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Cyber_Akuma   10-05-2002 at 06:32:18 AM

Sorry if this is the wrong forum, its my first time here and this seemed the most likely place to post this.

I am going to build a new pc soon (My current one is a P3-733 paperweight), heres what I am planning to put into it:

Intel Pentium 4 2.4ghz 533mhz CPU - $190
EIDE 120 GB Harddrive - $130
EIDE 120 GB Harddrive - $130
EIDE DVD-ROM - $40
EIDE DVD+RW - $320
Floppy Drive - $5
GeForce4 TI4600 - $221
Sound Blaster Audigy MP3+ Audio Card - $100
SF-201 Case - $150
512MB PC1066 RDRAM - $216
---------------------------------------
Total - $1502

Any comments/suggestions? Especially on the motherboard/case since I dont know too much in that area.

Also, please do NOT start Intel/AMD and Nvidia/ATI fights. If you are even goign to THINK of telling me to use AMD/ATI then give me proof why, jsut posting a one sentance "get amd, its better" just makes you look like an idiot and makes me loose all repect for you.

So anyway, any comments would be appreciated, oh and also:

What exactly is the difference between a DVD-RW and a DVD+RW drive? What can and cant they do? Which one is better overall?

Thanks

P.S. Sorry to sound so harsh about the AMD/ATI fights thing but I have had it happen to me way too many times, people kept replying with one sentance, (or even two WORD) answers and eventually it breaks off into a fight and I never get my question answered.

DESTRUCTION! CHAOS! That's All I Know!

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Col_Kiwi   10-05-2002 at 09:02:24 AM
- 0 +

Sorry, I don't know anything about DVD drives.

I agree personally with your Intel + nVidia choice. I strongly agree with your request for people not to argue it here. There are lots of articles on THG and other sites if you want more info, but you appear to be decided already.

For the combo of memory type + CPU you're getting, the best choice is the GigaByte GA-8IHXP motherboard, hands down.

-Col.Kiwi

Reply to Col_Kiwi
groth2757   10-05-2002 at 05:35:13 PM
- 0 +

I hope you're aware that you have to install the RDRAM in pairs for the Gigabyte board. The only board that supports only one stick of RDRAM is the Asus P4T533 but they have to be 32 bit sticks.

<font color=blue>Clean your keyboard once a month to avoid sticky keys. <font color=blue>

Reply to groth2757
AMD_Man   10-05-2002 at 05:58:51 PM
- 0 +

I would get an ATI Radeon 9700. It will be more expensive, but it will be significantly faster in all current games (usually twice as fast), and ATI's R9700 has decent drivers.

Intelligence is not merely the wealth of knowledge but the sum of perception, wisdom, and knowledge.

Reply to AMD_Man
halkebul   10-05-2002 at 06:15:48 PM
- 0 +

By getting a P4 1.8A and increasing the FSB from 100MHz (400MHz Quad-pumped) to 133MHz (533MHz Quad-pumped) you could obtain a processor virtually the same as the P4 2.4B - saving $40-$50 in the process. As for the hard drives, if your planning to setup a RAID config, don't, unless you need a fault-tolerance data storage system or have a good reason to achieve 200GB+ storage space with RAID 0 (warning: a failure of one drive in a RAID 0 setup results in total loss of all data). Get a Western Digital Special Edtion Hard drive (plently fast) and be done with it. Replace that audigy and get a philips acoustic edge ($55 at pcstop.com). If ya needed the audigy for its firewire port you can get a PCI firewire card for about $15-$25. With respect to the case, I'm not too familiar with the Directron SF-201 but I'm sure the Lian-li PC-62+USB is a top contender.

<i>It's your world kid!!!</i>

Reply to halkebul
NMDante   10-05-2002 at 07:00:16 PM
- 0 +

Nice setup.

As for your DVD-/+RW question: DVD-RW is just a type of DVD writer which uses -RW disc, instead of +RW discs. But you probably already knew that.

The biggest difference between the two is that -RW discs are not only cheaper (about 2-3 dollars than +RW discs), but it's suppose to be able to play on 1st gen. standalone DVD players. There are also, R/RW versions of both +/- drives. The difference is like CD-R/RW, where the R is one-time burn. On the +R versions, they can play much easier on standalone DVDs than +RW discs. But the -R/-RW has had more time to establish themselves, so more DVD players can play them.

If a DVD burner isn't high on your list, I would hold off, until a standard is set for all formats. I have a DVD+RW, and use it mostly for backing up stuff, and some movie creation, but not that much. Hold off, and they might come down in price and add more features.

PS - All DVD writers can also write CD-R/RWs as well. Hope this helps a little.

What?

Reply to NMDante
Cyber_Akuma   10-05-2002 at 08:35:53 PM
- 0 +

I wasnt planning to use RAID though, Since I plan to image the drives from my current pc to the new one, and this one has two harddrives, I want to avoid problems with filepaths when I image. I am also planning to Dual boot with 98 on drive C and xp on drive D.

DESTRUCTION! CHAOS! That's All I Know!

Reply to Cyber_Akuma
Cyber_Akuma   10-05-2002 at 08:39:24 PM
- 0 +

So you are saying I should get a -RW instead of a +RW since more devices will play them? What about non-first generation drives? Why is -RW cheaper if it is more compatible? So if I made a DVD movie for example, would it work on other pcs, ps2, xbox, dvd movie playes if I use a -RW/+RW? and if so, what type of media? (R/RW)

Oh, and sorry for all the questions, but I want to know what I am getting before I buy it.

DESTRUCTION! CHAOS! That's All I Know!

Reply to Cyber_Akuma
Crashman   10-05-2002 at 09:08:17 PM
- 0 +

I'd get the ATI Radeon 9700.

The Lite-On LTD-163 used to be a nice DVD-ROM.

Oh, your proof, a bunch of hardware sites have reviewed the 9700 and placed it far above the Ti4600, including <A HREF="http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/02q3/020819/radeon9700-07.html" target="_new">This One</A>

<font color=blue>You're posting in a forum with class. It may be third class, but it's still class!</font color=blue>

Reply to Crashman
TJinsane   10-05-2002 at 09:12:49 PM
- 0 +

In response to:
-----------------------------------------------------------
Intel Pentium 4 2.4ghz 533mhz CPU - $190
EIDE 120 GB Harddrive - $130
EIDE 120 GB Harddrive - $130
EIDE DVD-ROM - $40
EIDE DVD+RW - $320
Floppy Drive - $5
GeForce4 TI4600 - $221
Sound Blaster Audigy MP3+ Audio Card - $100
SF-201 Case - $150
512MB PC1066 RDRAM - $216
---------------------------------------
Total - $1502
-----------------------------------------------------------

Umm, is it just me, or is there no motherboard. If you are looking for a motherboard go with the ABIT IT7-Max2. Its got 8x AGP capablity, in case you ever wanna upgrade seeing as a 4x card in an 8x slot = very little difference, enough USB and firewire ports to plug every device ever made in at once (up to 10 USB 2.0 and up to 3 Firewire) Its got great sound on board so you can get rid of that Audigy card.

And if you are still interested in a soundcard you may wanna hold off seing as Audigy 2.0 is just around the corner (it adds a coaxial audio out port and Dolby 6.1 sound to the already impressive audigy card)

As for the proccessor, If you are even considering over clocking your new computer somtime during its lifetime, think about a P4 2.5A with 400 mhz quadpumped FSB. Overclockable to 3150 I believe (correct me if I'm rong).

As for DVD burner: WAIT. Wait till a standard is set. Unless you absolutely have to have 4.7 gigs of removable storage, consider the fact that you can still make VCD's and SVCD's which can be played on most newer DVD players (and some older).

Just my oppinion.

If a CPU can be overclocked, try and overclock it. Do this always and forever, unless, of coarse, you have a POS ecs motherboard. In that case, thank god it runs.

Reply to TJinsane
Cyber_Akuma   10-05-2002 at 10:20:40 PM
- 0 +

Yeah, I accidently deleted the mobo from my list and cannot remember which one I had picked.

I forgot that some motherboards have integrated sound, are they worth it? I just want a DECENT system to play MP3s and vidoe games, I dont want an orchestra. (I likely wont buy more then a simple 2 stereo speaker set)

And on overclocking, I know this sounds childish, but I won't do it. Im too worried about damaging the system.

DESTRUCTION! CHAOS! That's All I Know!

Reply to Cyber_Akuma
Cyber_Akuma   10-05-2002 at 10:23:30 PM
- 0 +

Yes I know, the reason I want a GeForce though is becasue many games (Including two major ones I plan to buy soon, UT2003 and FFXI) are optimized for Nvidia cards. Also becasue it has a $100 rebate while the ATI dosent.

Personally though I am goign to wait, both ATI and Nvidia are coming out with new cards soon right? Im gonna see how well they perform and likely choose based on that. Might as well, I won't afford this sytem anytime soon unless I get lucky.

DESTRUCTION! CHAOS! That's All I Know!

Reply to Cyber_Akuma
Crashman   10-05-2002 at 10:45:25 PM
- 0 +

nVidia is releasing a new chip, ATI is releasing a 130 nm version of the 9700, the first move will force ATI to drop prices some, the second will allow them to reduce production cost. So within a month af the nVidia release, expect the price of the 9700 to fall to around $200.

<font color=blue>You're posting in a forum with class. It may be third class, but it's still class!</font color=blue>

Reply to Crashman
Jeff68005   10-06-2002 at 05:38:11 AM
- 0 +

>> I am also planning to Dual boot with 98 on drive C and xp on drive D. <<

Good Move. I did that too.


Every working computer must be improved .... or replaced ...

Reply to Jeff68005
Jeff68005   10-06-2002 at 06:42:00 AM
- 0 +

For the motherboard recommendation, see the Motherboard forum section of the community:
http://forumz.tomshardware.com//mo [...] forum&f=17

See also Tom's Motherboard Reviews:
http://www.tomshardware.com/mainbo [...] index.html

See Tom's comments DDR400 vs Rambus:
http://www.tomshardware.com/mainbo [...] index.html

Personally, for my limited budget, I've been happy with my Gigabyte GA-8IEXP DDR memory board. The one negative against this board is the memory bank sharing between slot 2 and 3. If you go to the Gigabyte site, you can download the manual and a "tech version" which shows you the BIOS settings. If you do so for this board, see the page 11 of the regular manual that you download.

I've been a fan of ATI's All in Worder cards for our family. The GA-8IEXP has a warning NOT to use any AGP 2x card. So I bought the ATI ALL in Wonder 7500-64 meg. BAD choice IMO - playing DVD movies and the TV tuner does not seem to function. Trying different drivers has not solved the problem for me. I loved my ATI 128 All in Wonder but it is 2x AGP, so I can't use it on this board. The ATI 7500 All in Wonder video card seems fine for other uses, but I'm too easy on video cards. 800x600x32 colors. Your wants and needs may vary from mine.
Many integrated sound cards have AC97 which seems to meet your needs. I've been picking up the Aureal SQ2500 sound cards for under $20.00 - The problem is that unless you have the drivers, you are SOL on this sound card as Aureal went belly up.
I'm not sure what the CPU / memory allocation concerns are compared to a PCI separate sound card.
Be sure to turn off the items in the BIOS that you use AGP/PCI cards for such as the video, sound, etc.

Every working computer must be improved .... or replaced ...

Reply to Jeff68005
halkebul   10-06-2002 at 07:45:03 PM
- 0 +

"As for the proccessor, If you are even considering over clocking your new computer somtime during its lifetime, think about a P4 2.5A with 400 mhz quadpumped FSB. Overclockable to 3150 I believe (correct me if I'm rong)."

This is true, It will be very easy to reach 3GHz+ clock speeds with the P4 2.5, however, unless you have extreme cooling (i.e. LN2, Dry Ice, Vapochill, etc) you will end up with a FSB less than the now common 533MHz. That is to say at 3.150GHz your FSB will be at 126MHz (504MHz). I'm not saying don't get the P4 2.5, just playing devil's advocate.


<i>It's your world kid!!!</i>

Reply to halkebul
bobbyb   10-31-2002 at 03:01:34 AM
- 0 +

I purchased the ABIT IT7-MAX2 and have been working with Leadtek for 2 weeks trying to make it work with the WinFast A250 TD with no luck. I think the board is ok I had some problems with the USB resources but I would just be happy with getting my 4x agp working.
Anyone want to buy both? They are brand new.

Reply to bobbyb
MeTaLrOcKeR   10-31-2002 at 03:10:54 AM
- 0 +

Umm y dont u just return them and get a new baord man ??

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

Reply to MeTaLrOcKeR
Anonymous   10-31-2002 at 11:43:16 AM
- 0 +

Get amd, its better ;-)

Seriously though, what do you need 240 Gb of storage for ? Im having a very hard time using half of my current 80 Gb capacity. Also, get yourselve informed over DVD+RW vs DVD-RW advantages/disadvantages. I wouldnt want to recommend either one over the other, but personnaly, im playing wait and see.. If you want te learn more, I suggest you go here:
<A HREF="http://www.vcdhelp.com/dvd" target="_new">http://www.vcdhelp.com/dvd</A>

= The views stated herein are my personal views, and not necessarily the views of my wife. =

Reply to Anonymous
Cyber_Akuma   10-31-2002 at 04:44:40 PM
- 0 +

Actually, I already have 110 gigs of space on THIS computer and I already have 2 gigs free, im worried 240 might not even be enough for me (I have literally hundreds of space-eating games).

Actually, I decicded the scram the DVD-RAM until they are cheaper and have more of a standard.

Heres my current plans:
http://cyberakumazero.homestead.co [...] Prices.xls

All im missing (that I can tell) is a heatsink/fan for the processor. Can anybody recommend a good one? (Thats quiet). Keep in mind that although I dont plan to overclock, I DO plan to keep the computer on 24/7.

DESTRUCTION! CHAOS! That's All I Know!

Reply to Cyber_Akuma
LtBlue14   10-31-2002 at 11:17:47 PM
- 0 +

the stock one's fine for no oc, and it's quiet as far as i know

Reply to LtBlue14
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