2GB of RAM, or a 7900GT video card - preferably both - for a gaming system.

FK

[Moronicus]

Thanks Freakitchen! That's a lot of info I didn't know.

I'm going to make some adjustments and post that later.

[Moronicus]

I have a question regarding the importance of clockspeed. Oblivion has a recommended clockspeed of 3Ghz. So I can't play it with a Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 S775 that has a 1860Mhz clockspeed, right? Or am I showing my ignorance? In case of the later, is the processor I just mentioned a good choice?

The thing with the memory is that I already bough it. Earlier this week I got quite the bargain on ebay, or so I thought, Corsair 1 GB (2x512 MB) PC2 4200 DDR 2 for 61€. New of course. So it looks like I need to pick another MOBO, yes?

Same with the soundcard, earlier this week I bought a new one for 80€.

I managed to find a LiteOn DVD burner with the lightscribe and dual layer that I wanted (LiteOn SHW-16H5S-05C). So I'll get that one instead.

For a graphic card I was thinking Sparkle SPPX79SDH256 GeForce 7900 GS 256MB DDR3

http://www.dollarshop.nl/index.php?u...?categoryid=53

or Gainward GeForce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3, PCI-Express, "BP7600GT-256-TV-DD"

http://www.komplett.nl/k/ki.asp?sku=324988

or the Asus Extreme N7600GT | 90-C1CHM0-HUAYZ

http://www.zercom.nl/index.php?p=35&f=1&s=1&a=18668

There's a very small price difference between the 7600GT and the 7900GS, can anyone tell me why?

Also, of these three cards, is there one in particular that should be favored and why?

I don't feel like spending 200€ on a graphic card, so I'll stay in the 150€ range. I will add another gig of ram later on, but for now one gig will have to do.

[Moronicus]

If anyone could recomment a mobo that is compatible with the ram I already have, I'd be grateful.

Corsair 1 GB (2x512 MB) PC2 4200 DDR 2

[newbuilder14]

Compatibility check: approved.

Recommended? Yes, but the P4 has got to go. As already suggested I'd get the Pentium D or Core 2 Duo if you could afford it. I like the P5B motherboard choice. Also, try to get DDR2 667 memory from Corsair if you can, otherwise, the DDR2 533 would be the minimum and okay.

[glc]

The DDR2-533 will work with a Core 2 Duo on a P5B, but will not give you optimum performance.

An E6300 will outperform any 3 GHz Pentium out there. If Oblivion required 3 GHz, that would shut out every AMD processor made - and you don't hear the AMD fanboys screaming about not being able to play that game, do you?

[Moronicus]

Thank you gentlemen!

I can afford the E6300, and will get that one instead, but I will have to wait with the DDR2 667.

My latest question is this: do I have to replace the 533 memory once I have the 667, or can and do they work peacefully alongside each other?

[glc]

There's no point in running them both - the 667 will downclock to 533.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Moronicus My latest question is this: do I have to replace the 533 memory once I have the 667, or can and do they work peacefully alongside each other?

You should replace the 533 with the 667 and not use them together...if you do use them together the 667 RAM will run at 533 speeds and you don't gain any performance.

Cricket

[Moronicus]

Thanks again for the advice gentlemen.

[Mr.Ferrari]

I have a question regarding the importance of clockspeed. Oblivion has a recommended clockspeed of 3Ghz. So I can't play it with a Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 S775 that has a 1860Mhz clockspeed, right? Or am I showing my ignorance? In case of the later, is the processor I just mentioned a good choice?

Just to add, if you look again it refers to a minimum of 3GHZ Pentium 4 or the AMD equivalent. That is not at all a high standard.

[Moronicus]

I didn't know that there was a difference in clockspeed standards between Duo Core and P4 and AMD.

So how much would 1860Mhz Duo Core be in Pentium4 and AMD standards?

[glc]

Probably about 4 GHz.

[Moronicus]

WOW!! And to think I almost passed up on Duo Core.

[Moronicus]

Another question. I decided to spend a bit more on the graphic card, and now I need to choose, and do so preferably wisely, between:

- Sapphire X1950 pro 256 tvo 2dvi pci-e

and

- Sapphire X1950 pro 256 ultimate pci-e

What exactly is the difference between the two and which one do you recommend? I'm hoping its the first one as I can pick that one up at the store today, the second one comes with a 2+ week waiting time.

Anyways, thank you in advance!!

[whubbard]

I hope this answers you question:
http://www.mvktech.net/content/view/3498/38/
I guess it has to do with the chip, cooling, and crossfire. Seems like it might be worth the wait.

[Moronicus]

Man, this isn't funny anymore. lol

I ordered my parts from various sources and do I have to wait! Oh well, another two plus weeks waiting won't kill me.

Then again, maybe I'll settle for another card altogether. Decisions, decisions...

Thanks for the link, Whubbard!

[newbuilder14]

Get whatever x1950pro is available - you don't want to wait 2 weeks - never know what will be out then. Plus, who really cares... DX10 is rolling out even more now.

[Moronicus]

Allright, I'm dazzled.

I just tried to put in the dvd-rw and to my dismay I found out that when using the drive rails and putting the dvd in - I'm left with a big gap between the top of the dvd and the case. Is this the idea or am I doing something wrong here?

[Moronicus]

Allright I figured it out!!

And learned a valuable lesson: you need to be sober when putting the parts together!

[Cricket]

Yes, being drunk while building a computer is never a good thing...hook up one thing the wrong way and you could end up with a $1000+ paper weight.

Cricket

[Moronicus]

Oki, my graphic card finally arrived and I'm building.

So, eh, how exactly do I fasten the hard disc? I'm working with Sonata II, and I can't see how I can plug that thing. The manual isn't helping either so now I hope someone here can tell me what I'm overlooking.

Thanks in advance!

[glc]

I have never built with one, but it looks like you slide out the 2 rails, drop the drive into the tray, and slide the rails back in.

[Moronicus]

Thats what I thought too, but no luck.

There is nothing to slide out.

[Moronicus]

Ok, found it!! Thanks for the advice GLC!

I also learned a valuable lesson in the process: it is best to carefully read the manual...

[Moronicus]

It' s alive!!!

For the last few hours I' ve been enjoying what feels like a speed machine compared to my old computer.

Had a ten minute delay with the BIOS, mainly because I have a tendency for overlooking the obvious due to my impatience. But after that everything went smoothly.

Anyways, I wanted to thank everyone who offered me advice in a direct way via this thread, or an old one, and in a indirect way by answering the questions of others; I learned volumes that way, not that that kept me from what I suspect are typical newbie errors, but there is no doubt in my mind that it saved me from gross errors of judgement. In fact, this forum has been instrumental in my decision to push through with the idea of building my own computer, and making ita reality.

Great job you're doing here! Thank you!!

Edit: If I was to recommend a change to this forum then it would be to put up a cautionary warning " Potentially Addictive". I' m actually thinking of building another. lol

[flanzig1]

Sorry about you getting bit by the PC building bug. Got bit myself. Of course the real pain is to the wallet.