Any PC Experts about? - (Building new system)

[OP]

After keeping my current PC alive over the last 3-4 years (P4 3.0ghz), i've decided to bite the bullet and build a new system from scratch.

PC is mainly used for video editing, animation, 3D modelling & games.

My case is pretty new, so i will want to stick with it.

Case: Thermaltake Tsunami

Processor.
I have been looking at the AMD Athlon64 X2 4200. Not much more than the 3800, has good overclocking options and is alot less than the Intel equivelant.

RAM.
Opting for 2 Corsair 2x1Gb (VS2GBKIT400C3) DDR PC3200, giving me 4gb of RAM . Its only CL3, but for the price of CL2 or even 2.5, i can get more than double the amount of RAM.

HDD's.
2x Western Digital 300gb SATA/300 HDD's, running in Raid plus a 300gb IDE HDD which i already have.

Motherboard.
Still undecided. All good motherboards seem to come with 2xPCI-E slots for the graphics cards. Is it a prerequisite these days to run 2 graphics cards? and would running 2 lesser graphics cards be better than 1 good one?

Needs to be able to handle the following.
Athlon X2 Processor (Socket 939)
4x SATA/300
2x IDE
4Gb's RAM (4x1gb)
1Gb LAN

Graphics Card(s).
See above. Although VIVO is a must.

Any help advice would be much appreciated

Cheers

OP

 

[Nathan]

You sound like you've got it sorted fella, that AMD 64 4200+ Dual is a bloody good processor, thats what ive just slapped in mine, cant beat it on value for money.

Got all my parts from Scan computers, a t'internet order site, seem to be good on price, although all things considered was still a huge dent in my wallet.

Have always stuck with Asus motherboards, never let me down, but this time opted for gigabyte K8 Triton board with SLI and PCI-E, V.good

Nathan

 

[Roberto]

First of all, what OS are you planning on running ?

If you are going for XP, the 4GB of RAM is not really worth it as the virtual address space of processes and applications is still limited to 2 GB unless the /3GB switch is used in the Boot.ini file. If you plan on using Windows XP x64, then 4GB is ok as it can address up to 1TB !

FYI, the amendment to the boot.ini is as follows, if you need it...

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="????" /3GB

...where "????" is the programmatic name of your chosen version of Windows.

If you're going the x64 route, research driver availability for every other component in your system as there are plenty of manufacturers who still don't have the 64bit drivers. x64 will run your old 32 bit programs using the WOW emulator, but hardware will need the updated drivers.

Motherboards are many and varied. Shop around and get the one that not only satisfies your needs now, but what you might possibly need in the future. Asus & MSI are good choices. The Asus A8N SLI Deluxe NVIDIA Socket 939 Motherboard would fit your needs, as would the MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum nVidia Socket 939 Motherboard.

Is there a specific need for 2 graphics cards ? Dual monitors or beefed up graphics processing ? SLI cards are all the rage for gaming (check out NVIDIA) and Matrox are still producing their legendary dual head cards which are weapons of choice in CAD/CAM.

HTH

Rob

 

[Ian]

Spend the Extra dollar get the 4400+ since it has 1mb cache on each "core"

Go for the Asus 8N-SLI? Best board I've heard from reviews.

I personally have a 3800+ Dualcore at work with 1gb Ram, it's ok, but would love the 4400+.

Video Editing, don't forget to get yourself a decent hard drive. 10krpm WD Raptor sounds good. I've got the 74gb version

 

[James]

From what you've said you want to do with your PC, I'd go with an Intel.

THe Pentiums are much better than the Athlons at video editing. Gaming they ain't so hot, but right at the top end the only difference is heat.

It's wrong, so very, very wrong.........
I love my Brava

FIAT: Farted In A Taxi

 

[OP]

Thanks all, that helped me alot.

I have access to all versions of Windows OS's, so i can pick and choose . But thanks for the heads up about the RAM, thats a new one on me!

As for the 4400 processor. Yes it has the extra cache, but it doesnt do that much from what i have been reading. The extra cache just seems to just cause more heat. IMO though, if you have more heat, it must be doing something?

Plus the 4200 has the manchester core, which apparently is much better for overclocking. (i read on the Tech Power up forum, that everyone is overclocking thiers from 2.2ghz to 2.7ghz quite easily)

Also i cant justify the extra £70, i would rather put it towards a better Graphics card.

As for the motherboard. Not fussed on the MSI (Not sure why) Asus looks a good board and has everything i need and will probably go for one Rob mentioned.
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=158259

Also looked at the premium model (next one up), but looks like it is exactly the same apart from it DOESNT do SATA II? (Very odd).

Comparison
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Compare.asp?CPID=11258&CPID=13080

Which still leaves me with a dilema on the Graphics card(s)...lol

Do i get something like this?
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=368311

Or two of these?
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=362101

(In theory)...
Single Graphics card.
512mb
GPU = 625mhz
Memory = 1450mhz
48 pipelines

Dual Cards.
256mb x 2 = 512mb
GPU 560mhz x2 = 1120mhz
Memory 1400mhz x2 = 2800mhz
12 pipelines x2 = 24 pipelines

Which is better, almost half the speed, but double the pipelines, or almost double the speed but half the pipelines?

It all gets so confusing...lol

OP

 

[James]

One X1900XT destroys two 7600GTs in SLI, full stop.

I'd go with with the ATI, it's currently the fastest card available.

It's wrong, so very, very wrong.........
I love my Brava

FIAT: Farted In A Taxi

 

[Anonymous]

does anybody has a program so i can overclock mine?

 

[BravoSX]

You can do it in the BIOS, go to Advanced Chipset Features

 

[Ian]

LOL.

Turn your voltage on your CPU up from +12 to +24

 

[OP]

from 12v to 24v.

Thats sounds easy. Do i need 2 PSUs?

OP

 

[Zenith]

Do not get the Asus A8N-SLi Deluxe. Definitely get the Premium. I have the Deluxe and it comes with a chipset fan rather than a heatsink and it is stupidly loud. I had to attack the motherboard with scissors and install a passive heatsink to stop the racket!!

Go for the Premium.

My Member Page

 

[Zenith]

Also the Asus comes with overclocking software if you aren't comfortable editing the BIOS.

My Member Page

 

[OP]

I didnt notice that. Thank you!

The only problem now is, the premium doesnt do SATA 300

Very strange if the deluxe model does and the premium doesnt (according to scan)... I may have to find out the full specs from the ASUS website.

OP

 

[OP]

Good news, according to the ASUS website, it does do SATA300, happy dayz

So i have just ordered this lot. (prays its all compatible now...lol)

Hopefully it will make me a decent PC.

Scan's Quick codes are listed under each one

Mobo.
ASUS A8N-SLI/PREMIUM NF4 SLI, S939, PCI-E (x16), DDR 400, SATA I, SATA/IDE RAID, ATX.
LN10973

CPU. (Yes. I went with the 4400+ in the end, cheers Ian, you owe me £70 )
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Socket 939 , Toledo Core, 2x 2.2GHz , 2MB Cache, Retail.
LN10970

PSU.
CoolerMaster 550watt REAL POWER SLI PSU
LN13764

RAM. (Dropped from 4gb to 2gb and got better latency, i can always get more if required later on)
2GB (2X1GB) Corsair TwinX DDR, PC3200 (400), 184 Pin, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 2-3-3-6.
LN9106

GPU.
512MB Sapphire Radeon X1900 XT PCI-E (x16) Mem 1450 MHz , GPU 625 MHz ,48 Pipes VIVO.
LN12975

HDD.
2x 300 Gb Maxtor 7V300F0 MaXLine® III, SATA300, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache, 9.0 ms, NCQ.
LN12895

If anyone spots anything that doesnt look right, can you let me know asap, so i can ammend my order.

Cheers

OP

 

[Anonymous]

I'd shove in some watercooling to really get the best out of the CPU.

Also download ATITool so you can overclock the X1900.

There is overclocking software out there. I'll get the name and post it.


It's wrong, so very, very wrong.........
I love my Brava

FIAT: Farted In A Taxi

 

[Anonymous]

Go here:

www.cpuid.com/clockgen.php

It's wrong, so very, very wrong.........
I love my Brava

FIAT: Farted In A Taxi

 

[beeson100]

I've got a question about ATI tray tools actually. I've got a radeon 9600XT 256mb,(not the best I know, but good enough for battlefield 2), but I can't seem to over clock it at all with tray tools. It just buggers up when I move the slider? I'm probably doing something wrong so could anyone assist?

Thanks

John

 

[Anonymous]

SOme ATI cards just won't overclock, I', afraid. IIRC the 9600XT is one that won't.

It's wrong, so very, very wrong.........
I love my Brava

FIAT: Farted In A Taxi

 

[Ash]

if your looking at overclocking then i would have gone with the intel d930 you can seriously overclock it. in bench testing it was up there with an amd xp fx60!!! oh and its loads cheeper