New Gaming System - Opinions please

[Todd K]

Hi all,

Well, I just ordered parts from NewEgg to build my dream gaming system. I
know it's not the "best of the best", but for under 2K I don't "think" it's
too shabby. Please let me know what you think...OR if I overlooked anything.
FYI, this is my first home-built PC...and I'm a little nervous after reading
about all of the compatibility issues with home-built systems. Oh well, I
guess the best way to learn is to dive right in. ANY advice or opinions
would be greatly appreciated.

**CASE:
ATRIX CSCI-A9001-C4 Black SECC steel sheeting FCC class CB&CE approved ATX
Mid Tower Computer Case (Vent panels on top and side - dual fans - good
airflow and front display panel for temps)
**CPU:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Manchester 1GHz FSB 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939
Dual Core Processor
**POWER SUPPLY:
Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-550 ATX12V 550W Power Supply 115/230 V UL, TUV, CB,
FCC CLASS B, CUL
**GRAPHICS:
(2) eVGA 256-P2-N516 Geforce 7800GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO PCI Express
x16 Video Card
**HARD DRIVES:
(1) Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA
3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
(1) Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB 10,000 RPM 8MB Cache Serial ATA150
Hard Drive
**MEMORY:
CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200)
Dual Channel Kit System Memory
**COOLING:
(1) 90mm Rear Fan / 120mm Side Fan / (1) ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro
Cooling Fan with Heatsink for CPU

Note: I already have a monitor, keyboard, mouse, dual Layer DVD-RW, SB 7.1
card.

A few questions/comments:
1. I was planning on using the Rapter drive for apps/games and the 250GB
drive for data. (any other suggestions for config?)
2. I know dual-core processors are NOT the best for gaming (yet), but to me
the pros outweight the cons. I'd rather be prepared for the future and lose
2 FPS at 1600x1200).
3. Depending on how well this case and fans cool, I may consider liquid
cooling. This case is so "open", I don't think that will be necessary.

Thanks all! I'll probably be visiting here again this week when all of my
parts get here and I'm pulling my hair out.

TK

 

[Robbie McFerren]

I personally don't like Western Digital Hard Drives, especially the
caviar drives. I have had WD drives with a piece of round metal tape
sealing a hole in the drive. This tape came off easily after drive
failure. You may want to look at a better set of speakers and maybe
some PC game controllers while you are at it.

 

[Todd K]

Thanks Robbie! I've never had problems with Western Digital, but I
appreciate the advice.

Also, I alread have a Logitech Z-5300 5.1 speaker setup, so I should be good
in that category for now.

Thanks!
TK

 

[Chinooks_FURY]

What mobo ya using?

 

[Todd K]

Oops. I guess I forgot to include that.

ASUS A8N-SLI Premium Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard

Thanks!
TK

 

[Chinooks_FURY]

Looks good . . .

Do you really need 2 HDD's? The raptors are expensive and L O U D. I
dumped mine, sounded like a leaf-blower in my tower. If you need to RAID,
get 2 WD's or 2 Seagates. Seagates are extremely quiet and run very cool.
Check out this model:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148111 $110

Oops - - - I see ya already ordered!

Before you load anything make sure you get current drivers downloaded ahead
of time on a thumbdrive or bootable CD. Get the certified Forceware drivers
from Nvidia, version 81.98. They're super. Got a fresh tube of Artic
Silver 5 handy? Break out the best pizza coupons . . .

Nothin' finer than buildin' a new puter!

Good luck!

 

[Todd K]

Thanks Chinooks! I probably should have posted my specs before ordering. Oh
well....

Regarding the 2 HHD's. I was just going to use the faster Raptor for my apps
and games and the WD for data storage. I was planning on adding a second
Raptor later (for RAID) along with liquid cooling. (Phase II). : )

I read great reviews on the Raptors with mixed opinions for noise. Some say
the older Raptors were extremely loud, but that the newer ones were better?
Others said that you can't even hear the Raptor's over the case fans. ALL
say that they are very fast...which was my main objective. If, however, it
sounds like a "leaf blower" as you stated, it probably won't last long in my
machine.

I guess I will find out soon enough. I'll let you know. And yes, the pizza
coupons are ready to go!

Thanks!!
TK

 

[Chinooks_FURY]

No problemo.

I'm trying to find this Anandtech article talking about how the Raptor's
speed is just all a big marketing ploy to take advantage of the "enthusiast"
desire for speed. It had performance figures showing that WD Raptors don't
improve game-play in a RAID set-up and that RAID for "additional performace
speed" was all just bunk. Very good article. I'll see if I can't dig it
up.

Now if you were serious about additional system speed, then 2 Seagate
7200.9's with 3GB SATA transfer, NCQ and the proper mobo (which I believe
your ASUS is) - - - that's a different story. Silent & smokin.

My build from last month:

Silverstone TJ-03 Silver
SILVERSTONE SST-ST60F 600W Modular
ABIT AN8 Ultra (BIOS 19)
Athlon 64 4000+ SanDiego @ 2.75 Ghtz (11x250) 1.47V
XP-90 w/ 92mm Panaflow fan
2 Gb (2x1GB) OCZ Platinum at 2-2-2-5 2T @ 2.8V
eVGA 7800GTX w/ACS @ 496/1380
Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 300GB HDD
Plextor PX-716SA / ASUS 16x DVD ROM
Creative X-FI Platinum
Klipsch Promedia 2.1
XP Pro SP2

 

[Chinooks_FURY]

Found Anandtach's. I'll dig up the recent 3dGuru article that specifically
talks about the real world performance gains of the new Raptor. Very
negligible considering the cost.


"If you haven't gotten the hint by now, we'll spell it out for you: there is
no place, and no need for a RAID-0 array on a desktop computer. The real
world performance increases are negligible at best and the reduction in
reliability, thanks to a halving of the mean time between failure, makes
RAID-0 far from worth it on the desktop.

There are some exceptions, especially if you are running a particular
application that itself benefits considerably from a striped array, and
obviously, our comments do not apply to server-class IO of any sort. But for
the vast majority of desktop users and gamers alike, save your money and
stay away from RAID-0.

If you do insist on getting two drives, you are much better off putting them
into a RAID-1 array to have a live backup of your data. The performance hit
of RAID-1 is just as negligible as the performance gains of RAID-0, but the
improvement in reliability is worthwhile...unless you're extremely unlucky
and both of your drives die at the exact same time."

Full article and it's very thorough:

http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=2101&p=1

 

[John Weiss]

Do you really need 2 HDD's? The raptors are expensive and L O U D. I dumped
mine, sounded like a leaf-blower in my tower.

The original 36s may have been loud, but the 74s are fine.

 

[Todd K]

Thanks for the article!

RAID wasn't high on my list anyway since I have an external HD for backups.
If I could do it over again, I probably would have went for the 2 Seagates
you mentioned...but, live and learn, right?

Now I have another question for you. You mentioned Arctic Thermal 5. I
wasn't going to use any thermal compound between my CPU and Arctic Cooling
Freezer Pro 64, but now you got me thinking that maybe I should. In fact,
after a few Google searches, it looks like it's a no-brainer....especially
for a dual core processor.

Is this stuff easy to apply. From what I've read, it seems that the hard
part is removing the existing thermal padding from the CPU. I just don't
want to mess anything up and fry my Mobo and CPU. THAT would suck!!

Thanks!
TK

 

[Chinooks_FURY]

Oh yeah - - - put the ole AS5 on everything, even the wife!

LOLOL

Seriously though, just carefully take a razorblade and scrape off the old
"gunk", wash both the HS and chip with isoprel rubbing alcohol OR acetone.
All you need is a tiny glob about the size of a single grain of rice dead
center in the middle of the chip. Follow the install directions and you're
up and flying. AS5 or any good, high quality TIM has a HUGE impact on
cooling performance.

Here's the specifics from the pro's:

http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm

 

[Todd K]

Ok. I'll go buy some tomorrow at the local PC store. It seems simple
enough...

Thanks!
TK

 

[FaxCap]

Now I have another question for you. You mentioned Arctic Thermal 5. I
wasn't going to use any thermal compound between my CPU and Arctic Cooling
Freezer Pro 64, but now you got me thinking that maybe I should. In fact,

I'm using an Arctic Freezer Pro 64....excellent cooler for the
money!!!!

Is this stuff easy to apply. From what I've read, it seems that the hard
part is removing the existing thermal padding from the CPU. I just don't
want to mess anything up and fry my Mobo and CPU. THAT would suck!!

Just remember....more heatsink compound is NOT better. You want a THIN
EVEN coat. I use and old credit card to spread it thin.

CK

 

[Beall]

The original 36s may have been loud, but the 74s are fine.

I must have an original... mine sounds like a leaf-blower, too Next
time, I think I will go with a larger HD and skip the RAID 0. I agree that
the risks aren't worth the benefits. But, as always, if you don't back it
up, you are just asking to lose it. Good luck.

 

[Todd K]

WAHOO!!

My components have shipped and I should have them by this weekend. I also
bought some Arctic Silver 5 today so I should be all set.

Wish me luck. Hopefully I'll be able to post my success story this weekend.
Otherwise, I'll be blasting this board with "HELP!!" posts. (gulp)

TK

 

[Chinooks_FURY]

Need help, just ask, Love building a puter.

:O)

PS Double pepperoni!

 

[Todd K]

Thanks for all of your help Chinooks. I'll keep you posted. : )

TK