Can't decide between these couple hardware choices....

[Lyricsride]

couple things to note:
+ CANADIAN prices, vendor ncix.com
+ purpose of computer: content creation (vg map dev, imaging, flash, html, web programming etc) AND game rig
+ I want to overclock
+ i am only buying a comp tower, absolutly nothing else (i have rest alrady eg monitor, headphones, etc...)


Price range: 2000$ canadian

$171.00
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=13747
Case: XG TITANIUM 17IN ATX STEEL TOWER CASE 5X5.25 2X3.5 3X3.5 INT SILVER NO PS W/ WINDOW


$52.09
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=13693
Heat Sink: Zalman CNPS7000B-CU S462 S478 S754 S939 S940 Copper 1350-2600RPM 18-27.5DBA CPU Heatsinkfan W/ LED

Processor:
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=15708
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core Processor S939 Manchester 2Ghz 512KBX2 90NM Retail Box
$385.02

---------------------------------------
Which mobo?
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=16595&vpn=A8N32-SLI-DELUXE&manufacture=ASUS
ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe ATX S939 NFORCE4 SLI X16 DDR 2PCI-E16 SATA2 RAID Sound 2GBLAN 1394 Motherboard
$256.50

^comment^ This allows for x16 SLI instead of x8... this is apparently not a major difference right now, but later on it will?

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=13423&vpn=A8N-SLIDELUXE&manufacture=ASUS
ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe Motherboard NFORCE4-SLI S939 DDR 2XPCI-E16 2PCI-E 3PCI SATA RAID LAN Sound 1394
$240.54

^comment^ This allows for x16 SLI instead of x8... this is apparently not a major difference right now, but later on it will? reviews don't like built-in sound on this mobo...

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=15495&vpn=A8N-SLI%20PREMIUM&manufacture=ASUS
ASUS A8N-SLI Premium ATX S939 NFORCE4 SLI DDR 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E 3PCI SATA RAID Sound GBLAN Motherboard
$215.86

^comment^ if the "premium" is a higher-end version than the deluxe as said, why is it cheaper at vendors? From what i can tell/have read it has the same features as deluxe but cooling using no-fan technology to make it quite, this makes it cheaper?!!?
---------------------------------------

Memory:
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=14504
OCZ EL Platinum PC3200 2GB 2X1GB DDR400 CL2-3-2-5 184PIN Pin Dual Channel Memory Kit /W Ramsink
$324.23

IDE Hard Drive:
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=11069
Western Digital Raptor 74GB SATA 10000RPM 8MB 4.5MS Hard Drive 5 Year MFR Warranty
$210.90

^comment^ i have several other hard drives to store files, this is just for OS and installs... (good right?)

---------------------------------------
which video card?
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=16260&vpn=256-P2-N525-AX&manufacture=eVGA
EVGA E-GEFORCE 7800GTX 256MB 256BIT DDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI-I HDTV VIVO SLI Ready Video Card Retail
$589.39

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=16693&vpn=256-P2-N527-AX&manufacture=eVGA
EVGA E-GEFORCE 7800GTX 256MB 256BIT GDDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI-I HDTV VIVO SLI Ready Video Card W/ ACS3
$578.56

^comment^ how does ADDING ACS3 cooling make this card cheaper?

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=15841&vpn=256-P2-N518-AX&manufacture=eVGA
EVGA E-GEFORCE 7800GT PCI-E 256MB 256BIT GDDR3 Dual DVI-I HDTV VIVO SLI Ready Video Card
$459.89
---------------------------------------

---------------------------------------
which Power Supply?
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=13610
OCZ OCZ45012U-450W Modstream Power Supply PCI-E Ready W/ Ezmod Cable System & Blue LED Fan
$92.26

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=13609&vpn=OCZ52012U&manufacture=OCZ%20Technology
OCZ OCZ52012U-520W Modstream Power Supply PCI-E Ready W/ Ezmod Cable System & Blue LED Fan
$115.24

^comment^ SLI ready...
----------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------
which DVD Writer?
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=10510
Sony DW-U14A DVD-R/RW 4X2.4X8 DVD+R/RW 4X4X8 CDRW 24X10X32 IDE Burner OEM Beige
$105.91

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=17413&vpn=DW1655-0B3&manufacture=BENQ
BenQ DW1655 Lightscribe DVD+RW16X16X8 DVD-RW16X16X4 CDRW48X48X32 DVD Burner Black W/ SW
$72.69

^comment^ for someone that makes custom albums (as in like just a few every month or season...) is lightsribe worth it? Does it look good/work well? or passing gimmick/stick to traditional sticker labels?

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=13912&vpn=ND-3520A&manufacture=NEC-MITSUBISHI
NEC ND-3520A DVD+RW 16X8X16 DVD-RW 16X6X16 Dual LAYER+R 4X INT IDE Beige OEM Burner W/ SW
$69.34

^comment^ put in the extra 10$ instead of the other NEC drive?

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=17382&vpn=ND-3550A-SL&manufacture=NEC-MITSUBISHI
NEC ND-3550A DVD+RW 16X8X16X DVD-RW 16X6X16X DL 8X/6X IDE 2MB Burner Silver OEM W/ SW
$59.99
----------------------------------------------------

thanks in advance for all your comments. ANY comments are welcome if you see a problem/issue other than the choices i need to make; ie new pats coming out v.soon that i should wait out for etc...

 

[Rustol3um]

couple things to note:
+ CANADIAN prices, vendor ncix.com
+ purpose of computer: content creation (vg map dev, imaging, flash, html, web programming etc) AND game rig
+ I want to overclock
+ i am only buying a comp tower, absolutly nothing else (i have rest alrady eg monitor, headphones, etc...)


Price range: 2000$ canadian

$171.00
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=13747
Case: XG TITANIUM 17IN ATX STEEL TOWER CASE 5X5.25 2X3.5 3X3.5 INT SILVER NO PS W/ WINDOW


$52.09
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=13693
Heat Sink: Zalman CNPS7000B-CU S462 S478 S754 S939 S940 Copper 1350-2600RPM 18-27.5DBA CPU Heatsinkfan W/ LED

Processor:
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=15708
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core Processor S939 Manchester 2Ghz 512KBX2 90NM Retail Box
$385.02

---------------------------------------
Which mobo?
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=16595&vpn=A8N32-SLI-DELUXE&manufacture=ASUS
ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe ATX S939 NFORCE4 SLI X16 DDR 2PCI-E16 SATA2 RAID Sound 2GBLAN 1394 Motherboard
$256.50

^comment^ This allows for x16 SLI instead of x8... this is apparently not a major difference right now, but later on it will?

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=13423&vpn=A8N-SLIDELUXE&manufacture=ASUS
ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe Motherboard NFORCE4-SLI S939 DDR 2XPCI-E16 2PCI-E 3PCI SATA RAID LAN Sound 1394
$240.54

^comment^ This allows for x16 SLI instead of x8... this is apparently not a major difference right now, but later on it will? reviews don't like built-in sound on this mobo...

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=15495&vpn=A8N-SLI%20PREMIUM&manufacture=ASUS
ASUS A8N-SLI Premium ATX S939 NFORCE4 SLI DDR 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E 3PCI SATA RAID Sound GBLAN Motherboard
$215.86

^comment^ if the "premium" is a higher-end version than the deluxe as said, why is it cheaper at vendors? From what i can tell/have read it has the same features as deluxe but cooling using no-fan technology to make it quite, this makes it cheaper?!!?
---------------------------------------

Memory:
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=14504
OCZ EL Platinum PC3200 2GB 2X1GB DDR400 CL2-3-2-5 184PIN Pin Dual Channel Memory Kit /W Ramsink
$324.23

IDE Hard Drive:
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=11069
Western Digital Raptor 74GB SATA 10000RPM 8MB 4.5MS Hard Drive 5 Year MFR Warranty
$210.90

^comment^ i have several other hard drives to store files, this is just for OS and installs... (good right?)

---------------------------------------
which video card?
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=16260&vpn=256-P2-N525-AX&manufacture=eVGA
EVGA E-GEFORCE 7800GTX 256MB 256BIT DDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI-I HDTV VIVO SLI Ready Video Card Retail
$589.39

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=16693&vpn=256-P2-N527-AX&manufacture=eVGA
EVGA E-GEFORCE 7800GTX 256MB 256BIT GDDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI-I HDTV VIVO SLI Ready Video Card W/ ACS3
$578.56

^comment^ how does ADDING ACS3 cooling make this card cheaper?

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=15841&vpn=256-P2-N518-AX&manufacture=eVGA
EVGA E-GEFORCE 7800GT PCI-E 256MB 256BIT GDDR3 Dual DVI-I HDTV VIVO SLI Ready Video Card
$459.89
---------------------------------------

---------------------------------------
which Power Supply?
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=13610
OCZ OCZ45012U-450W Modstream Power Supply PCI-E Ready W/ Ezmod Cable System & Blue LED Fan
$92.26

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=13609&vpn=OCZ52012U&manufacture=OCZ%20Technology
OCZ OCZ52012U-520W Modstream Power Supply PCI-E Ready W/ Ezmod Cable System & Blue LED Fan
$115.24

^comment^ SLI ready...
----------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------
which DVD Writer?
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=10510
Sony DW-U14A DVD-R/RW 4X2.4X8 DVD+R/RW 4X4X8 CDRW 24X10X32 IDE Burner OEM Beige
$105.91

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=17413&vpn=DW1655-0B3&manufacture=BENQ
BenQ DW1655 Lightscribe DVD+RW16X16X8 DVD-RW16X16X4 CDRW48X48X32 DVD Burner Black W/ SW
$72.69

^comment^ for someone that makes custom albums (as in like just a few every month or season...) is lightsribe worth it? Does it look good/work well? or passing gimmick/stick to traditional sticker labels?

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=13912&vpn=ND-3520A&manufacture=NEC-MITSUBISHI
NEC ND-3520A DVD+RW 16X8X16 DVD-RW 16X6X16 Dual LAYER+R 4X INT IDE Beige OEM Burner W/ SW
$69.34

^comment^ put in the extra 10$ instead of the other NEC drive?

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=17382&vpn=ND-3550A-SL&manufacture=NEC-MITSUBISHI
NEC ND-3550A DVD+RW 16X8X16X DVD-RW 16X6X16X DL 8X/6X IDE 2MB Burner Silver OEM W/ SW
$59.99
----------------------------------------------------

thanks in advance for all your comments. ANY comments are welcome if you see a problem/issue other than the choices i need to make; ie new pats coming out v.soon that i should wait out for etc...

if you are going to run sli I would go with a different PSU.......while the OCZ PSU are tops in my book they also make an SLI PSU that is really nice....if you do not have alot of perriferals then one of the others will work I have the Mod stream psu and I am able to run SLI but I don't have alot of other stuff hooked up and all my rails are used cause the board itself requires one regular connection and one floppy connection...if I had it to do over again I would have gone with the SLI ready one. IMHO...

 

[kyleawesome]

Honestly if you have the cash I'd tell you to drop it on an Enermax ELT620AWT Liberty 620w PSU. Enermax is a great brand and you really dont want to skimp on your PSU if your using it for design, or if you just plan on adding alot of hardware.

I'd also tell you to go with a Zalman CNPS9500

You could also through in an extra 80 bucks and get an Athlon 64 X2 4200+

But adding all thouse will add an extra 200bucks to your build, but that's what I'd throw in.

My mistake I thought you were getting both video cards, after reviewing everything I do think you'd be fine with a 500-500w PSU.

 

[Lyricsride]

thanks for comments, any help with the mobo? I figure the most loaded one for features is a good way to go... but is the A8N32 really worth it?

 

[IAM_CA]

Ordering from NCIX - use their current sale link for better prices.

http://www.ncix.com/promo/promosale.php?webid=goldfeb06

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core Processor S939 Manchester 2Ghz 512KBX2 90NM Retail Box (ADA3800BVBOX) Reg. Price:$385.02 Saving Code: 15708-1043 - $349.98
or
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Dual Core Processor S939 Manchester 2.2GHZ 512KBX2 90NM Retail Box (ADA4200BVBOX) Reg. Price:$460.73 Saving Code: 14633-1043 - $419.98

OCZ EL Platinum PC3200 2GB 2X1GB DDR400 CL2-3-2-5 184PIN Pin Dual Channel Memory Kit /W Ramsink (OCZ4002048ELDCPE-K) Reg. Price:$324.23 Saving Code: 14504-1043 - $249.98 (after rebate)

Also, I have this DVD burner - excellent quality and speed - as good as the Sony.

Pioneer DVR-110D Beige DVD-RW 16X6X16 DVD+RW 16X8X16 Dual LAYER+-R 6X IDE OEM Burner (DVR-110-W) Reg. Price:$58.44 Saving Code: 15871-1043 - $45.98 - also available in black
(no lightscribe, but i prefer the inkjet print-on discs anyway, much faster and nicer finish)

 

[Maxiius]

A8N32 is nice, but layout blows big monkey rear end. I'd say go prem or DFI.

 

[Lyricsride]

Thanks for the help IAM CA! So this is the final setup i have come up with, do i need an additional heatsink? (Zalman CNPS9500) i have heard the built-in one on the opteron is GREAT, plus my case has excellllent cooling. just trying to save myself 100 bucks :0

The savings codes! great man... the parts have changed but i can still get the ram and DFI for sale etc, thanks a lot

Desired price range: 2000$ canadian]
actual price: $2,044.83

THE ITEMS:
Case:
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=13747
XG TITANIUM 17IN ATX STEEL TOWER CASE 5X5.25 2X3.5 3X3.5 INT SILVER NO PS W/ WINDOW
$171.00
---------------------------------------
CPU:
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=16792
AMD Opteron 165 Dual Core Processor S939 Denmark 1.8GHZ 2MB L2 Cache 90NM Retail
$393.24
---------------------------------------
Motherboard:
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=13825
DFI LANParty UT NF4 ULTRA-D Motherboard ATX S939 NFORCE4 Ultra DDR 2PCI-E16 SATA RAID Sound LAN 1394
$139.98
---------------------------------------
Memory:
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=14504
OCZ EL Platinum PC3200 2GB 2X1GB DDR400 CL2-3-2-5 184PIN Pin Dual Channel Memory Kit /W Ramsink
$324.23
--------------------------------------
IDE Hard Drive:
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=11069
Western Digital Raptor 74GB SATA 10000RPM 8MB 4.5MS Hard Drive 5 Year MFR Warranty
$210.90
---------------------------------------
video card:
ATI Radeon X1900XT 625MHZ 512MB 256BIT 1.45GHZ GDDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI-I VIVO HDTV Video Card
$642.97
--------------------------------------
power supply:
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=13610
OCZ OCZ45012U-450W Modstream Power Supply PCI-E Ready W/ Ezmod Cable System & Blue LED Fan
$92.26
----------------------------------------------------
DVD Writer:
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=17382&vpn=ND-3550A-SL&a...manufac
NEC ND-3550A DVD+RW 16X8X16X DVD-RW 16X6X16X DL 8X/6X IDE 2MB Burner Silver OEM W/ SW
$59.99

 

[Lyricsride]

thanks for the comments guys or gals . I've refined the PC more, this time changing the case, GFX card (same one, just not directly from ATi)
From what i can gather this case is DECENT for OCing, if not good. I'm a heavy OCer but only basics, eg ram/vg card/cpu. this should serve my needs right? I'm looking for general increase, the extra tiny mile isn't necessary. I know there is the new 'amazing' coolmaster CM stacker but... for 100$more (then i feel like i need to get the special fans and cooling to fully take advantage of it grr) should i get it... ugh

official sites for cases:
"amazing case": http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=RC-830&other_title=RC-830CM%20Stacker%20830

reasonable case...
http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=TAC-T01&other_title=TAC-T01Wave%20Master


is the extra heatsink a must for this mobo/cpu combo if i want to OC?

Desired price range: 2000$ canadian]
actual: 2001.43$

THE ITEMS:
Case:
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=10128
COOLERMASTER TAC-T01 WAVE MASTER SILVER ALUMINUM 18IN CASE ATX 4X5.25 1X3.5 4X3.5INT NO P/S
$144.90
---------------------------------------
CPU:
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=16792
AMD Opteron 165 Dual Core Processor S939 Denmark 1.8GHZ 2MB L2 Cache 90NM Retail
$393.24
---------------------------------------
Heatsink:
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=16409
Zalman CNPS9500 LED Copper CPU Heat Sink 92MM Fan 1350-2600RPM 18-27.5DBA W/ Blue LED
$78.14
---------------------------------------
Motherboard:
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=13825
DFI LANParty UT NF4 ULTRA-D Motherboard ATX S939 NFORCE4 Ultra DDR 2PCI-E16 SATA RAID Sound LAN 1394
$139.98
---------------------------------------
Memory:
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=14504
OCZ EL Platinum PC3200 2GB 2X1GB DDR400 CL2-3-2-5 184PIN Pin Dual Channel Memory Kit /W Ramsink
$324.23
--------------------------------------
IDE Hard Drive:
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=11069
Western Digital Raptor 74GB SATA 10000RPM 8MB 4.5MS Hard Drive 5 Year MFR Warranty
$210.90
---------------------------------------
video card:
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=17529
CONNECT3D Radeon X1900XT 625MHZ 512MB 256BIT 1.45GHZ DDR3 PCI-E16 Dual DVI-I VIVO OEM Video Card
$628.24
--------------------------------------
power supply:
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=17503
Enermax Liberty ELT400AWT 400W ATX12V V2.2 20/24PIN Modular Cable Power Supply W/ 120MM Fan
$96.39
----------------------------------------------------
DVD Writer:
http://search.ncix.com/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=17704
BenQ DW1650 Black DVD+-RW 16X Dual Layer DVD Writer OEM
$52.94

 

[IAM_CA]

The savings codes! great man... the parts have changed but i can still get the ram and DFI for sale etc, thanks a lot

You can get the items at the sale price by adding to your cart from the sale page (link in previous message) or by entering the savings code in the "Coupon Code" box on the top right corner in the shopping cart page and clicking the "Go" button.