Help me judge my possible new computer...

[jj dynomite]

I'm getting a new computer. I've built this one from a good website (PM me if you want to know which one).

Let me know what you think.

Case
• Raidmax Ninja-918 ATX Mid-tower Case - Silver
Case Lighting
• Cold Cathode Neon Light Blue
Power Supply
• NZXT PRC-550 550W Power Supply
Processor
• [939-pin] AMD® Athlon-64 4000+ CPU w/ Hyper Transport Technology
Processor Cooling
• Liquid CPU Cooling Fan System Kit --- [for AMD CPU]
Motherboard
• Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe nForce4-SLI Chipset w/LAN, 7.1 Sound, IEEE-1394, USB 2.0 Dual PCI-E Motherboard
Memory
• 1024 MB [512MB X2] DDR-400 PC3200 Memory Module Corsair XMS w/ Heat Spreader
Video Card
• 2x [PCI-Express 16x] Nvidia Geforce 6800XT 256MB w/DVI + TV Out Video
Hard Drive
• 80 GB HARD DRIVE 80 GB 7200 RPM Ultra ATA-100 Hard Drive
CD-RW/DVD-RW Drive
• 16X Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive Silver
Sound Card
• Creative Lab Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit 7.1
Network Card
• Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100)
Meter Display
• Thermal Temperature LCD Display Silver
Warranty
• Warranty Service - Deluxe Warranty Package(Standard Warranty plus: First Year On-site Service and 24/7 Phone Support)

Cost: $1564.00 USD

That's all the details.

I think it's a pretty good buy.

Do you?

[Freaky Fryd]

Looks good to me, but was wondering why an ATA-100 instead of an SATA HD?

[Terayon]

A single more powerfull videocard would be a better choice. It would actualy give more performance and be cheaper. Would also let you add another card in the future instead of replace both. A 6800gt would be good i think.

[jj dynomite]

Looks good to me, but was wondering why an ATA-100 instead of an SATA HD?

I just had to pick a HD as part of the package. Going to transfer my current SATA over once i get it.


A single more powerfull videocard would be a better choice. It would actualy give more performance and be cheaper. Would also let you add another card in the future instead of replace both. A 6800gt would be good i think.

They had a special on dual vid cards. Plus...the 6800gt wasn't much better than a single xt.

[Terayon]

Actualy, the 6600gt is better then the 6800xt.

Its an 8 pipelines part with a slower core and memory then the 6800gt. Not to mention the second 6800xt gives a inconsistent boost that usaly isent very significant.

[LuCiD]

I recommend getting a Raptor or two if its just going to be used for gaming...also I have a much cheaper rig but I've got 2 sticks of 1024mb corsair valueram in it and the benifit you get from less swap is greater than you get for getting expensive ram. (although I just saw you have liquid cooling...you'll be overclocking so although my valueRAM can hit ddr450 I wouldn't take the chance if I were you

Since that board comes with onboard sound, unless you have some really nice speakers the onboard sound will work just as good as that sb live and save you some money if you stick with it.

I do agree that getting a single nicer card would be better unless its a really nice deal on the two, although I don't have any of the other prices to compare it to, so I can't really make that many suggestions on cost.

[nobby]

I'm just ever so slightly jealous :p

[jj dynomite]

I recommend getting a Raptor or two if its just going to be used for gaming...also I have a much cheaper rig but I've got 2 sticks of 1024mb corsair valueram in it and the benifit you get from less swap is greater than you get for getting expensive ram. (although I just saw you have liquid cooling...you'll be overclocking so although my valueRAM can hit ddr450 I wouldn't take the chance if I were you

Since that board comes with onboard sound, unless you have some really nice speakers the onboard sound will work just as good as that sb live and save you some money if you stick with it.

I do agree that getting a single nicer card would be better unless its a really nice deal on the two, although I don't have any of the other prices to compare it to, so I can't really make that many suggestions on cost.

I've been hearing bad things about raptors recently. I had the option, but i chose not to get it. If i start hearing good feedback about raptors i'll consider getting one, but not as of yet.

[IceStorm]

Get a 7800GT, or 7800GTX instead of the dual cards. 6800XT has too few pipelines and I suspect too little local texture memory (128MB?).

2GB of RAM is a must for high-end gaming, and I presume that's what you're using it for as you spec'ed an A64 4000+ instead of an X2. You'll be better off dropping the A64 4000+ down a speed grade to the 3800+ if it means being able to up the RAM to 2GB.

[jj dynomite]

I'll take a look at all the suggestions and post the new specs once i get home.

[jj dynomite]

Ok...here's an updated one.

Case
• Raidmax Ninja-918 ATX Mid-tower Case w/450W Power Supply Silver
Case Lighting
• Cold Cathode Neon Light Blue
Power Supply
• NZXT PRC-550 550W Power Supply
Processor
• [939-pin] AMD® Athlon-64 4000+ CPU w/ Hyper Transport Technology
Processor Cooling
• Liquid CPU Cooling Fan System Kit --- [for AMD CPU]
Motherboard
• Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe nForce4-SLI Chipset w/LAN, 7.1 Sound, IEEE-1394, USB 2.0 Dual PCI-E Motherboard
Memory
• 1024 MB [512MB X2] DDR-400 PC3200 Memory Module Corsair XMS w/ Heat Spreader
Video Card
• [PCI-Express 16x] Nvidia Geforce 7800GT 256MB w/DVI + TV Out Video
Hard Drive
• Gaming HARD DRIVES [Serial ATA-150, 10,000 RPM] WD Raptor WD360GD 36.7GB 8M Cache Hard Drive
CD-RW/DVD-RW Drive
• 16X Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive Silver
Sound Card
• Creative Lab Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit 7.1
Meter Display
• Thermal Temperature LCD Display Silver

Cost: $1599.00 USD

I'm keeping the 1gig of RAM as well as the A64 4000 processor. I'll probably be getting more RAM in the future, but i need the higher processor speed for some of my non-gaming computer needs. Plus...it's an extra $200 for 2 gigs of RAM. Just a bit too much for me right now.

[ighost]

raptors are really nice. when i built mine i used the raptor, still working like brand new today. i am jealous of your cooling system.

[Terayon]

I like how your buying a case with a power supply then buying another one :) .

Also one thing. Do you overclock?

Just becouse i know some value ram that does 2 2 2 2 (relabled high performance stuff) and opteron 939's OC very nice and have more catch for about the same price.

[dark_reaper]

The thing I hate most about raptors is that their storage capacity is so small, I switched my raptor for 4 WD 250gb SATA hd. Well I also use my PC for video and audio purposes too.

[IceStorm]

I'm keeping the 1gig of RAM as well as the A64 4000 processor. I'll probably be getting more RAM in the future, but i need the higher processor speed for some of my non-gaming computer needs.What needs are those? If it's something that benefits from multi-threading, you may want to spec an X2 3800+ instead of the 4000+. The price should be the same.
Plus...it's an extra $200 for 2 gigs of RAM. Just a bit too much for me right now.There are a couple things you should consider before waiting on the memory.

First, not all A64 CPUs handle four DIMMs equally. Some can maintain DDR 400 support, some can't. Verify the version you're getting can support 512MBx4 at PC3200 speeds.

Second, DDR 400 prices have fallen a bit in the past two months. The cost of 1024x2 sticks should be about double that of 512MBx2 sticks, but 512MBx2 shouldn't be costing you more than $100 right now so the step up to 1024MBx2 should only add an extra $100.

• Gaming HARD DRIVES [Serial ATA-150, 10,000 RPM] WD Raptor WD360GD 36.7GB 8M Cache Hard Drive
I have the Raptor. It's nice, but there's little difference between it and a more mainstream, higher capacity 7200 RPM standard SATA hard disk. You may want to check out www.storagereview.com before choosing a piddly 36GB of space over a 250, 300, or 400GB disk.

If I could only have one disk, I'd easily take a 300 or 400GB disk with a 3 or 5 yr warranty over the Raptor. The only reason I have a 74GB Raptor is because I had an existing 335GB RAID5 and that system's boot/app disk was a 36GB SCSI. It was cheaper to get a new 74GB Raptor than a 74GB SCSI at the time.

[jj dynomite]

I like how your buying a case with a power supply then buying another one :) .

Also one thing. Do you overclock?

Just becouse i know some value ram that does 2 2 2 2 (relabled high performance stuff) and opteron 939's OC very nice and have more catch for about the same price.

The power supply is a replacement for the one that comes standard.

Not planning on overclocking atm, but dunno what the future brings.

[jj dynomite]

Ok...I finally got it down to the exact one i wanted. I took out the cool case lighting and fun stuff to make way for more features.

Here is what i purchased...

Case ( Raidmax Ninja-918 ATX Mid-tower Case - Silver )
Power Supply ( NZXT PRC-550 550W Power Supply )
Processor ( [939-pin] AMD® Athlon-64 4000+ CPU w/ Hyper Transport Technology )
Processor Cooling ( Certified CPU Fan and Heatsink + 2 Extra Color Lighting Case Fans )
Motherboard ( Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe nForce4-SLI Chipset w/LAN, 7.1 Sound, IEEE-1394, USB 2.0 Dual PCI-E Motherboard )
Memory ( 2048 MB [1024MB X2] DDR-400 PC3200 Memory Module Corsair XMS w/ Heat Spreader )
Video Card ( [PCI-Express 16x] Nvidia Geforce 7800GT 256MB w/DVI + TV Out Video )
Hard Drive ( 160 GB HARD DRIVES [S-ATA] Western Digital 160 GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache Hard Drive )
CD-RW/DVD-RW Drive (16X Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive Silver )
Sound Card ( 3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard )
Network Card ( Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100) )
Floppy Drive ( Mitsumi 1.44 MB Internal Floppy Drive Silver )
USB 2.0 Accessories ( Build-in USB 2.0 Ports )
Meter Display ( Thermal Temperature LCD Display Silver )
Flash Media Reader/Writer ( 12-In-1 Internal Flash Media Card Reader/Writer Silver )
Extras ( Lan Party Strap )
Operation System ( None- Pre-formatted Hard Drive Only )
Case Round Cable ( Rounded Cables for Floppy/HDD/CD/DVD/CD-RW/DVD-RW Drives )
Case Round Cable ( Professional wiring for all cables inside the system tower )

Cost = $1726.00


I'm very happy with this machine.

[sl33py]

drop the dual 6800 and get one 7800GTX

edit: ups, didn't read all replies a 7800GT is a great choice especially over the dual 6800's, you'll enjoy it a lot more (especially since you can put a second in when there are games that really support sli to the fullest), which according to many will be a while

[jj dynomite]

Damn...

I just realized i didn't do liquid cooling. Oh well...i'm not overclocking or anything...i'll just have to live with it.

/edit: for those that have inquired about the website...this was a custom build from the weekly special.