First timer building my own

[Balsy]

I'd appreciate everyones input on this system ive got on Newegg. I want to make sure its all compatible, and will work together.  ANY input is much appreciated.

Lian-Li Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Case, Model "PC-V1100B" -RETAIL
Specifications:
Case Type: Mid Tower
Color: Black
Material: Aluminum
Drive Bays: 5 x 5.25", 6 x 3.5" internal
Expansion Slots: 7
Front Ports: 2 x USB2.0, 2 x Audio, 1 x IEEE 1394
Power Supply: N/A
Cooling System: 2 x 12CM ball bearing fans
Motherboard Compatibility: ATX & pentium 4 (MAX SIZE: 12"x9.6")
Dimensions: 8.3" x 19.3" x 21.7" (WxHxD)
Special Features: Interior three zones design for better heat dissipating, Aluminum door with lock more info->  N82E16811112073  $230.00 $230.00  
 
 
    GIGABYTE "GA-K8NF-9" NVIDIA nForce4 4X Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL
Specifications:
Supported CPU: Socket 939 AMD Athlon 64FX/64 processor
Chipset: NVIDIA nForce4 4X MCPs
RAM: 4x DIMM Supports dual channel DDR266/333/400 Max 4GB
Slots: 1x PCI-Express X16, 2x PCI-Express X1, 3x PCI
Ports: 2x PS/2, 1x COM, 1x LPT, 10x USB2.0(Rear 4), 1x RJ45, 2x SPDIF In/Out, Audio Ports
IDE: 2x ATA 133 up to 4 Devices with NV Raid 0/1/0+1
SATA: 4x SATA with NV Raid 0/1/0+1
Onboard Audio: Realtek ALC850 8-Ch
Onboard LAN: CICADA8201 Gigabit LAN PHY
Onboard IEEE1394: 2x 1394b supports 3 ports
Form Factor: ATX more info->  N82E16813128268  $149.00 $149.00  
 
 
    Antec 550 Watt Power Supply With 2 Fans 5.25 Control Panel, Model "TRUE CONTROL 550W" -RETAIL
Specifications:
Type: ATX
Maximum Power: 550W
PFC: No
Power Good Signal: 100-500ms
Hold-up Time: >= 17ms at Full Load
Efficiency: >= 68%
Over Voltage Protection: +5V trip point<+6.5V; +3.3V trip point<+4.1V; +12V trip point<+14.4V
Overload Protection: Latching Protection+5V @<47A+3.3V @<48A+12V @ < 18A
Input Voltage: 115/230 VAC
Input Frequency Range: 47-63 Hz
Input Current: 10A@115VAC; 6A@230VAC
Output: +3.3V@32A; +5V@40A; -5V@0.5A; +12V@24A; -12V@1A; +5VSB@2A
MTBF: 80,000 hrs. @ 25°C
Approvals: UL, TUV, CB, VDE, F more info->  N82E16817103922  $106.00 $106.00  
 
 
    AMD Athlon 64 FX-53, 1MB L2 Cache, Windows Compatible 64-bit Processor 939 Pin - Retail
Specification
Model: AMD Athlon 64 FX
Core: SledgeHammer
Operating Frequency: 2.4GHz
FSB: Integrated into Chip
Cache: L1/64K+64K; L2/1MB
Voltage: 1.5V
Process: 0.13Micron
Socket: Socket 939
Multimedia Instruction: MMX, SSE, SSE2, 3DNOW!, 3DNOW!+
Warranty: 3-year MFG
Packaging: Retail Box(Heatsink and Fan included) more info->  N82E16819103459  $790.00 $790.00  
 
 
    Corsair XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series, Low Latency 184 Pin 1GB(512MBx2) ECC Registered DDR PC-3200LL - Retail
Specifications:
Manufacturer: Corsair
Speed: DDR400(PC3200)
Type: 184 Pin DDR SDRAM
Error Checking: ECC
Registered/Unbuffered: Registered
Cas Latency: 2-3-2-6
Support Voltage: 2.6V
Bandwidth: 3.2GB/s
Organization: two 64M x 64 -Bit
Special Features: Low Latency
Warranty: Lifetime more info->  N82E16820145469  $358.77 $358.77  
 
 
    Maxtor DiamondMax 10 300GB 7200RPM 16M P-ATA/133 Hard Drive, Model 6B300R0, OEM Drive Only
Specifications:
Capacity: 300GB
Average Seek Time: 9.0 ms
Buffer: 16MB
Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM
Interface: ATA 133
Features: Maxtor-developed Shock Protection, System (SPS) and Data Protection System (DPS).
Manufacturer Warranty: 3 years
Packaging: OEM Drive Only more info->  N82E16822140154  $193.38 $193.38  
 
 
    Plextor 16X Double Layer DVD±RW Burner with s/w and Black and Beige Bezels, Model PX-716A/SW, Retail
Specifications:
Write Speed: 4X DVD+R DL, 16X DVD+R, 8X DVD+RW, 16X DVD-R, 4X DVD-RW, 48X CD-R, 24X CD-RW
Read Speed: 48X CD-ROM, 16X DVD-ROM
Interface: ATAPI / E-IDE
Buffer: 8 MB
 
 
    Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS PCI Sound Card, Model "SB0350" -RETAIL

 
 
 Microsoft Windows XP Professional With Service Pack 2 -OEM


BFG GeForce 6800 GT OC PCI-Express™ card

[DAVENRINO]

No expense spared here.   Pretty expensive case considering your next mobo upgrade could possibly be BTX.

Is the hard drive also SATA?

Is the ECC RAM required?

It should FLY.

[Roscoroo]

prices look alittle steep (ram/cpu).. but besides that  it looks like a great system.

[Balsy]

SATA.... isnt that a bit faster than IDE?.. Ill check

BTX... is this the "next" form?..I havent read up on it.

ECC.. is it required? I have no Idea thats why I posted the whole thing. Would the MB require it, or the CPU?

[Paul]

Looks alright. Just recheck and make sure your motherboard can support the 184 pin RAM (Im pretty sure it will).

SATA is faster than ATA-133 (PATA, IDE). But just a reminder, most hard drives today cant even reach the maximum data transfer that SATA bus's are capable of handling; And the fastest made PATA bus (ATA-133) isn't any different. So I really wouldn't worry to much about it.

[DAVENRINO]

I agree with Paul on the SATA speed but the small cables are nice for airflow, This mobo supports SATA and they are almost the same price as ATA.

BTX is the next form but prolly won't be mainstream for a few more years.  Was just a heads up before you bought that expensive case thinking you would use it forever.

ECC RAM was required on the early AMD64's but I am pretty sure it is not for the 939's.  Check http://forums.pcper.com/index.php or someone else who knows for sure.  ECC is more expensive and slower.

[ebgb]

If you really wanted a whiz bang - load her up with 2 Western Digital Raptors in Raid 0 config.  That'll set ya back near $300.

Funny they offer a SATA m/b but an ATA133 hard drive.  Minor difference.

Other than that, that rig should flat out cruise.

[Paul]

Actually, the best deal for 20GB more memory, faster data transfer rates, and $13.41 cheaper would be to buy 2 of these Hard Drives and Strip them together on RAID 0 like ebgb said.(This Hard Drive is the same type as the one you picked out, just smaller capacity)

Your motherboard supports RAID 0, it runs on SATA so you can upgrade easier, and you certainly have enough power for 2 Hard Drives.

-Paul-

[Schutt]

Get a SATA2 hard drive.... other than that looks good.

[Balsy]

All... thanks for your feedback, heres an update:

AMD 64FX doesnt require ECC, but it does require registered memory, so I made that adjustment..

To RAID or not to RAID... I understand all the implications of RAID 0 etc.. as far as speed, loss of data ect....

I want a fast computer but how much is it really going to effect me to have SATA, SATA2, or RAID, when this is primarily going to be used for AHII?  I understand it will be slow if I migrate to another game but if it bugs me I can always slap a couple of Raptors in there right?

Balsy

[ebgb]

The components you're selecting your data storage transfer rates will be the slowest thing on your system.  you'll notice it mostly in how quickly applications launch, but once in game there'll be no difference whatsoever.

I guess it depends on what else you'll use the box for.

[whels]

Originally posted by Balsy
All... thanks for your feedback, heres an update:

AMD 64FX doesnt require ECC, but it does require registered memory, so I made that adjustment..


Balsy

balsy,

your MB u selected cant use ECC/Registered Ram so crucial says. if ur CPU requires  it, then u need to change the MB other wise
here is where i get my ram. also i dont think this MB is SLI capable, if u want that in the furture then grab this 1

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-128-269&depa=1

RAM

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.asp?Mfr%2BProductline=Giga-Byte%2B+Motherboards&mfr=Giga-Byte&cat=RAM&model=GA-K8NF-9&submit=Go

just cut n past the whole link, its already set to ur MB.

Power SUpply, said u were having prob finding 1.  negegg
has this 1 below.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-153-021&depa=1

CPU
if u can get the 90nm winchester core will run cooler

sound
good choice, i just put the same card in mine saturday


Whels

[Balsy]

Thanks for the links whels.

Why the hell would Gigabyte say that my board supports a AMD 64FX... when the board doesnt allow registered ram...which AMD says it needs?



From AMDs FAQ:

Q: Why are you offering the AMD Athlon™ 64 FX-53 Processor in a 939-pin package?
 
A: AMD believes in bringing to market customer-centric technology that benefits partners and end users. By offering the AMD Athlon 64 FX-53 processor in a 939-pin package, AMD is enabling performance enhancements and next-generation platform innovations with the use of a cost-effective four-layer circuit board and higher performing unbuffered DDR memory (Compared to registered DDR memory in the 940-pin part).


Also the 24pin power supply is important... because??

[whels]

Originally posted by Balsy
Thanks for the links whels.

Why the hell would Gigabyte say that my board supports a AMD 64FX... when the board doesnt allow registered ram...which AMD says it needs?



From AMDs FAQ:

Q: Why are you offering the AMD Athlon™ 64 FX-53 Processor in a 939-pin package?
 
A: AMD believes in bringing to market customer-centric technology that benefits partners and end users. By offering the AMD Athlon 64 FX-53 processor in a 939-pin package, AMD is enabling performance enhancements and next-generation platform innovations with the use of a cost-effective four-layer circuit board and higher performing unbuffered DDR memory (Compared to registered DDR memory in the 940-pin part).


Also the 24pin power supply is important... because??

from above quote, i read it as it doesnt need ECC, u can use
the cheaper non ecc mem.

24 pin is needed i think to meet the more power required by the new MBs.


as far as i can tell, u can use the Mb and CPU with non-ecc  ram
and be fine, and pay $80 per stick of ram instead of $160.

[blackfalcon4]

Have the fx-53 and use the corsair xms low lat 512x2 non-ecc(unregistered).

And run striped 2- wd 76gb raptor sata drives=fast