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steelcity_ballin · Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:27 pm

Okay so im building a new computer setup for editing video, photoshopping, and gaming.

My new build is HERE and as far as I can tell im doing okay so far, but I've been out of the loop for a while. I wanted a dual core AMD, and given my love of overclocking, and hearing how great these chips are decided to give it a whirl. I don't want bleeding edge premium prices, but a step back from the edge this far should keep my held over long after ut2k7 comes and goes given i'll be buying a new pci-e video card. I'm going to wait on that a little more.

I also believe AMD will be price cutting soon from what I've read, so that works for me as well because I am shooting for a late August / September build time. I have about Half of what Im going to be spending saved ($1400-ish MAX).

I still need a video card, and I have a sound card, monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers. Did I miss anything? Can you see where to save me any money or increase performance? Eventually I'll upgrade to another set of 2x1gB of ram, but 1 gig is cool for now. I'm pretty set on that motherboard as well, but I could be talked out of it.

lordT · Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:38 pm

Would it sound rude if I suggested you wait for a month for Conroe and all that delicious price cuts?

Convert · Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:40 pm

Edit, nm, now the link started working...

If you are waiting for August/September to build I would wait until then before pricing out a system. Conroe along with price cuts will be out and it will likely change your choices.

Also if you go amd you want AM2, not 939.

steelcity_ballin · Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:22 pm

As mentioned in my posts, I am waiting for said price cuts, but this was just something I threw together based on whats definitly available, tested, matured as far as drivers / formware / bios go. That's my biggest fear about new technology, lousy support.

riviera74 · Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:58 pm

Right now, S939 will only get cheaper. AM2 is not worth the (lack of) performance upgrades as of yet. As for your video card, I would suggest an ATi Radeon X1800XT shown <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814195019">HERE</a>

Fri Jun 16, 2006 4:21 pm

riviera74 wrote:
Right now, S939 will only get cheaper. AM2 is not worth the (lack of) performance upgrades as of yet.

It is if you want to get more RAM down the road.

Vrock · Fri Jun 16, 2006 5:14 pm

I'd scrap the Asus and go with the DFI SLI board here, especially since you are planning to overclock. You don't need the 32x anyways, it's hype.

steelcity_ballin · Fri Jun 16, 2006 6:49 pm

Vrock wrote:
I'd scrap the Asus and go with the DFI SLI board here, especially since you are planning to overclock. You don't need the 32x anyways, it's hype.

32x.. im not sure what you are referring to. I got this just based on the fact I had an asus before and abit as well, Some of the reviews on the DFI board were pretty negative about how finicky it was with anythign less than premium parts...

Vrock · Fri Jun 16, 2006 7:13 pm

pete_roth wrote:
Vrock wrote:
I'd scrap the Asus and go with the DFI SLI board here, especially since you are planning to overclock. You don't need the 32x anyways, it's hype.

32x.. im not sure what you are referring to. I got this just based on the fact I had an asus before and abit as well, Some of the reviews on the DFI board were pretty negative about how finicky it was with anythign less than premium parts...

Yeah that came out badly. I meant that Asus board has two PCIe x16 slots and you're paying a premium for that over the regular SLI implementation of two x8 slots. I've had a couple Asus boards and they can be picky too, but if you're set on Asus then there's always the regular Asus SLI board instead of the 32. :wink:

Usacomp2k3 · Fri Jun 16, 2006 10:41 pm

If you really want to overclock to the max (who doesn't?), get a DFI board and a pair of OCZ pc4000 sticks (I have my eyes on these.) Either that, or one of the new ATI boards. Those overclock quite well (and run quieter, being 90nm). Either that, or just get a cheaper motherboard.

What video card are you going to throw in there?

steelcity_ballin · Fri Jun 16, 2006 10:41 pm

So then this AM2, AMD's latest platform... It's nothing but 939 but wiht ddr2 memory? How greatly will that add to its performance?

Usacomp2k3 · Fri Jun 16, 2006 11:01 pm

pete_roth wrote:
So then this AM2, AMD's latest platform... It's nothing but 939 but wiht ddr2 memory? How greatly will that add to its performance?

Not much.

Vrock · Fri Jun 16, 2006 11:23 pm

pete_roth wrote:
So then this AM2, AMD's latest platform... It's nothing but 939 but wiht ddr2 memory? How greatly will that add to its performance?

Maybe 2-5%.

danhibbert · Sat Jun 17, 2006 8:11 am

guys while were on the subject of sli motherboards

Vrock wrote:
Yeah that came out badly. I meant that Asus board has two PCIe x16 slots and you're paying a premium for that over the regular SLI implementation of two x8 slots. I've had a couple Asus boards and they can be picky too, but if you're set on Asus then there's always the regular Asus SLI board instead of the 32.

Also being someone who is starting to paln a future build can you explain that when getting a sli board what are the advantages of getting a 16x-16x PCIe configuration compared too the 8x-8x?
What would be best if planning a system that has good upgrade prospects in the future?

EDIT by usacomp2k3: fixed quote tag.

steelcity_ballin · Sat Jun 17, 2006 9:08 am

I don't buy into the SLI deal. Maybe If I was running dual desktop with an extreme resolution wide screen and max details and ontop of that the game actually was programmed thouroughly for it, I'd bite.

I haven't seen any benchmarks where the FPS is a HUGE leap with 2 cards, until then its still just a gimmick. And If I can get 60+FPS on 1 card at max settings, I wouldn't ever need 2 cards. More FPS is not better to me, just a waste of hard earned cash.

steelcity_ballin · Sat Jun 17, 2006 11:47 am

Also, the case looks really sleek and clean, I liked it a lot. It also looks like it can hold a few 120's so I'm into that as well.

However, It looks like it has a door, which im cautious about, EVERY case I have ever had that had a door broke within weeks. I'm not overly rough, but lets just say the most I've ever spent on a case is $65.

Vrock · Sat Jun 17, 2006 11:00 pm

danhibbert wrote:
Also being someone who is starting to paln a future build can you explain that when getting a sli board what are the advantages of getting a 16x-16x PCIe configuration compared too the 8x-8x?

There really aren't any. Read T/R's own review. Games don't stress x8 PCIe bandwidth as it is, x16 is overkill for the foreseeable future.

danhibbert wrote:
What would be best if planning a system that has good upgrade prospects in the future?

Anything on AM2 or Intel's Conroe sockets, pretty much.

lordT · Sat Jun 17, 2006 11:45 pm

Vrock wrote:
pete_roth wrote:
So then this AM2, AMD's latest platform... It's nothing but 939 but wiht ddr2 memory? How greatly will that add to its performance?

Maybe 2-5%.

Best case

Crayon Shin Chan · Sun Jun 18, 2006 1:21 am

Well, apparently the nForce 500 seems to have addressed some of the network corruption issues with nForce 4 TCP/IP hardware acceleration, so maybe you should go AM2 after all. Besides, you can always OC DDR2 memory more than DDR.

Vrock · Sun Jun 18, 2006 2:14 am

Crayon Shin Chan wrote:
Besides, you can always OC DDR2 memory more than DDR.

And you need to, considering DDR2's increased latency.

Crayon Shin Chan · Sun Jun 18, 2006 7:16 am

Vrock wrote:
Crayon Shin Chan wrote:
Besides, you can always OC DDR2 memory more than DDR.

And you need to, considering DDR2's increased latency.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/memory ... 2-ddr.html

Apparently it's just as fast now.

steelcity_ballin · Sun Jun 18, 2006 7:53 am

But, if at best, its AS fast, the increased cost of it doesn't justify a purchase IMO.

If I can buy it however, and OC really well (as in the old drop the multiplier and Ramp up the RAM and FSB) then perhaps it's worth investigating.

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