opinions on my wishlist

S

skinrock

New Member
Hey guys, what's up. I saw a link here on another forum, and after doing a little reading, I figured I'd get your opinions on my wishlist. I've been tweaking it for the last few months, and got some new ideas on a few of the components, so it just got updated:

http://www.tinyurl.com/becmg

btw, I'm using that as a URL because I've posted it before and I've seen it stretch out the margins ;)

The motherboard and CPU haven't changed from the start. The video card used to be the same type, only the XFG model, I recently switched to eVGA because it's slightly faster, and I heard the XFG is actually overclocked, whereas the eVGA isn't.

Basically I'm just looking for opinions on what could be switched out, and to make sure that everything is compatible. I'll take any advice seriously, thanks.
 
Thanks for the replies guys, let's see if I can cover everything:

Regarding the link, here's the full version, I didn't realize this forum shortens them:

http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion...sp?ID=1720905&WishListTitle=SKINROCK'S+SYSTEM

Budget, what you see is about the range I want, ~$1500. I know I still need a few things like soundcard, wireless networking accessories, and an LCD monitor. But what's in that list will be enough to get me up and running. I have a spare CRT that I can use, and the sound isn't a big issue. I have the JBL Alien 2.1 setup, it's pretty sweet.


Regarding two harddrives. Ya, I'd like the space. Plus, a friend said I could do a RAID setup. I'm not too familiar with RAID, but he said I could get better performance that way.

I'll check up on that heatsink. Thanks for bringing that up though, that's something I forgot to ask. Does anyone know if the heatsink in that list will even fit? I see a heatsink next to the CPU, I think it's the Northbridge heatsink? I'm worried that the one I have is too wide.


And thanks greggie, I've been very picky, I want to get this just right :)
 
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Ctcoyote16 said:
you will need a RAID card to run in raid configuration I believe....
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The mobo says this:

S ATA RAID NV RAID 0/1/0+1/5 JBOD
Additional RAID Controller Sil 3114

I think I want to run in RAID 0, isn't that for combining two drives as one? I figured the mobo could handle that.
 
you should be good for using RAID 0
that RAM is only 1 gb and it is 200 dollars?
if so then thats a hefty price to pay for that. even if it is corsair XMS, i think corsair XMS is way over priced, there is comparable RAM made by OCZ and Kingston. could drop 50-60 bucks off ur total right there.
also if you went with the 4200 processor youd save a hundred and its only the cache difference.
motherboard is garbage. ask around, id get a non SLI board if you really want ASUS, but if you want SLI get the ASUS a8n32-sli deluxe, its a great board just low end asus sli boards arent very well liked. DFI boards are good, and other brands, abit, MSI. ask about a different motherboard.
 
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I don't think I'll be switching to the 4200. That was one thing I spent a lot of time on, and I decided I should go with the 4400. You say the cache is the only difference, I think that plays a pretty big role though. This rig is not only for gaming, but for development as well, I do a lot of web development, and while that in itself isn't very intensive, I definitely do a ton of multitasking. So I don't want to skimp out.

After doing a lot of research on dual core cpus, it seemed very important to keep an eye on the cache, because even though you say you have 2 cores with 512 kb cache each, now a single core becomes limited to 512 kb. From what I understand, there were some single core cpus of the same speed, but with higher cache, that were outperforming because of that limitation on each core.

In regards to the memory, this was another thing a friend of mine helped me with, and he suggested looking for 2-2-2-5 timing, which that memory has. I know it's expensive, but I want good performance. I did find this though:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146890

30 bucks cheaper, I can't say I can tell the difference though. If there is no negative reason why it's cheaper, I guess I could go with that.

I'd like to go SLI to have the room to upgrade. I'd like to run dual cards in SLI mode eventually. I took your advice and looked at ASUS board you mentioned, it's a little pricey, but if anyone can back that up, and prove that it would be worth the extra $100, I could go with that.
 
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rams good, and i understand you viewpoint of the processor, also that board is amazing and with an SLI setup it destroys other SLI boards because of the true x16 speed on both pcie x16 slots.
there were some single core cpus of the same speed, but with higher cache, that were outperforming because of that limitation on each core
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when u say this do you mean that the single core cpu was beating a single core from the dual core cpu or both cores?
and can i see this review i would just like to look.
 
ReturnToEmpire said:
rams good, and i understand you viewpoint of the processor, also that board is amazing and with an SLI setup it destroys other SLI boards because of the true x16 speed on both pcie x16 slots.

when u say this do you mean that the single core cpu was beating a single core from the dual core cpu or both cores?
and can i see this review i would just like to look.
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Ah, you know I always wondered what some of those specs meant in regards to the pci-e 16x slots not running at full speed.


I'm not sure where the reviews were, probably at anandtech. Now maybe I'm wrong, but isn't it true that not all applications will utilize both cores? Maybe what I read was saying that if you are running that type of application and only one core can process it, that it shows lower performance. Does that make sense or did I read it wrong?
 
well its true that some programs dont use both cores. but as the technoology becomes moe and more common games and apps alike will both being to utilize both cores.
still the speed of one core beats amny single core processors, and if overclocked becomes even more potent.
 
Changes id make
- skimp on the Toledo in favor of the Manchester
- drop the floppy
- Change to a Thermaltake Big Typhoon or Arctic Cooling Freezer64 Pro

I don't think I'll be switching to the 4200. That was one thing I spent a lot of time on, and I decided I should go with the 4400. You say the cache is the only difference, I think that plays a pretty big role though. This rig is not only for gaming, but for development as well, I do a lot of web development, and while that in itself isn't very intensive, I definitely do a ton of multitasking. So I don't want to skimp out.
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Its a difference yes and 90% of the time the 1MB cache proc will outdo the 512K one... but the performance delta isnt worth $100 IMO

In regards to the memory, this was another thing a friend of mine helped me with, and he suggested looking for 2-2-2-5 timing, which that memory has. I know it's expensive, but I want good performance. I did find this though:
Click to expand...
Its cheaper because the timings come at a cost of higher voltage

I'd like to go SLI to have the room to upgrade. I'd like to run dual cards in SLI mode eventually. I took your advice and looked at ASUS board you mentioned, it's a little pricey, but if anyone can back that up, and prove that it would be worth the extra $100, I could go with that.
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Its not worth it if you're not gonna be doing some stupid crazy overclocking :)

still the speed of one core beats amny single core processors
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it does? ;)
 
Quote:
still the speed of one core beats amny single core processors


it does?
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MANY* sory, and if you get a 4200 + X2, then 2.2 ghz is faster than many single core processors unless you start getting into expensive processors that cost almost as much as the dual core. not supported by pure fact but observation.
 
MANY* sory, and if you get a 4200 + X2, then 2.2 ghz is faster than many single core processors unless you start getting into expensive processors that cost almost as much as the dual core. not supported by pure fact but observation.
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Theres the much easier counterexample of "a dual core chip wont necesarily [significantly] beat a single core chip in a singlethreaded environment" :) hehe no need to bust out uberexpensive chips
 
Praetor said:
Changes id make
- skimp on the Toledo in favor of the Manchester
- drop the floppy
- Change to a Thermaltake Big Typhoon or Arctic Cooling Freezer64 Pro


Its a difference yes and 90% of the time the 1MB cache proc will outdo the 512K one... but the performance delta isnt worth $100 IMO


Its cheaper because the timings come at a cost of higher voltage


Its not worth it if you're not gonna be doing some stupid crazy overclocking :)


it does? ;)
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The floppy is only 10 bucks, you never know, I may need it for some weird reason. I'd rather have one that I may never use than not have one that I may need.

I'm not sure what you mean by the higher voltage on the memory, the Corsair I was looking at had the same timing and voltage as the OZC that's in my wishlist now.

"Thermaltake Big Typhoon or Arctic Cooling Freezer64 Pro"...are these CPU heatsinks and fans?

I appreciate the opinion on the 4200 vs. the 4400. $100 would be nice to save, yet I find myself saying "if I'm going to spend $400 on a CPU alone, why not spend $500 and get something that will truly perform like I need?" I'm just having a hard time getting myself to want a $400 CPU that I know has limitations.

And I probably won't be doing much overclocking, but isn't the dual x16 speed worth it if I go SLI? Correct me if I'm wrong, but am I to assume that the board I had before will do x16 in one slot, and x8 times 2 if using SLI?
 
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I'm not sure what you mean by the higher voltage on the memory, the Corsair I was looking at had the same timing and voltage as the OZC that's in my wishlist now.
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And thats why the Corsair isnt so hot either :) The ideal thing to look for is memory that gives you tight timings at the lowest voltages possible :)

"Thermaltake Big Typhoon or Arctic Cooling Freezer64 Pro"...are these CPU heatsinks and fans?
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Yes andyes

why not spend $500 and get something that will truly perform like I need?"
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Because you wont notice the performance difference.

And I probably won't be doing much overclocking, but isn't the dual x16 speed worth it if I go SLI? Correct me if I'm wrong, but am I to assume that the board I had before will do x16 in one slot, and x8 times 2 if using SLI?
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Depends on the board. If you're getting say the DFI LP UT SLI-DR then it will be 1x16+1x2 or 1x8+1x8 ... if you get say the A8N32SLI DLX then you got 1x16+1x16
 
And thats why the Corsair isnt so hot either The ideal thing to look for is memory that gives you tight timings at the lowest voltages possible
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cant you overclock RAM by increasing the voltage as well. so if u got real low voltage say 1.6 you could give it a .1 volt boost and make it even faster correct?
 
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