YES!!!!!! IT'S FINALLY COMING!!!!

I am finally able to purchase my new computer. After many moons of research and slowly learning about computers I have finally decided what I am getting and when. I have been waiting for this day since March. So I am very excited.

First, I would like to thank everybody who has helped me out with this. Without all of you guys, I would probably be using a really messed up comp with parts purchased from Amazon.com. But now I know of the newegg and very good and cheap parts. Basically I just want to post my finalized specs and make sure they work and the prices at newegg are decent. I already have a Kingwin KT-436 Silver w/ 3 Windows and 5 fans, I have a NEC 17 inch multisync monitor, I have finally reached KLIPSCH and they are currently repairing my 4.1, and I have an Enermax 430 Watt Whisper PSU. Well, here are all the specs and the prices of the stuff that I am purchasing.

Processor - Intel Pentium 4 2.4 Ghz w/ 533 FSB - $228.00
Mobo - Giga-byte 8IHXP 850E - $162.00
RAM - 512 MB Kingston Non-ECC PC-1066 - $316.00
HARD DRIVE - Western Digital 80 GB w/ 8 MB Cache - $106.00
DVD-ROM - Lite-On 16x48x - $39.00
CD-RW - Lite-On 40x12x48x - $63.00
Video Card - ATI Radeon 9700 PRO Retail - $389.00
Sound Card - Creative Sound Blaster Audigy - $84.00
Floppy - Samsung Floppy Drive - $8.00
Artic Silver Thermal Compound - $6.00
Windows XP HE - $90.00
Monitor - NEC Multisync M700 17 Inch - Already own
Case - Kingwin KT-436 w/ 3 WIndows, 5 fans - Already Own
Power - Enermax 430 Watt Whisper - Already Own
Speakers - Klipsch Promedia 4.1 - Already Own

Total - $1491 plus about 55 bucks in shipping

Now bear with me, please, i have a few questions.

I will be overclocking, will this setup be able to reach 3Ghz with an RDRAM rating of PC-1200? I will only be able to use the retail heatsink with artic silver.

What is the best sound card in the world? I have heard some interesting things about my audigy card, I want no conflicts and I also want great 4.1 surround sound. Also, Is there a difference between the X-Gamer and OEM versions of the audigy besides software?

I have also heard that Windows XP HE is crap. Someone told me XP Pro or Windows 2000 would be better for gaming and stability. Is this true?

This is my first computer that I am building so please, if you see any other problems or have any suggestions because of personal experience please tell me. I am spending alot of money on this and I want it to be the best possible and I want it to last me a few years.

Thank you so much guys. I really appreciate any comments and/or suggestions.

At best, if you are lucky, your RDRAM can reach PC1200. Your CPU will then only be running at 2.7GHz. To increase the CPU frequency, you will have to lower the memory multiplier from 4 to 3. This drops your memory to PC900. You will then have to increase the FSB to 178 to reach 3.2GHz and PC1066.

My guess is that you can probably not expect to reach more than 3.0GHz where your memory will be around PC1000 spec. So you see, the 2.4GHz 533MHz bus version is not the ideal choice. Either go for a 2.0GHz 400MHz bus or a 2.66GHz with 533MHz bus. However, the 2.0A is not likely to reach 3.0GHz in it's current stepping, you will need stepping C1 which will only start shipping in the second week of October.


<i>/Copenhagen - Clockspeed will make the difference... in the end</i>

wouldnt u need 2 sticks of RDRam since its dual channal and all?

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100 Character Limit Sucks!!

Well ive been away for a while..Well to long!!Seems Intel is the Pick...Well,, Pick ? What does that mean?With Intel it means Microsoft,Nvidia, imsure there are a few more that sleep with Intel...Seems AMD did it with the new line.. Its to bad..Seems to many people want to overclock,tweek,,Or Just push it....what ever you call it..Not me..I was the fastet PC on my block for 5 years..And yes i build all my own..Ive overclocked!!!At a serios comprimise.I Dont do it any more.As a result ive been on the same systom for 2 years.And it still kicks A%%...As a note...This is a great site..Seems your new to the PC building..Watch out!!!Learn on your own!!!Remember....Its your money...Not theres..

jsyk you need 2 sticks of rdram. Not one. Go with 2 256MB sticks. might find it will be a little cheaper too.

Also i hear samsung is good for rdram.

I would go DDR. i'll tell you why. Next year Intel will release dual channel DDR. If you do the math at pc 2700, dual channel would make it pc5400, much higher then the 4400 with current rdram.

I would also save some money and go with a 1.8ghz and overclock it to 2.4. Then next year around this time, upgrade to dual channel and 3ghz+ system. Seeing that RDRAM is soon to be ancient in my opinion, DDR is a safe bet. Plus you'll only have to buy one stick of ddr and a motherboard to upgrade to dual DDR, which i fele in my opinion will perform better then rdram. But thats my opinion. everything is entirely up to you.

but ya you need 2 sticks of rdram, ddr only needs one stick.

other than that, i hope you'll be doing a lot of gaming or something constructive with your computer cos thats a lot of money to spend on something that needs to be considered on rather or not you really do need it and if it's overkill on what you do with your system.

good luck!

<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?id=9933" target="_new"> My Rig </A>

the 2.66 uses a 20x multiplier

<font color=blue>Unofficial Forum Cop</font color=blue>

I know how to prove u wrong!!!!

U know FUGGER???

check <A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=faq¬found=1&code=1" target="_new"> THIS </A> thread out... =)

<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?id=13597" target="_new">-MeTaL RoCkEr</A>

they released the 2.66 and the 2.8 at the same time.

<font color=blue>Unofficial Forum Cop</font color=blue>

Wow, you guys are great, I didnt think that this many people would respond.

First, About the confusion with my RAM, sorry about that but it is two 256 MB sticks. What sux is that newegg really jacked up the price from 135 a piece.

I did read the reviews about the sound cards and I like the Turtle Beach and Hercules Cards, the Santa Cruz and the Game Theater XP. They still support EAX 1.0, 2.0 and A3D and I dont really need Advanced HD or whatever Creative Calls it.

Also, what I really wanted to do was to wait for a SiS 648 or DX board and throw in some Corsair XMS PC3200C2 memory and overclock that. I just am getting really tired of waiting and the gigabyte mobo is really sweet. I was also worried about having a passive heatsink on the chipset with the 648 boards because I will eventually overclock.

Well, that does really suck that I wont be able to hit 3 Ghz, its not big deal though. I wont overclock for a while or at least until I get used to my setup. I did hear that the 2.5 Ghz with a 400 Mhz FSB would be great for overclocking, thats probably with a water cooler though and I am scared of water cooling because with my luck the stupid hose would explode or something like that.

If i do go with a 1.8 w/ 512KB cache with a 648 board and DDR memory and a different sound card I could save about 200 bucks. The Processor prices went down again on newegg and i know the radeon will go down about 40 bucks when it arrives. Any way I do it, I will notice a major difference from my current Thunderbird 1.13 Ghz, with 256 MB PC-133 RAM and a Voodoo 3 PCI card.

Thanx again guys!

I've heard probs with overclocking the SiS648 mobos. They're bascially locked at 143MHz FSB IIRC, maybe it was 147MHz. A better idea would be to get something like an IT7 or a P4B533-E and just use the 3:4 RAM ratio, although with the P4B533-E, I think you have to move a jumper to get the 3:4 above 132MHz FSB. The IT7 is touted to be the best DDR RAM overclocking mobo for the P4 and say running a P4 2.4GHz with some Corsair PC3200C2 and trying for DDR443 with a 166MHz FSB, 3GHz, and the 3:4 RAM ratio. That may be too much for the RAM, but running at 160MHz FSB and 3:4 shouldn't be unattainable.

<i>Past mistakes may make you look stupid, but avoiding future ones will make you look smart!</i>

There's 2.5's on 400mhz FSB's floatin around out there too. Not yet officially released though....but have seen ID's of em. That's Intel tryin to stay on the good side of consumers by providing upgrade options. I think they're listening now. For people that bought a 1.6 or a 1.8 a 2.5 is a sweet upgrade, and can probably be OC'ed to 3ghz easily.

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OK, now find me one!

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<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&catalog=224&manufactory=1157&DEPA=1&sortby=14&order=1" target="_new">http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&catalog=224&manufactory=1157&DEPA=1&sortby=14&order=1</A>

$468.00



<font color=blue>Unofficial Forum Cop</font color=blue>

Okay.. I don't know much about P4's since I have liked athlons pretty much since they came out, but this updated core for the 2.8GHz is intriguing to me. I'm fairly sure the 2.66 is also the same northwood B core as the 2.8, could anyone confirm this?

The reason that I'm curious is because if it is the same updated core I may put a system together with it. I've noticed an impressive performance gain with the core, someone mentioning a bug has been fixed. It appears that way as well looking at the performance leads they seem to have. Can anyone shine any light on this for me? Thanks.

Also while thinking of my future system... i was wondering if anyone could speculate how much the Barton XP 2800+ would cost when it does come out? $300, 400?

"Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one"

Yeah, at least I know the 2.66B is C1 stepping already.

<i>Past mistakes may make you look stupid, but avoiding future ones will make you look smart!</i>

Oh, dont worry, I am not going to overclock for a good while. I have thought alot about it and I dont really need to overclock because it will be fast enough for anything out there. The only time I will overclock is like when it is a year old, I might not even overclock it then though.

Well, most likely i will <i>eventually</i> overclock. I have also never owned an intel system that is another reason why i am going with intel. I also really like the setup that I have.

The Audigy is much better than the SB Live.

Well, XP Pro is working good for me, and in a few days I'll have SP1, so I'm not worrying.

Crucial does not sell PC1066 the last time I checked. Also, that Kingston is 32ns, so he'll almost be guaranteed PC1200.

<i>Past mistakes may make you look stupid, but avoiding future ones will make you look smart!</i>

The R9700's price, where you got it from, is already lower than the real 399$ price!

Yes one guy said it best, you got a 2.4GHZ dude, I would drool to get that!
In anycase you can just do a slight minor OC and you'd notice performance! Why don't you try a small 20% OC?
Ouch I just checked, that's 2.88GHZ already! Ok then try a 10% OC, I doubt it'd go anywhere near the PCI and AGP port overclocked speeds or past anything considered risky. You're only getting more power for free!

--
When buying an AthlonXP, please make sure the bus is at 133MHZ, or you will get a lower speed!

AMD still kicks A$$..Pentium is real good..But for bang for your Buck,,,AMD Is the best...Not for every one..I guess its what you have been using,or whatever..They all have draw backs.Typical Silicon..Like breasts.."Get a good implant they look great.Get a bad one they ,,well i dont do poems so" ...He will do fine..This is my last 2 cents worth..

You're missing the point though.......yeah XP2000 is better than a 2ghz P4. Yeah, 1800 is better than a 1.8ghz P4 w/o OC'ing. In those cases AMD wins when it comes to stock. But 2.5ghz? 2.66ghz? 2.8ghz? Theres nothing there to compete. So the "if you're not OC'ing go w/ AMD" statement has gained a few qualifiers. Now it's if you don't want stock performance above 2200+ get AMD. Bang for your buck yeah, it's established that AMD sells Processors cheap......That's also the biggest reason to get AMD if you're at stock speeds. It's just because it's cheaper. But now the stock speeds for Intel are higher and theres no options. If you want a 2.6ghz stock processor, you have to go to Intel.

This sig runs too hot.