How does this new build seem?

sketchy69

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Sep 10, 2007
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Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
OCZ Platinum 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
Antec Basiq BP500U ATX12V Version 2.01 500W Power Supply
NZXT Apollo Black SECC Steel Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
DIAMOND Viper 3870PE4512SB Radeon HD 3870 512MB 256-bit GDDR4 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Video Card
AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ Windsor 3.2GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 125W Dual-Core Processor
Rosewill RCX-Z3 92mm Ball CPU Cooler
ECS KA3 MVP (V1.0A) AM2 AMD 580X CrossFire ATX AMD Motherboard
and 3 case fans
is this a pretty good setup and can my psu handley all this i think it can but want some input...
 

PCKid777

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Aug 1, 2005
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My Critiques:

1) Cheap MB - would recommend ASUS, DFI, and maybe BIOSTAR as a cost-effective board. (I hate Gigabyte, but I hear they are good...)
2) AMD CPUs are low-performing chips, I must admit. If you want pure performance, go for a Core 2 Duo. Besides, I wouldn't recommend the Windsor cores either because they are power hogs and thus heaters... (not as bad as the old P4's though...)
3) PSU: I hate Antec PSUs, but hey, as long as that has a good amount of amps on the 12V rail.
 

Loser777

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Oct 7, 2006
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Notes: I would recommend the BE for processor. >:)
I would suggest picking up a good AM2+ motherboard so it'll be Phenom ready, (which also supports crossfire) even though it'll cost more. The K9A2 CF-F is around $90 and it's Crossfire with the 790X chipset, meaning it's AM2+, and PHENOM READY.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130138
HOWEVER, BEWARE THAT THIS SPECIFIC MOBO WILL NOT SUPPORT 125W PROCESSORS, MEANING IT WILL NOT WORK WITH YOUR CURRENT 6400+, so maybe a 5000+BE... an overclocked 5000+ is much cheaper and faster anyway.
You can try to find other 790 chipset motherboards, but those will be a lot more expensive.

It doesn't make sense to get an AM2 only system now because they won't have HT 3 and a lot of features the new Spider platform motherboards do. Aside from that, your build looks pretty solid. I would get 4GB RAM, but that's just me.
 

Okay here's my critique, so do with it what you will.
HD - okay
DDR2 - okay, better if it's the CAS4 stuff (4-4-4-12)
PSU - I'd refrain from the BASIQ one and get one of the ones below that are at the same price and provide more Amps on the 12V rail(s):

$70 - $30 MIR = $40!!! Can't beat at this price for 30A on the 12V rail(s)! Has 3A more than BASIQ and is more power efficient! 3 yr. warranty, which is quite nice :)
Antec earthwatts EA430 ATX12V v2.0 430W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, FCC, TUV, CE, CB, C-tick, CCC - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371006

$75.50 - $10 MIR = $65.50 Has 33A on the 12V rail and is power efficient too. 5 yr. Warranty, which is really nice :)
CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX 450W Active Power Supply Retail ***Free Shipping***
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10006428
or save $10 more with Google checkout here:
http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-vx-450w-power-supply/q/loc/101/205466485.html

Mobo - I'd change from that one as "Loser777" stated to the one he linked, unless you want to spend more. It can be had here for about $10 less, with shipping:
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10007272

CPU - I'd go with the 5000+ BE instead of the 6400+. All you have to do is change the muliplier and "BAM" your at 3 gHz!!! You can go farther, but that is where I'd go, since you wouldn't have to mess with any other settings, usually. :)
$99 shipped, just need to add HSF and your done!
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Brisbane 2.6GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Black Edition Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103194
or here:
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10006926

Case - Looks like a decent one and not too expensive. Cooler Master has good ones too. I'd look at the CM 690 for equivalent build.
$86 - $35 MIR = $51!!! Nice buy too!
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Mid Tower Case Retail
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10006342

CPU HSF - Okay, but get the AC Freezer Pro 64 for $30 less. It runs cooler than the one you selected. Here's a link so you can see in the chart where your Rosewill stands and where the AC FP64 stands.
http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=2130&page=4
So you can decide if you want to spend $30 less and get better cooling or not.
Linkage for AC FP64
$26 shipped!!
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185125

So there you have it!!