Please advise on the choice of components. [athlon xp 3200] [intels]
Q: Hi
Decided was time for a change of the machine, although in truth my Athlon XP 3200 + with 1GB of RAM is fine!
Thought long and hard about X2 vs C2D route
IMO Intel is leading the stack does not match, but the upcoming AMD Barcelona core is assumed that you rock a compatible mobo would be the way to go . On balance, I decided to go C2D.
Next chipset I figure must be P35
So :
-977 503-E6750 CPU Gigabyte GA P35 DS4? It is 30 pounds les than the DQ6 and the only change I can see is two eSATA vs 4? What is Dual BIOS VAT?
The Asus P5K series are much more expensive
Crucial PC6400-2GB 500GB SpinPoint RAM
Samsung hdd
-Gigabyte 8600GTS Silent-Heatpipe
Antec Sonata 3
– [all the usual stuff like DVDRW etc.]
As you can see that I would want a silent machine. My concern is cooling. I know Im not able to withstand a number o / c [my 3200 + is actually a mobile XP2500]
I understand the Sonata 3 can get pretty hot?
Also It is a miniature-sized case and GFX cards just got bigger and bigger.
Is things well or do something else?
Best Answer: Hi! Glad to see someone is looking to build a custom computer. It's very rewarding. Anyway, down to business.
You say you 'just' want a PC that can play L4D2 and MW2. What you have proposed will definatly handle that. Having said that, a Core 2 Quad isn't the best processor for gaming, and I definatly wouldn't use Value RAM or PSU. If you like the components you've chosen I would go for it, replace the RAM with a solid make (e.g.http://www.ebuyer.com/product/146049) and replace the PSU with http://www.ebuyer.com/product/141006. This may seem pricey, but you REALLY don't want your PSU burning out on you after a 6/12 months and destroying all your other components in the process!
I do like your GFX though; that's pretty beasty! Although given a 24" screen you'll probably need it!
Having said all of the above, I personally would scrap the majority of it and go for an i5 build! i5 Runs cooler, more efficiently and is much better at overclocking that C2Q should you chose to do so.
My proposed build for your budget would be something along the lines of:
i5 750 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/172755
£146
MSI P55M-GD45 P55 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/175822
£84
OCZ 4GB (2×2GB) DDR2 800Mhz http://www.ebuyer.com/product/146049
£85
Your GFX
£155
PSU (see above)
£69
Your Case, HDD
Price £594
I see that's more that you wanted given you need a screen too!
I would recommend cutting to a 22" screen (e.g. http://www.ebuyer.com/product/169619)
and you can therefore cut you gfx (to say a GTX 260 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/160748) and not have any loss of gaming performance, you may even gain a little!
Total cost now
£681
Still a bit steep. But it's a much more stable machine than you had before, has reliable components and is easilly upgradeable due to it being based on newer hardware!
Hope this helps!
Any questions just ask
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Re:getting concerned about grumbling of problems with the Gigabyte P35 boards; what about the Abit P35 Pro [cheaper than the Asus P35s]??
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Re:Originally posted by: guy
Get a P35 DS3R; it should be more than enough. Thanks. I am a little concerned thogh abotu the number of comments on these forums that the heatpipe on the board gets in the way of any aftermarket cooler for the CPU. I want to get something decent but quiter than the stock cooler (eg a Scythe one?) You can always get out the old measuring tape and find out (or do the math straight from the screen, not too tough)
An 8600GTS is overkill; a fanless 8500GT should be plenty for your use. and half the price, but figured this would give me more leeway when slapping Vista on? If you're not gaming then video card looses much of its importance, grab the cheaper card and put the money elsewhere.
The Sonata 3 is a good case, but the P180 is a little more versatile and quiet. Pair it with a quiet PSU like a Corsair 520HX. quiet is important but cost was also a consideration. for ￡80 the AS3 gives a quiet case and 500W silent psu – although I remain a little worried about airflow and heat I confess; also potentially size with long cards…
Thanks again – all input remains very welcome!
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Re:okay quick update of new musings and bump for more input:
after reading about the Gigabyte "cold boot" issues I guss I will have to stump up more for the Asus PK series board….ggggrrrrr
Also what advantage of getting the 8600 GTS over the 8600GT [both passive cooled versions]??
Help with comments above also welcomed!
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Re:If you're overclocking, look at the E6550. All newer Core 2 Duos overclock equally well, so there's no improvement to be had by paying for the higher end ones.
I thought overclocking was done by FSB only and these cpus were multi locked so wouldn't the higher multi of the E6750 over the E6550 be an advantage?
Get a P35 DS3R; it should be more than enough. Thanks. I am a little concerned thogh abotu the number of comments on these forums that the heatpipe on the board gets in the way of any aftermarket cooler for the CPU. I want to get something decent but quiter than the stock cooler (eg a Scythe one?)
Crucial/Corsair/Kingston DDR2 800 should be good; 2GB at least, 4GB if you can.I was planning on 4GB but then realised XP Pro doesn't see more than 3.2GB of it so why waste? Probably will get Crucial so that no module mismatch issues if/when I upgrade
Samsung 500GB is great. Any real benefit (performance wise) of getting 2 in a Raid 0 setup? it is be a fmaily machine and I am wary of always having to be rebuilding raid arrays or something!
An 8600GTS is overkill; a fanless 8500GT should be plenty for your use. and half the price, but figured this would give me more leeway when slapping Vista on?
The Sonata 3 is a good case, but the P180 is a little more versatile and quiet. Pair it with a quiet PSU like a Corsair 520HX. quiet is important but cost was also a consideration. for ￡80 the AS3 gives a quiet case and 500W silent psu – although I remain a little worried about airflow and heat I confess; also potentially size with long cards…
Arctic Cooling makes cheap quiet heatsinks; Zalman is good in the mid-range; otherwise any heatpipe heatsink that will let you use any 120mm fan will provide the quietest cooling (with a quiet fan like a Yate-Loon DS12L).
Thanks again – all input remains very welcome!
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Re:thanks
I plan to keep using XP Pro at least Vista 64bit is mature or SP1 is out hence the 2GB RAM
The DS3R has no eSATA connections [although it does have 2 DDR3 slots vs the DS4]
Will I come to miss eSATA connections [those are the only differences I can see]?
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Re:Originally posted by: guy
"general" home use:
browsing/editing family pix/torrenting and streaming to my xbmc. the "usual" stuff.
I am not a gamer really.
there will be some work related use looking at dicom images hence I will be getting a 20" samsung machine
If you're overclocking, look at the E6550. All newer Core 2 Duos overclock equally well, so there's no improvement to be had by paying for the higher end ones.
Get a P35 DS3R; it should be more than enough.
Crucial/Corsair/Kingston DDR2 800 should be good; 2GB at least, 4GB if you can.
Samsung 500GB is great.
An 8600GTS is overkill; a fanless 8500GT should be plenty for your use.
The Sonata 3 is a good case, but the P180 is a little more versatile and quiet. Pair it with a quiet PSU like a Corsair 520HX. Arctic Cooling makes cheap quiet heatsinks; Zalman is good in the mid-range; otherwise any heatpipe heatsink that will let you use any 120mm fan will provide the quietest cooling (with a quiet fan like a Yate-Loon DS12L).
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Re:"general" home use:
browsing/editing family pix/torrenting and streaming to my xbmc. the "usual" stuff.
I am not a gamer really.
there will be some work related use looking at dicom images hence I will be getting a 20" samsung machine
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Re:What are you going to use the computer for?
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Tags: athlon xp 3200, intels