Final check

[Alexrose1uk]

In a week now, my wages come through and I can order parts.
I'm just ordering core components this month, and finishing my new build next month, can you guys let me know what you think of these?

X2 3800+ Processor
Asrock 939DualSATA2 mobo
x1800xt 512MB GFX (for an extra 30 quid may as well double the ram)
450W Antec Smartpower PSU
Antec SonataII case

For a month its gonna be paired with:
1GB Geil Golden Value
160GB ATA133 Samsung Spinpoint
40GB ATA133 Maxtor Diamondmax8
dvd/cdrw
dvd

Then the month after gonna get:
New Black DVDRW
New Black DVD
2GB GSkillZX Dual Channel Kit
250GB Hitachi Deskstar SATAII
POSSIBLY Creative X-FI Fatality
POSSIBLY Logitech MX518


Let me know what you guys think. I already have a creative 5.1 sound system, a SM959NF Monitor (sprayed black for uber looks) and an mx510 and keyboard. Would like to replace it though as after over a year of hard use, its wearing out a bit.

Your thoughts please

PS. Have a budget of about £50 for mobo, are there any others (dont mention competitors, I'll just look for the boards) that I should be looking at that are more stable and better overclockers etc, cos I'd quite like to get some cpu overclocking on this thing.

 

[ajgoodfellow]

Hi!

I've written my comments under each respective part:

X2 3800+ Processor

Good choice

Asrock 939DualSATA2 mobo

If you don't need dual AGP & PCI-E then can I recommend the ASUS A8N-E as an alternative

x1800xt 512MB GFX (for an extra 30 quid may as well double the ram)

Great choice - really nice price at the moment too. The extra ram really is worth it

450W Antec Smartpower PSU
Antec SonataII case

Good choices - I've got the original Antec Sonata and it's a great case. It comes with a good PSU too

For a month its gonna be paired with:
1GB Geil Golden Value
160GB ATA133 Samsung Spinpoint
40GB ATA133 Maxtor Diamondmax8
dvd/cdrw
dvd

It'll work fine with all of those components

Then the month after gonna get:
New Black DVDRW
New Black DVD
2GB GSkillZX Dual Channel Kit
250GB Hitachi Deskstar SATAII
POSSIBLY Creative X-FI Fatality
POSSIBLY Logitech MX518

They're all good choices. Personally I'd go for the Western Digital Cavier 250GB drive with 16MB cache over the Hitachi

PS. Have a budget of about £50 for mobo, are there any others (dont mention competitors, I'll just look for the boards) that I should be looking at that are more stable and better overclockers etc, cos I'd quite like to get some cpu overclocking on this thing.

Look at the ASUS board mentioned above. Epox also make great boards that clock well

 

[Alexrose1uk]

I went with the 8mb cache 250GB HD as I heard it was the second fastest drive out after raptor due to data density on the platters, I'm also a bit wary about epox as my mate is having some issues with them right now, and they're not being overtly helpful, besides ocuk doesnt stock them anymore.
I'll look into asus, my only issue with that is I'm not sure if it clocks well, and I've also heard a lot of people have been having trouble witht that board (althought it might only be the SLI Variant)

Any more suggestions appreciated.

 

[semi-pro waster]

You could consider the Asus MVP Crossfire although that is over your budget, it is a good motherboard although some really hard core clockers don't find it supplies enough voltage e.g. about 1.6v I think it was but that is pretty extreme so for most people it is fine.

Your choices look pretty good as ajgoodfellow has commented, I'd consider the NEC 4551 for the DVDRW as NEC make good drives.

 

[Zefan]

Deskstar = Dense. Density > * - Raptors.

 

[Alexrose1uk]

Deskstar = Dense. Density > * - Raptors.

Errrr...in english?

 

[semi-pro waster]

Errrr...in english?

The Deskstar packs more onto the disk so it is faster accessing than everything other than the Raptors which makes up for it with higher spin speed is what I think Zefan is trying to say

 

[ACESHIGH]

X2 3800+ Processor
Asrock 939DualSATA2 mobo
x1800xt 512MB GFX (for an extra 30 quid may as well double the ram)
450W Antec Smartpower PSU
Antec SonataII case

Then the month after gonna get:
New Black DVDRW
New Black DVD
2GB GSkillZX Dual Channel Kit
250GB Hitachi Deskstar SATAII
POSSIBLY Creative X-FI Fatality
POSSIBLY Logitech MX518


Let me know what you guys think. I already have a creative 5.1 sound system, a SM959NF Monitor (sprayed black for uber looks) and an mx510 and keyboard. Would like to replace it though as after over a year of hard use, its wearing out a bit.
QUOTE]

Cant go wrong with the X2 3800+ & X1800XT 512MB.
Mobo, PSU & case are all good.
As for the DVDRW have a look at the ...
Samsung SH-W162C 16x16 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter (Black) (CD-068-SA)
£23.44 Including VAT
I have one & its great: very, very quiet too.

 

[BigDom]

You could consider the Asus MVP Crossfire although that is over your budget, it is a good motherboard although some really hard core clockers don't find it supplies enough voltage e.g. about 1.6v I think it was but that is pretty extreme so for most people it is fine.

Your choices look pretty good as ajgoodfellow has commented, I'd consider the NEC 4551 for the DVDRW as NEC make good drives.

Agree totally, the other advantage of the MVP is the sound is Excellent, unless your a hardcore audiophile you will NOT need the X-Fi.

 

[Alexrose1uk]

I am more than a little reluctant about the MVP as I heard there were/are a LOT of dodgy boards out there. As far as I know these issues have not yet been fixed?

And based on previous experiences, I'll likely get an NEC and Samsung drive.

 

[BigDom]

I am more than a little reluctant about the MVP as I heard there were/are a LOT of dodgy boards out there. As far as I know these issues have not yet been fixed?

And based on previous experiences, I'll likely get an NEC and Samsung drive.

I have two - no issues what so ever... OCuk use it in their Crossfire setup too. Really your only going to hit problems in hardcore overclocking and I'm actually wondering if some of the problems where in fact the overloading of rails on dual rail PSU's (there was a recent post where basically it's better to use Single Rail or selectable rail PSU's - such as the Tagan modular ones - than dual rail because there seemed to be power problems running duals where one of the rails get's pushed too hard. ).

 

[Alexrose1uk]

The antec I have IS dual rail! Makes that a no no then!