Right. New PC. Advice?

[DaBeeeenster]

Right then. When I get back to Blighty (mid June) I'm going to be upgrading my PC. I have a keyboard, case, mouse, monitor and some EIDE hard disks, but everything else needs upgrading. I'm gonna make a Shuttle Linux MythTV tivo box with the old bits, so they wont go to waste, but I want some ideas on kit for the new machine.

Was thinking along the lines of:

- AMD very overclockable processor (the new low volt mobile one maybe)
- 2 RAID SATA disks (striped)
- Radeon 9x00 something or other
- 1GB Ram
- Nforce2 mobo
- New, powerful, quiet PSU

The machine will be used professionally for Java development, as well as a gaming rig (I work from home a lot of the time). Money is not much of an issue, but I dont want to go mental, and I want value for money. I'm not interested in paying top dollar if I can get similar performance with a 40% saving. You know the idea.

Finally, it has to be fairly quiet.

[mike_w]

Motherboard: NF7-S
CPU: Mobile Barton 2500+ - It runs at low voltage like you said, so has oddles of overclocking potential.

[blockers]

Standard answer
CPU: XP2500-m
MOBO: Abit NF7-S (v2.0)
RAM: 1gb PC3200 2x512mb format (manu depends on how much you want to spend)
GFX: Radeon 9800pro (cheap and overclocks to XT)
HDD: 2x80gb Maxtor SATA
PSU: 450watt CWT (from scan)
Case: Get an aluminium one

These are good spec's now - but with the new games, and new hardware becoming availible you may want to look at alternatives later in the year, September time.....ofcourse it will be high prices..

Hope that helps in some way

Will

[Stewart]

CPU: Mobile Barton 2500+
Motherboard: Asus A7N8X Deluxe rev2.0
RAM: 2x 512gb Crucial PC3200
GPU: Sapphire Radeon 9800pro 128
Hard Drive: Raptors? Or a couple of Samsung Spinpoint 80gigs.
PSU: Antec SmartBlue 350w
Case: Antec P160 Anodized Aluminum Super Midi

[Skii]

This means your finally going to join us for a bit of Il2 then Beeenie ?

[0iD]

CPU: AMD XP-M 2500+ or A64 3400+
Motherboard: NF7-S or Asus SK8V
RAM: 2x 512gb Corsair XMS PC3200 or 2 x 512gb Kingmax PC3500
GPU: Sapphire Radeon 9800pro 128
Hard Drive: 2 x 74gig Raptors Raid 0
PSU: Tagan 480W
Case: Wavemaster or Antec Sonata

[DaBeeeenster]

This means your finally going to join us for a bit of Il2 then Beeenie ?

Indeed it does mate. I'm going to get a decent joystick. I've got the pedals from a Logitch Momo wheel - they are not exactly symmetrical (brake is a little smaller) - will that do for the rudders?

[Skii]

Indeed it does mate. I'm going to get a decent joystick. I've got the pedals from a Logitch Momo wheel - they are not exactly symmetrical (brake is a little smaller) - will that do for the rudders?

Definately. Most of us use a 'twist' control on the joystick for rudders, but pedals will do the job very nicely indeed.

Clingy has a set of pedals up and running, he does just fine

Its run like stink on that set-up too

[DaBeeeenster]

Does the NF7 have on board RAID?

[Jonny M]

Yes. Go for the 480w Tagan PSU, it's pretty much silent.

[DaBeeeenster]

Man, those 10k raptors are not cheap are they

I might do 2x36GB in Raid 0 for my windows, java and games storage. I still have a few other large hard disks kicking around that I can use for mp3 storage etc.

WTF is going on with memory prices too

The Barton Mobile processor - I want to overclock the processor but leave the system FSB stock so that it doesn't take the hard disks, GPU or memory down. This is possible, right? The CPU is unlocked so I can just whack up the multiplier?

[0iD]

Shouldn't effect the pci/agp bus if the motherboard allows them to be locked. Should get XP3200 speeds without it breaking into a sweat. Even std Barton 2500's will do that, as they have a multi of 11 already. Just means increasing fsb to 200 & voltage increases shouldn't be necessary. I have 2x36 raptors, raid 0 & they are more than fast enough.

[DaBeeeenster]

Ok, so with te NF7-S 2.0 I can lock the PCI and AGP buses to standard FSB and up the rest bus speed to the processor/RAM/gfx?

[0iD]

Yes, there is an option in the BIOS. Good review of the board here if you're interested.

[Agent]

PCI bus is always locked on thje NF7, you have no option to adjust it

Ill write you a better reply later on Ben, when i have a bit more free time on my hands

[DaBeeeenster]

PCI bus is always locked on thje NF7, you have no option to adjust it

Ill write you a better reply later on Ben, when i have a bit more free time on my hands

No. Write one now!