Please Rate Setup

[knaia]

Case
Cooler Master Centurion 5 (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811119068)


PSU
Kingwin 600W (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817121002)


Motherboard
DFI LanParty SLI-D (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813136158)


Processor
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103535)


RAM
OCZ 2GB Dual Channel Unbuffered PC3200 DDR (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820227210)


Hard Drive
WD Raptor 74 GB (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822144160)


Video Card
BFG 7600GT OCE (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822144160)


Sub-Total: $1,022.96

Some Images: http://knaia.level6hosting.net/newpc/

What is everyone's opinion on this setup? It is pretty much at my budget or I would have shot for an X2 processor and another HDD. Should I go with ASUS A8N-SLI Premium or the DFI board? I may add another 3 HDDs in the future, and probably upgrade to 4 GB ram and an X2 processor next summer. Not sure what my plans are, but I'll probably leave it stock for now and maybe mod the case when I can afford water cooling.

I may be purchasing this real soon, depending on how my job interview goes and what my parents decide to let me spend and if I can get it on Newegg's Preferred Account. If I purchase this, I am turning my current computer into a server.

[Starbuck3733T]

I'm not too trusting of that PSU. Depending on your level of overclocking prowess, the ASUS board might be a better bet. Hopefully they've improved the number of sensors and whatnot that they've included on the board.

[knaia]

OK, I am somewhat new to overclocking, and I am an ASUS fan, but the ASUS boards seem to have a lot of problems. I really don't care I'll go with whatever you guys say is better. Want to link a better SLI-Ready Modular PSU in the same price range?

[lbreevesii]

i've got a dfi nf4 sli-dr, I love it. I don't remember the differences between it and the standard D model but i know they're nothing major. Very solid boards.

[gregnash]

If you plan to overclock definitely go with DFI. The powersupply is definitely something to change I would recommend and Enermax Liberty 550w or and OCZ Modstream powersupply both are great modular PSUs. I would dump the Raptor, I have read a few reviews that show the 10k speed really doesnt help it all that much, a much cheap and still comparable drive would be the Hitachi Deskstar 7K80.
Also dump that 3200+ for an Opteron 144, same speed but has 1mb of L2cache instead of 512kb

[knaia]

Actually, the raptors are much faster then the regular SATA 2 drives. The Opteron 144 is 200 mhz slower then the 3200+, and the Opetron 146 matches it, but adds $58 to the price.

[ỒĊBłůē]

But the Optys are likely to have a much better OC potential, if that's what you're gonna be up to.

[gregnash]

Speed wise yes the Raptor is much faster but there were a few reviews that pitted the two against one another, one of the reviews being in a past MaximumPC magazine. While the Raptor is faster the read and write speeds are actually slower than that of the SATA2 Deskstar. Bandwidth is about the same and both support SATA 3.0gb. Plus the Deskstar can be found for about $50.00USD vs $170+ for the Raptor.

The 144 may be 200mhz slower (and actually 200mhz difference is NOTHING) but as of late have been reaching overclocks of over 3.0ghz on aircooling. Add to that the fact that it comes standard with 1mb L2 cache vs. the 512kb for the 3200+. I would rather pay the little bit extra for the opty with the higher theoritical overclock ceiling than the retail based processor.

Here is the setup I am planning on.
A64 rig


Go back to your saved wish lists (https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/WishList/MySavedWishLists.asp)



Qty. Product Description Unit Price Savings Total Price Update (javascript:WishListUpdate('https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/','13-138-272','HISTORY');)
BIOSTAR TForce4SLI Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813138272)
Model #: TForce4SLI
Item #: N82E16813138272

In Stock
$113.00 $113.00 Update (javascript:WishListUpdate('https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/','17-709-004','HISTORY');)
Sunbeam NUUO SUNNU550-US-BK ATX12V/ EPS12V 550W Power Supply - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817709004)
Model #: SUNNU550-US-BK
Item #: N82E16817709004

In Stock
$83.99 $83.99 Update (javascript:WishListUpdate('https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/','19-103-600','HISTORY');)
AMD Opteron 144 Venus 1GHz HT Socket 939 Processor Model OSA144BNBOX - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103600)
Model #: OSA144BNBOX
Item #: N82E16819103600
** This item is warranted through the product manufacturer (http://www.newegg.com/CustomerService/ContactManufacturer.asp) only. https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/9241/30d/secure.newegg.com/Nest/policyQuote.gif (http://www.newegg.com/Product/PolicyNonRefundable.asp)
In Stock
$170.00 $170.00 Update (javascript:WishListUpdate('https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/','20-231-012','HISTORY');)
G.SKILL 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model F1-3200PHU2-1GBZX - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820231012)
Model #: F1-3200PHU2-1GBZX
Item #: N82E16820231012

In Stock
$85.00 $85.00 Update (javascript:WishListUpdate('https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/','22-145-082','HISTORY');)
HITACHI Deskstar 7K80 HDS728080PLA380 -0A30356 80GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822145082)
Model #: HDS728080PLA380
Item #: N82E16822145082

In Stock
$50.00 $50.00 Update (javascript:WishListUpdate('https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/','27-106-028','HISTORY');)
LITE-ON Black ATAPI/E-IDE DVD-ROM Drive Model SHD-16P1S - OEM (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827106028)
Model #: SHD-16P1S OEM
Item #: N82E16827106028

In Stock
$18.99 $18.99 Update (javascript:WishListUpdate('https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/','27-106-256','HISTORY');)
LITE-ON 16X DVD±R DVD Burner W/ 5X DVD-RAM Write Black ATAPI/E-IDE Model SHM-165P6S RTL - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827106256)
Model #: SHM-165P6S RTL
Item #: N82E16827106256

In Stock
$44.99 -$5.00 Instant $39.99 Update (javascript:WishListUpdate('https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/','35-185-001','HISTORY');)
Scythe SCNJ-1000P 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooling Fan/Heatsink - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16835185001)
Model #: SCNJ-1000P
Item #: N82E16835185001

In Stock
$49.99 $49.99

Subtotal:$610.96

[knaia]

If I were to get a SATA2 drive over the raptor, I'd get one as big as I could and spend a max of $150...they have a nice 250 gb WD for $96...so I may re-do my setup.

What is the difference between these two?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103617

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103600

Besides clock speed, one is OEM other is retail, and the core type. I don't really see a difference other then that so why do the numbers change?

OK, Someone want to link me to a drive from Newegg that is SATA2, 16mb cache, really fast, and is about $100? I'd like to get as much space as I can, but the WD drive seems to have a LOT of bad reviews...

[knaia]

OK looks like my choices are Maxtor or Western Digital. What do you all think? 250 GB WD or MAXTOR? There are a lot of mixed reviews, but half the bad ones come from idiots who have no clue what they are doing. I heard that the WD idles at 52 C...WTF?! That's way too high, and will probably keep it from lasting very long. Someone want to advise?