Building a new Machine - Advice

Shakey_Jake33

Shakey_Jake33

Shakey_Jake33

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22 Jan 2006
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Made a similar topic at DriverHeaven, but I wanted to know what advice you guys have :)

Basically, I'm looking to build a new machine in preparation for Vista and HD-DVD.
I am going to build it bit-by-bit, as opposed to tyring to get it done in one pay check. Wanting to start sooner rather than later, with the PS3 and Wii due later in the year.

With the new Socket AM2 boards out in June, it seems like a good place to start!
One key thing I'll be using on this machine is the CoreAVC codec. This is a H.264 codec which will have support for multi-core CPU's and GPU acceleration. With this in mind, some form of Athlon X2 seems like a good idea.
I'm assuming Nvidia and ATi are due to unveil their DX10 cards anytime now. I'm assuming these will feature superior H.264 acceleration and HDCP, and I'm swaying towards the Nvidia option because PureVideo is looking better than AVIVO for my needs.
May as well go SLi, and get a second board at a later date.
I use my existing X-Fi and HDD's from my existing machine and we're looking at a spec like this -

CPU: AM2-based Athlon X2
RAM: 2GB DDR2 800 (800MHz may not have much use yet, but future-proof)
GPU: NVidia DX10 GPU w/ HDCP, PureVideo & SLi
MoBo: Some SocketAM2-based board w/ SLi and as many PCI's as possible
Sound: X-Fi XtremeMusic

As far as case and PSU goes, given I'm going to be using this machine a lot for media, I'd like it to be as quiet as possible, but also has to be powerful enough to keep it all cool and powered, since my machines are on pretty much all day. I guess I'm saying I'll pay that bit extra if it's quieter.
Case-wise I have been told to go for the Antec P180, and that looks like a good idea to me, with clear thought into keeping sound in, and compartments to make sure heat doesn't spread to other components.
As for PSU, not really sure what I should be going for as I've never really looked into them.
The Antec Phantom on Here at the top seems like one for me, but am I right in assuming that the PSU being quieter and using the fan less is going to effect how well it performs? Would 500W be enough for what I need?
That PSU mentions about a PCI-E power connector - I have not actually used a PCI-E card yet, would I need a PSU with 2 of these connectors for SLi?

I suppose that leaves CPU and case, which also want to be quiet/perform well =P

Also - Windows XP 64-bit... I would have assumed I should go for that given the 64-bit processor, but I have heard of compatiblity problems?

Thanks if you've read down this far! Really just trying to get to grips on where to start! My plan is to start as early as next week with the case and PSU.
 
Just to let you know, you will be spending a lot more money ordering components bit by bit as opposed to all of them together, you pay about £8 for delivery everytime which will soon add up :rolleyes:

I am in very much the same situation as you at the moment. I'm looking to build a new socket AM2 based rig with a DX10 GPU. I will be using it for 3D Animation and CGI, gaming and video encoding. However, there is next to no info on the web about when the next gen cards will be released :(
 
cant for the life of me figure out why you want to go AM2, unless you know something about prices that i don't.

it would seem more logical to get a conroe, which is SO much more powerful clock for clock and not to mention they overclock like mad.

anyhow the choice is yours, and all this is coming from someone called AMDPower.
 
AM2 has no real performance advantage then socket 939, however conore looks to be the business and its out in july with woodcrest (its server chips) out in june.
 
Conroe is the feedback I got at DH too, looks like I should look into it.

Does anyone have more info? I've been out of the loop for a while.
Click to expand...

go over to the extreme systems forum, google it. and look into their intel section of the forum, few ppl with Engineering Sample chips there. You can even view few benchmarks too.
 
not too sure about that choice of PSU, the phantoms are fanless yes, but Ive heard stories of them overheating, and they will undoubtedly bring case temps up.

Seasonic would be a better choice IMO
 
Building 'bit by bit' is bad news mate - technology will move on as you do so, and you will lose out (probably quite a bit with the changes that are coming up).

Much better off saving up, or taking a loan and doing it now.

Oh yeah, and theres really no point to that PSU for you - with a rig like that, you'll be using enough power to heat it up quickly, then the fans will come on and BINGO ordinary PSU noise - its more of a gimmick than anything else. Go for something with more wattage by any of the big names.

M
 
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When I say bit by bit, Im only talking a period of a few months or so. That's the main reason I'm going to do the stuff like the case and PSU first. I might buy the motherboard CPU one month, and the GPU another month, that's all - means I have more flexiblilty in how much I can spend on each component. Either way I'll be holding out for the Conroe boards and DX10 cards, so I may as well get the case, PSU, HDD etc sorted now..

Can anyone recommend a PSU? I may very well go SLi in the future, so with that in mind :)
 
Sorry for the double post, just giving a quick update for those who were good enough to help ^_^

Ordered the Antec P180 case and Seasonic C12 600W PSU from OC today, getting that out of the way because they aren't exactly going to outdate.
Gives me a basic framework to start from, too.

After listening to feedback, the spec is looking like this -

CPU: - Intel Conroe-based
RAM: 3GB DDR2 800
GPU: Nvidia DX10 PCI-E w/ HDCP
MoBo: SLi Conroe board w/ enough PCI's for my X-Fi, TV Card and breathing space in case of massive GPU fan (think HIS IceQ)
Sound: X-Fi XtremeMusic

Sort out a SATA2 HDD, wires and other misc bits next month.
I've listened to advice that building over time is a mistake - I intend to only take 2 or 3 months. Get a Conroe board w/ CPU when they are availiable in July/August.
Depending on when the DX10 cards are due, I may have to pick up a PCI-E card as a stop gap - no biggie, I can SLi it when the DX10 cards come.
Might get RAM in August, start off with 1GB and can add more over time.

Obviously HSF will have to wait until I get the CPU, I'll have to look into case fans.

Sounds like a plan to me :)
 
until conroe and AM2 are out i wouldnt even bother with anything more than a 939 system. both will be buggy as hell to start with too.

the engineering samples look superb on the conroe but im waiting to see if the mass market conroes match that and can match my opty. i've got a feeling real world performance wont be as great as its making out.
 
I was under the impression that conroe was in someway going to be incompatible with sli, and that crossfire was the only dual gpu option for the intel processor. I might be wrong though.

And i don't think it will be possible to sli a dx10 and dx9 card anyway unless today's cards have exact counterparts, which i doubt - the r600 and g80 i believe.

I don't want to put a downer on the 'building over time' idea but there's no way of preparing for things that are realistically ages away, and you say you want to prepare for hd-dvd which so far hasn't got even an officially announced drive! Either buy a console and wait the time out or buy now, just don't buy in stages it's not worth the risk if parts are incompatible.
 
Suppose your right, I am just sorta keen to get a cool system running now :) I'll hold out for a bit and see how things play out.

I do have a reasonable idea of what I'm aiming for though, cheers :)
 
Shakey_Jake33 said:
Suppose your right, I am just sorta keen to get a cool system running now :) I'll hold out for a bit and see how things play out.

I do have a reasonable idea of what I'm aiming for though, cheers :)
Click to expand...

I would also advise holding off for a few weeks when the new AM2 boards are released to make sure none of them have problems.
 
Cool, suppose I'll wait and see how the whole AM2/Conroe thing plays out, and save until then.

I can, and will, use the case and PSU I bought on my current machine until then, so it's no loss or anything.
 
for me there is always "reasons to wait a bit because X is out soon"

why not buy a decent 939 system for about £700, you'll only have to upgrade about £500 worth of stuff when the time comes. :p :D

lol.

p.s. skt 939 will power games adequately for about another year or more.
 
Updating this old topic of mine, cause I'll be ordering machine any day now!

Current (hopefully finalised) spec -

CPU: Intel Core 2 DUO Extreme Edition X6800 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.93GHz - BOUGHT
RAM: G.Skill 2GB DDR2 LA PC2-5300 (2x1GB) CAS4 Dual Channel Kit -£117
GPU: EVGA GeForce 7950 GX2 1024MB - £395.92
MOBO: Undecided nForce590-based (looking into the DFI one)
AUDIO: Creative X-Fi XtremeMusic - FROM OLD MACHINE

CASE: Antec P180 Advanced Super Midi Tower Case - No PSU (Black) - £93.94
PSU: Enermax Liberty 620W - £99.82
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB ST3320620AS SATA-II 16MB Cache - £73.97
DVD: NEC ND4570 16x16 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter (Black) - £25.79
OS: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition inc. SP2 - £61.04

Cables
------

IDE: Akasa Rounded Ultra ATA133/100/66 IDE Cable (0.45m) - Black - £3.47
SATA: Akasa SATA-2 45cm Silver Data Cable - £4.11

Cooling
-------

Scythe Ninja Plus Heatpipe CPU Cooler - £31.67
Zalman ZM-2HC2 Silent Hard Disk Heatpipe Cooler (HDD) - £19.92
Arctic Silver 5 - £6.46

Think I got it all covered! No posts about how I've gone overboard on spending please - saved long and hard for it!

Only thing holding me back from ordering really is the fact I'm waiting for nForce590-based boards. Eyeing the DFI one as it has a nice amount of PCI's as opposed to loads of PCI-Express x1 slots - does anything actually use them?

Went with the Enermax Liberty for the PSU as the P180 case really needs modular, and a nice long power cable to the board... I love the Seasonic S12, but it fails both of these. Hope the Enermax isn't too loud, as sound is still a priority here.

Scythe Ninja Plus because it's a tried and tested quality one. Also pointed towards the Artic Freezer Pro, but there can't really be much between them.

I assume the RAM is fast enough for an X6800 running at stock? I did assume I'd need DDR2 800, but I was informed otherwise.

HDD, again I needed quiet but running cool and a performer. Machine is on 24-7 guys! That's why I'm getting for heatpipe cooler too. How does it compare to other drives? Some people pointed towards the Samsung Spinpoint ones earlier.

First machine minus floppy - Hope I won't need it!

Any other ommisions etc, please mention :)
 
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