[bigwill51534]

I finally built me a new computer... I ended up going with the following setup:

Linkworld case (cheap, $25 case including a crappy 300w psu)
BFG 650 watt power supply (to replace the crappy one)
DFI Lanparty Ultra UT NF4 motherboard
AMD 64 FX-55 2.6GHz San Diego core processor (overclocked to 2935MHz)
Vapochill Micro Heatsink/Fan (cooled with R-134a refrigerant!)
2-1gb sticks of Adata Vitesta DDR-400 dual channel matched memory (running 2.5-3-3-6)
ATI Radeon All-In-Wonder X1300 video card (2006 edition)
Seagate Barracuda 250gb SATA 3.0 GB/sec hard drive, (primary)
Seagate Barracuda 350gb SATA 3.0 GB/sec hard drive (secondary)
Ultra 1000 watt UPS
Belkin wireless 802.11g network card
AOC Evercool Fox-2 System Blower (PCI slot blower)

I am using the integrated sound (not too shabby) and also pulled the DVD burner from my old rig. This system seems to be running pretty stable (finally). The motherboard was VERY tempermental. It took me a long time to finally get Windows installed (kept locking up, and giving errors as well as BSOD). I have tweaked a little on the memory, and played with the FSB speed. There are also a few other things I have tweaked around on.

As for the other peripherals, I reused them from my old system. The speakers are a Klipsch/THX 2.1 channel set, the monitor is an LG Flatron L1720P 17" LCD, and the keyboard/mouse set is an A4 Tech wireless set.

I am still looking for benchmarking programs to run, and I am going to pick up a copy of Doom 3 and Half Life 2 to test the system. I am pretty impressed so far.

Have any of you delt with these motherboards before? I have been out of the tweaking world for a few years... Any reccomendations on where to go from here? Have any of you delt with the Crossfire setups? How well do they work? How do you set them up?

~Will Courtier~

[ThatHideousStrength]

Be very careful with cheap PSUs, they can ruin your whole system because of the cheap quality they have.

[bigwill51534]

Originally Posted by ThatHideousStrength

Be very careful with cheap PSUs, they can ruin your whole system because of the cheap quality they have.

That's why I went with the BFG 650 watt psu. I didn't want to even mess with the cheaper one. It's giong to be mailed out to my cousin, to toss in a cheap older computer.

The BFG I bought has dual 12v rails plus the 20+4 connector I needed for the mobo. It even has two different speeds for the fan (switch on back of psu). I'm pretty happy with it thus far. It does draw some massive power, though. I have been tracking it on my UPS monitoring program. It draws well over twice what my old Shuttle P4 3GHz used to draw.

~Will Courtier~

[ThatHideousStrength]

woops, I guess I missed that

[Griffin]

Hope its chuck full of awesome.

[Torx]

so in total how much did it all cost? if you dont mind me asking
looks like an awesome setup let us know some benchmarks

[ThatHideousStrength]

One question. Is there a reason why you choose AMD over Intel this time?

[bigwill51534]

Originally Posted by ThatHideousStrength

One question. Is there a reason why you choose AMD over Intel this time?

Not really any reason, other than I knew this processor was very reasonably priced and very overclockable. It is also pretty quick. I also just had an Intel in the Shuttle. That computer was very stable, but really lacked in games with extensive graphics.

~Will Courtier~

[bigwill51534]

Originally Posted by Torx

so in total how much did it all cost? if you dont mind me asking
looks like an awesome setup let us know some benchmarks

The parts I bought (everything minus the keyboard/mouse, monitor, graphics card, and network card) cost me ~$800. I got package deals on the hard drives (one with the processor, another with the motherboard). Pretty much everything was bought through Newegg, aside from the system blower (bought from Tiger Direct). It was plenty pricey, but I once again have a computer that will last me a few years.

~Will Courtier~

[MSP]

We need some pics! And benchmarks would be nice.

[Chris]

800 bucks isn't bad at all. If you built this prior to the AM2/X2 and the Conroe were put on the market, you wouldve probably spent double.

That's really a decent budget setup.

I'd like to see benchmarks too. I want to ultimately build a C2D system but may go for something budgeted such as this.

[MSP]

Fingers crossed, but I think Santa is bringing me a Core 2 Duo 6400, 2GB of DDR2 800, and possibly even an Nvidia 8800 GTS. My wife got me the motherboard for my birthday, so it stands to reason the rest is coming.

[Griffin]

If i had money i would get a mac book then probably a new system to run linux.

[Torx]

yea this is hyping me up to build a new system.
i got till march, i usually do a winter-spring rebuild every 3 years or so..

so i'll start my researching after the new years..
gotta get my shit ready for all the dx10 games coming out next year.

[WoodButcher]

Good deal Bigwill! A new pc is always good. I know nothing about AMD, is 20% a big OC for AMD? can you get more before heat begins to be a problem?

[MSP]

Originally Posted by Griffin

If i had money i would get a mac book then probably a new system to run linux.

Just Boot Camp and do both! Boot Camp will dual boot Linux, right?

[bigwill51534]

Originally Posted by Wood Butcher

Good deal Bigwill! A new pc is always good. I know nothing about AMD, is 20% a big OC for AMD? can you get more before heat begins to be a problem?

That is average for the core I bought. I hadn't realized that AMD offered so many different processors until my cousin pointed them out. He aimed me towards this one, from word that they were very willing to overclock, and very reasonable, so I went with it.

I think I could do more in a case with better flow, and a better HSF. I just want a nice, quiet system that is stable. From what I understand, there aren't many other processors that will overclock above this one before coming into stability issues. I am going to download 3dmark to get a good benchmark result. Any other benchmarks I should try?


Also, MSP... That sounds like a SICK system. Defiantely keep us posted on how it runs, as well as the price tag. I might have to work up to that one after deployment.

~Will Courtier~

[Griffin]

I really dont need a new computer my current one is a monstrosity as is.
Processor : Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 @ 2933 MHz
Physical Memory : 1024 MB (2 x 512 DDR2-SDRAM )
Video Card : Nvidia Corp GeForce 7900 GTX *2 SLI
Hard Disk : 250 GB
All i really want is more ram and more and Drive Space

[Mr. Ali]

From what I understand, there aren't many other processors that will overclock above this one before coming into stability issues.

cant a core 2 duo 2.4ghz OC to 3ghz easy with just a good 3rd party HSF? anyone with a conroe E6600 care to comment?

[WoodButcher]

Originally Posted by Mr. Ali

cant a core 2 duo 2.4ghz OC to 3ghz easy with just a good 3rd party HSF? anyone with a conroe E6600 care to comment?

SSHHHHH!!!!

Nice pc bigwill, enjoy it!

Promise to wave to me in my minivan as you roll on by on that BuellBeast! Are Buell sold at all HD shops? affiliated? We've got one here in Danbury.

Ali- check my "back to air" post