New computer - what do you think?!

[timtim86]

Hi,

I am about to buy a new computer and i wondered other people's opinions on what i'm getting. Here it is :-

Shuttle SN27P2 ( i liked it better than the SD37P2)
Athlon64 X2 5000+
Corsair XMS2 1GB (one stick)
Seagate 7200.10 250GB
X800 GTO2 from sapphire

the graphic card and hdd are from my old computer and i like shuttles better than normal towers because they look much nicer. Do you reckon this system will be any good?! Thanks

[ultim8um]

Yeah seems like a nice little system... As long as its not for hardcore gaming Oh and erm don't you have to fit DDR2 in pairs (hence the reason behind it having 4 slots!)

[ExceededGoku]

yeah in all AMD 64s I think it is best to use dual channel so either get 2x512 (or make the stretch to 2x1024 if possible). Not so much a problem on the C2Ds but it is best still...
Also wondering why you're shelling out on a reasonably expensive cpu when there are lower ones that you could oc

[timtim86]

what would be the limiting factor if it was meant to be a gaming pc then? the graphics card? i know that's pretty old now...

is it meant to be in pairs? i'm getting on 1gb stick because i'd like to leave the other spaces open for when i have some more money...won't it work with one stick? Thanks

[timtim86]

i thought that the shuttle boxes don't overclock well...that's why i went for the more expensive cpu. Plus i'm in america at them moment so it costs 130 pounds for the processor not 200 like the uk...pretty good huh?

[ultim8um]

USA rocks for buying components normally
DDR = fit in pairs for dual channel operation (slight speed boost)
DDR2= only works in pairs! Can't be fitted singularly!

As for overclocking, well some of them are ok tbh but of course the major limitations are power (teeny little psu's) and heat (teeny little cases).

If you could pick up a 35 watt tdp dual core (not sure but I think AMD do a an X2 for socket AM2 thats badged as SFF). Alternatively you may find a 65nm CPU in the states (65 watt tdp).

I would do some investigation for the shuttle model your interested in. Try here: http://www.sudhian.com/index.php?/forums/viewforum/4/ as there is a large well established group of shuttle modders n overclockers in residence.

As for the graphics card... Yep that would be the limiting factor and something like an X1950 Pro would tide you over nicely!

[this_is_gav]

DDR2= only works in pairs! Can't be fitted singularly!

Where on earth did you read that? I don't know about AM2 (would be utterly shocked to be honest), but 1 stick of DDR2 works perfectly fine in every Intel setup I've ever played with...

As for overclocking, well some of them are ok tbh but of course the major limitations are power (teeny little psu's) and heat (teeny little cases).

Teeny little, true, but very efficient. The PSU wouldn't be the limiting factor for an overclock.

But agreed - no real point in overclocking an AM2 given the current prices, and not really advisable to overclock in a SFF.

The graphics card has a bit of life left in it yet. It's not that old. I know people still using TI4200s for gaming. So long as you're expecting top details in new games, and aren't intending to run at high resolutions (1280x1024 would be fine for most games) it'll be fine.

[NightshadowUK]

Depends what he's playing really. GTO²'s if flashed and clocked are still awesome cards. I'm able to run the Battlefield and Source games at full with nice amounts of AA & AF. Hell it even gives NFSMW a run for it's money.

Only in the past few weeks am I starting to notice the card hindering me, what with blur not working in NFS Carbon and a few games with HDR (no SM3)... Oh and I have a feeling Oblivion is going to be harsh when I install it later today.

[nvening]

Is there no shuttle for C2D???

[DanceswithUnix]

I run an AM2 3000+ in an Asus M2NPV-VM motherboard with just the one DIMM (for the same cost reasons). I actually have a matching DIMM now, but not fitted it yet. Been running 24/7 for months without a hitch. The ASUS motherboard specifically states that it is ok to run a single DIMM.

I figured that with just one DDR2 DIMM I still have nearly the same bandwidth as my old dual channel S939 setup

[timtim86]

Okay right...I just bought my stuff from newegg.com, the X2 5000+ and the gig of XMS2 RAM. I didn't really want to stretch to another $150 for another stick so i just thought i'd wait til i got home to see if it works - then order another one if needs be. The processor and RAM cost 200 pounds, together, not bad!

My GTO2 came with 16 pipes enabled out the box, and i can just overclock it with ATiTool to get pretty decent speeds...SM3.0 would be nice though! I mostly play BF2 so i doubt this system wil have a problem with that.

Got a bit worried though...i originally wanted a C2D system from shuttle, but the one they have out at the moment has no PCI slot and not a great chjipset..does anyone know anything about an upcoming C2D shuttle, following the SD37P2? Also, will AMD follow up with better CPUs in AM2 format?

[timtim86]

Is there no shuttle for C2D???

They do, the SD37P2, but it doesn't have a PCI slot and the layout of the PCI-e slots is ridiculous!

[DanceswithUnix]

Also, will AMD follow up with better CPUs in AM2 format?

Yes, plenty. AMD have stated that their AM3 CPUs will have support for both DDR3 and DDR2 memory, but will be backwards compatible so you can plug one in an AM2 motherboard. So, you should at some point be able to upgrade to their next gen dual core with faster SSE; L3 cache etc.

With luck maybe a quad core too

[timtim86]

awesome! and hopefully they'll come out with some that are much better than the Intel offerings of late...

thank god they will be backwards compatible, it'd really wind me up if they weren't.

will the mobo have to be compatible with the DDR3 ram though? Or is it automatically so?

[DanceswithUnix]

An AM2 motherboard will only ever take DDR2 memory. The AM3 CPU will be fine with that, and will use the DDR2 memory on your AM2 motherboard.

To upgrade to DDR3 ram will require a motherboard swap. Maybe quad core will benefit from the extra bandwidth, who knows.

Just nice to have a phased upgrade path.

[DanceswithUnix]

Oh, and as for better than Intel offerings I rather doubt that. I expect it will be about the same on the next core update from looking at the features they are adding.