Comments? Suggestions?

[Shoeby]

Hello all, I'm pretty new into overclocking, but I am definately going to go for it with my next system. These are the components I've got and are thinking of, I'd like some advice, please remember though i'm on a budget and this total cost is about my maximum.

Motherboard

EPoX nForce2 Ultra 400 Chipset Model EP-8RDA3I
LINK (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-123-208&depa=0)

CPU

Athlon XP 2600+ "Barton", 333MHz

Coolant
Definately getting some arctic silver 5, but I had a question on the cooling issues, I originally had this selected
OCZ Gladiator 3 LINK (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=35-103-419&depa=0)
But now i'm leaning towards a Thermalright AX-7 LINK (http://heatsinkfactory.com/cgi-bin/HFAstore.pl?user_action=detail&catalogno=HS-004) with a blue LED 80mm case fan that's a decent mover. Any suggestions on the HSF mucho appreciated.

Memory

Originally had Corsair Value Select Dual channel [2x512] LINK (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-480&depa=0) I noted the CAS latency of 3 on these puppies, but have heard good things about the brand name. Now I hear about this new company called KOMusa and they supposedly have cheap memory, but I've never heard of the name, was looking at this Memory in particular with infineon technology and heat spreader included LINK (http://www.komusa.com/1gbkit5pc40d3.html)
I don't know, what do y'all think?

Video Card

Already bought a 256 MB Geforce FX 5600

Case and PS already bought (480 W)

Hard Drive

I'm looking at a 160 GB Samsung drive 7200 RPM, only a 2MB buffer, but it's only 90ish bucks and has a 3 year warrenty and i go through HD space like candy. What do you think, i think i can get a comparable 120 GB with 8 MB buffer but does it really matter?

I know I asked a lot of questions and posted a lot of links, but I know you guys know your stuff, I've built computers in the past, but all my knowledge is self taught, and this is the first one that I am going to overclock. Thanks for any advice

[I.M.O.G.]

I would get a thermalright slk700 with TMD fan for $18 from Hardcore cooling...

As a matter of fact, I did get one about a few weeks ago. Here's a thread when I went on a bargain hunting spree for thermalright goodies. It has some good thermalright heatsinks, their prices, and where to get them with links:

http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=270078&highlight=thermalright+goodies

[Shoeby]

thanks for the reply, though i didn't see the heatsink with the fan on that link. Maybe i'm just being a tard tho. ;)

[DayUSeX]

you can add your own fan if youw ant, as long as it is within spec or better ye you can mod it.

I would get the 2500+ as they OC nicely and you can save a few US there. Unless you really need teh space go the 120gb with the 8mb bufer as they really make a huge differnce.

Also Komusa i have never ehard off, so in genearl avoid them, if you dont see alot of ppl talking about them on ocofurms.

corsair is nice, but cas 3.0 is pretty bad. I picked up a kingston value ram 512mb stick with cas 2.5/3.0 that is running 2.0 @ ddr 333 just fine atm for about 80 bucks, might wanna look into two of those.

also try to sell that fx5600 and get a 9700/9800 pro when the next gen cards come out (supposeldy soon)

[Shoeby]

There's only a ten dollar difference between the 2500+ and the 2600+, so that's not that huge of an issue, unless you think the 2500+ is superior... then why pay more for an inferior chip. :) As far as the HD goes, I think i'll take it down a notch and get the 8MB buffer as you recommended. So you like the Radeon cards over the Nvidia cards? I was looking for a comparable card, but i got my 5600 with 256 MB ram for about 110 bucks, and any comperable Radeon card was about 150+. Any more adivce? You guys are stellar.

[I.M.O.G.]

Don't avoid Komusa, they are new on the scene but have been well documented by reputable members of the forum. Some of their RAM is great performing, and some is no better than average ram, so make sure you are getting the right stuff that people tell you to get if you go with them.

Shoeby, I followed the link and it looks like the deal with TMD fan is dead, but the slk700 is now only $14 without a fan. That's still a great deal - just pick up a fan with the specs you like. Look at CFM and dba. 21dba is nice and quiet, about 30dba is noticeably louder, and going beyond that you are going to have fan noise. Any CFM will get you fine temps, but obviously the higher you go the better your temps will be - 40 CFM is a good middle ground with semi-reasonable noise.

The 2500+ used to be real hot because it was a great overclocker and came multi unlocked... You'll get a locked one now though so I don't think it makes a difference between that or a 2600+. If you want a good OC'er get a mobile 2500+ because they are unlocked and have been overclocking great. They work in regular mobo's and run on lower voltage than regular CPU's. A good overclockable 2500+ is definetly better than a 2600+ in my opinion.

At $200 the 9800 pro is a steal... The performance is Awesome and doesn't really compare to a 5600 - they are in different classes. This depends on what you are willing to spend and if you are able to get rid of your 5600. The 5600 is an alright card though too.

Radeon cards are trumping Nvidia at the high end, and the price on 9800 is great right now for what you get... If you wait until the newest ATI card is released, there may be another drop that makes it a little cheaper yet.

Good points overall DayUSeX, sorry to pick at them. :)

Oh, and WELCOME TO THE FORUMS SHOEBY! Have a click on my sig under my post if you want to say hey to everyone. :)

[Shoeby]

Noise isn't an issue. LOL I used to have an E-Machine (yeah yeah, crack a joke) that had this loud whine to it... i mean VERY loud. that and this current machine is right next to my A/C unit which runs pretty much 24/7.

Here's a question i've always wondered about video cards. Is it better to get the highest type you can afford, let's say 9800 over 9700, even if you could get the 9700 for the same price with more memory? Or are you better off taking the inferior card with more memory.

[Shoeby]

Nevermind, answered this question via fourms... Thanks! =)

[I.M.O.G.]

Actually, the answer you will typically find is to go with the higher end card... But after playing FarCry, I'm not certain that having 256 MB RAM wouldn't be beneficial. I would love to see a comparison between two high range ATI cards, one with 128 and one with 256 and see how they compare in it.

Thats a very good question that might need to be looked into deeper to get the correct answer. With all the sweet games coming at us right now, 256MB of ram on the card seems like it might be used sooner and more than some people expected. The reccomended requirements for farcry are actually a 128 or 256MB vid card... and when I started it up with my r9700pro, I got a prompt that told me my AGP aperture needed to be set to atleast 128MB. (AGP aperture size is a section of system RAM that is set aside for use by the graphics card)

But the time for 256 MB Video cards might not be here yet... I haven't heard of anyone with 256 MB cards having much better results than people with 128 MB cards in the FarCry discussions. But the implication in the newest games is that it might become more useful very soon if not already.

Personally, I would go with the better card as that makes the biggest difference right now, and I don't see 128MB cards becoming crippled anytime soon. 256 MB generally costs A LOT more, and doesn't have the current benefit.

[Shoeby]

thanks imog. :) Unfortunately i bought my card before i found this board so i've got a geforce FX5600 with 256 MB, but i'm not complaining, it beats the living snot out of my geforce 2 mx 400 i was running LOL