My New Rig, input please my first build! *REVISIONS!!!*

[adreen]

This will be my first (and hopefully last) computer I'll be building for a while. So it's gotta last. But I also am a little budget concious. I have about 2000 CAD give or take to spend on it. All my parts will be bought from canadacomputers.com as I'll get a discount off the parts.
Any and all input will be considered! Thanx in advanced.

CPU: AMD 64 4000+, I'll only be playing games so no need for dual core?
Case: Antec Sonata 2 /w 450w Antec PSU http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=007291&cid=CS.664 it only offers 1 PCIe connector, is that a problem if I go SLI?
HDD: 250 gig SATA II WD caviar 7200 rpm 16mb cache
RAM: OCZ dual channel DDR400 RAM, 1 gig, enhanced latency gold edition http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=006861&cid=RAM.178 or maybe 2gig of dual channel platinum OCZ http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=007920&cid=RAM.178? Which is better, say u had 1 gig of each type, cuz if the gold is better i'll get two gigs of the gold (when i get the additional money) instead of 2 gigs of the platinum.
Video card: Asus extreme 7800GTX TOP version (486 mhz core clock stock)
Motherboard: A8N-SLI Premium

I'm getting the SLI mobo cuz I may want to purchase another Asus 7800GTX TOP when the prices drop...hopefully 8O Will TWO SLI Asus 7800GTX TOP fit in the Asus A8N-SLI Premium mobo? I read how the vid cards are HUGE and might not fight in some mobos.
Let me know if it's any good! Thanx!

New Setup:
CPU: AMD Opteron Dual Core 165 (hopefully with some help I'll be able to OC this bad boy)
HDD: WD 250 gig SATA II 16mb (don't need alot of space)
RAM: OCZ platinum PC3200 DDR400 dual channel, 2gigs
Mobo: DFI LP NF4 SLI-DR (should i upgrade to the expert version?)
Video card: Leadtek PX7800GTX (hopefully supplier will have x1900 XT when i buy the parts)
Case: Antec SLK3000B
Power supply: OCZ ModStream 520 Watt Power Supply Ultra Quiet (Will this be good enough to run all my parts?) http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid...6205&am

 

[Jagger]

I completely agree with Prozac26 about the second video card. By the time prices drop signifigantly, the card will be discontinued and replaced with something twice as fast. Remember the SLI rule: one great card (e.g. 7800 GTX) is still better than 2 good cards (7800 GT).

As far as memory goes, I think the Plat. has tighter timings than the Gold. Regardless, go with 2 GB if you plan to be gaming.

 

[adreen]

Thanks for the quick responses! The Asus TOP GTX is proven to be able to be OC'd to 511/1420 easily, which is the fastest amongst all the GTXs that's why I'm going with the Asus. Also it keeps the card cooler, so I don't mind the clunkiness if u can fit two of them on one board. Also I'm not talking about waiting until the prices of 7800's to drop to like 200 bux, just until they drop to like 500ish so the tecnology I'm sure will not be comparable to the 6600s now. I'm just looking to make this comp last for a bit, not compete with future products cuz lord knows, they just keep pumping out new parts everyday (exaggeration). I've decided to go with the 2gig plat for the blingbling :lol: Could anyone suggest a good non-SLI mobo that would complement the 7800 and all my other parts? I wanna see the price difference between them, cuz if it's minimal, I'll just get the A8N-SLI Premium so that atleast I'll have the option of getting two video cards. Oh also, getting a SLI mobo and only having one video card running doesn't effect overall performance right? Thanx in advanced!

 

[purelithium]

For the exact same price as the 4000+, you could get an Opteron 165 and easily OC it to 2.2 or 2.4(which is the standard of the 4000+) on standard cooling. Plus, you'd be better off for the future of computing

Athlon 64 4000+
http://www.pccanada.com/viewitem.asp?id=3539

Opteron X2 165
http://www.pccanada.com/viewitem.asp?id=4008

hey, and they're canadian!!!

 

[Jagger]

Agreed - the Opty is a good choice for the future (dual core and 2MB cache). You are talking about OC'ing it from 1.8 GHz to 2.4, which is a fair amount. The Optys are supposed to be easy OC'ers but you will have to play around with the voltage, etc to get this speed.

The only other alternative is the 4200+ (which I think I was was 429 $CD). It comes at the stock speed of 2.2 GHz and will have no problem reaching 2.4 without any effort (just crank the FSB to 220 and you should be fine). However, the cache is only 1 MB.

 

[Jagger]

Oh, as far an non-SLI boards, I'm partial to Abit (although I pay respect to Asus and Tyan; I'm also on speaking terms with DFI). Look for the AN8 Ultra - it's been discontinued for a new model but can still be found without too much of a problem.

Using one card on an SLI board is also not a problem. They include a "dummy" card with the MB that you put in the slave slot.

 

[purelithium]

Ok, he doesnt need a dual core, why are you telling him to get one? Also, from 1.8 to 2.4 might require more cooling.

Because he's buying an overpriced processor that he won't be satisfied with. If he buys either the 4200+ or the 165, he'll be getting WAY more for his money, AND without sacrificing any precious gaming performance.

 

[baracuda73]

you can skip the expensive OCZ ram if you are not gonna overclock or only want small OC adn put your money towards the WD Raptor 150 gb drive, I know it is smaller but it is the fastest SATA drive on the market + has a 5 year warrenty. As for the 7800 GTX the X1900 has just been released and it will dual in a single card with dual 7800 gtx.

 

[adreen]

ya well i'm not really looking to OC my cpu by huge margins :/
plus i'm sure the 4000+ will be dropping in price really soon too with all the new dual cores. i only need the comp for gaming which is single threaded, so i shuldn't require dual core

If the 4000+ doesn't drop in price soon, I'll probably go for a dual core then. Which is better? x2 4200+ or opteron 165? I'm also considering the 4400+ and OCing it to 2.4.

Also I'm not gonna go with ATI, the x1900 is a beast and giving the gtx a run for their money. But supply is low and it's pretty damn expensive.

 

[Jagger]

Clock speed makes more of a difference than a 1 MB v. 2 MB cache size. The Opty 165 is at 1.8 MHz while the 4200+ is at 2.2.

If serious about overclocking, the Opty may be the way to go. If not, the 4200+ should be your dual core choice. However, there is nothing wrong with the single core 4000+

 

[purelithium]

Clock speed makes more of a difference than a 1 MB v. 2 MB cache size. The Opty 165 is at 1.8 MHz while the 4200+ is at 2.2.

If serious about overclocking, the Opty may be the way to go. If not, the 4200+ should be your dual core choice. However, there is nothing wrong with the single core 4000+

I didn't say anything about cache size... But 2mb cache is split between the 2 cores on both the Opteron and 4200.

There is nothing wrong with the 4000+, except you are paying for something that you could get the exact same performance plus more(support for background task).

 

[adreen]

Alritey awesome, well if the 4000+ doesn't drop dramatically in price, it looks like I'll be going with either the x2 3800+ or 4200+.
Any suggestions on which? I'm guessing the 4200+ is the better choice seeing as though it's only a 75 dollar difference.
I don't see the Opteron 165 on the www.canadacomputers.com site, so I'm guessing I'm gonna have no luck with that since I'll be purchasing all my parts from there. Here's a list of available dual core Opterons from CC http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProdList&cmd=pl&id=CPU.611&mfg=all&start=20&numPages=2

I do see the Opteron 175 though, http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProdList&cmd=pl&id=CPU.611&mfg=all&start=20&numPages=2

Is this worth its 600 dollar price tag? Also what is the diff from the 175, and the 165/200+ models?

 

[purelithium]

I highly recommend the site I linked to earlier. Every time I've ordered something from them, I recieve it within a week. They have the cheapest harddrives I've seen, and are always the first with new components on the market.

 

[adreen]

I get a discount from the parts I buy from Canadacomputers, so I'll be sticking with the parts they sell Thanx for all the help everyone! Especially Mr. Lithium

 

[purelithium]

I get a discount from the parts I buy from Canadacomputers, so I'll be sticking with the parts they sell

Oooh! I wish I had that!

 

[Jagger]

The Opty 175 and the 4400+ are exactly the same. The ONLY difference is that the Opty is easier to extreme OC because I believe its multiplier is unclocked (4400+ "goes to 11")

Note, I think there may have been some confusion before. The 4200+ has only a 1 MB cache (split between two cores 512k + 512k). The Opty 165 has a 2MB cache between the two cores (1MB + 1MB), the same as the 4400+ and the Opty 175.

 

[purelithium]

The Opty 175 and the 4400+ are exactly the same. The ONLY difference is that the Opty is easier to extreme OC because I believe its multiplier is unclocked (4400+ "goes to 11")

Note, I think there may have been some confusion before. The 4200+ has only a 1 MB cache (split between two cores 512k + 512k). The Opty 165 has a 2MB cache between the two cores (1MB + 1MB), the same as the 4400+ and the Opty 175.

I stand corrected. Sorry.

 

[adreen]

I've been reading alot that the 4400+'s increased L2 cache doesn't perform much better than the 4200+'s 1mb cache. Processing speed is key...so should I settle for a 4200+ instead of the 4400+ to save some money for about the same performance?

 

[purelithium]

Whatever gives you a good feeling, that's the one you should choose

 

[Jagger]

Yes, the cache at the 1 MB vs. 2 MB level does not make a substantial difference (there is a good chart of CPU performance comparisons on the main Tom's Hardware website - it uses different apps so you have an idea of whether, from the apps you use, you will see a difference between processors).

 

[adreen]

what's the difference between SLI, and SLI x16?

 

[Jagger]

A single PCI-e video card transfers information to and from the bus at 16x speeds.

On most MBs, dual PCI-e video cards (SLI) transfer data at 8x speed each.

However, some new MBs allow each card in an SLI setup to transfer date at 16x speed. See the Asus AN32 for example.

Note, the AN32 has not recorded signifigant performance gains over SLI boards that transfer data to each card at 8x speed. So it may not be worth it to invest time and money into a board that does each card at 16x speed.

 

[adreen]

ohhhhhh, cool thanx. i was looking at the new MSI diamond plus board with x16. was tempted to get that. thanx for the tip!

 

[adreen]

After alot of research, and ALOT of help from you cool dudes! I have decided on the parts I'll hopefully be purchasing soon. If there's any recommendations please say them!

CPU: AMD Opteron Dual Core 165 (hopefully with some help I'll be able to OC this bad boy)
HDD: WD 250 gig SATA II 16mb (don't need alot of space)
RAM: OCZ platinum PC3200 DDR400 dual channel, 2gigs
Mobo: DFI LP NF4 SLI-DR (should i upgrade to the expert version?)
Video card: Leadtek PX7800GTX (hopefully supplier will have x1900 XT when i buy the parts)
Case: Antec SLK3000B
Power supply: OCZ ModStream 520 Watt Power Supply Ultra Quiet (Will this be good enough to run all my parts?) http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=006205&cid=PS.808

 

[adreen]

I know this is a stupid question but, knowing the DFI LP NF4 SLI-DR is a Nvidia chipset, you can't put the ATI x1900 into it right or try to run crossfire? Just want to make sure. I haven't bought a comp in years.