Another Spec check!

[marinecommando]

Hey all! First time poster and long time lurker / reader!!

Yet another spec check / reassurance!!
I've currently got an (almost) 3 years old Alienware Tower (yes i know.... ) Spec is:

P4 3 Ghz on 533 FSB

1 Gb PC2700 DDR

ASUS P4PE Mobo

Audigy 2

Geforce FX 5900 Ultra 256 MB 8x AGP (on a 4x AGP mobo )



And what I am thinking of upgradeing to is:


Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4400+ (Socket 939) - Retail £276.95

Hiper HPU-4K580-MK Type R 580W Modular ATX2.2 PSU - Black UV £52.95

Arctic Ceramique Thermal Compound (2.7g) £2.95

DFI LanParty NF4 SLI-DR EXPERT (Socket 939) £129.95

HS-017-TR ThermalRight XP-120 Heatsink £24.95

YS-TECH FD1238 120mm Fan - 4 Pin £9.95

Akasa AK-183-L2B Ultra Quiet 120mm Fan - 3 pin £8.95

G.Skill 2GB DDR HZ PC4000 (2x1GB) CAS3 Dual Channel Kit £129.95

XFX GeForce 7900 GTX 512MB XXX Edition GDDR3 (PCI-Express) £424.95

Hitachi Deskstar 7K80 NCQ 80GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM £63.90 (edit for 2 drives - sry peeps!! )

Subtotal £1,125.45
VAT £196.96
Total £1,322.41



I've specced two fans in because i want to test quiet V cooling performance. the two hard disks will be striped.

I guess i want you to rip it apart but also just to reassure me that its going to be £1300 well spent. I currently play BF2 and CSS etc and although their failry ugly there still playable - am i going to see a huge difference in overall performace in both windows and games?

Thanks in advance!!!

MC

 

[marinecommando]

Wow that was quick!

I'm not sure about the ATI if im honest. Ive read a lot of very positive things about them and their IQ, but theres still a nagging doubt about drivers / software issues after having being burnt in the past (7500 and a 9700). On the other hand I've had a Ti 4600 and the 5900 and no problem to speak of.

Regards the hard disks my plan was the use the sriped volume just for windows and games. I'm going to stick a netgear NAS box in for all my media files / docs / backups etc. SC101 i think its called.

 

[marinecommando]

Thanks Monster munch - food for thought!! Would an opty be a better choice than an X2? I've never overclocked before but I do want to start!

Would you guys advise against using raid 0 then? What would be the better option do you think - a larger SATA II drive or a smaller faster raptor say the 74GB version?

All the help is much appriciated guys!!

 

[marinecommando]

Okay I've revisited my spec and ive done an ATI option

I'm quite impressed as the spare money lets me get a 150Gb raptor and an uber geek chic lcd display for my 5.25 slots

My heads telling me ATI but my hearts telling me Nvidia!

Thank God there seems to be no aurgument about getting an AMD processor or my head would be spinning like Linda Blairs!!

 

[marinecommando]

Lol i forgot the spec

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4400+ (Socket 939) £276.95

Hiper HPU-4K580-MK Type R 580W Modular ATX2.2 PSU £52.95

Arctic Ceramique Thermal Compound (2.7g) £2.95

G.Skill 2GB DDR HZ PC4000 (2x1GB) CAS3 Dual Channel Kit £129.95

Alphacool 240x128 USB Graphic LCD Display £57.95

HIS Excalibur ATI Radeon X1900 XT-X 512MB GDDR3 £289.95

Western Digital Raptor 150GB 10,000RPM SATA 16MB Cache £168.95

Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro CPU Cooler £12.95

Asus A8R32-MVP Deluxe Crossfire (Socket 939) £114.95 £114.95

Subtotal £1,107.55

VAT £193.83

Total £1,301.38

 

[marinecommando]

Looks very good.

I assume you will be using your old case & DVDRW.
As these are not listed anywhere.

Yeah my Alienware case is big but its very pretty