Need help in selecting Mb/CPU/RAM

[siaopao]

OK. This is what happened to me.

I ordered a system from A.I. Computer a month ago and apparently they went bankrupt and never sent me the systems. FYI, I ordered: P4 Intel 875, 3.0G, 1G Ram and WD Raptor 36G HD all for $495 SHIPPED - maybe that's why went they bankrupt).

Anyway I like to build a new system and need your guys advice on what MB/Processor/Ram should I go for.

I am NOT a gamer at all. I like to do some video editing and maybe DVD ripping in the future. The other main thing is I like to able to use it for another 3 years (I cross my finger on this).

These are the list of components I have (salvaged from my previous computer)
- 16X Pioneer DVD Rom
- Generic 48X CD/RW
- Floppy Drive
- SB Live 5.1 platinum
- Generic 1394 PCI card - 3 ports (I don't think I'll need this is my new system)
- Generic USB 2.0 PCI Card - 4 ports (I don't think I'll need this is my new system)
- Netgear 10/100Mb Network card (I don't think I'll need this is my new system)
- 2x200GB WD Special Edition IDE HD (I like to try to set them on RAID 0 on my new system)
- Rage Furo Pro (DINOSAUR!!!)
- Visiontek Extasy Personal Cinema (GeForce2 MX400 64Mb)
- Radeon 9700 Pro 128MB AGP8X - Brand new, I got it from my ex-coworker
- Lian Li Aluminum case with 350W Power supply.
- Sony E500 21" Flat CRT
- Zalman CNPS7000A-CU CPU cooler
- Artic Silver

So, I think the only things I need to build a new system will be a new board + CPU + RAM. I am still confused on which CPU should I use: AMD or Intel

Intel system:
P4 2.8E OEM $167 (I choose this for price/performance factor)
Asus P4P800E-Deluxe -- $109
Asus P4C800E-Deluxe -- $179
Which board should I choose?

OR

AMD system:
Asus K8VSE Deluxe -- $125

Athlon 64 2800 OEM -- $173
Athlon 64 3000 OEM -- $211
Athlon 64 3200 OEM -- $270
Athlon 64 3200 OEM for DTR Notebook -- $279 (What is the difference between the regular 3200?)

I like to have 1G Dual Channel DDR on the system: 512Mb x 2 (but not more than $200 on the memory). What do you suggest? Brand, model?

Also, I am not planning to overclock the system

For the all 3 components, I like to spend $500 or $600(MAX).

Let me know what you think I should buy.

 

[siaopao]

Thanks for the advice.

How about the memory? Any good advice?

Regarding DVD writer, I did thought about it but I don't think it's the time yet to buy. The technology is still evolving: Dual layer.. etc

Which system: AMD/Intel system will be better, for the same amount of $$$ to spend?

 

[Cybercraig]

The Intel might be a tad better for what you want to do now and may cost slightly less, but it will NEVER run a 64bit O/S. It's a tough choice only you can make. I think you will be happy with the performance of either one for the near future.

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds. Now, let's eat!

 

[juin]

CPU

P4 will offer the best for you money 2.6 GHZ or 2.6 are your best choice fast and low price.

Mobo

Abit IS7 is you choice is offer the basic USB 2.0 LAN sound good performance good reputation and good overclocking potential in case you want to later.It also a old proven mothersboards so there want be a need to update driver\bios at each month.Price 70$ difference with others mothersboards is no IEEE 1394 no fancy sound or big extra add ons.You got allready everything so there no need for intergrade material also discret material reduce CPU worklaod and many time decrease RAM usage.It also offer a ICH-5R from intel so you will be able to put your HDD in Raid 1 or 0 or 1\0


Ram

Winbond offer the best overclocking potential.Personnaly go with PC 3200 with medium timing as low timing dont affect much P4 unlike A64 or AXP.So you go with commun sense look for a well know brand that offer good timing vs price.Just tell you thata between a CAS 3 and a CAS 2 ram there about 3% performance delta.So if the price is 50$ a faster CPU cana easely overcome this 3% for less.In any case HDD performance is the most important to me as that the only thing you allwayse wait for.Yeah 1 GIG is a good idea or at lease 512 MB.Personnaly i will go with 1 GIG as it price\size is better with 512 MB stick.

i need to change useur name.

 

[siaopao]

Thanks guys!!!

I decided to go with
Asus P4P800E Deluxe and P4 2.8E

I can't justify the $70 difference for the Asus P4C800E-Deluxe. For AMD system, Asus K8N doesn't come with pararel IDE Raid 0.

The last thing I need your guys help is on memory:
I checked Newegg and found:

Corsair XMS: TWINX1024-3200C2PT -- $268
Speed: DDR400(PC3200)
Type: 184 Pin DDR SDRAM
Error Checking: Non-ECC
Registered/Unbuffered: Unbuffered
Cas Latency: 2-3-3-6 T1
Bandwidth: 3.2GB/s
Organization: two 64M x 64 -Bit
Special Features: With Platinum Heat Spreader

OR

Kinston HyperX: KHX3200AK2/1G -- $268
Speed: DDR400(PC3200)
Type: 184 Pin DDR SDRAM
Error Checking: Non-ECC
Registered/Unbuffered: Unbuffered
Cas Latency: 2-3-2-6-1T
Support Voltage: 2.6V
Bandwidth: 3.2GB/s
Organization: two 64M x 64 -Bit

OR

At hardcorecooling.com
HCC40010242HDC-K -- $214.67
PC3200 1GB(2x512MB) Dual-Channel Optimized 400MHz - CAS 2.0 - Copper Heat Spreaders - Ultra Performance Chips - OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE

Which one should I choose or is there any other paired DDR you can recommend? Are the Corsair and Kingston overkill (considering I am not interested to overclock0?

One last thing. Will my system detect 2x200G if I put my 2x200G HDs on RAID 0 when I setup my system? or it'll read 2x120G? If it did read 2x120G, what should I do?

 

[etp777]

You're not going to want that board, and unlikely you'll want that processor. You want the original P4P800 Deluxe(my current favorite board, adn one I'm using now). The P4P800E has a different Promise Raid chip, that only has one PATA ide port on it. This is so raid can use both pata and sata at same time, but leaves you SOL if you have two PATA drives you want to use(as I did), unless you use an sata-pata bridge, which I don't suggest.

I'd also suggest the p4 2.8c, not 2.8e, unless you know editing you do is going to make use of sse3 and the longer pipeline with future editions. All software I've tried so far doesn't justify the extra heat(and then extra noise to get enough heat dissipation out of HSF) that the Prescott core puts out.

 

[jammydodger]

I agree, dont get the prescott get a northwood. The IS7 is a great board and I think it might be cheaper than the one your looking at. That RAM your going for is very good though.

<font color=blue>P4c 2.6@3.25
512Mb PC4000
2x120Gb 7200.7 in RAID0
Waterchill KT12-L30
Abit AI7
Radeon 9800Pro
</font color=blue>

 

[etp777]

IS7 doesn't have pata raid though, least not in any of the variations I could find on Abit's site.

 

[jammydodger]

Oh yeh, I didnt notice he need PATA RAID.

<font color=blue>P4c 2.6@3.25
512Mb PC4000
2x120Gb 7200.7 in RAID0
Waterchill KT12-L30
Abit AI7
Radeon 9800Pro
</font color=blue>

 

[Crashman]

PATA RAID is supported by nVidia's best southbridge.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[jammydodger]

nVidia dont make chipsets for intel boards?

<font color=blue>P4c 2.6@3.25
512Mb PC4000
2x120Gb 7200.7 in RAID0
Waterchill KT12-L30
Abit AI7
Radeon 9800Pro
</font color=blue>

 

[Crashman]

Asus K8N doesn't come with pararel IDE Raid 0.-<i>siaopao</i>

I thought you were refering to that statement.


<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[siaopao]

etp777: Thanks for the heads up.

The P4P800E-Deluxe doesn;t have the PATA Raid as P4P800-Deluxe. So now I am back to square 1. 🙁

Any suggestion for 865PE MB with PATA raid?

 

[etp777]

Yep, the P4P800 Deluxe.

That was easy. 😉

I suggest the board to anyone without hesitation. Only modification I might suggest is adding a 40mm fan to northbridge if you do extreme overclocking(assuming I can confirm that motherboard temperature sensor is on the northbridge, not somewhere else). Even there, was running 900mhz FSB yesterday jsut fine on my system and never went about 52C on motherboard temp sensor, that's with a single case fan and 27C ambient. So only a concern in cases of extreme overclocking.

 

[siaopao]

The prob is no one have it anymore. I think Asus discontinued it.

 

[etp777]

Lots of places still have them in stock, though Newegg doesn't(nless you want a refurbished one, which I don't suggest)