Help Me Wiht Building New Computer!!!

[LMFRY]

I am currently selecting new components for friend and was wondering if a Raidmax 420W psu will run dual 6600GT 128MB's, 4x256mb PQI DDR2-4200, a 775 3.2 p4, 2 DVD burners, 6 80MM fans, Artec cooler 7, and a 120GB HD, :shrug: and a Gigabyte 8I915P SLI board. THX!

[Elif Tymes]

more specific, like model numbers on the RAIDMAX..

http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817152014

I personally would get nothing lower than a 460 for a power hog like that will be.

However, you should consider the fact that no intel will run SLI. None. Zilch. Zippo, nada. That means he needs an Athlon 64, with some different standard DDR RAM, and a nice little 3200+.

If he doesn't plan on overclocking, RAM Rated @ 3200+ Is perfectly fine.

[LMFRY]

They do to do SLI...heres the board http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-128-284&catalog=23&manufactory=BROWSE

[LMFRY]

I think its the first one

[LMFRY]

ok..specs changed...instead of the 4x256MB i just figured out that it only has 2 ddr2 slots...so im gonna get 2 1gig sticks of kingmax 4200 that way hw will have 2 gigs of ram...they are olnly 125 a piece so what the heck

[Sentential]

They do to do SLI...heres the board http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-128-284&catalog=23&manufactory=BROWSE
That board cannot do SLI. The SLI chipset isnt going to be out for quite some time.

[aeiou]

wouldn't recomend a gygabyte board- too many horror stories. Go with asus or abit, imho.

[aeiou]

That board cannot do SLI. The SLI chipset isnt going to be out for quite some time.

So is that board just so that you can run lots of monitors?

[LMFRY]

then what is it called if it does 2 pci-x cards..and is not sli?

[squasher]

I think that it just can have 2 monitors more easily, but the cards do not work together.

[LMFRY]

then whats the point of spending $200 more with no performance gain...wouldnt it be stupid to make that board?

[SolidxSnake]

btw, that PSU will NOT handle ANY of that... i reccommend spending another $70-80 for a Fortron 530W or 500W Bluestorm to protect your components

[LMFRY]

would a coolmax cx-500 500 watt do it

[Elif Tymes]

2x VPU does not a SLI make.

[LMFRY]

then what is it...if it takes 2 pci-x cards because it would be a waste if you didnt get more performance.

[LMFRY]

WOOHOO!!! found it you can run it in sli if you buy a bridge...but they dont think that nvidia will support it in new drivers...you would have to use the ones that come with it or it wont do sli if you update....sigh...what to do what to do

[LMFRY]

OK change of plans....ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe, 4x512MB of ULTRA PC-3200 CL3, Athlon 64-3200+ 2.0 512K L2, Coolmax CX-550 550-watt power supply, Dual XFX 6600GT's, Thermaltake A1838 Silent Boost, Diablo-Tek black demon case, 6 diablo-tek 80MM case fans, 120GB Seagate HD, CD-burner...all for $1150.00

[Elif Tymes]

I would just buy 2x 1GB, and avoid Ultra. Crappy RAM :-p. Had a stick, didn't do nothing for me.

Otherwise, it looks nice...

[LMFRY]

1200's the limit though..any suggestions

[Elif Tymes]

go with a single gig then, 2 Gig won't give you any benefit on gaming performance, and it will save you cash.

[SolidxSnake]

don't skimp out on that power supply... how much did that cost?? (does it cost)... if its around $70-80, spend a few more bucks and get a fortron...

and you don't need 2 GB ram... its an absolute waste...

does your friend overclock/game a LOT (like, full blast everything in HL2 for hours on end)?? if he doesn't, just get a single 6800 (NOT a 6600GT, though you can if you want) , and then just get 1GB ram, and a fortron/sparkle 480W

[Elif Tymes]

Directron has the EMS Mercury 460 watt PSU(A very solid performer) for 64 shipped. I'd look into that for a PSU, although fortron/sparkle are good.

[LMFRY]

I was gonna do 2x6600gt's...and yes he is like me and likes to run doom 3 adn hl2 full blast. And we really wanted to build an SLI rig...but how much better do the 2 6600GT's than a 6800...and the 2 6600's are only 380 and ocme with 60 rebate. what kind of ram would be the best

[Elif Tymes]

For RAM, even Value RAM will perform better than that ultra, I would get 2x 512MB Kingston or Corsair Value RAM for ~100 dollars. If he buys a standard 6800 now, for 250-300 dollars, and then another one later for 175-250 dollars, he'll get way better performance than 2x6600GTs in SLI mode.

It'd be even better to get a single 6800 GT, which I feel to be the completely best card for an SLI upgrade path. You can get em on ebay for around 380. Plus, with Rebates, I would never count on getting the money back. You either have to call, cajole, threaten, extort, bla bla bla bla to get your rebates(Specially from tiger direct. BOO) so its not worth it getting one from there.

a single 6800GT Will run HL2, DOOM3, and any other game you throw at it @1280*1024 with max details, iirc. Its really an incredible card.

Plus, in the future you could put a second card inthere for 250-300 bucks possibly. Giving you a nice little performance boost :).

[LMFRY]

yah i can get my 6200 to pump out high 1280x1024...but 6800GT kinda expensive....idk

[SolidxSnake]

actually, ive seen 6800GT's go for less than those dual 6600GTs... and SLi isn't FULLY "bloomed", if you will.. its good now, but its not at its best yet...

get a 6800... theres some nice BH-5/UTT in the Memory section (Mushkin 2x512 for around $119).. its a deal from a good online retailer... check it out

[Elif Tymes]

its no more expensive than 2x 6600GTs....

But, the 6800 is definatly a wise path to go too, saves you some dough :)

[LMFRY]

so a 6800gt it is whew! 450.00....i found some (2x512MB)1gb sticks of mushkin for 100 a piece...they are green line dual channel kits..these be good?

[squasher]

I say "Don't skimp on the ram or the PSU...ever"
I vote getting a 6800 and using the money to get some really nice bh-5 ram and a fortron bluestorm, you could save and get another 6800 later to make it sli.

[SolidxSnake]

ahem...
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-130-215&depa=1

$379 for an eVGA PCI-E 6800GT... its a great card...

sorry, i see them for $329 for AGP

[LMFRY]

The one i foudn was a BFG 6800GT OC...but i could spring for the BFG 6800 ULTRA and only get a gig of the mushkin green line....plz help me....i want the best setup for upgrading to SLI in the future

[Elif Tymes]

That E-VGA is a good card :)

And, I'm assuming its 2x512 for 100, not 1x512 for 100? Right?

[LMFRY]

yah...i can get 2 kits or 1...if i get one i will prob get a ULTRA

[Elif Tymes]

Number one. Get 1 GB of RAM. Do NOT Get 2GB of RAM. Its not going to improve your game. Period.

the BFG is not worth a 40 mhz overclock for about 70 dollars more, just get the E-vga. Sorry for the double post, I posted when he posted so I didn't read his post.(If you understood that your a better man than I)

[LMFRY]

man..tiger dont have the evga for that cheap....what a bout a plain 6800...for 364..i kinda want to order from same place...let me configure on the egg real quick

[LMFRY]

how good does A64 keep pace with p4?

[Elif Tymes]

A64 (Game wise) completely trumps the P4.

And, Newegg is definately a better place to shop than TigerDirect, I notice all their prices are about 30-40 dollars higher than the eggs, and they don't ship terribly well. I used to use them, then I found the egg, then I found ebay, then I found Directron, then I found zipzoomfly, then I found the classifieds on here.

[LMFRY]

I jsut dont like the thought of not having HT

[LMFRY]

HOLY CRAP!!! down to 1100 and upgraded to a 3500+ and a fortron 530 and a EVGA 6800GT...but went to a gig of mushkin green line dual channel...this thing should run

[LMFRY]

I got 100 left...should i get more ram or what....tell me what i should get?

[LMFRY]

oooohhhhh...do i hear a raptor?

[SolidxSnake]

LMAO, thats sweet... get a 36.8G raptor and a normal IDE drive for storage

[Elif Tymes]

With higher clocked processors(Ergo the 2.4Ghz 3500+) HyperThreading shouldn't be a huge issue :) I've never used a hyperthreading PC in my life, and I must say I don't think I missed it.

[SolidxSnake]

HyperThreading is great... for me...

but AMD procs have hypertransport... not HyperThreading

[Elif Tymes]

I know, he said the reason he would prefer intel is for Hyperthreading.

I said you don't need it with a 2.4Ghz Athlon 64.

I could go into reasons why hyperthreading does NOTHING for FPS, but I won't because its the same reasons that dual cores won't really benefit gaming yet(Check out Overclockers Articles)

[LMFRY]

So will this be a good gaming rig then?....hes got an existing 120GB that will be storage and existing rom drives for now...gonna get some DVD-RW's for it. all that for 1201.78...i didnt think that was too bad

[Elif Tymes]

Heck yea. No Intel compares to the Athlon 64 in gaming performance :)

[YoMatta]

at the same time as no intel comparing to the A64 in gaming performance... my system seriously thrashes games (rig in sig). good luck, looks like you're putting together a winner!

post pics if you can! woohoo!