A64 newbie

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
H

Halvis

Distinguished
May 14, 2005
7
0
18,510
Help with my 1st A 64 build?

I have built several machines in the past, all with Gigabyte MBs & AMD K6 & K7 CPUs, and would appreciate any advice from those more up on current technology & compatability issues, since I wanna do a K8.

CASE. Hope to get by with Antec Sonata with its 380w PSU, as I really like the case, and have an extra one.

CPU. 64 3000+ Venice minimum , up to 64 3700+ San Diego maximum, with best AIR COOLER I can fit on the board and in the case. Zalman 7000 maybe?

RAM. CORSAIR, ... probably CMX512-4400C25PT, but that will depend ultimately on MB choice.

DRIVE. Hitachi SATA or SATA2.

MB & Graphics Card.... AAACCCKKK!!! PCI-EXPRESS??? I got to pony up for yet another new thingy? When I have quite a few more than perfectly decent Nvidea AGP cards??? I would like to stick with Gigabyte since I have always used them in the past with little or no problems, but would be open to ASUS, MSI, ABIT or others... I just hate to "step up" to PCI-E at this point, (but I would if I would be an IDIOT not too, for instance would like to have SATA2, but doubt thats available on any board thats not PCI-E?) I would like a board that isn't bug prone, is bios updatable "online" from mfg site, and has some decent OC features.

ABIT AV8-3rd Eye, Asus A8V Deluxe, Gigabyte K8NSNXP-939, MSI K8N Neo2, or... just grin & bear one of the PCI-E boards?
(ABIT Fatal1ty AN8)

HELP ME!!!! PLease? lol & thanks, Halvis


<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by halvis on 05/14/05 04:29 PM.</EM></FONT></P>
 
At this point, unless you haven't got the money or a really nice clocking AGP card you don't want to part with, you should definitely go for a PCI-e board, specifically the DFI LanParty nF4 series if you're into the o/cing (by the components you chose there, I'm going to assume yes).

A Venice 3200+ is a very nice compromise between price, multiplier for o/cing and performance. It'll probably do upwards of 2600-2700MHz with very good aircooling.

Cooling: Get a ThermalRight XP-90(c) with a good 92mm fan and you should be pretty much set.

RAM: Some Winbond UTT stuff is really nice if you're into overclocking. There's really nothing that's cheaper and clocks as well at tight timings these days.

Graphics card: Well that depends on how much gaming/graphics intense stuff you do.

<A HREF="http://nfiniti.blogspot.com" target="_new">nfiniti plus one</A>
 
"nfiniti plus one" LOL, OK thanks Chuck. I think after further research, Id be stupid to not do a newer PCI-E board. BTW, I'm 46 and I do mostly surfing, posting, chatting, ebaying and a few multitasking applications. The kids will inherit 2 ti-4200 / k7 3000 machines. (If that don't make em happy, then the darn x-box should)
I was looking HARD at the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813127196
Which DFI LP's do you recommend?
Running winbond in this machine.
As to PCI-E, and this won't be a game machine (will flog the kids if they look at it sideways, heh) Recommend cheap intro decent card? (1024x768 Viewpanel VG181b)
thanks, Halvis
 
I'd recommend this board if you're not into gaming:

<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136152" target="_new">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136152</A>

That doesn't have SLI, but SLI's for video anyways so you won't need it. That board is much more popular (and cheaper) than the AN8 Fatality and most likely overclock better.

Oh and that panel must be 1280x1024 shouldn't it be? In anycase, something like a Geforce 6200 or Radeon X600Pro should be good enough for your purposes.

<A HREF="http://nfiniti.blogspot.com" target="_new">nfiniti plus one</A><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by chuck232 on 05/14/05 07:17 PM.</EM></FONT></P>
 
Haha, hey that's up to him to decide! Although I'm sure it would be annoying to have the kids on your own computer all the time glued to the screen. :tongue:

<A HREF="http://nfiniti.blogspot.com" target="_new">nfiniti plus one</A>
 
from a review of the DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 Ultra-D
"and gives the motherboard a wealth of useful connections without any of those clunky old serial or parallel ports."

from a review of the Abit fatal1ty an8
"You won't see the serial and parallel ports. Although I do have an old printer that still uses parallel connection, it's time I upgrade anyway."

OY VEH! So, I would also have to replace my trusty HP R40 Officejet printer copier TOO? MAN this is getting too expensive for my blood! lol.

Chuck (or anyone?), lets suppose we back up a generation or two?... What DFI, Abit, Asus boards would you recommend to stay with AGP & seriel/parallel, etc... Id like 939, but am suddenly curious about what the best remaining Socket A boards are?

In Heaven, I'll convert some Golf Courses into killer MOTOCROSS tracks...🙂
 
You seem to have missed a step. There are some very nice s754 agp boards out there.
They will run thier 3200 faster than the s939 setup.
The real down side is that the s939 boards will work with the X2 chips.
 
Some s754 options:
1. <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-136-147&depa=1" target="_new">DFI Lanparty nF3 UT 250Gb</A>
2. <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-127-190&depa=0" target="_new">Abit NF8</A>

Agree with everything Endyen said IRT s754. It's still A64 and you can go as high as 3700+. I think the 3400+ is the best price/perf and will outperform a s939 3500+. You could probably find a good 3400+ refurb deal on Newegg.

__________________________________________________
<font color=red>You're a boil on the arse of progress - don't make me squeeze you!</font color=red>
 
For AGP, nforce3 is the chipset to have. Socket 754 CPU are very powerful, just not as hyped in review as newer 939 core.

If you plan to stay AGP, get a socket 754 nforce3 motherboard with the best socket 754 you can afford. I mostly use Soltek board, and their nforce3/socket 754 is inexpensive, really fast at stock speed and rock stable. I got one, so I speak by experience, not by review on the net. As for a nice video card, any AGP card will do the job, but an ATI 9550 will be a good all around card for you need and with passive cooling, will contribute to a quiet system.. Socket 754, being single channel, dont need 2 stick of RAM, get just one 1 gig stick for now. Normal generic RAM, like the Samsung will do just fine.

Dual core could be usefull, but as with 64bits, it will take apps to make the most of it. And in 2006, new socket for improved dual core will appear for AMD and that is what I will look forward to get, instead of expensive dual core coming that wont be use at their full potential for some time. At least, for A64, even if the 64 bits were not there, the improved core over socketA worth the upgrade.

But definitively stay away from socket A.

My advice:

AMD64 3400+ socket 754
Soltek k8an2e-gr motherboard

<font color=red>Sig space for rent. make your offer.</font color=red>
 
Just because S939. in your opinion, is overhyped, that doesn't mean you should shun them. S939 is still more future proof than S754 so at least the guy has the possibility to upgrade if he so chooses. I'm still not sure why you hate S939 so much, but we discuss that now.

In any case, I'd still say go for a nF4 board and 3200+ Something like a Chaintech VNF4 would do nicely.

<A HREF="http://nfiniti.blogspot.com" target="_new">nfiniti plus one - my blog</A>
 
If someone get a nice system now, and plan to keep it for 2 years, which is quite possible, what will he choose to upgrade in 2 years, and even in 1 year? A new socket and new chipset that will improve the overall computing operation, or just a faster CPU that wont improve anything else but CPU operation?

I dont hate s939. put the 3200+ a 3000+ rating, the 3500+ a 3200+ rating.. and so on with a good price and that will change. But saying that socket 939 is more futureproof when new sockets will be available in one year with newer and better core is a bit a bit wide. Socket 939 can give you the possibility RIGHT NOW to use FX CPU or next month, X2 processor. but next year..I dont know. Fastest socket 754 is 3700+. it run at 2.4 with 1megs cache. Which CPU does that in socket 939? Athlon 4000+ newcastle. the only advantage it has is the dual channel. and is 225$ can more.

If we let alone theorical futureproof and overclocking, and look at the facts, only the facts, if one need a fast computer that will give you enough power for 1 or 2 years, why not socket 754? This is just that? What is wrong with socket 754 and better with socket 939 for casual users?

<font color=red>Sig space for rent. make your offer.</font color=red>
 
Nothing's wrong with socket 754. I have a DFI nF3 system here. But at this point, S939 does have a much longer life span than the S754. There will be no more higher end CPUs available for S754. Socket M2 will be out 2H 2006 which means probably more like early 2007. That gives you a good year and a half or more of not even having a new platform after S939. I'm sure there'll be plenty of speed grades in that time frame to upgrade to.

<A HREF="http://nfiniti.blogspot.com" target="_new">nfiniti plus one - my blog</A>
 
That gives you a good year and a half or more of not even having a new platform after S939. I'm sure there'll be plenty of speed grades in that time frame to upgrade to.
Click to expand...

Yes, but will there be necessary for normals users of if only enthusiast will go out and get the new expensive X2 or FX chips?

If somebody get a 3400+ or a 3700+, what are the chance for him to ever need more than that inside those 2 years?
It is just that.


<font color=red>Sig space for rent. make your offer.</font color=red>
 
Thank You all for the input. I will research every suggestion put to me.

I realize now Im coming across as a bit of an idiot, (which I can be at times), but I realize now I should have SPELLED out my NEEDS from the getgo, rather than my WANTS, more clearly. The blended family situation is changing here, and I NEED 4 machines that are "adequate" for home LAN DSL. Right now the "top dog", (mine) is a Gigabyte VIA KT400A Chipset
Model Description
GA-7VAXP-A Ultra

1. Supports Advanced FSB 333MHz AMD Athlon™ XP processor
2. Enhance system performance with DDR 400+ memory *
3. Superb bandwidth AGP 8x interface for ultimate graphics performance
4. Integrated Serial-ATA interface for RAID 0,1 function
5. Integrated Promise IDE RAID Interface
6. Integrated 6-channel AC’97 audio with S/P-DIF function
7. Integrated IEEE 1394 Firewire interface
8. Integrated Ethernet 10/100Mb Network Connection
9. Integrated GIGABYTE patented DualBIOS™ technology

With AMD 3000+ Barton. So in effect, Ive GOT a processor thats 400Mhz capable, thats stuck at 333.

The #2 machine has a Thunderbird 900 Mhz SLOT A processor. Nuff said?

The #4 machine is a K6 ACER 350 machine with onboard video. (rolleyes)

So I have WAAAYYY MORE than ONE machine to build/upgrade.

None of them have to be GAMEMONSTERS... given what I have paid to/for nintendosegaplaystationgameboyxbox over the years, I don't give a ratsazz if any of them are "GAMERS" (oh, and not be able to WATCH actual TV programs just becuz someone is at the 77th level) lol. BTW I have more AGP cards than I have machines, but few HIGHER than ti-4200, which for me is fine.

I WILL look closer at 754, but 939 (what chuck said)...
As to 462, I will probably build or update a couple to that, so... AN7? A7N8X-? other?

The new (my machine) will be XP Pro, all others will be NT 2000 Pro.

In Heaven, I'll convert some Golf Courses into killer MOTOCROSS tracks...🙂
 
Ok, haha I'm sorry but I'm kinda confused now. What is it that you want us to help you choose exactly? A new A64 system or some random internet computers?

<A HREF="http://nfiniti.blogspot.com" target="_new">nfiniti plus one - my blog</A>
 
"A new A64 system or some random internet computers?"

smartazz!~ ummm both? OK. Coworker tells me today that "even walmart" sells a parallel to USB converter, comple with software... so I should be able to adapt the old printer to the DFI you suggested chuck. true?

In Heaven, I'll convert some Golf Courses into killer MOTOCROSS tracks...🙂
 
I just wanted to drop in and thank those of you that replied to this thread, and ESPECIALLY Chuck232. (and Andy T. of OCZ for the reply to my PM)

I ended up with:
DFI LP UT nF4 Ultra-D 310 bios
AMD 64 3200 Venice
OCZ EL DDR PC-3200 Platinum Rev. 2
THERMALRIGHT XP-90 & THERMALTAKE A2017
FORTRON AX500-A Blue Storm 500w
ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon X600Pro 256MB DDR
2x HITACHI 80GB SATA II
LIAN LI PC68 w/3 COOLERMASTER Rifle Blues
NEC 3520-A DVD

and Its been a challenge, and a fun build....

oh, and its FFFAAASSSTTT as Shee-it too!

also shameless plug for dfi-street.com, great support group over there.

Thanks again Chuck, and oh yeah, "1280x1024" you are correct sir! 🙂 Hal


DFI/OCZ/FORTRON/THERMALRIGHT
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom