New build advice please.

jerrygarcia · October 18th, 2003, 11:31 AM

I'm currently helping a buddy of mine with a new build. All of the pieces should be showing up at his doorstep this week. Not going to OC.

Here is where it stands;
Asus A7N8X Deluxe
Socket A AMD Athlon XP/Duron (support AMD XP 3200+ "Barton")
Chipset: NVIDIA nForce2 Ultra SPP, nForce2 MCP-T
FSB: 400/333/266MHz
IDE: 2 x ATA133
RAM: Dual Channel DDR 400 3x 184-pin DIMM Sockets (PC3200/PC2700/PC2100 non-ECC DDR)
Slots: 1x AGP (Pro/8X), 5x PCI
Ports: 6x USB2.0
Onboard Silicon Image Sil 3112A Controller w/ 2 ports
NVIDIA SoundStorm Audio Processor Unit with Dolby
MCP integrated 3Com MAC + Broadcom AC101L PHY LAN
Firewire 1394: 2 Ports MCP-T integrated IEEE 1394a + Realtek PHY 8801B

XP 2500+ Barton

512mb Crucial PC2700 (2x256)

200g WD HDD

LiteOn DVD-ReWritable Drive MODEL LDW-401S - RETAIL
Specifications:
Write Speed: DVD+R/RW: 4x/4x (CLV), CD-R/RW: 40x/24x (PCAV)
Read Speed: DVD-ROM single/dual layer: 12x/8x (CAV), DVD±R/RW: 6x (CAV)
Random Access Time: CD/DVD: 140 ms/160 ms
Buffer Memory: 2MB
Interface: ATAPI EIDE
OS Support: Windows 98/SE/2000, Windows ME and Windows XP

Lite On 52x32x52x Beige Color CDRW Drive LTR-52327S - Retail

Mitsumi FDD

GF4 Ti4200 128mb 8x (Already had this)

Now I need a case to put it all together and rounded cables.

Want to buy the case locally, possibly Antec Lanboy, Sonata or a Soho.

Suggestions? Am I missing anything?

iNeb · October 18th, 2003, 11:42 AM

I like epox 8rda+ better then that, but your choice, as for rounded wires www.pctoys.com are good, i use them, and my neighbor used to know the guy until the guy moved to las vegas

Chuckiechan · October 18th, 2003, 11:48 AM

I would get a case that has USB ports in the front. Probably has a card reader, too.

How about 1 stick of 512 instead of 2 x 256?

Also, I would partition him a 20 gig partition and give him an automated backup of "My Documents" at shut down.

Other than that, it looks like a killer rig!

iNeb · October 18th, 2003, 11:54 AM

Partition doesn't do any good if the drive fails!

John Prophet · October 18th, 2003, 12:00 PM

I have to say..this looks to be the most popular board by far nowadays-------> Asus A7N8X Deluxe...I see it in every other thread...maybe it will be the new K7S5A (as far as popularity)

JP

cbuddha42 · October 18th, 2003, 12:33 PM

svc is a good site for stuff like cables, heatsink, ect........newegg just kills ya with the shipping on cheep items

where to buy locally depends on where you live.......if you live out west fry's is supposed to be good

mike_sanfil · October 18th, 2003, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chuckiechan

How about 1 stick of 512 instead of 2 x 256?

Well if you use 1 stick of 512 on that board you will not be able to use the "Dual Channel" ram feature. With (2x256) the board will access both of the DIMM's at the same time, speeding up the memory.

jerrygarcia · October 18th, 2003, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mike_sanfil

Well if you use 1 stick of 512 on that board you will not be able to use the "Dual Channel" ram feature. With (2x256) the board will access both of the DIMM's at the same time, speeding up the memory.

My thoughts exactly.

Next step will be 2x512 of PC3200 and a faster chip. This setup is for price vs. performance.

How do those cases sound as choices?

MrPurple · October 18th, 2003, 02:25 PM

Seems we went a bit off topic, so lets get back on.
If you want to get a case I would stay away from the lanboy unless your friend does alot of LAN parties and doesn't want a hernia lugging the system around.
As for the Sonata, it is a great case (currently using) but it will run a bit hotter then others, mainly due to the positining of the front FAN. As an alternative I would look into the soultion series Antec cases the SLK3700AMB. The design is similar to the Sonata, with the exception of the HDD cage and the the intake fan. It has a weaker PSU but it is still good and it costs you alot less $$.

As a side note I would purchase two Enermax 120 mm Speed adjustable fans for the case if you go with the SLK3700 or the Sonata, and either a Thermalight SLK-900U or SLK-947U HS with an Enermax 92 mm Speed adjustable fan.
At the monent my system has these, and the fans are set to lowest RPM. My system is no lounder then my PS2. My temps are avg 40 deg C for CPU (1700+) and 38 for system at 25 ambient.
These are for avg usage, net, watching movies and playing Diablo II.

As for cables I have Antec Cobras in my case. You don't really need them but hey they were a present to me, and are only $4 more expensive then majprity of others out there.

GL with the case purchase