MY RIG: suggestions, opinions, advice... please!

dwnlojedi

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May 27, 2003
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Hey all,

I just wanna say thanks in advance for any and all input... I have owned a few computers, a Compaq here, a Dell or two there... but after finally saving some cash.. i am going to build myself a nice a$$-kicking box.

I'm really trying to get the most out of one ultimate rig... i'm trying for a high end gaming rig/ graphics (web, print, 3D, video) workstation that will also handle my mp3 hoarding, cd/dvd burning and regular day to day, word processing, web surfing etc...

I'd really appreciate input on what i have spec'd out.. particulary in terms of performance, stability, compatibility with the above goals in mind...

also, with the time i have spent lurking on these boards =) and a few others... i am becoming more and more intrigued with all this overclocking business... being a automotive gearhead... the bug to hot rod my computer although not planned just yet is quite inevitable... so your opinions on that would be great too..


Components spec'd so far:
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Intel P4 3.0Ghz 800Mhz FSB
Asus P4C800 Deluxe
2Gigs RAM - 4x512MB Corsair XMS PC3200C2
Radeon 9800 Pro 256MB
2 x Western Digital 200GB 7200rpm 8MB HD - striped, RAID 0
Sony DRU500A DVD+/- RW
Sound Blaster Audigy 2
Antec True Power 480W PSU
Lian Li 6070 Case
Dell UltraSharp 2000FP 20" Flat LCD
 

over_c

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I only have one suggestion. Since you might want to try overclocking you probably want to get PC3500 memory instead of PC3200.
 

Twitch

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Get yourself some awesome speakers, like the Megaworks 6.1 THX or Promedia 5.1 Klipsch THX. 2 Gigs of RAM is overkill. It won't hurt, of course, but I would rather have 1 GIG of overclockable, high-quality PC3500 capable of running at 2-5-2-2-T1 than 2 GIGs of PC3200...but that's just me. You won't see any benefit from the extra RAM in games...even 1 GIG is overkill for the games that are out there now.

I would highly recommend high-quality speakers, though. They really make a system complete...

<font color=green>The Netherlands is where you go when you're too good for heaven.</font color=green> :tongue:
 

Twitch

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Oh, and if you don't already have one, get a Logitech MX700 cordless mouse. Fvcking awesome mouse, and the only cordless good for gaming.


<font color=green>The Netherlands is where you go when you're too good for heaven.</font color=green> :tongue:
 

Maverick494

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If you are getting an Audigy 2 and this high end system then you need this to go with it:

Creative Megaworks THX 6.1 Speaker RT 349.00$ can only be used with the AUdigy 2.

that way you have a complete home ent./gaming/productivity solution. Oh and the neighbors won't know if they are under fire when you play doom III when it comes out.

Just a computer junky
 

dwnlojedi

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May 27, 2003
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thanks for the input so far guys...

i hadn't decided on a speaker setup yet... but all things point to that creative megaworks setup... mmmm

so all in all i have a solid setup? I honestly want to just work and play really hard on this computer so it has to be fast and stable.

so TWITCH, you really think it best to go with PC3500? but only cuz of the overclocking right? would 2 GIGs of PC3500 be extreme overkill? hehehe I don't really have a "money is no object" kind of budget, but i planned on doing alot of overkill... i want a system that can still be considered bada$$ and top of the line... a year from now... overkill now helps that.
 

Twitch

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Well, I just finished building a sort-of money-is-no-object system. I have 1 GIG of Corsair PC3500 running at close to the most aggressive memory timings and the processor at 217 X 15, (3255 MHZ) which is a mediocre overclock for the P4C. You might not be able to reach a stable FSB overclock with PC3200, and even if you can, you would certainly have to relax memory timings.

Is 2GIGS overkill? I would have to say...definitely. I have 1 GIG and my system flies in everything. I have only seen a handful of games, like BF1942, that really even need 512 megs. I'm sure some of the newer games, like Half-life 2 and Doom 3, will benefit from 1 GIG, but look at it this way...if it becomes necessary, you can always add it later.

<font color=green>The Netherlands is where you go when you're too good for heaven.</font color=green> :tongue:
 

Prof133

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* Yep, go pc3500 on the memory.

* According to newegg's website, Asus P4C800 Deluxe does not support IDE RAID. So, in order to do RAID 0 with the two WDs, you would need a IDE RAID Controller or some kind of IDE-SATA converter (two of them). Or get SATA hard drives.

<b><font color=blue>I agree with that solution ... because it is a logical one.</font color=blue></b>
 

dwnlojedi

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thanks PROF... i read that as well on newegg.com, but i have found several forums with P4C800 users stating the board actually did support IDE RAID... so its a bit confusing... cuz the manual that you can download from the asus site for the P4C800 states that the promise RAID controller onboard supports two serial ATA HDD on SATA _RAID1/SATA RAID2 interfaces and two ATA133 HDD on the PRI_RAID interface...

Those two WD caviar HDD are ATA 100... so i need a separate controller then yeah?



and uhh i sort of already bought the hard drives... hehe Fry's and Western Digital had a nice rebate thing going on and i got 400Gigs for $300 bucks
 

Twitch

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First off, someone please tell me how to find a site to post my system config, so I can link to it...

Okay, my rig:

*<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?image=11-170-010-07.JPG/11-170-010-05.JPG/11-170-010-02.JPG/11-170-010-04.JPG/11-170-010-09.JPG/11-170-010-08.JPG/11-170-010-06.JPG/11-170-010-01.JPG" target="_new">Kingwin KT-436-WM Black ATX Case</A> w/ Antec TruePower 430 Watt power supply.
*Gigabyte 875 Titan 8KNXP(non-Ultra)<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?image=13-128-185-05.JPG/13-128-185-06.JPG/13-128-185-04.JPG/13-128-185-02.JPG/13-128-185-03.jpg/13-128-185-07.JPG" target="_new">Mainboard</A>
*Intel Pentium 4C 3000 Mhz HT 800 FSB Processor (Stock cooling)
*2 Sticks of CORSAIR MEMORY XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series 512MB 32MX8 PC-3500C2 With Platinum - Silver Heat Spreader--running in Dual channel mode at 2-2-3-5.
*Two Seagate Barracuda 120 GiG SATA HDs running in RAID 0
*One WD 80 GIG Special Edition 7200 RPM IDE Hard Drive
*ATI Radeon 9800 PRO 128MB Graphics Card
*Sony 16X DVD ROM (Black)
*Sony 52X24X52 CDRW Burner (Black)
*Sony 3.5" Floppy
*Sony E400 Trinitron 19" Multiscan Monitor
*Logitech MX-700 Cordless mouse w/ Logitech iTouch Keyboard
*Creative Audigy 2 Platinum Sound Card
*Creative Megaworks 6.1 THX Surround Speakers (600 Watt)

Yes, my sytem rawks. For at least another couple months. lol


<font color=green>The Netherlands is where you go when you're too good for heaven.</font color=green> :tongue: