Another First Time Comp Builder

**RufusKing** · 13-10-2003, 01:29 AM

Yo guys. Im planning to build my own comp for the first time round... Im pretty sure on what I want to get spec wise, but just wanted some advise on a couple of things... no dount the first of many

Firstly, I was going to go for Athlon XP2800 but I read that it aint worth the extra if your going to over clock, and to go for a lesser version... so, Im guessing its not worth overclocking the XP2800 becuase Athlon have already done that..

second up, the motherboard I wanted to go for is here

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=51334

its a
Epox 8KRA2+ SKT A KT600 8X AGP ATX 133/SATA DDR400 SOUND/LAN/FIREWIRE/USB 2.0

Is this going to take the Athlon you guys advise in its full glory, or is it worth going elsewhere. I dont really want to go for loads of onbaord stuff... just me LAN, USB and Firewire.

I think thats about it for now. Cheers for the helps guys... now what was the other thing I was going to ask.......

-Rufus

**da_ging** · 13-10-2003, 01:36 AM

im not really up on amd at the mo but im fairly sure ur going to be told to get an Nforce2 board probably the Abit NF7 v2.0

and to get a barton 2500 and 2 sticks of ram

**directhex** · 13-10-2003, 03:48 AM

get an Nforce2 board probably the Abit NF7 v2.0

get a barton 2500 and 2 sticks of ram

**RufusKing** · 13-10-2003, 10:50 AM

yeah, I thought somone was going to say that... but why?

for a start Im not an NVidia fan, I was going to go ATI... so why get this motherbaord everyones going on about?

And what about my choice? can someone give me some feedback on that, or at least go in to some detail why this suggest mobo is being pushed by nearly everyone that posts.

**nichomach** · 13-10-2003, 12:33 PM

Hang on, don't confuse Nvidia chipsets with Nvidia graphics; I use an NF7-S v1 with a Radeon 9700, and they work fine together. You'll be told to get an nForce2 based motherboard because it's simply the best combination of blistering performance in terms of getting the best out of your AMD CPU and your memory; what graphics you plug in is entirely your own choice; as I say, I use an ATi-based graphics card in an nForce2 board, and it works very nicely, thank you. The two sticks of RAM are because you WILL want to use the dual-memory-channel capabilities of the nForce2.

Also, unless you want to spend a load of cash on an Audigy2, you'll get fantastic sound from the 5.1 sound on the Abit board. Get the NF7-S and you'll also get a SerialATA RAID controller; team that up with one or two Maxtor SATA drives, and you'll have VERY quick performance. All told, it'll keep you very happy.

**RufusKing** · 13-10-2003, 12:40 PM

I was planning to go for an audigy 2, I am a sound engineer (and my games are ruining my audio system

) so I want the full 7.1, but its going to be extremely useful moneywise to not have to fork out for it when I build the basic system.

Thanks for clearing up the wrong assumption of onboard graphics.

As far as cooling go's, if Im going to overclock am I going to need a nice heatsink and a couple of fans?

and just for re-assurance.... why it not worth doing the P4 route?

**nichomach** · 13-10-2003, 12:56 PM

Ohhhh yes...your Heatsink/fan are going to be important, but fortunately the reviews here'll give you a heads up. As to what you buy, it's a while since I built mine, so I'll stay stumm on that point point - there are more qualified people here to address that. As far as case fans, I chucked 4 Coolermaster Smart/Quiet 80mms into a box here recently (they have thermal sensors and adjust their speed accordingly) and they do a nice enough job.
As far as going the P4 route, it's simply price/performance ratio. You can beat the performance of an AthlonXP/Barton with a P4, no question, but you have to pay a price premium for it. It's not a bad solution, and if you're prepared to pay for it, I'd consider another Abit board, the IC7-G (or the Max3 version, maybe), teamed up with a 2.4C P4 and a chuffin' good heatsink and fan, then OC it to hell. I've got a box here at work constructed around a -G, and that's quick and stable. Also, it's another dual-channel DDR solution, so again those two sticks of RAM'll come in handy.

Also has onboard 5.1 audio, USB2, firewire, all that stuff. It'll cost you more than a Barton/NF7-S combo though.

**RufusKing** · 13-10-2003, 01:01 PM

also just to check, im pretty sure on this one, but the NF7-S is just the NF7 with on board sound....?

**nichomach** · 13-10-2003, 01:15 PM

Well, both the NF7's have onboard sound, but the S has "Soundstorm" branded sound - which you DO want

. Also the S has SerialATA RAID, and even if you don't use the RAID function and just use it as a straight hard disk controller, I reckon you'll see better performance (I assume, if it's a new system that you'll be buying a hard disk as well); and you'll get a wee bit of future-proofing.

**RufusKing** · 13-10-2003, 01:36 PM

Cheers. I think my choice of HDs at the moment is either the

Maxtor Diamondmax Plus 9 120Gb 7200rpm 8mb Cache ATA133 Hard Drive

or the

Maxtor 6Y080M0 Plus 9 80Gb Serial ATA 7200rpm

I dont think I need any epic amounts of space. I do some video editing and 3d graphics but I already own a firewire 160gb drive....

what would you recomend out of my choices (or outside my choices)?

**nichomach** · 13-10-2003, 01:50 PM

I'm using a single plus 9 80GB plugged into the SATA controller on my NF7-S, and have found it reliable and trouble free, as well as quick, so I'm probably biased

**RufusKing** · 13-10-2003, 01:55 PM

I'll stick that down as a definate then for my HDs.... sounds like a winner to me...

A question I just realised that could solve a lot of potential embaressment is, will any mobo fir into any case?

Im browsing my cases now, thought I made a choice and realised I might decide to buy a case that wont fit the mobo

any buying hints?

**nichomach** · 13-10-2003, 02:09 PM

Well, your NF7-S is a pretty standard sized ATX-format board, so Midi or full tower and up should be OK. Cases to avoid are those labelled as anything like FlexATX, mATX, µATX and similar, since these are all designed for smaller form factor boards.

Basically check the specs for the case; if it says it takes ATX boards, then the NF7-S should fit fine. Also check whether it comes with a PSU or not (lots don't; the user can fit their choice, which can be a GOOD thing - you get to pick a reliable one, and maybe quieter than some unbranded and cheap component).

**RufusKing** · 13-10-2003, 02:44 PM

I suppose the next question is what else do I need to look for in a case?

ANy specific vents, one with fans?

Also, does a PSU have any recommended spec?

btw this was the case I was looking at getting

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=51345

I am pretty sure this is the case makers page for the case

http://www.super-flower.com.tw/sf-461t2s.htm

**RufusKing** · 13-10-2003, 08:50 PM

no help on this one then?

**steve threlfall** · 13-10-2003, 09:08 PM

PSU always causes a big debate tbh matey. You want to get a good quality psu about 350w. A cheaper 400w psu will not be rated correctly. Its best to spend a few quid extra on something that will last, make your system run with better stability etc

This is the kind of thing im talking about http://web6.scan.co.uk/Products/Info.asp?WPID=37215

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