So I'm getting a new computer

[itburnswhenipee]

I have recently taken leave of my senses and am now consumed by the desire to get a new PC. I've speced one out, but figured I'd see what you guys think since I haven't been paying attention to hardware recently. Maybe you can save me from paying too much for my muffler.

CPU : (939-pin) AMD Athlon64 3500+ CPU w/ HyperTransport Technology
MOTHERBOARD : (Sckt939)ASUS A8N-SLI nForce4 SLI Chipset SATA RAID Dual PCIE MB w/Gb-LAN,USB2.0,IEEE-1394,&7.1Audio
MEMORY : 1024 MB (512MBx2) PC3200 400MHz Dual Channel DDR MEMORY
VIDEO CARDS : 2 NVIDIA Geforce 6800 GS 256MB 16X PCI EXPRESS VIDEO CARD
HARD DRIVE : 160GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 8M Cache 7200RPM Hard Drive
Optical Drive : LG GWA-4161 16X DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW DRIVE DUAL LAYER
Power Supply : 450 watts

Total cost? $1111

[KNYTE]

I'd congratulate you, but I'm still pissed at you for calling me a hick.:P

edit: nice system though, I think it'll serve you well.

[itburnswhenipee]

I'd congratulate you, but I'm still pissed at you for calling me a hick.:P



Aww... I meant it in a good way! :heart:

[FlamingGlory]

PICTURES

[fly]

Is that the SLI-Premium? iirc, the premium is the only one with 2-8x PCI-E or maybe its all the SLI. Im not sure, check it out tho.

edit: Dual core AMD ftw...

[itburnswhenipee]

Is that the SLI-Premium? iirc, the premium is the only one with 2-8x PCI-E or maybe its all the SLI. Im not sure, check it out tho.

edit: Dual core AMD ftw...

PCI Specs
- 2 x PCI Express x16 slot
*SLI mode : x8 , x8
*Default(Single VGA) mode : x16, x1
- 2 x PCI Express x1
- 3 x PCI

http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=98&type=expert

I'm also considering the GigaByte GA-K8N-SLI. It'll save me $30.

Processor Support: Socket 939 supports AMD Athlon64 X2⁄ 64 FX⁄ 64
Chipset:
NVIDIA nForce4 SLI MCPs (media and communication processors)
Super I⁄O: ITE IT8712 chip
Integrated peripherials
CICADA8201 Gigabit LAN PHY chip
Realtek ALC850 Audio AC`97 Codec FSB support: 2000 MHz
Memory:
Type: Dual channel DDR400⁄ 333⁄ 266 -184pin
Max capacity: Up to 4GB by 4 DIMM slots
FSB: 2000MHz
On-Board VGA: N⁄A
Graphics interface: PCI-Express X16
PCI:
PCI-Express X16 (X8): 2
PCI-Express X1 (X2,X4): 2
PCI: 2
Audio: ALC 850
USB Ports: 10 (6 by cable)
LAN: CICADA 8201 phy
RAID: SATA PATA RAID0,RAID1, RAID0+1
SCSI: N⁄A
Form Factor: ATX

[w_a_w]

agreed on dual core
and what are the benches looking like these days on the top end single cards vs. going two midrange cards in SLI? 6800 core is considered old now, no? I think I'd get a higher end SLI card and wait on adding the second til prices drop...benches would dictate what route though

[itburnswhenipee]

agreed on dual core
and what are the benches looking like these days on the top end single cards vs. going two midrange cards in SLI? 6800 core is considered old now, no? I think I'd get a higher end SLI card and wait on adding the second til prices drop...benches would dictate what route though

I wonder about the video setup too. If anyone can point me at numbers I'd appreciate it.

Dual core would really be pushing my budget. Besides, I understand that older apps don't play well with dual core systems. Also, do you need a 64 bit OS for a dual core setup?

[Sp`ange]

will you buy me a new bios too?

[itburnswhenipee]

will you buy me a new bios too?

Tell you what... you buy the computer for me and I'll buy the bios for you. Sounds like a fair trade. Hell... I'll even drive down to Georgia and hand deliver that fucker.

[itburnswhenipee]

Okay... my plans have been revised:

The processor is now going to be an Athlon64 X2 3800+ Dual-Core and the video cards will be geforce 7600 GTs. The 7600's specs are crazy for a mid range card.

[ERage]

I wonder about the video setup too. If anyone can point me at numbers I'd appreciate it.

Dual core would really be pushing my budget. Besides, I understand that older apps don't play well with dual core systems. Also, do you need a 64 bit OS for a dual core setup?


AMD Athlon 64X2 3800 is ~ $300 now and I absolutely love mine. I still have it running at factory 2.0GHz but I'll probably OC it one day, maybe up to about 2.4GHz

If it glitches up old apps all you gotta do is ctrl+alt+del and set the affinity to a single core. That has fixed any problems I have found with my older apps.

You don't need 64 bit OS for dual core but the dual core will definitely rock hardcore when Vista finally get's released. I plan on that being the first legit version of Windows I have bought...well ever :lol:

[ERage]

Okay... my plans have been revised:

The processor is now going to be an Athlon64 X2 3800+ Dual-Core and the video cards will be geforce 7600 GTs. The 7600's specs are crazy for a mid range card.

cool, i think you'll be very happy with the dual core. I built 2 almost identical systems side by side, mine with a 3800 and my Boss' with a 3700+. Mine was way snappier than his.

[b_sinning]

I wish I could afford a new system.

[itburnswhenipee]

I wish I could afford a new system.

Yeah, me too.... stupid irrational desires.

I just bit the bullet, incidentally, and ordered the beast. It's the most I've ever spent on any of my computers. Usually I just get mid-grade stuff.

edit: christ! Immediately with the buyer's remorse. When does it end!?

[JPatrick]

We expect sexy pics

[SemperFly]

don't skimp on that power supply. it's better to get a high quality 350W than some cheapass 450W that may jihad itself and take your system with it

get an Antec

[w_a_w]

We expect sexy pics

fufme style?

[sizzlinggrace]

i wanted to build my own computer this summer :O

i should probably learn how first :P

[KNYTE]

i wanted to build my own computer this summer :O

i should probably learn how first :P

Pretty much all you need to know these days is that if it doesn't fit there, don't put it there.

AM I RITE?? :hi2u:

[Sp`ange]

So.. who can gimme $10k so I can buy the Dell Quad SLI machine?

[w_a_w]

So.. who can gimme $10k so I can buy the Dell Quad SLI machine?

10 fucking k??? you must be able to buy the board and a suitable case elsewhere, no?

[Sp`ange]

10 fucking k??? you must be able to buy the board and a suitable case elsewhere, no?

I don't think Quad SLI is available from anywhere else at the moment.

[KNYTE]

$10k for a computer? Imagine what the desk would cost that you'd have to house that thing on.

[w_a_w]

$10k for a computer? Imagine what the desk would cost that you'd have to house that thing on.


fi dolla
you wouldn't have money left for a desk!

[JPatrick]

really, after spending 10k on the 'puter, youd have to be standing that shit on a cardboard box.

[reverendsaintjay]

Right, I have been on this board long enough to know that any comments on Page 2 of a thread that aren't completely off-topic might as well be ignored, but here we go.

Hard drives: I strongly recommend going with a dual drive setup. Get yourself a sexy little 40-60GB 10k rpm drive with enough cache to choke a donkey. The money you'll spend getting the lower access time is far outweighed by the size drop. Then you get yourself a nice big 7200 rpm drive for data storage, games, videos, whatevah. The performance bump is worth the effort, and it's handy to separate out your data/system partitions in the event of a catastrophic OS failure.

Mobo: I have been using almost exclusively Gigabyte boards (currently have the 8KNXP in my box) and I will buy a Gigabyte board for my next system as well. I know that Asus/Abit have decent boards as well but hell, I haven't had a problem on my last three boards.

Aside from that there's nothing but pure jealousy from this end of the world. I have been working my way up to a PCIe box for the last 12 months, you (and everyone else that upgrades before me) are a full on bastard for having what I want.

[SchmilK]

Get the Asus A8N32 sli deluxe if you are going to run SLI...i'm trying to sell my A8N Sli Deluxe now to get that board...and i have an athlon 3500+ (64bit, not dual core) to go with it if anyone wants both $250.

[SchmilK]

I don't think Quad SLI is available from anywhere else at the moment.

If you've seen pictures, tehy ahve custom video cards that offset the SLI connector so that card 1 and 3 , 2 and 4 are connected instead of 1 and 2, 3 and 4. ti's wierd...

[Valve1080i]

Dual core for the win.

Get an X2 3800+, you'll be much happier in the long run!

[ERage]

Hard drives: I strongly recommend going with a dual drive setup. Get yourself a sexy little 40-60GB 10k rpm drive with enough cache to choke a donkey. The money you'll spend getting the lower access time is far outweighed by the size drop. Then you get yourself a nice big 7200 rpm drive for data storage, games, videos, whatevah. The performance bump is worth the effort, and it's handy to separate out your data/system partitions in the event of a catastrophic OS failure.

Mobo: I have been using almost exclusively Gigabyte boards (currently have the 8KNXP in my box) and I will buy a Gigabyte board for my next system as well. I know that Asus/Abit have decent boards as well but hell, I haven't had a problem on my last three boards.


Good advice, I am running a 10,000 RPM WD HDD 72 GB drive for windows and app installs, all my files (porn) are on a 350GB 2700 WD HDD.

I'm running the ASUS A8N-SLI Premium. So far an excellent board especially since SLI mode can be changed on the fly instead of having to power down and manually flip the chip on the mobo. I'm not running SLI mode yet but maybe by the year's end. I got a BFG 7800GTX and to buy another would be like 500 more bucks :eek:

and definitely dont cheap out on the Power Supply, I'm running an Antec TruePower II 550W (~$75) and it works beautifully (and silently).

[eileenbunny]

So now that the computer has been ordered and is on it's way, IBWIP and I have come to a very important decision we need to make. We don't know what to name the machine when it gets here. We have Homer, Gilgamesh, and Herodotus already. We had Monty and Armando, but they have been decommissioned :(. Anyway, we are thinking ancient historical figure here. Any suggestions?

[Ryokurin]

i wanted to build my own computer this summer :O

i should probably learn how first :P


I'll say it again. why are all the psychology geek girls are all around me and the tech geek girls are somewhere else in the world?

[Sp`ange]

I'll say it again. why are all the psychology geek girls are all around me and the tech geek girls are somewhere else in the world?

http://uselessforums.com/files/120505/Formula_ttestindependent.GIF

[SemperFly]

So now that the computer has been ordered and is on it's way, IBWIP and I have come to a very important decision we need to make. We don't know what to name the machine when it gets here. We have Homer, Gilgamesh, and Herodotus already. We had Monty and Armando, but they have been decommissioned :(. Anyway, we are thinking ancient historical figure here. Any suggestions?
Aristotle :cool:

[fly]

i wanted to build my own computer this summer :O

i should probably learn how first :P
We talked about this. Get on it silly!!!

[fly]

Dual core for the win.

Get an X2 3800+, you'll be much happier in the long run!
That b what I have. I have yet to see any dual core issues. Im running 32bit windows

[Ryokurin]

I just noticed that the 3800 dropped to the under 300 dollar mark so I'll probably do it soon myself.

[fly]

I just noticed that the 3800 dropped to the under 300 dollar mark so I'll probably do it soon myself.
It comes with high marks from me. <3 theac for building me a system list.

[Valve1080i]

That b what I have. I have yet to see any dual core issues. Im running 32bit windows

Indeed. There'sa good thread over at hardforums in the AMD processor subforum with all the fixes to get all the popular games running correctly. I followed it and have zero gaming problems.

[reverendsaintjay]

So now that the computer has been ordered and is on it's way, IBWIP and I have come to a very important decision we need to make. We don't know what to name the machine when it gets here. We have Homer, Gilgamesh, and Herodotus already. We had Monty and Armando, but they have been decommissioned :(. Anyway, we are thinking ancient historical figure here. Any suggestions?

Lil' Saint.

(he is going to be an ancient historical figure in 600 years or so, might as well get the jump, right?)

[Sp`ange]

So now that the computer has been ordered and is on it's way, IBWIP and I have come to a very important decision we need to make. We don't know what to name the machine when it gets here. We have Homer, Gilgamesh, and Herodotus already. We had Monty and Armando, but they have been decommissioned :(. Anyway, we are thinking ancient historical figure here. Any suggestions?


Oderus Urungus ftw

or maybe Barbarosa.

[itburnswhenipee]

Just checked the order status... It was assembled today! :happy:
The expected ship date is the 12th, so that means a week or so of burn-in goodness.

I specifically asked them to do a good burn-in on it since RMAing shit, even under warranty, would cost me extra money. It's nice to know they're fulfilling my request.

[CletusJones]

I need to build a new computer. :(

[fly]

Just checked the order status... It was assembled today! :happy:
The expected ship date is the 12th, so that means a week or so of burn-in goodness.

I specifically asked them to do a good burn-in on it since RMAing shit, even under warranty, would cost me extra money. It's nice to know they're fulfilling my request.
Wait... You're not building this one yourself?

[itburnswhenipee]

Wait... You're not building this one yourself?

Naah... I gave up on doing that years ago. I have people to do that for me nowadays. *waves hand dismissively*

[CletusJones]

weaksauce, it's no fun to buy them pre-assembled. :(

[itburnswhenipee]

weaksauce, it's no fun to buy them pre-assembled. :(

I used to believe that, but no more. It's a computer, not legos. If I wanted to assemble computers I'd go get a $6/hr job at compusa or something.

Besides, it's better to have some shmuck 2000 miles away find the bad part and replace it with another one off the shelf than it is for me to send the bad part 2000 miles back to the vendor.

[CletusJones]

I used to believe that, but no more. It's a computer, not legos. If I wanted to assemble computers I'd go get a $6/hr job at compusa or something.

Besides, it's better to have some shmuck 2000 miles away find the bad part and replace it with another one off the shelf than it is for me to send the bad part 2000 miles back to the vendor.
I thought you worked at CompUSA?

[itburnswhenipee]

I thought you worked at CompUSA?

Alas! I am undone! You have uncovered my ruse and the sad details of my life have been layed bare.

[Coqui]

I used to believe that, but no more. It's a computer, not legos. If I wanted to assemble computers I'd go get a $6/hr job at compusa or something.

Besides, it's better to have some shmuck 2000 miles away find the bad part and replace it with another one off the shelf than it is for me to send the bad part 2000 miles back to the vendor.


If you're building a high end machine, it pays to build it yourself. Your avereage run of the mill budget PC, no point in building anymore.

[itburnswhenipee]

If you're building a high end machine, it pays to build it yourself. Your avereage run of the mill budget PC, no point in building anymore.

I'm curious: Why does it pay to do it yourself? If you specify every part going into the machine it shouldn't matter who assembles it.

[Coqui]

I'm curious: Why does it pay to do it yourself? If you specify every part going into the machine it shouldn't matter who assembles it.


$$$

Machine I've spec'd out recently cost me $1700 to build. Dell sells that same machine for $4800

[itburnswhenipee]

$$$

Machine I've spec'd out recently cost me $1700 to build. Dell sells that same machine for $4800

See, that's the thing... the place I order from has very competitive prices. I wouldn't be saving anything by building myself. Plus, I can order without any software, which is nice.

[Coqui]

See, that's the thing... the place I order from has very competitive prices. I wouldn't be saving anything by building myself. Plus, I can order without any software, which is nice.


Our machines aren't exactly considered high end anymore.

[fly]

See, that's the thing... the place I order from has very competitive prices. I wouldn't be saving anything by building myself. Plus, I can order without any software, which is nice.
but. its like working on your own car. its the fun of it! The sport! I may have to revoke your geek card.

[ERage]

I'm curious: Why does it pay to do it yourself? If you specify every part going into the machine it shouldn't matter who assembles it.


Companies like Dell (and I'm not sure your chosen company is) put crap parts into their machine. It isn't enough to say I want 2 gigs of RAM anymore. They will put in some refurbished off-brand RAM that is some crappy value ram that is clocked really slow.

My last dell came new with a refurbished DVD Burner, a refurbished HDD, crappy memory, and the whole thing was built with no potential for upgrade.

Example: My Dell came with on board video or an optional extra AGP card. I had a decent AGP graphics card that I planned to put in there when I got the PC so I ordered it without the extra Video Card. They REMOVED the AGP slot! I could even see the tin spots where it should be stuck on the board, they just left it off.

There were 2 memory slots on the board, I ordered a gig of memory and of course they gave me 2 x 512 sticks so to upgrade I would have to throw one away and buy bigger than I would have had to otherwise.

As I said above, the DVD Burner was a refurbished Phillips which died, was replaced with another refurbished part, then replaced, and it died again all in 1 year.

I could go on but you get the idea. Build your own and you can not only get more power and quality parts for less money, but you can plan for the future and have the ability to upgrade instead of having to buy another full system.

Edit: And they didn't even leave space to mount a second hard drive...they removed the tin mountable space from both the 5.25 bays and the 3.25 bays so that nothing more than what they put in there would fit. Then they told me they would charge me 65 bucks plus shipping for the mount parts that of course are custom only for a Dell case. Bastards.

[itburnswhenipee]

but. its like working on your own car. its the fun of it! The sport! I may have to revoke your geek card.

10 years in the industry have stripped most of the joy from such activites. Hell, I spend two years as a field tech disassembling everything with a Dell logo on it.

Don't worry, though, I'll still have fun tweaking the cmos and OS settings.

[itburnswhenipee]

rant removed

No way I'd buy from dell... or any other major manufacturer. Like I said, I custom ordered one from a small vendor. http://cyberpowerpc.com

Gay name, but their selection is good enough for me, as are their prices.

[ERage]

Dells are good for nothing beyond target practice. And yes, a .45 S&W will completely penetrate a hard drive from 5 feet away.

[ERage]

No way I'd buy from dell... or any other major manufacturer. Like I said, I custom ordered one from a small vendor. http://cyberpowerpc.com

Gay name, but their selection is good enough for me, as are their prices.

Only reason I bought from them was because I get a deeply discounted rate as a state employee. I was still so pissed off I built my own PC less than a year later and gave the dell to the inlaws :pandora: :lol:

[reverendsaintjay]

No way I'd buy from dell... or any other major manufacturer. Like I said, I custom ordered one from a small vendor. http://cyberpowerpc.com

Gay name, but their selection is good enough for me, as are their prices.

I hate you so much right now...

Turns out the PC that I have wanted to build can be mine for right around 1k... You ever sit there and wonder how long you can live off of Ramen Noodles and Peanut Butter (separately or combined)?

[KNYTE]

www.pcclub.com FTW

[Bubbles]

but. its like working on your own car. its the fun of it! The sport! I may have to revoke your geek card.

Can you honestly make this statement? April's the only one who works on the cars in your household. :fly:

[w_a_w]

Can you honestly make this statement? April's the only one who works on the cars in your household. :fly:


good bust :lol:

[itburnswhenipee]

I hate you so much right now...

Turns out the PC that I have wanted to build can be mine for right around 1k... You ever sit there and wonder how long you can live off of Ramen Noodles and Peanut Butter (separately or combined)?

No, but I have throught about all the fine things mobile home living has to offer.

[JPatrick]

So what games do you plan to enjoy on this beastly machine, Mr Pee?

[itburnswhenipee]

So what games do you plan to enjoy on this beastly machine, Mr Pee?

Well, it should do a fair job of running oblivion, so I'll probably be doing that. It should also be able to run Gun like a champ, so I'll be having a go at playing that through. Mainly I'm hoping it handles the next three years as well as my current rig has handled the last three.

[JPatrick]

Well, it should do a fair job of running oblivion, so I'll probably be doing that. It should also be able to run Gun like a champ, so I'll be having a go at playing that through. Mainly I'm hoping it handles the next three years as well as my current rig has handled the last three.



I played Gun on the old xbox, and it was a blast, but the save system was wonky and pissed me off. Hopefully its better on the PC version.

[itburnswhenipee]

I played Gun on the old xbox, and it was a blast, but the save system was wonky and pissed me off. Hopefully its better on the PC version.

I hope so. It's been forever shince I've played a western themed shooter. I played the shit out of Outlaws like 10 years ago. It came out just as 3d cards were becoming more common. You could download an update that would run it using whatever the hell standard the voodoo cards used. Can't think of the name now.

[w_a_w]

I hope so. It's been forever shince I've played a western themed shooter. I played the shit out of Outlaws like 10 years ago. It came out just as 3d cards were becoming more common. You could download an update that would run it using whatever the hell standard the voodoo cards used. Can't think of the name now.

they(voodoo cards) used direct3d and open gl

[reverendsaintjay]

No, but I have throught about all the fine things mobile home living has to offer.

You cold, insensitive bastard.

At any rate, turns out that I'm eligible for both Government (tax return) and Parental (buying my old rig) subsidies. Looks like I'll be ordering my new baby in a month or so.

Should I blog about it? :D

[fly]

they(voodoo cards) used direct3d and open gl
No, they used Glide.

[w_a_w]

No, they used Glide.

glide came to me earlier this morning...think they did use opengl irrc, just poorly
a voodoo banshee was my first 3d card