Building New System - Need Opinions

[gpnagy]

I am looking to upgrade the components of my current system. Here are the parts I am looking to buy. You guys are the experts, so I am wondering if anyone has opinions on which stuff is good or bad and anything else I should be considering:

- ABIT "AI7" i865PE Chipset Motherboard
for Intel Socket 478 CPU

- SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9800SE Video Card,
128MB DDR, 128-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP

- Intel Pentium 4/ 3.2E GHz 800MHz FSB,
1MB L2 Cache, Hyper Threading Technology

- Corsair Value Select (Dual Pack) 184
Pin 1G(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200

The total for these components is around $600 on newegg and I'd like to stay in that ballpark.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Snorkius]

Get a 256 bit version of the 9800. Big difference!

<font color=blue>The day <font color=green>Microsoft</font color=green> will make something that doesn't suck is the day they'll start making vacuum cleaners.</font color=blue>

 

[street_racer5]

May i suggest a combination or a amd 3200+ with the DFI LAN 754 board. And also dont get the 9800se. The 9800 256 pro is much better, but you could also get a 6600/6800gt. Those are nice cards bang 4 buck

ASUS 440BX P3B-F, Intel P3 @ 553Mhz, 128Mb Pc133 Ram, nVidia Gefore 256, IBM 20gig HD, Creative Sound Blaster Live,Lg Cd-Burner, Creative 52x Cd Drive, Microsoft Windows XP Pro/2000 Pro Duel Boot

 

[Cybercraig]

Abit IS7 vs the AI7 - Better board

YECH! Good luck! A 9600XT-256mb is a great card for the same money. A 9800Pro-256mb would be 120 bucks more.

Don't forget to check out the 3.0C & up Northwoods either. Some astute shopping can go a long ways. Have fun!

Abit IS7 - 3.0C @ 3.6ghz - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100
Sony DRU-510A - Yellowtail Merlot

 

[endyen]

If you are going to buy a P4e, you should get a BTX form factor case.You also might want an aftermarket hsf, the one that comes with the chip whines.

 

[gpnagy]

Awesome... exactly what I was looking for. Based on the feedback, here are the revised specs:

- ABIT "IS7" i865PE Chipset Motherboard for Intel Socket 478 CPU
- SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9800 PRO Video Card, 128MB DDR, 256-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP
- Intel Pentium 4/ 3.0C GHz 800MHz FSB, 512KB L2 Cache, Hyper Threading Technology
- Corsair Value Select (Dual Pack) 184 Pin 1G(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200
- ZALMAN CNPS6500B-AlCu CPU Cooler for Intel Pentium4
- Arctic Silver Premium Silver Polysynthetic Silver Thermal Compound, Model "Arctic Silver 5", 3.5-gram (1 cc.) tube

Comes out to about $700 on newegg... still in the range of what I am looking to spend. One question though... the Northwood are a little more expensive than the Prescott's... would I be better off going with a Northwood 3.0c or a Prescott 3.2e?

 

[endyen]

The chip may be cheeper, but the added cooling hardware required, makes the P4c a better deal. For the price of a P4e + the btx case, plus a good hsf you can get a 3.4 P4c.

 

[Mr5oh]

Awesome... exactly what I was looking for. Based on the feedback, here are the revised specs:

Your second selections are much better, <b>especially the video card.</b>

My Desktop: <A HREF="http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html" target="_new">http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html</A>

 

[Cybercraig]

The vid card will be much better. Beg, borrow or steal for some better ram. Any PC3700 ram will get you to 3.5ghz at close to stock voltage, especially if you get the D1 stepping 3.0C. Way too much fun to overclock with that rig! Word of advice though, the 9800Pro runs damn hot. Make sure you have plenty of air moving around it. I had to put a Zalman dual-heatpipe on mine for even the smallest of overclocks.

Abit IS7 - 3.0C @ 3.6ghz - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100
Sony DRU-510A - Yellowtail Merlot

 

[gpnagy]

Okay... so a few changes. I'll just list the components that changed.

- (x2) Buffalo Technology 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3700
- Thermaltake Giant II Highest Performance Cooler for Video Card With HeatPipe (this is a maybe - is it needed?)

I just want to be sure the PC-3700 memory will work with the Abit IS7 board... can someone confirm this? Sorry for being mildly neurotic... I want to get this right. Everyone's feedback has been really helpful!

 

[HardWareBoss]

Will you be OCing your Cpu?

 

[gpnagy]

I have never really gotten into overclocking... although it seems to be an easy enough process. I will probably OC this one a little, just to get it up to 3.2. Does that seem reasonable?

 

[Vapor]

The RAM will work...

Make sure to look at the VGA Silencer for your 9800Pro if you're going to change the cooling. It's much cooler, much easier to install, and much cheaper.

Maxtor disgraces the six letters that make Matrox.

 

[Cybercraig]

Sorry dude, you won't be able to stop there. You can sneeze your way to 3.5ghz with that rig. :lol:

Abit IS7 - 3.0C @ 3.6ghz - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100
Sony DRU-510A - Yellowtail Merlot

 

[gpnagy]

At least I know where to come to for tips on getting my rig to 3.5.

Thanks again to everyone for the input... kinda funny that the revised specs are 100% different from what I had originally chosen. Live an learn...

 

[Cybercraig]

We have four computers in this house. Mine, a Satellite Notebook, the T-bird 1.3ghz back-up, and a 2.1ghz Athlon XP on a Lynksys 2.4G wireless router. Everybody hogs mine! Get used to it!

Abit IS7 - 3.0C @ 3.6ghz - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100
Sony DRU-510A - Yellowtail Merlot