1k target pricetag build feedback request

[Eyemaze]

Gaming rig although I do 3d modelling.

New Egg prices. I could OC but I am totally new to OC.

Current computer is a prize from Bioware from 2002 pentium 4 circa 2 gig proc 1, gig ram with a 2003 Geforce GPU.

Was considering:

ASUS A8N-SLI Premium Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
$163.00

XFX PVT42GUAD7 Geforce 6800GS 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
$215.00

CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model TWINX2048-3200 - Retail
$215.00

AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3700BNBOX - Retail
$233.00

Future upgradability is important so I want something that will let me add a second GPU for SLI, or move to dual core proc in the future.


Still need to add
case/PSU/fans (quiet would be nice and enough power to account for future dual SLI/upgrades)
HD


I already have a cd/dvd drive

Thanks in advance for any help you may provide.

I have read some other threads and see that I should probably put the most dollars into the GPU and save dollars elsewhere. Where to shave the $ from would be most helpful!

 

[Eyemaze]

Having done some further reading I see that SLI is not really worth it considering the advantages gained by dual carding are only worth it if you put in the highest end cards. Byt the time I would want more graphics power it would be better to just get a high end card again.

 

[pickxx]

your 2nd post is actually amazing....you read, figured it out for yourself and came to the right conclution....THANK YOU for saving me time explaining that again..


For CPU get a 3800+ X2, it will GREATLY help with 3dmodeling and provide a tiyn advantages in games...

For Mobo, get the EPoX EP-9NPA+Ultra, its 105 at newegg and its a better and cheaper board then that ASUS

Ram, you are alright

GPU, get whatever you want....that will come down to how much you game and what your total budget can handle. I usually say ti built your system for a cheap amount and quality then the rest of your budget should go to GPU....someimes thats 200, sometimes its 700....7800GT can be had online for $325 and is more then twice as good as the 6800GS....so find an extra 125bucks for a HUGE sweetspot.


HDD, you should get two cheap 250GB Sata drives and RAID0 them, and one for storage of info you dont want to lose. This will help with 3d modeling and will do nearly nothing for gaming.
If you want to cut costs you can get one 250GB sata drive.

PSU....get a 500W enermax or Fortron source...whichever one you can find for the cheapest.

Case....i dont give a flying fuk what case you get....I like the Antec solution series because its simple and has 120mm fan holes. As for fans.....i would say some medium powered panaflow's would be great for you to keep it quiet.

 

[pickxx]

Where to shave the $ from would be most helpful!

Once you give me an idea of total budget, and purpose....do you want it 75% gaming 25% 3d modeling? or 75% modfeling and 25% gaming?

once i have that i can modeify what you have to make the best system for the price you quote me.

 

[Eyemaze]

Thank you very much for the reply

Will that motherboard support X2?

Newegg lists this for cpu support:
CPU Type: Athlon 64 FX/Athlon 64

I had changed my Mobo choice to this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813128301

GIGABYTE GA-K8N Pro-SLI Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

Which does show X2 support:
Athlon 64 FX/Athlon 64/Athlon X2

Thanks so much for the time and effort you put in to helping folks out, it is much appreciated if often unspoken.

So the revised build is looking like this:

>>GIGABYTE GA-K8N Pro-SLI Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $106.00
>>eVGA 256-P2-N516 Geforce 7800GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail $319.00
>>CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model TWINX2048-3200 - Retail $206.00
>>AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Dual Core Processor Model ADA3800BVBOX - Retail $322.00
>>FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX500-A ATX12V 500W Power Supply - Retail $91.00
Subtotal: $1,044.00 (still missing case and HD(s))


UPDATE EDIT: after seeing you new post:

Hmm I would say I want to do more modelling in the future but do a lot of gaming; mostly things like Civ4 and in the the future POTBS (a 3D MMORPG) I don't play many FPS games but certainly do play 3D games and will be getting Oblivion when it comes out.

I would probably say I would want to balance the two as much as possible since the 3d work is for modding/self entertainment rather than income generation it would not be the top priority (so perhaps gaming would have the edge there heh).
Budget is 1k I could probably get away with 1200. Any more than that and the wife would probably get a lil upset. Must sweeten her up on Dec 2nd it is her Birthday heh.

 

[pickxx]

Again i would advise a EPoX EP-9NPA+Ultra, if you dont like that board consider the Chaintech ZNF4, or the DFI ultra-D.....they all support X2's.

If you want to cut some cost out....you could go single core. It will make your 3dmodeling take some more time but you coudl get a 3200+ for 152...so thats 170 saved...you could also go from 2GB of ram down to 1GB. that would save you about 120bucks.

Personally i would run the 3800+ X2, 1 GB of ram, 7800GT, EPoX EP-9NPA+Ultra, FSP PSU, and a cheap 250GB Sata drive, and any optical you want. That would keep you right around $1000 shipped

Its your call though.

 

[Eyemaze]

Okies, switched to the Epox board you listed; might I ask why you recommend this one over the second one I listed?

This drive seems decent
Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM and only $100

Probably get the cheapest case I can find with 2 120 fans.

 

[Eyemaze]

The video card I had picked from NEwEgg was
eVGA 256-P2-N516 Geforce 7800GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail $319 (20 instant saving off $339)


NewEgg has this combo deal right now

eVGA 256-P2-N518 Geforce 7800GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail $379

FREE eVGA 133-K8-NF41 Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail FREE (normally $129)


Only differences I can see between the two GPUs is

1100MHz memory clock ($379 card)
1070MHz memory clock ($319card)

460MHz core clock ($379 card)
445MHz core clock ($319card)

HDTV/S-Video Out ($379 card)
HDTV/S-Video/Composite Out ($319 card)

Bear in mind the 379 card comes with the free $129 Mobo


It seems to be there is a bunch Evga 7800 gts made each with different specs not sure which is the "best" but this deal seems pretty good. Better clock speeds on the free mobo card and save $60 in the process.

 

[rustang351c]

Pickxx I've seen you guys recommend that Epox board alot. I'm also wanting to do a "first build" and had almost decided on the DFI.

the Epox has a 1000mhz bus rating where alot of the others say 2000mhz. Are those rated differently? Does this spec not matter? Is it supposed to match the bis speed on the cpu?

 

[fishmahn]

Not Pickxx but...

1000/2000mhz bus is the same.

AMD Athlon64 CPU's use Hypertransport (Ht) for their FSB. This bus runs at 800 or 1000 mhz (older ones used 800 - anything bought today should do 1000), and is full duplex - meaning it can send and receive at the same time - so marketing folk say 1000 this way and 1000 that way = 2000. (and the speed limit on the expressway is 130mph - 65 each way). It is controlled by an Ht multiplier (usually 5x) in BIOS from the CPU clock signal (200mhz stock). As long as the Ht speed doesn't go below about 600 you won't see any performance difference.

Mike.

 

[pickxx]

Pickxx I've seen you guys recommend that Epox board alot. I'm also wanting to do a "first build" and had almost decided on the DFI.

the Epox has a 1000mhz bus rating where alot of the others say 2000mhz. Are those rated differently? Does this spec not matter? Is it supposed to match the bis speed on the cpu?

THe Epox board is awesome and has all the features you need withut a high price...it OC's VERY VERY well....So thats the reason i would say to get it.

If you are willing t sit down, read a lot, and you are willing to do some small tinkering then the DFI board will OC more....and with the DFI board you can buy VZ ram from OCZ and it will get to 260FSB at 2-2-2-5 timings.

Your call on that


The numbers 1000 or 200 dont matter for you....ignore them

 

[Crashman]

Ignore pickxx, he's wrong as your conclusion was wrong, at least when it comes to 3D modeling. Two 6600GT's can easily beat a single 6800GT in most Open GL applications. Need proof? SysOpt did an article on that very subject just over a week ago.

 

[pickxx]

Ignore pickxx, he's wrong as your conclusion was wrong, at least when it comes to 3D modeling. Two 6600GT's can easily beat a single 6800GT in most Open GL applications. Need proof? SysOpt did an article on that very subject just over a week ago.

Yes, i would agree two 6600GT's would bea t a6800GT hands down.

but i was refering to a 7800GT.....i dont remember ever stting a review shoing the 6600GT's beating a 7800GT.

Maybe i mistyped or you misread.

but thats my stance 6800GT<2 6600GT's<7800GT

 

[Rugger]

Ummm - he specified for 3D modeling for a reason. A 6800GT will match or beat a pair most of the time in gaming.

 

[pickxx]

Wll most ofthe reviews i rememebr, and granted i am a comple moron.....i remember the 6600GT's putting forth a very good fight against the 6800GT and winning it's fair share. Maybe i went retarded for a moment.


I dont know how a 6800GT got ito this....from what i was reading this guy wanted to know about 6600GT's Vs 7800GT. THats not a close battle.


I will reread some reviews this weekend

 

[Crashman]

Actually the 6600GT puts up a good fight against its big brother 6800GT in 3D Modeling applications, actually beating it in one or two. Doing them in SLI is over the top for most of those applications.

I have a feeling we could see a similar comparison between the 6800GS and 7800GTX

 

[Rugger]

I wouldn't disagree on the 6800GS vs 7800GT and I think we're on the same page as far as SLI 6600GT vs 6800GT. I didn't counter the 3D modeling, just stated the gaming performance of the 6800GT would be equal/better.

 

[Eyemaze]

well going witha sunbeam nuuo 550 psu but following pretty much everything else so far.


I also am getting two 19"lcd monitors. MAtching ones so I can replace my wifes 17 inch and my 19inch CRTs. She wans the living room to lookless like an office.

Any feedback on some good for gaming LCDs with DVI?