My first system! Any final thoughts?

mozzartusm · Nov 5, 2004

Team THG! How about your final thoughts and comments before I begin putting my first system together. For someone new, this is an overwhelming project to say the least. I hope that all of you will contribute your POSITIVE thoughts and suggestions. I don't want to screw this up. Thanks for your help!

(1) Thermaltake Tsunami Dream Tower
(2) Thermaltake Dual fan 480W PSU (XP-P4 Approved)
(3) Pick from one pair of these
512MB RAM 2x256 DDR 500 PC-4000 XMS Twins
or 512MB RAM 2x256 DDR 400 PC-3200 XMS Twins
(4) Intel P4 socket 478 3.0E 800FSB 1MB L2 Cashe
(5) ATI ALL-IN-Wonder 9600XT 8X AGP 128MB DDR
(6) SOYO P4I875P DRAGON 2 VER 1.0

Let me know if I am leaving something out or you need more info. I could use some input on operating systems. I currently have Windows 2000 Pro from another unit, but was planning on getting one of the XP versions for this system. Also I had planned on starting out with a couple of Hard drives that I already had. They are both IDE ATA/133 one is a 120 GB Maxtor the other is a 30GB Western Digital. I know there are better options and I plan on doing something about that shortly. That is all I can think of for now. BOMBS AWAY!

VERY IMPORTANT! I should have originally stated that I already have this equipment.

Edited by mozzartusm on 11/05/04 01:13 PM.

priyajeet · Nov 5, 2004

How about going in for an AMD 64 system.
How about Crucual Ballistix memory with EOLPROMO as code to get 4% off.

:tongue: <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/priyajeet/fing.jpg" target="_new">Very funny, Scotty. Now beam down my clothes.</A> :tongue:

ChipDeath · Nov 5, 2004

What do you want to do with the system?

An A64 system would be better for gaming, but if you must get Intel for some reason (a desperate need for HyperThreading being the only reason I could think of

), then I would have to recommend getting a Northwood (P4 'C' 800FSB, 512Kb Cache) P4 instead of the P4E (Prescott) chip you have listed, because it draws less power, generates less heat, and comes with a considerably quieter cooler. Also, the Abit IS7 motherboard is generally recognised as the best for a Socket 478 Intel system.

If you're not planning to overclock, then there's no point in buying PC4000 RAM over PC3200 too.

---
Epox 8RDA+ V1.1 w/ Custom NB HS
XP1700+ @200x11 (~2.2Ghz), 1.55 Vcore
2x256Mb Corsair PC3200LL/1x512Mb Corsair XMS PC4000 2.5-3-3-7
Sapphire 9800Pro (VGA Silencer Rev3) @400/730

mozzartusm · Nov 5, 2004

OK! I guess I should have mentioned that all of this equipment is purchased, paid for, and right here in front of me!

sparky853 · Nov 5, 2004

no disrespect, but if its already purchased and in front of you, why are you asking us our opinion?

Go for the PC3200 RAM.

And yes, go for an A64 system. Its better

XP2800+, Abit NF7, 1GB Dual-Channel DDR333, ATI R9800PRO 128MB, TT PurePower 420W, LG DVD+-R/RW
:redface: My wife says I suffer from premature ejaculation...I don't remember suffering

ChipDeath · Nov 5, 2004

In which case, why not shove all the RAM in together, and run it at PC3200 speeds?

. It's possible it'll give problems running in Dual Channel, but it's worth giving it a go.

I recommend buying a Third-party CPU cooler. The Prescott one is too noisy for my tastes. Alright in an office surrounded by people and printers etc, but for a home system it's whiny.

---
Epox 8RDA+ V1.1 w/ Custom NB HS
XP1700+ @200x11 (~2.2Ghz), 1.55 Vcore
2x256Mb Corsair PC3200LL/1x512Mb Corsair XMS PC4000 2.5-3-3-7
Sapphire 9800Pro (VGA Silencer Rev3) @400/730

mozzartusm · Nov 5, 2004

I am planning on overclocking. I almost went with the Motherboard that you mentioned, but I couldnt pass up the deal that I got with this one. It had a rebate at the time I bought it. $159.00 - $100.00 rebate = $59.00.

jammydodger · Nov 5, 2004

Yeh but isnt the IS7 like $85? If you wanna overclock the prescott I would def get a better cooler. The prescott runs hotttttt.

ChipDeath · Nov 5, 2004

Hmm. for overclocking without invalidating your RAM's warranty, you'll have to use the PC4000 stuff.

Personally, I'd still try shoving the whole Gb in there and see how far I can push it. With a little extra VDimm and relaxed timings you might be suprised...

---
Epox 8RDA+ V1.1 w/ Custom NB HS
XP1700+ @200x11 (~2.2Ghz), 1.55 Vcore
2x256Mb Corsair PC3200LL/1x512Mb Corsair XMS PC4000 2.5-3-3-7
Sapphire 9800Pro (VGA Silencer Rev3) @400/730

mozzartusm · Nov 5, 2004

Don't forget that I said "I am new". There are many other issues for someone like me other than buying and putting parts together.

mozzartusm · Nov 5, 2004

I just noticed your system specs. So you have Corsair and run 2 different speeds of RAM? Does it create any problems? Oh and I could try all of the RAM, but just so everyone understands; I have both sets of RAM because I got them at a good price. I was actually planning on putting one set in another system at a later date

mozzartusm · Nov 5, 2004

Bump!

slvr_phoenix · Nov 5, 2004

you have Corsair and run 2 different speeds of RAM? Does it create any problems?

You should be able to run two sets just fine, so long as you stick to the speeds of the slower set.

<pre>"Build a man a fire and he's warm for the rest of the evening.
Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life." - Steve Taylor</pre>

ChipDeath · Nov 5, 2004

I have two differently Rated speeds of RAM, yes - They are both running at 200Mhz (PC3200), because that's in synch with the Processors FSB, which gives the best performance.

I had the two 256Mb Sticks first, and wanted to upgrade to 1Gb, so I got the other stick. The reason I got PC4000 was because it wasn't much more money than PC3200, but when I next upgrade my system (to an Athlon 64-based one probably), It'll give me some nice overclocking headroom (I'll buy another 512Mb of similar stuff at the time).

I'm only suggesting you give it a go, because the odds of you causing any permanent damage to either memory or motherboard are pretty much zero, and some RAM overclocks very well. Just remember the golden overclocking rule: Don't try to increase the speed by too much at once, and be patient...

---
Epox 8RDA+ V1.1 w/ Custom NB HS
XP1700+ @200x11 (~2.2Ghz), 1.55 Vcore
2x256Mb Corsair PC3200LL/1x512Mb Corsair XMS PC4000 2.5-3-3-7
Sapphire 9800Pro (VGA Silencer Rev3) @400/730

ChipDeath · Nov 5, 2004

Hey Slvr - I love your sig by the way... Though I might have told you that before :lol:

---
Epox 8RDA+ V1.1 w/ Custom NB HS
XP1700+ @200x11 (~2.2Ghz), 1.55 Vcore
2x256Mb Corsair PC3200LL/1x512Mb Corsair XMS PC4000 2.5-3-3-7
Sapphire 9800Pro (VGA Silencer Rev3) @400/730

slvr_phoenix · Nov 5, 2004

Thanks. I love it too.

That's why I haven't changed it in ages. (Though I am tempted to change it to RTFM.)

Oh, and you forgot the golden rule of Memory Overclocking: Don't go above 2.8v unless you're crazy

.

<pre>"Build a man a fire and he's warm for the rest of the evening.
Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life." - Steve Taylor</pre>

ChipDeath · Nov 5, 2004

damn. I was thinking that when I was typing, but obviously had a brainfart or something :lol: ...

Decided to change my sig.... the system specs thing is so boring... :lol:

---
"Sex without love is an empty experience...
But as empty experiences go, it's one of the best" - Woody Allen

mozzartusm · Nov 5, 2004

Im patient, thats not a problem. Does anyone know of a good link that would tell me all I need to know about preparing a hard drive for a new system? Both of the hard drives that I mentioned are coming out of my old system and they have windows 2k Pro on them. I need to make sure that they are totally clean and set properly for the new system. If it makes any difference, the Western Digital has always benchmarked much faster than the Maxtor.

ChipDeath · Nov 5, 2004

Just format them. There's not much need to do anything else.

If the WD is faster, I'd make that the primary OS drive & install all your more frequently used programs on that one, although 30Gb is getting a bit small these days..

---
"Sex without love is an empty experience...
But as empty experiences go, it's one of the best" - Woody Allen

mozzartusm · Nov 5, 2004

Yes 30GB by todays standards is small. The good new is that for now it won't matter. I have the 120 Maxtor, and I am going to buy something different in the near future.
Thanks for all the help so far!

Crashman · Nov 5, 2004

Like I said in the PM:
I'm fairly certain Crucial's Ballistix PC3200 and PC4000 are physically the same thing, using the same chips with the same stringent testing, but the PC4000 is pre-set at CAS 2.5 while the PC3200 is pre-set at CAS 2.0. Since both will run at PC4000 speed using CAS 2.5 (set that way manually for the PC3200), and both will run at CAS 2.0 using PC3200 speed (set that way manually for the PC4000), the big difference here is that the PC4000, by being set at the higher latency, will be easier to set up, especially if you overclock (because you won't need to tamper with the latencies, just the vDIMM).

Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!
Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!

mozzartusm · Nov 5, 2004

You have one HELL of a memory. That PM was at least a couple of weeks ago. My memory is so good that I can hide my on Easter eggs!

Thanks for reminding me!

slvr_phoenix · Nov 5, 2004

damn. I was thinking that when I was typing, but obviously had a brainfart or something...

It's a friday, which is Latin for 'fried brain'. Yeah. In honor of which, I wrote new lyrics to an old song. (And no, the connection makes no more sense than anything else I'm trying to do today.)

Decided to change my sig.... the system specs thing is so boring...

Dram strignat! ... Err ... wait, that was in Thari. Damn straight!

I mean I could have as my sig: Asus P4P800 Deluxe, 2.6GHz NWC @ 3.0GHz passive-cooled, Sapphire Atlantis Ultimate Radeon 9800Pro passive-cooled, 2x512MB Corsair PC4000, Antec Sonata case, super-silent system etc.

I could.

But it'd be a lie.

And more importantly, it's so boring. Pyromania is better. Pyronecrobotaphilia (witches do it dancing around bonfires) is even better yet.

Err ... back to topic though...

although 30Gb is getting a bit small these days

Great, make me feel bad for having only 40GB.

Actually, I technically have 80GB, but it's invested into a RAID1 array so that I don't lose my novels if my hard drive crashes. Functionally however...

I have hard drive envy. I guess my only consolation is that at this point I'm only using 20GB of that anyway. :O

And would you believe that six complete novels (some of which are over 90,000 words) in RTF format and zipped will fit on a single 1.44MB floppy?

Oh, and also on that one floppy are another five partial novels, a collection of query letters to literary agents, a couple of TXT files containing notes, and a couple of two-color GIFs of scanned-in maps that I drew?

Who says that floppies are useless! :O

Why did I just buy that 16x dual-layered DVD burner again? :\ Oh yeah. To back up my piddly hard drive(s) so that I won't have to do complete re-installs of all of my apps if Bad Things Happen. And maybe to make one heck of an mp3 mix CD...

<pre>"Build a man a fire and he's warm for the rest of the evening.
Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life." - Steve Taylor</pre>

Crashman · Nov 5, 2004

Hey now, I just expanded my C: partition from 30 to 40GB, and that's only because I do temporary storage of DVD's on my C: partition (permenant storage on another). 30GB is pleanty for your main partition (or main drive), you only need more for storage and you can do that with a second partition (or second drive).

Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!
Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!

mozzartusm · Nov 6, 2004

Hey, I think the old floppy rules! In fact, i heard something just the other day that changed my attitude about the old beast. I asked this person why they had one of those old floppy drives "You know, the ones that really were floppy and over twice the size of the 1.44 floppy that really isnt floppy at all!

He told me that he keeps the old floppy drive because very few people have one anymore. He said, "Think about it. How many people do you know have one of these drives? If you have sensitive material that you need to keep private it is the ultimate way to do so. So what if someone were to get there hands on the disk. They probably wouldnt be able to read it!" I wonder what this guy is trying to hide?

My first system! Any final thoughts?

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