My First Build - Need some feedback for AM2 build

[maverick777]

This is my first build. I'm about to start ordering most of the parts. I'm just waiting for AMD to cut their CPU prices.

Mobo: Asus M2N-SLI
CPU: AMD 3800+ X2 AM2
Cooler: Zalman 9500
Thermal Paste: Artic Silver 5
Ram: Corsair XMS2 Pro 2gb DDR2-800 (PC26400)
GPU: ATI x1900xt
HD: WD 320gb SE 16mb
DVD: Lite-on DVD Burner
DVD2: Lite-on DVD Burner
Keyboard: MS Natural 4000
Case: CM Stacker 830 (ordered)
Case Fans: 5x Yate Loon D12L (ordered)
PSU: OCZ GamerXStream 700 watt (ordered)
Fan Controller: Sunbeam 5-1/4" Rheobus Kit - Black (ordered)
Lighting: Sunbeam Chameleon (ordered)

Comes out be around $1800
Building this to run Fear, Oblivion, CS:S, Doom3, Quake 4, Farcry etc

I plan on ordering everything but the CPU by the end of the month. Let me know what you all think.

 

[gambit6259]

Looks good have fun with your build!

 

[Upsetian]

Looks ok except I think that you might need XMS2 memmory, as XMS is DDR and AM2 uses DDR2.

I am no expert but maybe using raid0 and 2 hdds will give you better performance.

BTW ... Nice keyboard

 

[sailer]

I'll assume you know to get DDR2 ram. I have the 4000 keyboard and I love it. Then again, I have wrist damage so the straight keyboards are difficult for me to use. I wouldn't use raid, but would set up the HDDs as a normal two drive system. I haven't found raid0 that useful, and if anything goes wrong with raid0, you loose everythingwhile by using a second drive for datat storage, you still have it if the C drive quits for any reason (corrupted OS, for instance).

Build and enjoy. You've laid out a good machine.

 

[f1nal_0men]

Nice build, but if your waiting I would go conroe. A 2.4ghz conroe can match the performance of a FX-62, and can even surpass performance in games like FEAR, Oblivion. I myself used to be an AMD fanboy but ever since conroe came out it keeps like a better and better option. If you want to stick with amd I would get at least a 4000+ dualcore for double the cache. Make sure you get ddr2 ram. And raid would be nice as well. However it is not necessary in a gaming system. Enjoy your new system ^-^

 

[yourmothersanastronaut]

Ignore the advice to get anything but a 2.0 GHz or a 2.4 GHz AMD chip. Those are what you want.

It sounds odd, I know. But THG did a review of socket AM2 chips, and because the way the clock multiplier works with the HT bus, going with anything but a (dual core) 3800+ or a 4600+ will underclock your RAM to deal with the odd numbered multiplier. And there's no way to undo this effect, unless AMD has changed the way things work. You wouldn't want that expensive Corsair XMS RAM to be held back, would you?

 

[maverick777]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I did mean DDR2 memory, thanks for pointing that out. Also I ordered a fan controller and lighting kit when I ordered my fans off of Jab-tech.

I was going to order the whole thing on June 30th, but decided to wait til the 24th for AMD to cut their prices. I don't have the patience to wait for Conroe, since that would add another month or 2 at least. The processor may be out by July 23rd (even that is optimistic), but I haven't seen any annoucements for high end boards from DFI or Asus being available anytime soon.

 

[yourmothersanastronaut]

Asus already has the M2N32-SLI out - it was one of the first AM2 boards out. DFI, we're waiting on, but unless it comes out before Thursday, I'm getting the M2N-SLI Deluxe.

 

[sailer]

Have a good time with your machine when you get it together. It sounds like a good one.

 

[maxtoons]

Looks Great, but How much Cheeper you think 3800+ AM2 will go? It is already for $150 at newegg.com.
Also, why are you using ATI Card with SLI Mobo?
You should use Nvidia Card with SLI, or ATI Card with ATI 3200 Cross fire.

 

[DDay629]

Actually, it really doesn't matter since he isn't doing SLi. He just has a SLi board.

DDay

 

[maxtoons]

Actually, it really doesn't matter since he isn't doing SLi. He just has a SLi board.

DDay

But still, If he wants to go dual card in the future, he should be able to do it.

 

[maverick777]

The price of the 3800+ X2 is suppose to drop from $300 to $169, but the question will be how soon online retailers will reflect that price change. As to why I have an ATI card in an SLI mobo; I switched to ATI after I found out how much quieter a HIS x1900xt IceQ3 is compared to other ones. And then I found out how much better the x1900xt is in Oblivion compared to a 7900gt. And so I switched to ATI while keeping the SLI mobo since no good crossfire boards are out for AM2. :lol:

 

[maxtoons]

The price of the 3800+ X2 is suppose to drop from $300 to $169, but the question will be how soon online retailers will reflect that price change. As to why I have an ATI card in an SLI mobo; I switched to ATI after I found out how much quieter a HIS x1900xt IceQ3 is compared to other ones. And then I found out how much better the x1900xt is in Oblivion compared to a 7900gt. And so I switched to ATI while keeping the SLI mobo since no good crossfire boards are out for AM2. :lol:

OK, This makes a lot of sence now.
and You are talking about 3800 X2, I tought you were talking about the single core one, I my self am waiting for a that drop too so I can go X2, But I am going 939 as I want to keep my Mobo and DDR RAM.

 

[Upsetian]

Anyone know when AMD prices will drop? Will it be in June ?

 

[yourmothersanastronaut]

It should take effect July 1st, when Core 2 comes out. Single-core prices will be slashed first, then dual-core. I can't afford to wait, so I'll pay more for my stuff, unfortunately.

 

[MrsD]

Looks good, make sure you get the lowest latency DDR2-800 you can afford, it will be needed later when you upgrade to the new processors.
Those tests THG did, were not run using high performance, low latency ram so the benchmarks are not very reliable. The problem is they werent able to get it to work and thats because they didnt manually set their mobo voltage to match the DDR2. I ran into this problem too but figured it out with the help of a friend.
Secondly, I'd get a cheap single core (3800+ @$150) and upgrade later when the prices drop or when the new 65nm X2 arrives. The 3800+ will kick butt and do whatever you need for now, trust me.

 

[mcgruff]

The Zalman is a bad choice: not a bad heatsink just hugely overpriced. The Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro cools slightly better at a third of the cost (£13 here in the UK).

 

[jazzman2]

Secondly, I'd get a cheap single core (3800+ @$150) and upgrade later when the prices drop or when the new 65nm X2 arrives. The 3800+ will kick butt and do whatever you need for now, trust me.

I Agree the Single core 3800+ @ $150 will do much better for gaming.
Here is a link to prove it.
http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/05/23/amd_reinvents_itself/page28.html
Unless you can afford the FX62 get the single core. I plan on it.

As for the CPU cooler stay with the Zalman here is an article on it. (939)
http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/04/25/six_coolers_for_amd_processors/page23.html

Very nice build

 

[mcgruff]

That AC freezer wasn't included in that tom's article. Here's two more both of which put the freezer slightly ahead. Not a lot in it really in tems of performance but the price difference is huge.

madshrimps heatsink review
frosty tech

 

[maverick777]

Thanks for the feedback. The price cuts are suppose to take place on the 24th of July; the day after Intel officially announces/releases Conroe. The 3800+ X2 will go down to $169. I am thinking about just ordering the 3800+ single core but haven't decided yet.

The Corsair ram that I chose is CAS 4 ram and is the most I can afford to spend at $270 for 2gb. The step up would be Corsair's CAS 3 ram which go for over $400 which is too much for me.

I know the Zalman is overpriced, but the only other HSF I'd go for would be an XP-90 but they don't make it for socket AM2 yet. I just really like the way the Zalman looks so I'm willing to pay the price, plus it performs pretty well. I might take a look at the Scythe Mine before I buy, but only if it does a LOT better than the Zalman.

Here's a list for AMD's pricing change in July.

 

[BaronMatrix]

This is my first build. I'm about to start ordering most of the parts. I'm just waiting for AMD to cut their CPU prices.

Mobo: Asus M2N-SLI
CPU: AMD 3800+ X2 AM2
Cooler: Zalman 9500
Thermal Paste: Artic Silver 5
Ram: Corsair XMS2 Pro 2gb DDR2-800 (PC26400)
GPU: ATI x1900xt
HD: WD 320gb SE 16mb
DVD: Lite-on DVD Burner
DVD2: Lite-on DVD Burner
Keyboard: MS Natural 4000
Case: CM Stacker 830 (ordered)
Case Fans: 5x Yate Loon D12L (ordered)
PSU: OCZ GamerXStream 700 watt (ordered)
Fan Controller: Sunbeam 5-1/4" Rheobus Kit - Black (ordered)
Lighting: Sunbeam Chameleon (ordered)

Comes out be around $1800
Building this to run Fear, Oblivion, CS:S, Doom3, Quake 4, Farcry etc

I plan on ordering everything but the CPU by the end of the month. Let me know what you all think.

Consideing that my 7800GT flies tthrough those games @ 1280, i would go wiht a X1900 and go for a 4200+, unless you are OCing.

 

[maverick777]

I chose the x1900xt because Oblivion is playable at 1600x1200. I have a 24" LCD that I want to run the games on. 1920x1200 would be even better but I think I'd need crossfire for that. :lol:

The 4200+ is too expensive for me. I'm looking at spending $300 tops and under $200 ideally especiall with the price cuts coming. 3800+ is only $148 right now.

 

[mcgruff]

They're all good heatsinks. The Mine is a little bit cooler than the Zalman according to the madshrimps review but not by a vast amount. The big difference between the two is the noise level, if that's an issue. I just ordered a Mine today for that very reason otherwise I'd have gone for the freezer pro. The Zalman's do look nice though...

 

[sailer]

Looks Great, but How much Cheeper you think 3800+ AM2 will go? It is already for $150 at newegg.com.
Also, why are you using ATI Card with SLI Mobo?
You should use Nvidia Card with SLI, or ATI Card with ATI 3200 Cross fire.

When I first got the SLI board, I was thinking of going to SLI. Then the 1900 XTX came out I decided to use that instead. ATI does have a software solution so that I could go crossfire on a SLI board if I wanted, but I see no advantage of doing that at this time. If some company makes a physX card to fit the open PCI-E slot, then I have that option too.