How does this system look?

[NuQ]

From NewEgg.

Usage: the kids' and wife's PC. Email server for small group of 25 users.
Store the data
backups from my main PC.

Linkworld Black/Silver ATX Mid-Tower Case with 400W power supply, Model
"A319-C2628-P4" -RETAIL
Item#N82E16811164006

$37.50

Lite-On White 8X DVD+/-RW Drive, Model SOHW-812S, OEM Item#N82E16827106934

$57.00

Speeze "FrontCooler" Hard Disk Driver Cooler, Model "4020S1H4"
Item#N82E16835150008

$3.99

NEC 1.44MB Floppy Drive, Model FD1231H, OEM Drive Only Item#N82E16821152001

$8.00

Seagate 200GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model ST3200822A, OEM
Item#N82E16822148032

$117.50

Corsair Value Select (Dual Pack) 184 Pin 1G(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200 - OEM

Item#N82E16820145440

$156.00

Motherboards - AMD

ASUS "A7N8X-E Deluxe" nForce2 Ultra 400 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A
CPU -RETAIL
Item#N82E16813131478

$83.00

AMD Athlon XP 3200+ "Barton", 400MHz FSB, 512K Cache Processor - Retail

Item#N82E16819103390

$205.00

SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9200 Video Card, 128MB DDR, 128-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X
AGP -BULK
Item#N82E16814102314

$65.00

Product total: $732.99
Shipping & Handling: $ 32.94
Total (Before tax): $ 765.93

 

[Paul]

From NewEgg.

Usage: the kids' and wife's PC. Email server for small group of 25 users.
Store the data
backups from my main PC.

Linkworld ATX Mid-Tower Case 400W N82E16811164006 $37.50

AthlonXP motherboards draw most power from +5V. Your power supply has
35A on +5V, which should be enough.

Lite-On White 8X DVD+/-RW Drive, Model SOHW-812S, N82E16827106934 $57.00
Speeze "FrontCooler" Hard Disk Driver Cooler, N82E16835150008 $3.99

This will certainly work. An alternative, is to mount the disk drive
down low, buy and install an extra 80mm fan in the lower front location
for a fan. Normal airflow assumption is "in on bottom front, out on
top rear". But your Speeze will work just as well, if you like.

NEC 1.44MB Floppy Drive, Model FD1231H, N82E16821152001 $8.00
Seagate 200GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive ST3200822A, N82E16822148032 $117.50
Corsair Value Select (512MBx2) DDR PC-3200 N82E16820145440 $156.00

Nforce2 is a bit picky about ram. You might do some Googling, to see
if people report problems with Value Select. Or, visit the forums at
nforcershq.com and do the same check there. Click the "search for
all terms" button on their search page (I frequently forget to do
that). Amdmb.com is another site (a.k.a pcper.com), but the search
engine there is restricted to members only.

ASUS "A7N8X-E Deluxe" N82E16813131478 $83.00
AMD Athlon XP 3200+ "Barton", 400MHz FSB, 512K N82E16819103390 $205.00

This is where it gets interesting. The Newegg price for 3200+ is on
the high side. Other places offer it for less money, but with a lower
price comes the danger of the product being a remarked 2500+. Personally,
I would either buy an AthlonXP-M 2500+ unlocked mobile and overclock it
to FSB400 or buy an AthlonXP 2500+ desktop, and overclock it from FSB333
to FSB400. Basically, by doing that, you are doing the same thing the
re-markers do to processors, but you reap the savings. For info on
overclockability, check cpudatabase.com. With an adjustable Vcore on
the motherboard, should be a piece of cake (with some ram that works
of course).

SAPPHIRE RADEON 9200 128MB DDR 128-bit DVI/TV-Out, 8X N82E16814102314

$65.00

Product total: $732.99
Shipping & Handling: $ 32.94
Total (Before tax): $ 765.93

For $100 or less, you can get a 2500+ or 2600+ AthlonXP-M Socket462
from here. Click the review button, to read the comments for each
one. I think these are OEM, so you'll need to find a HSF (like
N82E16835186104 Scythe 2M maybe)

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...ce=&maxprice=&mfrcode=0&DEPA=0&InnerManu=1028

http://www.scythe-usa.com/cooler/2m.html

Here is a retail 2500+ AthlonXP for $94 (has HSF)
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-379&depa=0

So, you can probably shave close to $100 off the price.

The thing that makes me the most nervous, is the ram issue. I don't
know how best to advise you there, due to the hit and miss nature
of ram selection. Prepare now, by getting a copy of memtest86 from
memtest.org, and test the RAM before you install an OS on the hard
drive. Memtest86 runs from a floppy, and memtest86 is its own operating
system, so you don't even need to load DOS on there. Set the memory
clock to "sync" or "100%" for best, error free results. This means,
if you run at FSB333, run ram at DDR333. FSB400, run ram at DDR400.
Both will be possible with your PC3200 ram choice.

HTH,
Paul

 

[NuQ]

AthlonXP motherboards draw most power from +5V. Your power supply has
35A on +5V, which should be enough.


This will certainly work. An alternative, is to mount the disk drive
down low, buy and install an extra 80mm fan in the lower front location
for a fan. Normal airflow assumption is "in on bottom front, out on
top rear". But your Speeze will work just as well, if you like.

Good thinking. I was wanting to keep the drive cool as it will be my backup
drive.

Nforce2 is a bit picky about ram. You might do some Googling, to see
if people report problems with Value Select. Or, visit the forums at
nforcershq.com and do the same check there. Click the "search for
all terms" button on their search page (I frequently forget to do
that). Amdmb.com is another site (a.k.a pcper.com), but the search
engine there is restricted to members only.

I'll check them out.

This is where it gets interesting. The Newegg price for 3200+ is on
the high side. Other places offer it for less money, but with a lower
price comes the danger of the product being a remarked 2500+. Personally,
I would either buy an AthlonXP-M 2500+ unlocked mobile and overclock it
to FSB400 or buy an AthlonXP 2500+ desktop, and overclock it from FSB333
to FSB400. Basically, by doing that, you are doing the same thing the
re-markers do to processors, but you reap the savings. For info on
overclockability, check cpudatabase.com. With an adjustable Vcore on
the motherboard, should be a piece of cake (with some ram that works
of course).

I'm not adverse to o/cing. I've done it a few times and run this P4 2.8 at
2.95 (or higher sometimes)

For $100 or less, you can get a 2500+ or 2600+ AthlonXP-M Socket462
from here. Click the review button, to read the comments for each
one. I think these are OEM, so you'll need to find a HSF (like
N82E16835186104 Scythe 2M maybe)

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...ce=&maxprice=&mfrcode=0&DEPA=0&InnerManu=1028

http://www.scythe-usa.com/cooler/2m.html

Here is a retail 2500+ AthlonXP for $94 (has HSF)
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-379&depa=0

So, you can probably shave close to $100 off the price.

The thing that makes me the most nervous, is the ram issue. I don't
know how best to advise you there, due to the hit and miss nature
of ram selection. Prepare now, by getting a copy of memtest86 from
memtest.org, and test the RAM before you install an OS on the hard
drive. Memtest86 runs from a floppy, and memtest86 is its own operating
system, so you don't even need to load DOS on there. Set the memory
clock to "sync" or "100%" for best, error free results. This means,
if you run at FSB333, run ram at DDR333. FSB400, run ram at DDR400.
Both will be possible with your PC3200 ram choice.

Thanks, Paul. I've always stayed away from AMD based systems for the exact
reasons you mention now. If it's not the chipset/video card compatibility
problem, it's the chipset/RAM issue. Although, I did just build a budget
AMD system (2500+) for someone getting parts from Newegg for $420.00 shipped
and it all seems fine. Maybe I just lucked out!

 

[sbb78247]

Good thinking. I was wanting to keep the drive cool as it will be my
backup drive.


I'll check them out.


I'm not adverse to o/cing. I've done it a few times and run this P4
2.8 at 2.95 (or higher sometimes)


Thanks, Paul. I've always stayed away from AMD based systems for the
exact reasons you mention now. If it's not the chipset/video card
compatibility problem, it's the chipset/RAM issue. Although, I did just
build a
budget AMD system (2500+) for someone getting parts from Newegg for
$420.00
shipped and it all seems fine. Maybe I just lucked out!

I used to think the same, but the cheapy I built for my daughter to play
kids games and educational stuff on runs quite well. I was able to put it
in a case and semi mod it for a spongebob squarepants look for about 750.00.
This is all she needs for now, so it ought to last till it drops.

Shannon

 

[NuQ]

I used to think the same, but the cheapy I built for my daughter to play
kids games and educational stuff on runs quite well. I was able to put it
in a case and semi mod it for a spongebob squarepants look for about
750.00. This is all she needs for now, so it ought to last till it drops.

Cool! My girls *and* I like Spongebob. What did you use? Got any pics of
the case?