LAN/Gaming system for myself...

[SidewinderX]

"Finger on the trigger and it's at my head..."

Well, I'm *almost ready to buyt this system for myself (well, components... building the system...)

My budget is ~600$, and all of this comes to 570$ (including shipping)

motherboard: Abit NF7
Reason: Abit is a stong company, I wanted nforce2, got decent reviews, nice and cheap.

cpu: AMD Athlon XP 2400+ Barton Mobile
Reason: Cheap, Fast, multiplier is unlocked, and is an *amazing* overclocker

Video Card: ATI 9200 SE 128Mb
Reason: This is misleading. I'm buying this card to put into the family Dell, and I'm taking my Shappire 9600 Pro Atlantis outta the family comp into my system

HDD: WD 80GB 7200RPM HDD
Reason: I like WD, and if I need more space, I have another 40GB hard drive I cna take form the family comp into mine.

FDD: Mitsumi 1.44" floppy (Black)
Reason: Cheap.

CD-ROM: CD/DVD Samsung drive
Reason: Cheap and black

RAM: Mushkin Blue Dual Pack 184 Pin 512MB(256MBx2) DDR PC-3200
Reason: It's Good. Also has a cool blue heat spreaders.

Case: DYNAPOWER Black ATX Mid-Tower Case with 430W Power Supply, Model "86B2"
Reason: Has a 430watt PSU, I like the looks, has a window, 4 total case fan slots (i belive, might be 3)

black 104key keyboard
Reaosn: cheap

Mouse: Intellimouse Explorer
Reason: I lie the feel of them

KVM Switch:Linksys ProConnect Integrated 2-Port KVM Switch–RETAIL
Reason: Not buying a new monitor, so when i'm gaming at home, i'll jsut switch it w/ the family computer; frined is lending me a monitor for LANs

Misc: Anti-Static Braclet, 3x80mm case fans, 1 tube of Arctic Silver Creamique
Reaosn: needed this stuff

HSF: Thermaltake A1889-01 Silent Boost
Reason: Quiet.


Final words: I was thinking about OCing it a bit.... aas much stable as I cna get outta the RAM... anyone have any guesstimates about how far it'll go stable, based on mobo/ram/cpu/cooling? I know you cna neveer really tell till you test it, but anyone have any ideas?


Comment, suggest things, etc. Also, If you're gonna suggest a new part, and you are including a link or whatever, i'd rather not buy froma store that has less than a 7.5 on ressellerratings.... i know, i'm picky.

 

[SidewinderX]

ok, ordered everything last night

And instead of getting the 80gb WD HDD, I went to compUSA, and baought a 120GB Seagate Barracuda hdd for 139.99-30-50=59.99

 

[NJD2003]

The NF7 is good... when it works, there has been multiple people complaining about problems with the board, how it didn't work when they got it. Abit seems to have quality control problems. Shoulda looked at the DFi Infinity, that thing is packed with features for such a cheap board. You shoulda got the Barton 2500+, much better overclocker in my opinion, I oc'ed mine from 2500+ to 3200+ speeds, that took about a minute, plus i've got alot more room to oc. Good thing you got the PC3200 Ram, gives you good room to overclock. Anyways it 's a good system that will overclock nice.

 

[Asus]

Nice choices. Great picks the first time.
Not many people know this but with the nForce2 boards you can have a 2x256mb in dual channel mode and later add a stick of 512mb if you wish. It will stay in dual channel mode if you have them in the right slots with the 2x256 twins on the same controller.

The 2500+ is simpler because it's FSB and multiplyer are very close to the 3200+ by just upping the FSB from 166 to 200 with most always no voltage increase.

I don't think the 2400+ is any less of an OCer. Infact it has the multiplyers above 13 open. It uses 15 by 133mhz to get 2ghz.
With those multiplyers open you can get pretty high CPU speeds (higher than the 2500+ with only up to multiplyer 13).
But the bandwidth would be less if you don't have it set to 200mhz fsb.
No matter. AthlonXPs were never big on bandwidth nor did it matter much for performance.
E.I. 15x166mhz = 2500mhz
or
12.5x200mhz = 2500mhz
Would need a good fan/heatsink (thermalright SLK800U or Zalmans) for that.

I personally don't OC enough to increase voltages. My voltages are default @ 11x200.

 

[SidewinderX]

Well, all bartons now have a locked multiplier, since thewy went to thier new production methods a bit back.

So i got the 2400 barton mobie. still a barton, and it has an unlcoked multiplier. it's default is 14x133, and jsut bumping that to 14x166 gives me 2.3ghz, and i could easily drop the multiplier a bit and up it to 200... 13x200 is 2.6Gz. If I wanted to go that high.

 

[NJD2003]

There is the Mobile Barton 2500+ which has an unlocked multiplyer, only $20 canadian more than the standard Barton 2500+.

 

[blahblahblah]

My only concern with your computer is switching out video cards. I would bet money that Windows is going to have a seizure or something when ever you switch out the two cards.

 

[SidewinderX]

Why? They have the exact same driver set... it was a bigger change when I switched to the 9600pro from a GF3 ti200...

....but the 2400+ barton mobile cost only 3 USD more than the desktop 2500+.....