Opinions of my potencial buy

Dara Robinson

This is the pc that I have looked at getting through Komplett.

• Anyone have any thoughts?
• Any recommendations on replacing some of my selections and why?
• Also will all the hardware work well together?
• Any thoughts on the ram? is there better ram? and is it worth it?
• Any thoughts on the Pentium chip? I was trying to decide between the one I have picked now and the P4 3.4Ghtz 512kb cache. Is P4 3.4Ghtz 512kb cache better or P4 3Ghtz 1mb cache better

I'll more than likely be getting a different mouse and depending on the case I get the cd/dvd will be same as they are or black.
That’s another thing. Anyone recommend a sexy case? (please include link)

joePC

I think your crazy, getting a PC now, wait a couple of weeks and you will be able to get the latest, e.g. BTX case etc...

OK so a couple of months but still.

Thanks JoePC

Dara Robinson

latest as in what Joe?
Been out of the loop a long time, I have no idea whats commin onto the market

joePC

BTX standard cases, New socket arch e.g. 939 for AMD, PCI express.

Have a look at this

I'd take a good look over the site, has all the info you need.

Thanks JoePC

TacT

If you do want to go with what you have posted there, I'd suggest changing the ram for some with timings 2-2-2-2 over at www.shop4memory.com. Cheaper and better performance, why did you choose ECC registered ram?

Dara Robinson

why did you choose ECC registered ram?
Cause it was a 1 gig stick and it was the best vaule I could see on the Komplett site

subway_ie

Originally posted by joePC
BTX standard cases, New socket arch e.g. 939 for AMD, PCI express.

Have a look at this

I'd take a good look over the site, has all the info you need.

Thanks JoePC

Lots of conflicting reports about BTX/PCI Express/AMD - BTX might not be adopted by AMD, since its primarily being introduced by Intel for their Prescots and their huge cooling needs, which AMD don't have. PCI Express won't be mainstream until Q1 2005 at the very earliest - ATI and nVidia have both said they'll be sticking with AGP for the next 12-18 months, probably phasing in PCI Express at the same time. Won't socket 939 just be for the more expensive AMD64s? They're still keeping the current socket, it'll just be for mid-low end processors.
If you're to take the "I'll just wait for x to come out, then I'll buy" approach, you'll be waiting forever, since there's always some new technology just around the corner.

BabyEater

I dont think AMD can use BTX as the ram slots are too far from the socket. It also doesn't seem like any motherboard makers want it. Also it will take a while for 939 systems to come cheap i.e. when Intel release their 3.6GHZ chip

BloodBath

Do you have any intentions of overclocking?

Swap the 1gb stick of ram for 2 x 512 sticks from www.shop4.memory.co.uk They have the best prices. Your going intel so take advantage of the dual memory. Like Tact said get something with low timings if your getting pc3200. If your overclocking you will need to get faster RAM.

Do you really need a cd burner and a dvd burner? The dvd burner will burn cd's just as well.

Do you need 7.1 sound? Your getting 5.1 speakers so why get a sound card that supports 7.1? Save your money and get the audigy 2 LS. It's a lot cheaper but has 5.1 surround instead.

I'd also say get two 120gb or two 160gb drives instead of one 250gb one. This way you can set up RAID 0 for faster read and write times. It makes a significant improvement.

Apart from that it looks good.


BloodBath

voxpop

just a note about raid setup - if you using the machine for gaming then raid wont make a huge difference. The game will load up in half the time but while running, there will be virtually no difference between raid and non-raid systems afaik.

Check here for some benchmarks

BloodBath

Aye thats what I meant. A significant improvement in read and write times is what I said. Not anything else.


BloodBath

BKtje

PCI Express won't be mainstream until Q1 2005 at the very earliest - ATI and nVidia have both said they'll be sticking with AGP for the next 12-18 months, probably phasing in PCI Express at the same time.

Also atm its looking like the early PCI Express wont be all that much better than AGP. Tho im sure this will change as it matures.

Won't socket 939 just be for the more expensive AMD64s? They're still keeping the current socket, it'll just be for mid-low end processors.

Atm they are looking to make the socket 754 the 'budget' cpu with the 939's being the more expensive version. (as can be seen by the socket 939 release prices of close to $600)

If you're to take the "I'll just wait for x to come out, then I'll buy" approach, you'll be waiting forever, since there's always some new technology just around the corner.

Thats exactly what i said to myself and to the people who said to wait.
Ordered my new pc there today

timings 2-2-2-2

2-2-2-2? Best i could find was 2-2-2-5 (ordered a gig of it), Im assuming its a typo?

Venom

Waiting on the next big thing in pc hardware boils down to a never ending wait. All the new tech just around the corner (yeah right) like pc-express and btx form mainboards will take a good 4-6 months to hit the streets. Not to mention the fact the the early adopters of this new tech will pay a damm high price for below par performance as has always been the way of pc's.

My advice is to buy as good a pc now that you can afford to get the best ang for your euro.

jesus_thats_gre

There is no point in waiting for the next big thing.... BTX and PCI-Express will offer very little benefit over whats available now. Buying a decent ATX case with decent airflow will do just fine. PCI-Express, while faster than existing PCI and AGP bus speeds, will not offer any advantages for about a good while yet. The bandwidth available on AGP buses is till not fully utilised by even the fastest cards coming out, so I wouldnt be concerned about this at all.

If you are buying a 3.0 Prescott and intend to overclock it (which they do quite nicely) you will need faster RAM. I would inclined to say 3700 myself and as Bloodbath said, get a pair of sticks.

I am running a 2.8E with PC4000 RAM and the RAM provides for alot of flexibility.

It looks like you have plenty of cash too. Why not get two Raptors and Raid them. While they dont make a massive difference during games, the reduction in loading time for game like Far Cry is quite a bit one. Then use one big disk for all your crap.

Giblet

Wise money = Good PSU, Good case, excellent motherboard with loads of features and good RAM.

Everything else can be upgraded.

jesus_thats_gre

Originally posted by Giblet
Wise money = Good PSU, Good case, excellent motherboard with loads of features and good RAM.

Everything else can be upgraded.

winner!

Dara Robinson

Originally posted by BloodBath
Swap the 1gb stick of ram for 2 x 512 sticks from www.shop4.memory.co.uk They have the best prices. Your going intel so take advantage of the dual memory. Like Tact said get something with low timings if your getting pc3200. If your overclocking you will need to get faster RAM.

Ok, but I most likly intend to get 2 gig's. Should I still go for 512 skicks?

Originally posted by BloodBath
Do you really need a cd burner and a dvd burner? The dvd burner will burn cd's just as well.

Good point but I wanted 2 drives. Think the cd burner burns cd's faster also but will check up on that.

Originally posted by BloodBath
Do you need 7.1 sound? Your getting 5.1 speakers so why get a sound card that supports 7.1? Save your money and get the audigy 2 LS. It's a lot cheaper but has 5.1 surround instead.

Good point. I'll be getting a new PC in about 18 months and I'll most likly be getting a seperate sound system so I'll go all out on the card then.

Originally posted by BloodBath
I'd also say get two 120gb or two 160gb drives instead of one 250gb one. This way you can set up RAID 0 for faster read and write times. It makes a significant improvement.

cheers.

Anyone have any thoughs on the Pentium chip dilema? I was trying to decide between the one of these 2, the P4 3.4Ghtz 512kb cache or the P4 3Ghtz 1mb cache. Which is better? More htz or more cache?

BloodBath

Are you going to overclock at all Dara?

I think you would be a lot better off with 1gb of really good RAM rather than 2gb of not so good RAM.


I really wouldn't get a 3.4 chip either. They are massively overpriced. Get either a 3.2c (northwood 512kb cache) or the 3.2e (Prescott 1mb cache).

You can't go wrong with either. The Northwood performs better is some apps and the Prescott performs better in others but they are both pretty even. The Prescoot does have support for sse3 though. Once programs begin implementing sse3 (which they will) the Prescott will run these programs better/faster.

Personally i'd go for the Prescott but not the 3.4. 200 euro for an extra 200mhz of speed. Thanks but no thanks intel.


BloodBath

Dara Robinson

BloodBath, I will not be overclocking. Never got into that.

What would you recomend out of Komplett's choice of ram?

Thanx for the info on the chip

BloodBath

Get your memory from www.shop4memory.co.uk

They are based in Ireland and have the best prices with free delivery within two working days.

The 1Gb kit DDR PC-3200 Level1 Dual Channel - Mushkin is a bargain for 230 euro. The timings are nice and low on it. 2-2-2-3. It doesn't get much better than that.


BloodBath

jesus_thats_gre

BloodBath, I will not be overclocking. Never got into that.

Its not really something you have to get into anymore.. To squeeze an extra 10/15/20% out of your machine is very easy and will save you a fortune..

Why buy a 3.4 P4 for 400 odd euro when you can buy and 2.8 or 3.0 P4 for 200 or so and overclock it? It really is very straight forward after a little bit of research, expecially if you buy some decent high speed memory.