My New PC - Advice Needed

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15-10-2005, 11:36 PM
Xaneden

My New PC - Advice Needed

Hey Guys,
Just wondered if you could scan through this list of components for my new S939 based PC. The colour key is as follows:

Blue = Items I already own. (If you think they need replacing/aren't good enough though, don't hesitate to suggest substitutes :D)
Red = Items I need to get. (Again, if you can think of a better substitute, please say so. :))

Motherboard
ECS RX480-A
http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWeb/Products/ProductsDetail.aspx?MenuID=90&LanID=8&DetailID=528&DetailName=Specification

Processor
AMD Opteron 146
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=164955

RAM
?

PSU
580W HiperPower Type-R Modular Black
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=228620

Boot/Windows/Programs HDD
?

Data HDD
?

Optical Drive
NEC ND4550
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=273356

Case
Coolermaster Stacker 830 (not released yet)
http://www.coolermaster-europe.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=RC-830&other_title=+RC-830+CM%20Stacker%20830

Thanks for any help you guys can give. :)
15-10-2005, 11:44 PM
Tobeman

HDDs are so cheap these days I think you should atleast go for a 7200rpm drive, would make the difference in loading times. I believe you can get the OEM 3200 cheaper on Scan too, and they offer a 3500 OEM also, but not a 3200, I think my memory serves my correctly here.
15-10-2005, 11:50 PM
Xaneden

Excellent, thanks a lot for the processor tip Tobeman :D
16-10-2005, 12:55 AM
helpdisc

http://www.savastore.com/products/co...rs/socket-939/

http://www.dabs.com/productlist.aspx...147&PageMode=1

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/home/...982896&stid=1&

Pardon my intrusion, I hope that you going to look in every shop available!!!
16-10-2005, 10:35 AM
Xaneden

Thanks for the links helpdisc, but I'd already checked them for price and the processors are more expensive (and without free postage like Scan.) :)

Anyone else got any recommendations?
16-10-2005, 10:57 AM
fredered

I would agre that you want a 72000rpm drive, as soon as windows decides to bung anything on the oaging file with a slower one you will have quite a lot of slowdown
16-10-2005, 11:04 AM
Xaneden

Thanks for the advice Fred, I've had a browse through the HDD sections of a number of shops, but the specs all seem somewhat alike. Anyone got the names of any particular models which perform well (and have a decent capacity) for under the 60 quid mark?
16-10-2005, 11:45 AM
Tobeman

The latest Samsung SATA drives are v. nice, so quiet! One of the fastest performing drives I've used too.
16-10-2005, 11:49 AM
sawyen

if u'll be playing either BF2 or FEAR.. u will need at least 2GB of memory (courtesy of 1 hour dizzy FEAR gameplay due to excessive lag on 1GB memory).. 2x512 will not cut the mustard now...
16-10-2005, 11:53 AM
Xaneden

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobeman

The latest Samsung SATA drives are v. nice, so quiet! One of the fastest performing drives I've used too.

Would this be the SpinPoint P120?
16-10-2005, 11:57 AM
Xaneden

I'm somewhat hesitant of buying 2gb of DDR400, as in the future, I'd hope to upgrade to a DDR2 based motherboard (when they come out), so I'd spend my money on a nice amoun of it then. Is this a wise choice, or is DDDR2 not coming to 939 anytime soon?
16-10-2005, 12:13 PM
Tobeman

DDR2 boards are already out with Intel boards. However they have shoddy latencies, no idea when DDR2 AMD boards are coming either. I was thinking the same thing with my build, and I've learnt to buy the best you can at the time, otherwise you can sit around and your spec will change each week as new bits come out and prices drop.

And yeah, thats the drive I meant.
16-10-2005, 12:28 PM
NightshadowUK

Scan now offer the 3200+ as an OEM package, I'll get back to you on the heatsink and fans.

Also, if you want to overclock, have a look at Corsair's TwinX range.
16-10-2005, 12:44 PM
BUFF

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xcelsion

PSU
Not sure, I tried to look at the large PSU review on Hexus, but all the links are dead :( Any suggestions as to which one would be ideal? I can pay up to around 50 to 60 pounds max, and am looking for one around the 480w mark +.

How about the Hiper 580W type R?
16-10-2005, 12:44 PM
sawyen

If ur getting only 1GB of ram.. then leave FEAR alone.. unless u like terminal headache...
16-10-2005, 02:45 PM
mike_w

I have a Tagan 480W going well in my PC. I also like Seagates - reliable and a five year warranty.
16-10-2005, 04:37 PM
Xaneden

http://www.scan.co.uk/search/search....ria=tagan+480w

Which Tagan were you referring to Mike?
16-10-2005, 04:40 PM
sawyen

Either Tagan 2Force or EasyCon would be fine... 2Force would have a stronger 12v rail but u'll lose the ability to go modular..
16-10-2005, 05:25 PM
arthurleung

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike_w

I got a Tagan 480W when there was only the one to choose from. Out of those three, I would go for the cheapest - I personally wouln't want a modular PSU.

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...roductID=82572

Once you know you saved an hour of your life from not doing the cable messing you'll be glad you bought the modular PSU.
16-10-2005, 05:37 PM
mike_w

I got a Tagan 480W when there was only the one to choose from. Out of those three, I would go for the cheapest - I personally wouln't want a modular PSU.

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...roductID=82572
16-10-2005, 05:41 PM
Xaneden

Thanks for the great advice guys, keep it coming. :D

Also, can someone suggest a good(ish) graphics card for around the 80 to 100 pound mark? I'm not sure if the one I listed is good enough.
16-10-2005, 06:19 PM
dave87

If your wanting to overclock, go for teh Thermalright XP-120. One of the best performing heatsinks about, due to using a 120mm fan :)

Dave
16-10-2005, 06:59 PM
nvening

AMD will probs just skip DDR2, and move straight to the next gen.
16-10-2005, 07:32 PM
mike_w

Quote:

Originally Posted by arthurleung

Once you know you saved an hour of your life from not doing the cable messing you'll be glad you bought the modular PSU.

I only spend about two minutes stuffing my cables into a corner, so for me, the modular version really isn't worth the money. It all depends on what your priorities are.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nvening

AMD will probs just skip DDR2, and move straight to the next gen.

According to an article I read (Anandtech), AMD will move to DDR2 with the new Socket (M2?).
16-10-2005, 09:34 PM
Thorsson

Recommendations based on fact you are on a budget:

Heatsink/fan: Zalman Cu7700. Almost as cool as the XP-120, and a lot cheaper.

PSU: Akasa, Fortron, Hiper, Tagan. You pay extra for modular.

Graphics: X800GT is a minimum level. If you've found a card for £80 though, I'd be worried that it wasn't using DDR3 to cut costs.
17-10-2005, 08:41 PM
geezerone

I use Hiper 525W which cost me less than £50 bought locally but one you may want to consider?

With cooling fans bear in mind that some are very heavy (nearly 1KG) and is outside of motherboard manufacturer guidelines of about 450g. If fitting one of these you are warned to move PC very carefully, so from that I would avoid heavy fans. I use Arctic Freezer 64 which has dropped CPU load temps compared to stock cooling by approx 6 deg celcius and is very quiet.
17-10-2005, 11:22 PM
Xaneden

Well, I'm looking for a PC which is as quite as possible (within reason). So would this Artic Freezer 64 be suffifcent for some level of overclocking, yet still remain at acceptable levels of noise?
17-10-2005, 11:27 PM
herulach

Supposedly the 939 opterons overclock like bad boys, so you mgith want to look into one of them instead.
22-10-2005, 05:59 PM
Xaneden

Ok guys, I've updated the specification with the processor I've finally decided on. However, I'm still very uncertain about what RAM and HDD to go for. Although the PSU I have selected 'looks good', I really don't know enough about them to decide; all the ones you guys have pointed out look good.

So I'm basically going to write down more precisely what I'm looking for in these components, and hopefully some of you guys who had similar requirements can point me in the direction you took. :)

RAM - I am looking for 1gb (maybe 2gb if the price is under 80 pound). I really only want to spend around the 60 quid mark, and I am obviously looking for the lowest latencies I can get. However, I'm not sure about other factors you need to consider with RAM, so any DIMMs suggested will be appreciated. :)

HDD - I like the look of the 36gb Raptor, but I've heard conflicting statements about both its performance, and prodominently how noisy it is. Is it really worth spending on one of these, or will a larger 7200rpm drive provide just as good real life perfomance? Also, I am looking for a fairly substantial (over 200gb) secondary HDD to store files on; it has to be 7200rpm and with a decent buffer (and again, fairly quiet :)).

PSU - I'm looking for around the 400 to 500w mark, with support for SLi/Crossfire, and ample connections for SATA etc. As I stated earlier, I tried the PSU reviews which took place a week or so ago, but the links were dead. :( Any suggestions? Also, I hope to overclock my Opteron a bit, so the PSU needs to be able to hold up. :)

Thanks for all the help you guys have given me, the PSUs and RAM suggested already look very good, but I'm not sure which one is right for me. Again, any help you can give is greatly appreciated :)
22-10-2005, 06:05 PM
mike_w

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xcelsion

RAM - I am looking for 1gb (maybe 2gb if the price is under 80 pound). I really only want to spend around the 60 quid mark, and I am obviously looking for the lowest latencies I can get. However, I'm not sure about other factors you need to consider with RAM, so any DIMMs suggested will be appreciated. :)

The only thing I can really add to what I've already said is RAM: I wouldn't care much about the RAM, so long as it is from a decent brand. Something such as Corsair Value Select or Crucial standard might not have the best latencies, but it is a fair bit cheaper, and latencies only make a small difference.

I haven't looked at prices in the past few months, but I don't think you'd be able to get anything with better latencies than value RAM for £60.