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New gaming build - input please

Forum Homebuilt Systems : General Homebuilt - New gaming build - input please

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Caintommy   03-19-2006 at 06:19:17 PM

Ok. It's time for a new system to satisfy my gaming needs. (Oblivion)

I've tried to get the best performance for the best money. I'm also trying to get is as quiet as possible.

Any feedback on this build is greatly appreciated.


AMD Athlon 64 3700+, 2.2 GHz. 1Mb, sock 939

2Gb, PC3200/400MHz DDRAM. 2x1Gb, Corsair

Asus A8N-SLI Premium – nForce4 SLI, 4xPC3200, 2xGigaLan, SATA 1394, 2xRAID, sound

160Gb Maxtor DiamondMax 10, 8Mb, SATA2

GeForce 7800GT 256Mb, PCI-Express, Arctic Cooling fan

DVD+-RW, NEC ND3550

Antec P180 silver MidiTower

500W Elan Vital Greenerger SSM

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kuzkos   03-19-2006 at 06:33:15 PM
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That would be a decent gaming rig, but you might want to add another 7800GT for performance. A sound card might be a good idea too, the X-Fi range is currently the best.

I would go with another case, but thats all down to personal preferance. Thermaltake and Silverstone cases are well designed and built.

Reply to kuzkos
Caintommy   03-19-2006 at 08:59:51 PM
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Quote :

For about the cost of the 7800GT you can get a 7900GT which is better. Also, you might consider a different motherboard and a dual core CPU.



Correct me if I'm wrong but this motherboard does support dual core CPU, does it not?
That was my intent anyway. So I can upgrade the system at a later time if I wish by adding another cpu (and another graphics card).

But also, I've heard that dual core cpu doesn't really improve gaming performance?

Reply to Caintommy
kuzkos   03-19-2006 at 09:04:37 PM
- 0 +

Quote :

For about the cost of the 7800GT you can get a 7900GT which is better. Also, you might consider a different motherboard and a dual core CPU.



Correct me if I'm wrong but this motherboard does support dual core CPU, does it not?
That was my intent anyway. So I can upgrade the system at a later time if I wish by adding another cpu (and another graphics card).

But also, I've heard that dual core cpu doesn't really improve gaming performance?

Yes, it supports all socket 939 processors

Reply to kuzkos
mdd1963   03-19-2006 at 10:08:15 PM
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"That was my intent anyway. So I can upgrade the system at a later time if I wish by adding another cpu (and another graphics card).
"

Yes...

But I'd opt for a 7900GT now, quite a bit faster than 7800GT for marginally more money....

Reply to mdd1963
Caintommy   03-19-2006 at 11:10:01 PM
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Yes of course. I'll definately go for the 7900GT instead.

Reply to Caintommy
Caintommy   03-21-2006 at 10:12:59 PM
- 0 +

Ok here's an update. The build has changed a little bit.
________________________________________________


My supplier suggests case P180. What are your thoughts?

AMD Athlon 64 3700+, 2.2 GHz. 1Mb, sock 939


2Gb, PC3200/400MHz DDRAM. 2x1Gb


Asus A8N-SLI Premium – nForce4 SLI, 4xPC3200, 2xGigaLan, SATA 1394,
2xRAID,

160Gb Maxtor DiamondMax 10, 8Mb, SATA2
160Gb Maxtor DiamondMax 10, 8Mb, SATA2
(to be raided. Stripe(?))

GeForce 7900GT 256Mb, PCI-Express

DVD+-RW NEC ND3550, 16x, dual layer

520W Chill Innovation PSU, 12-19dbA

Reply to Caintommy
Maxiius   03-21-2006 at 10:19:58 PM
- 0 +

I'd opt for an Antec, Enermax, PC Power & Cooling PSU. For that setup in particually, I'd say a Antec truepower 550w.

Not that Chill Innovation is bad or anything, If there is 1 premium part that I would put into a computer, drop is all in the PSU. A good PSU makes a happy computer.

Reply to Maxiius
HumbleGod   03-21-2006 at 10:55:58 PM
- 0 +

Agreed, the Antec TPII 550W is a great PSU. I've also heard good things about that P180, and in fact I'll probably drop some money on one too one of these days.

Reply to HumbleGod
philionel36   03-21-2006 at 11:05:28 PM
- 0 +

I just built a machine a week ago that looks a lot like that. I used an Epox motherboard, and the Antec SP 500, the rest is pretty similar (only one hard drive for me -- darn budget). Everything is running quite well so far. The 3700 overclocks well with the stock cooler, the 7900GT has run everything I've tried smoothly (and has a smaller HS/Fan than the 7800, so it's quieter).
It seems like a good, fast system, with room for future upgrades.

DC

Reply to philionel36
Caintommy   03-21-2006 at 11:10:10 PM
- 0 +

Quote :

Agreed, the Antec TPII 550W is a great PSU. I've also heard good things about that P180, and in fact I'll probably drop some money on one too one of these days.



I'm gonna stay with the 520W Chill Innovation PSU because it's noise level is 12-19 dBA while the TP2-550 is at 21.3 dBA.
I'm trying to make as quiet a rig as possible.

And 520W should be enough. I hope. :)

Reply to Caintommy
conroe   03-21-2006 at 11:31:18 PM
- 0 +

You may want a Artic Cooling Freezer 64 pro, it's quiet. My stock AMD cooler is not. I just ordered one form ZipZoomFly, but I have had a freezer 7 for about a year now. The pro has more heatpipes.

Reply to conroe
Ralkthor   03-21-2006 at 11:50:53 PM
- 0 +

I know quite a few have already said this but go for the 7900gt. You'll get a much larger bang for you buck. I have a Thermaltake case and its great but I am actually looking to but the p180 because they are so quiet. The mobo will lend itself to quiet operation because it has no chipset fan which seems to fit well with your build.

Based on newegg prices you could go dual core with the X2 3800+ for less than $100. Not sure what your budget is but I love my dual core and would recommend it to anyone.

Finally, I don't know if the RAID is really important to you but you could get a WD 320GB 16mb cache for only $125 HERE. I have a 250GB version and it works great.

Oh, and have fun playing Oblivion, I know I will.

Reply to Ralkthor
conroe   03-21-2006 at 11:57:10 PM
- 0 +

Near as I can tell, ALL 7900GTs ARE GONE. :(
You seen any. I know people orderd some from Monarch and ZipZoomFly and got back ordered after they were charged for it! Newegg is out.

Reply to conroe
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