Any problems with this build?

[Trent Steel]

I have finally reached the limit of which I can tweak my machine and the need to upgrade is finally upon me. Just would like to check if I may have any problems with this build or if better price/performance changes can be made. (all prices are local and in Canadian funds)

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ 939 pin $180
ASUS A8N-SLI 939 Socket $185
eVGA NVIDIA VCX N368 6600GT
PCI-E 16 W/128MB DDR RETAIL BOX $271
Kingston KVR400X64C3A/512
512MB 400MHZ $59 X 2 $118* (already bought)
Maxtor 200GB IDE
7200RPM 8M Cache $123* (already bought)
LITE-ON 52X32X52 IDE Drive have
Pioneer 8XDVDrom IDE Drive have
Enermax EG365P-VE 350Watt PS have
Floppy have
OP-501 Case with 350Watt PS $44 (not using the ps that comes with this case)
http://www.a-computers.ca/imags/op501.jpg
http://www.a-computers.ca/case.htm for specs

I bought the harddrive wanting to replace my current drive but ran into some problems, I may be able to exchange it for a SATA drive if my retailer lets me.
And will replace the CDRW and DVD at a later date with a duel layer DVD burner.
Thanks in advance.

EDIT: I am going to be using XP Pro from my current build, when I am done installing I am going to wipe the old drive. I plan on using the onboard sound and NIC.

[trowand]

Yeah dude, I was going to recommend going with a SATA HDD. Try to beg and plead with your retailer to let you return the IDE HDD for a SATA. I would go for the new Maxtor 300GB w/16MB cache & NCQ. The thing is supposed to rock. It'll cost more but it'll be worth it. Are you going to game with this PC? How much money have you got? Are you trying to pinch pennies? You picked a killer mobo but I'm thinking you might want to up the CPU and get more bang for your buck.

[digitalfreedom64]

Looks good to me, kinda looks like the build i'm planning on doing only I'll be using an ATI vid card and the cpu, i'm gonna overclock that baby, can anyone say speed demon, lol

[trowand]

Speed Demon!

[Trent Steel]

Ok new question. Got everything, have installed all the hardware but need a little help, going to search google for this myself right away.

Do I absolutely need a 24 pin power supply, or will a 20 pin with the extra 4 pin plug work? I saw the other thread related to this and the last post confused me. I am assuming it will work considering the 20 pin will fit, but only one way, ie it was designed for it.

Having a little problem decypting the connectors for the front audio port and USB.

For the audio the motherboard pins look like this

..
.
..
..
..

BLINE_OUT_L/Line_out_L
blank/NC
BLINE_OUT_R/Line_out_R
+5VA/MICPWR
AGND/MIC2

Problem is the audio connectors leading from the front I/O panel is different. I have cables and set them like this.
Left Spk Return/Left Spk
Nothing/Nothing
Right Spk Return/Right Spk
Nothing/MIC_IN
GND/MIC_Bias

Same thing for the USB but the colors on the wires help a little.
On the motherboard.
.....
....
USB+5V/USB_P6-/USB_P6+/GND/NC
USB+5V/USB_P5-/USB_P5+/GND

From the front panel I have VCC2/2-D/2+D/GND and VCC1/1-D/1+D/GND.
I am pretty sure I have it hooked up right for the USB, each connector is seperate, not a multi pin plug, the way I listed it was the way I connected it.

[TheJackal]

Originally Posted by Trent Steel Pioneer 8XDVDrom IDE Drive

Is this just a plain DVDROM drive?

If so, you may want to go for a DVDRW instead.

[Trent Steel]

I will go with a DVDRW at a later date.

[spyder003]

Do I absolutely need a 24 pin power supply, or will a 20 pin with the extra 4 pin plug work? I saw the other thread related to this and the last post confused me. I am assuming it will work considering the 20 pin will fit, but only one way, ie it was designed for it.

The 20 pin will work, as long as you use the extra connector. Can't help you with the front panel connectors, I didn't hook those up.

[Trent Steel]

Update.
All went well, mostly. I had a bit of trouble transfering files from the old hard drive to the new one, too much security. It just took a few more steps then I thought it would take. Also, is it possible to boot from the cd with more then 1 cd drive? I couldn't boot from the CD untill I removed the second cd drive, this might be why I was never able to boot from the cd in my old system.

[regans cortina]

Very similar to mine . enjoy the build , then watch it fly !!!!!!!!!!

[Techdec42]

Would a 350w power supply be enough to power that beast.


Nerver mind I didnt read that was the one that came with the case.


Anyway what kind of PS are you going to use

[regans cortina]

Ah yes , maybe a 350 would seem on the limit . Might be better goin for a higher output one which would then future proof you , should you decide on adding more stuff

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Trent Steel Also, is it possible to boot from the cd with more then 1 cd drive?

Sure, I do it all the time.

Originally Posted by Trent Steel I couldn't boot from the CD untill I removed the second cd drive, this might be why I was never able to boot from the cd in my old system.

Were the drives jumpered correctly for the type of IDE cable you're using? Or it might be that you weren't putting the CD in the master optical drive. I've worked on some motherboards that would look in both optical drives for the WinXP installation CD and I've also worked on some that wouldn't boot unless I put the WinXP installation CD in the master optical drive...if I put the CD in the slave drive, the system would stop booting and give me the "no boot device found..." error message.

Cricket