Do I need this much computer? Which cpu?

[Binow]

Here are the components I'm looking at as of now.

• ABIT 865PE Motherboard for Intel Socket 478 Processors, Model "AI7" Retail
• ATI RADEON 9800PRO, 128MB DDR, 256-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, RETAIL
• Antec 430W Power Supply TRUE430
• Kingston HyperX Series 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3500 (2x)
• Western Digital 120GB 7200RPM SATA HARD DRIVE, Model WD1200JD, OEM DRIVE ONLY
• NEC Black bezel 4x DVD +RW/-RW Drive, Model ND-1300A/BLACK/GEN, OEM
• Arctic Silver's NEW Premium High-Density Thermal Compound: Ceramique . 2.7-gram( ~0.8 cc. ) tube.
• Thermalright CPU Cooler for Intel Socket 478(Heat Sink Only), Model:SP-94, 99 x 59 x 45mm.
• Total =$975.97

I'm not sure what cpu fan to get at the moment.
I'm looking at the Intel P4 2.4C (SL6Z3) for $220 but am not sure that I really need something THIS extreme. I know a lot of you on here do this as a hobby and upgrade to see what kind of numbers you can get and all that, but really my main objective is to have a nice system to play some games and a few other things. Although it'd be nice to have this type of system how much difference am I really going to notice from this or cutting a few things out for less expensive items?

 

[Deathknight]

Are you going to be doing an ocing at all? If not you could probably save some cash by going with the stock HS, possibly a slightly cheaper PSU (Fortron 350w would work well). If you are not going to play alot of new games you could probably save a little cash and go with a cheaper video card as well.

 

[Binow]

I planned on Ocing it, which is why I'd go with the HyperX mem and the SL6Z3.

 

[funnyperson1]

I would save your money and get a 9800 non pro or a 5900 non ultra for around $200. When overclocked both compete well with the 9800 Pro. You wouldn't notice the difference in actual games.

 

[Sniper_83]

1) Even if your plans are to do alot of gameing I would step back to the 9700 Pro, its a great card for its cost. I miss mine dearly .

2) I've heard people getting higher OCs with the 2.8 in proportion to what I've herd coming from the 2.4s and it would also be help the AI in your games to have a faster CPU. It can make up for the difference in the 9700 Pro and the 9800 non-pro.

3) Your hard drive might only need to be an 80. I put alot on my hard drives which totals 160 GBs via raid 0 and I have never gotten over 40% of it used. Depending on the price difference you may be better with a smaller HDD, unless you plan on doing video editing!

 

[Sniper_83]

Oh about that fan I think you should look at this.

@ Newegg

 

[Binow]

I would save your money and get a 9800 non pro or a 5900 non ultra for around $200. When overclocked both compete well with the 9800 Pro. You wouldn't notice the difference in actual games.

Why not spend $100 more and get the 9800 pro and OC that? And even if I left it stock it'd still be as good or better than a OCed np.

 

[Binow]

1) Even if your plans are to do alot of gameing I would step back to the 9700 Pro, its a great card for its cost. I miss mine dearly .

The difference is about $60 or so. To me seems like its well worth the extra $60 for the 9800Pro.

2) I've heard people getting higher OCs with the 2.8 in proportion to what I've herd coming from the 2.4s and it would also be help the AI in your games to have a faster CPU. It can make up for the difference in the 9700 Pro and the 9800 non-pro.

Seems like the the 2.4 with m0 stepping is owning the OCers right now. Plus if i'm running the 2.4 at the same mhz as the 2.8 would be oced to wouldnt the 2.4 be faster since the fsb would be higher?

3) Your hard drive might only need to be an 80. I put alot on my hard drives which totals 160 GBs via raid 0 and I have never gotten over 40% of it used. Depending on the price difference you may be better with a smaller HDD, unless you plan on doing video editing!

• MAXTOR 60GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model 6Y060M0, OEM Barebone = $79.00
• MAXTOR 80GB 7200RPM SATA HARD DRIVE, MODEL 6Y080M0, OEM = $85.50
• Western Digital 120GB 7200RPM SATA HARD DRIVE, Model WD1200JD, OEM DRIVE ONLY = $107.00
• MAXTOR 160GB 7200RPM SATA HARD DRIVE, MODEL 6Y160M0, OEM = $128.00
• Western Digital 200GB 7200RPM SATA HARD DRIVE, Model WD2000JD, OEM DRIVE ONLY = $173.00

I might actually just go with 160 seeing as there is only a small price difference. I have ~50 gigs right now and its slammed full.

 

[Sniper_83]

Perhaps next time I will look up the prices before I open my mouth. I like that 160 Maxtor, wonder what the seek time is on it.

The 2.8 though if you could get it up to the same FSB as your 2.4 wouldn't it be worth the small price rise?

 

[Chris_F]

Get the 9800pro

 

[Sniper_83]

Yea but he would have to get the 128Mb version to get the $60 difference between the 9800 pro and the 9700 Pro.

 

[funnyperson1]

Why not spend $100 more and get the 9800 pro and OC that? And even if I left it stock it'd still be as good or better than a OCed np.

Im just saying that you won't notice the difference in any games. Sure your bechmarks will be higher, but I think there are better ways to spend $100.

 

[Sniper_83]

True!

 

[Xstatic]

If your going for benchmarks and impressing your buddy's with numbers then go the exspensive route. If all you care about is fast gameing then do what everyone is telling you. The cheeper 9800 non pro will be good and oc it. I promise that your eyes wont know the difference. The 2.4 will be fine if your going to oc with the sp-94. Get a fast fan tho. If you can handle the noise get the tornado. Its really not that bad once you get use to it. Get the biggest HDD that you can afford. Partition it so you have multiple drives so you can store data without loseing it durring a format. Other than that, looks good. No need to spend the extra cash when you can get the same speeds with less cash.

 

[TekXoID]

Get a 2.4C, AS-5 instead of Ceramique, a Enermax Variable Control 92MM (64CFM/34dB) for the SP-94, and instead of that crappy HyperX, Mushkin Level II PC-3500.

I suggest you shop at Newegg.com, any vendor that is selling a 2.4C for $220 is a ripoff ($161@Newegg).

 

[Sniper_83]

I still think you should get that fan duct I mentioned earlier if you plan to OC because having the fan right on the HS like the stock setup is, you have a big dead zone made by the fan hub.

 

[Binow]

Get a 2.4C, AS-5 instead of Ceramique, a Enermax Variable Control 92MM (64CFM/34dB) for the SP-94, and instead of that crappy HyperX, Mushkin Level II PC-3500.

I suggest you shop at Newegg.com, any vendor that is selling a 2.4C for $220 is a ripoff ($161@Newegg).

All pricing excluding the cpu is newegg. The only reason the cpu is more is the gaurantee the m0 cpu. Crappy HyperX???

 

[Binow]

Where are you guys getting $100 for the difference between the 9800np and 9800pro? I could see maybe just going for the np if I already had the card and was talking about upgrading to the pro. I also understan my eyes more than likey would tell absolutely no difference, BUT in the future when the games are more demanding on the system and the np starts lacking I am confident the 9800pro would still be kickin. Plus the pricing im seeing is more like $50 difference.

 

[Startech]

...I suggest you shop at Newegg.com, any vendor that is selling a 2.4C for $220 is a ripoff ($161@Newegg).

I totally agree about the rippoff. It appears that zzf says that the current batch they have is all M0. Check this thread

 

[skidooosl]

if you go with AMD you could just about cut that in half... a XP2500 and a Epox 8rda3+ or Abit NF7-S will run you $186 which is far less than the cost of just your chip.... i dont know how much that ram will run you but i would think about Mushkin black LVL2 (should be good for around 230 fsb pretty easy). with that setup and some good cooling (slk900A's can be had for about $30) u should reach 2.3 no prob... i wouldnt be susprised if you could get up to around 2.4... i think unless your going to do some serious o/cing on that P4 that the AMD would beat it in the benches @ that speed. also i would get a different card. a 9600 would cost quite a bit less.... or go with a 9700 pro.... that will also save you several $$