New Parts are Finished. Time to Build

[vantim]

I'll let everyone know why I'm in a good mood today and nothing can stop me. (Except for the freakin Blizzard going on outside)

I received my new pc parts today. Here is the goody bag list

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Windsor 2.4GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor
GIGABYTE GA-M59SLI-S5 AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard
2 Gb of Corsair XMS2 DDR 800
1 eVGA GeForce 8800GTS 640MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card
I'll get another one when I can afford it.
1 Maxtor Diamond Max 300GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache PATA Harddrive
2 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 750GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drives
Sound Blaster X-Fi Sound Card
COOLMAX CW-650T EPS12V 650W Nvidia SLI Certified
Antec Nine Hundred Case

Brown just showed up 15 minutes ago with all the stuff. WooHoo!

I'm going to start Building Saturday. Should be finished in a couple weeks. Got a lot of Modding to do. I'm going to enter this one in some Mod Competitions. I've got a lot of soldering and shrink tubing to do.

I'll take plenty of pics and keep everybody posted on the build. I'll probably be asking a question or 2 as well.

EVERYTHING ON THIS LIST HAS NOW CHANGED... KEEP READING FOR THE LATEST!!!!

[bufordt]

I'll let everyone know why I'm in a good mood today and nothing can stop me. (Except for the freakin Blizzard going on outside)

I received my new pc parts today. Here is the goody bag list

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ Windsor 2.4GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor
GIGABYTE GA-M59SLI-S5 AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard
2 Gb of Corsair XMS2 DDR 800
1 eVGA GeForce 8800GTS 640MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card
I'll get another one when I can afford it.
1 Maxtor Diamond Max 300GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache PATA Harddrive
2 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 750GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drives
Sound Blaster X-Fi Sound Card
COOLMAX CW-650T EPS12V 650W Nvidia SLI Certified
Antec Nine Hundred Case

Brown just showed up 15 minutes ago with all the stuff. WooHoo!

I'm going to start Building Saturday. Should be finished in a couple weeks. Got a lot of Modding to do. I'm going to enter this one in some Mod Competitions. I've got a lot of soldering and shrink tubing to do.

I'll take plenty of pics and keep everybody posted on the build. I'll probably be asking a question or 2 as well.

By all means keep us up to date with lots of pics. Dammit, you just had to go and do it didn't you. Now I am getting the urge to build my next system to end all systems. That is the same thing that happened when I built the 2 64 systems that I use now. Or maybe I will just spring for the core duo or X2 Ferrari Laptop. I hate when I get this I have to build another system thing in my head.

Good luck with the system, sounds like it will rock the house.

[Zero Tolerance]

The only thing about building "the system to end all systems" is it will be mediocre after about 3 months.

:D

[vantim]

The only thing about building "the system to end all systems" is it will be mediocre after about 3 months.

:D



What do you mean? It's not even together and it's mediocre. But just like my athlon xp system that I built a few years ago. That old computer is still more powerful than most systems I see in real life. It just doesn't want to play some of the modern games.
My Athy64 is for testing and has vista on it. So I'm not gonna steal it for my fun.
The systems I hear about on the web are like watching Star Trek to me. I wished I had the cash to go all out quad core, SLI 8800GTX's and a couple of Raptor Hard Drives in a Raid 0 config, but I just don't have the means. I'm in the dog house with the wifey poo already.

[Zero Tolerance]

I wasnt dissin ya....just being sarcastic to buf. LOL

The way I see it is this. There are 2 types of people...ones that want it now...and ones that will eventually get it.

Im kinda inbetween. I always want it now...but my rationality after seeing how fast prices come down is to always "eventually get it"

My system is now almost a year old. You can see it in my gallery and I spent about 1200 bucks on all of the hardware(not counting I have another 2 grand of software but thats another story)

At the time that I built it....it was already mediocre because if not that system would of cost me well over 2 grand to build when all of the hardware was first released.

Its not a bad system. Running the newest ASUS A8N in SLI with 2 6600 GT's Couple gigs of RAM and a Raptor drive for my primary OS. Of course theres a DVD writer and couple other optical devices...but you get the drift.

Anyway...just wanted to let ya know that I wasnt knocking your system. Im happy for ya and cant wait to hear about how well the vid card does for ya.

lata

[vantim]

I didn't take it that way. I was being sarcastic too! But I was being serious that I wished I could've spent more on it. For quite awhile I drooled over your system as I was making do with my Athy 3000. It's still a good machine, but you know what happens when you get the itch. I knew I had a good tax check commin' so I bit the bullet. All in All, I spent $1650 on this machine. That was cheaper than my Athlon Xp or my Athy64 system.

But I meant what I said. The one I just bought is already mediocre. Now that's a sad thing!!!

Now that I reread my post, it did look like I was offended. That was not the intention. Damn it! I wish you could type emotions. Guess I need to use emoticons more. ;)

[Zero Tolerance]

Good....glad I didnt offend. :)

[lmnobs]

I guess a Group Hug is next ....

[bigH2O]

No, unh uh. I heard about you and vantim in that van down by the river. Group hugs are starting to sound a bit greasy. I'll be over there, hiding behind that rock.

[Zero Tolerance]

No, unh uh. I heard about you and vantim in that van down by the river. Group hugs are starting to sound a bit greasy. I'll be over there, hiding behind that rock.

Let me know what rock you are behind beforehand so I pick a different one to hide behind.

Both of us behind the same rock wouldnt be any better than in the van down by the river.

:D :D :D

[vantim]

OK, I've made changes. The system is changing (AGAIN!). I'm so excited to put this thing together, I barely can stand it. I had to think long and hard about this but, if I'm going to do this... I'm going to do it right and go Balls out!!! So I shipped back the processor, ram, PSU, and video card and started researching. I've been collecting reviews and reports from all over the place and I am putting my all my interest into creating the best possible system I can muster. Without going Intel though. (No reason, just like AMD better) Plus, I want 64bit!!!

I kept the Motherboard (Gigabyte M59SLI-5) motherboard, And the Antec Ninehundred Case, The Sound Blaster X-Fi, and the HDD's. (2 750GB Seagates) With the credit from newegg I purchased 2 WD 150GB Raptors to compliment the 2 seagates. I'll create a total of 3 drives.. The (2) 10,000 rpm raptors for Vista and XPSP2 in a dual boot config, and the (2) 750's in a raid 0 for storage. I think 1 3/4 terabytes should be enough to satisfy my addiction.

I painted the inside of the case dark royal blue to match the motherboard but left the exterior of the case black. I am going to slightly alter the interior to hide all the wiring. I'll discuss that later as I go. I'll post some pics of the work so far...tomorrow!

I'm going to wait as long as I can to get the processor. That way I can either get a good pricebreak on a slightly older one or I can get the newest one for the same price that I already spent. It won't be anything less than a 5200+ X2. Whatever the last Dual Core proc will be. I think the 6000+ just came out but, that is sold in pairs as a quad core setup. BTW... I didn't go quad because of the limitations of the Motherboards right now. Dual Core is good enough.

I'm researching the ram for the best 4GB setup I can. I'm either leaning towards Mushkin, Crucial Ballistix, or Corsair XMS, but I'm not sure which ones yet. I have pretty much ruled out OCZ right now, but that could change.
I'm not too interested in overclocking the thing, so I'm looking at the best performance at stock clocks. If anybody has any recommendations, I'd love to hear them. I'm sort of Stuck right now.
All I can say is... I want to throw anything I can at this machine and not have it break a virtual sweat.

I purchased a PC Power and Cooling Silencer 750 PSU. All the reviews have pointed me to this PSU for its outstanding performance and price. It can handle the rig's hungry power requirements and then some. It's also the only PSU that is under $500 that can handle a pair of 8800gtx's. At $200 this thing was a steal. I would've like a modular setup but OH Well.

I am currently saving for the video cards. It's going to take a month or 2 but I'm going to do it. Dual 8800GTX's or whatever the next level of Nvidia cards are at that point. All in all, the thing is going to set me back about 3700 dollars for all the components, but I'll be a happy man. I could use some advice on which brand. I know it doesn't make that much of a difference but It's going to make all the world to me.

I'm open for all suggestions and criticizms. So bring it on!

[bigH2O]

Sounds like a winner vantim. For the RAM, definately look hard at the Corsair XMS TWINX packages. Tiger Direct has a $40.00 rebate on it now (clicky here) (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?Sku=C13-5104***37;20PT) making it just a little over $200 for 2GIGs. That's what I'm running, and the stuff is amazing. Some of the lowest CAS latencies in the industry at 2-3-3-6, and a lifetime warranty.

[vantim]

Thanks BigH20 unfortunately that's only PC3200. I need to run PC6400. They are offering the rebate on the Dominator series as well. That has my interests. (click here) (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2583140&CatId=2368)

I have always used Corsair in all my gaming rigs, it's hard to not like them. I just don't want to be left out by not going with something else.

[vantim]

So now here's the latest list:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 ????+ Socket AM2 Processor (Probably will be the 5200+ It's got the 2x1Mb cache and the best price but who knows?)
Zalman CNPS9700LED Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler (Big Copper Bastard)
GIGABYTE GA-M59SLI-S5 AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard
4 Gb DDR2/800 (pc6400) (4x1GB sticks) Still deciding on brand
2 Nvidia 8800GTX GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Cards in SLI Still deciding on brand as well.
2 Western digital Raptor 150's. 150GB 10,000 RPM 3.0Gb/s SATA HDD's
2 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 750GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drives
Sound Blaster X-Fi Sound Card
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Nvidia SLI Certified, Dual 8800GTX certified
Antec Nine Hundred Case

[Hallywould]

It sounds like your having a lot of fun with this build. I know I get pretty excited when I go for a new build. The only down side is that in about a year or less I find that my latest is only mediocre at best and all the components are less than half what I paid for them. But what the hell, it's a great hobby and I could be blowing my cash on something way less fullfilling. I never go all out on a build anyway. I do the best I can to stay within a budget even if it means waiting for things like video cards to drop in price. I don't think most folks know how easy or gratifying it is to go out and buy the components and put the mess together and call it your own.
Goodluck,
HW

[vantim]

I know what you mean. I've been building gaming machines since the 1st pentiums came out. But, I don't believe this machine will be mediocre for awhile. I'll give it at least a year.

[bufordt]

that if a big box of parts start showing up at my front door, it is all your fault. I promised myself that I would not build another rig, but then again I break that promise all the time. My two Athlon 64 rigs are getting a bit dated and it may very well be time for another. Damn you Vantim. I resisted when H20 built his, but my will power is fading fast. Sounds like it will be one hell of a system. Bench mark it when you are done. Then I can build a faster one. (LOL)

[vantim]

Oh, believe you me, I can't wait. I feel the same way. I've been watching person after person getting new machines and laptops lately. I just can't ignore the itch any longer. Unfortunately I'm building about a $1000 over my budget, so I've got to go piece by piece.

But I made a promise to myself that I will not boot this thing up until all Parts are in place. It's still going to take me a month and a half to save up just for the video cards. Thats $1200 in video that I just don't have right now. But it is happening, I've got $400 towards one of 'em so far. WooHoo

Do you know how hard it was to ship those parts back to NewEgg???

[vantim]

Hey Buford... Any thoughts on the choice of ram? I'm still leaning towards the Corsair Dominator Series, but I'm still not 100***37; sold. It's really expensive, and I don't want to throw $$$ out the door if some of the competition is just as good for a couple hundred less.

[bufordt]

Hey Buford... Any thoughts on the choice of ram? I'm still leaning towards the Corsair Dominator Series, but I'm still not 100% sold. It's really expensive, and I don't want to throw $$$ out the door if some of the competition is just as good for a couple hundred less.

If the processor is the engine, the Ram is the fuel injection system. Get the best that you can afford. The Corsair is about the best reasonably priced ram that I have found, and is what I use in my personal systems. When I used to do custom systems for my customers, I used whatever their budget allowed.