Help please, new machine need some friendly advice.

Traducer · 5 Apr 2006 at 16:19

Hey all this is my first post, so be nice

Been thinking of building a new machine for some time now, and going to finally do it in about two weeks, so I am doing my research now, but just cannot decide what to get also getting the best machine for my money, as I tend to just choose the most expensive thing then expect it to be the best hehe, but that hurts my already suffering bank balance. This is what I have been looking at so far, my budget is around 800 to 950ish, the lower the better really.
Oh hehe I forgot to mention, I use it for general use, internet and such, work, music, and I am very into my online gaming, but I don't use crazy resolutions or anything like that.

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ (Socket 939) - OEM x1
£169.95

Asus A8N32-SLi Deluxe nForce4 SLi X16 (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard x1
£114.95

GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC3200 Value Dual Channel Kit CAS3 (GE2GB3200BDC) x1
£89.95

BFG GeForce 7900 GT OC 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail x1
£209.95

Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 NCQ 80GB ST3808110AS SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM x1
£30.95

OcUK Value Floppy Drive - Black x1
£5.95

NEC ND4570 16x16 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter (Black) - OEM x1
£24.95

Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940) x1
£15.95

Akasa Eclipse-62 Aluminum Case x1
£66.95

Tagan TG580-U15 580W ATX2.01 Easycon SLi Compliant Modular Silent PSU x1
£77.95

Akasa AK-183-L2B Ultra Quiet 120mm Fan - 3 pin x2
£8.95

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound (3.5g) x1
£5.50

Subtotal £763.95
Shipping (City Link Parcel Next Day (Delivered Mon-Fri) £9.95
VAT £135.44
Total £988.01

I know you all must get sick of these posts, but it would really help

Feel free to change anything you want, I am open to all suggestions as I said, anything else you want to know just ask me, any advice would be much appreciated, thanks all

Traducer · 5 Apr 2006 at 16:30

I don't tend to install much stuff on the pc, as I usually stick to certain games, for now it will be ok but when I have more spare cash I will just add another drive and use that for windows or whatever.
Yeah I thought I was going overkill on the PSU and MB, I just wanted to make sure I was getting best thing for money hehe.
I was looking at DFI boards aswell, but Asus have always been sound for me.
And little things like the compound, I never knew it came with the fan, little things like that ease the mind to know hehe, and save cash.
Thanks

Traducer · 5 Apr 2006 at 20:15

Traducer · 5 Apr 2006 at 21:10

Yeah that looks interesting, I like the idea of having that graphics card, and thats nice ram aswell, though I don't mind using the other ram if needs be, I did have my mind set on a Eclipse 62 case, but that looks nice aswell.
I did also think of going single core and using the 3700 as its seems to be a nice little chip, though I do prefer the dual cores. I never done any overclocking, but I guess there is a first for everything.

Traducer · 5 Apr 2006 at 21:30

Exactly, glad I found these forums, only registered today, but been reading for sometime now, most people seem to know exactly what there talking about and friendly aswell.

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ (Socket 939) - OEM (CP-152-AM)
£169.95

DFI LanParty UT NF4 Ultra-D (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard (MB-014-DF)
£79.95

GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC3200 Value Dual Channel Kit CAS3 (GE2GB3200BDC) (MY-046-GL)
£89.95

Sapphire ATI Radeon X1900 XT 512MB GDDR3 AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-112-SP)
£269.95

Samsung SpinPoint P HD080HJ 80GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (HD-023-SA)
£30.95

OcUK Value Floppy Drive - Black (HD-001-OK) <-- Dunno why but I just like having it lol.
£5.95

NEC ND4570 16x16 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter (Black) - OEM (CD-030-NE)
£24.95

Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940) (FG-000-AR)
£15.95

Lian-Li PC-7 PLUS Black Aluminium Midi-Tower Case (No PSU) (CA-054-LL)
£48.95

Tagan TG530-U15 530W ATX2.01 Easycon SLi Compliant Modular Silent PSU (CA-008-TG)
£59.95

Subtotal £796.50
VAT £139.39
Total £935.89

Just toying with ideas at the moment as thats half the fun about building a new system

I do have a Lian Li case currently and I have not been impressed with it at all, granted its been cool, but its also been way to loud, not to mention the rest of computer, just way to loud.

Traducer · 5 Apr 2006 at 21:45

Yeah they defently look like 80mm to me, its very anoying. Still though the 7900GT seems to be a good card, especially for the price, and from recent reviews and benchmarks I seen, its a good performer, I keep seeing people choose X1800XT and X1900XT/X, but I don't know, something just appeals to me about the card, whats peoples opinions on the cards I mentioned?
And what are the other Asus boards like? DFI seem to be a favorite on these boards, just wondering the differences between them and such.

Traducer · 5 Apr 2006 at 22:02

If I was ever going to go dual cards, then it would be SLI hands down, especially at the moment.
I cannot see a single X1900XT 256MB or 512MB card cheaper then a 7900GT 256MB.
Unless I just not looking hard enough, in which case I am sorry hehe, but yeah, I not seen this?
I was looking at the Asus Deluxe and Premium, also the SE.
DFI seem to be nice, though I have heard they can be a pain to set up.
As you may have noticed there is no sound card thrown in there, but thats cause I have no more money, and I do have a Creative Soundblaster Live! 5.1.
But I was considering using the on-board sound, but I have no idea how good this is on most boards, maybe you guys could tell me

Traducer · 5 Apr 2006 at 22:11

I added some more to my post above.
The X1900XT 512MB is looking very very tempting indeed lol.
Can only really afford that though, if I go with the 530w rather then the 580w PSU, and use a cheaper case, other then Eclipse 62, would have to be something like the Lian Li you posted. Maybe I could put it into a cardboard box and go for the X1900XT-X insted.
Oh decisions decisions hehe.

Traducer · 5 Apr 2006 at 23:42

Good point mate. Though I thought the 7900GT and GTX both had 24 pipelines.
What about the on-board sound these days?

Traducer · 6 Apr 2006 at 00:14

Sounds good to me mate, I am defently starting to like the idea of a X1900XT 512MB hehe, oh yes. Now I just got to decide on the rest of the stuff, especially the Motherboard, Case, PSU.

Traducer · 6 Apr 2006 at 15:31

I was thinking about doing that, but I do want it future proof to an extent especially if going to be spending this kind of money ( its a lot to me ). I do tend to run more then one program though, at least i'd like to be able to.
I am still having trouble with what Motherboard to get as I want to make sure I get the best one I can without going to mad, so I been looking at a few different ones also.
And will 580w really make that much difference over a 530w? as its also a lot more.
Also the Eclipse 62, will it be a much better choice over the Lian Li PC7?
Will I notice the difference as there as very different in price?
Thanks for all the replys so far, its much appreciated

Traducer · 6 Apr 2006 at 15:59

Yeah mate, I been looking at that actually, would I notice any difference in performance with something like that compared to the Asus A8N32-SLi Deluxe nForce4 SLi X16, or the DFIs? Thats my only concern really.

Traducer · 6 Apr 2006 at 16:04

Fair comment matey, and yeah I will be looking to clock on this machine, but I have the same opinion as you regarding Asus.

Traducer · 6 Apr 2006 at 16:09

They will be as much as they will go untill my machine becomes unstable.

Will getting the 530w Tagan insted of the 580w make any difference to me?
And whats your opinion on the two cases I mentioned? Lian Li PC7 with stock fans or Eclipse 62 with Akasa Ambers, value and performance in mind.

Traducer · 6 Apr 2006 at 16:21

I like the Modular ones they look mint, not to mentioned the fact well, they just look mint hehe.
I know how high you clock, but thats because your machine is a beast

I thought the 120mm Akasa Ambers were good to get?
I am going to go with the X1900XT 512MB aswell insted of the original 7900GT 256MB.
Is the on-board LAN good to use aswell? Using the on-board stuff won't drain the system to much will it?
As I was going to use the Sound and the LAN.

Traducer · 6 Apr 2006 at 17:45

Just read my previous post, and the use of the letter "I" is just to much there, lol.