My upgrade roadmap

[Hazar]

First, my current specs:

amd 3800+ x2
7800 gt 256mb
2 gb ram
raptor 10k rpm hd
misc other stuff (sound card, dvd drives etc..)

So, my plan is to get this system below and keep using the 7800gt, ram, and hard drives until the 9800 gts is affordable. After that I'll probably be upgrading to one of the new amd processors that will supposedly still be on AM2.

https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersio...Number=4656685&WishListTitle=07+build+roadmap

The extra cheap ram and video car is so I can turn my spare parts into a linux server.


Opinions?

 

[Barney Fife]

I'm not really impressed with VC, RAM and HSF.

I will explain later, I'll let others have their say first.

Good Luck.

 

[Hazar]

you did read that I'm going to use the vid card and ram I have in that wishlist for my server and not my main computer right?

Why don't you like the heatsink? It has been rated as one of the best from the reviews I've read.

 

[Asus]

Looks good. Hopefully 512MB will be enough for what OS and apps you are going to run on the server.

Just wondering, do you have socket 939+DDR or AM2+DDR2 atm? Would make a different for what you are buying.

And the 4pin power plug from the PSU should reach where it is on the board in that case pretty easy. Route it between the card slots and the rear of the Case instead of along the front edge of the board and then over the slots.
And I'd put your hard drives in the bottom slot of the case so both them and the PSU are isolated from the rest of the parts for cooling. And take the top HDD bay out of the case completely which should free up a little air flow and more room for any future GPU you put in there.

 

[Qonfused]

Um, did you happen to steal my current PC?

 

[Asus]

I think that HSF is great. Not sure how it compares to the Scythe Ninja with the fan in the center and using a smaller 100mm fan but it is similar. Frostytech has a review of it and it shows great cooling and low noise. Great for the P180 series with the rear cooling and quiet theme going.

Review performance page. Almost 20 dBA less that the rest of the coolers in that range.

 

[Hazar]

yeah, I've read several reviews for the heatsinc

right now I have the 939 socket on my mobo which limits my capability to upgrade processors since they are pretty much phased out now. I thought my ram was ddr2 but I really can't remember. I'm looking at cpu'z and it says it's ddr which changes things a bit. Is ddr2 really that much faster?

the case and psu are recommended from this build which looked pretty good from the reviews he linked.

 

[Asus]

You'll want to get some good DDR2 memory then. 2GB?
Use that older DDR that you have for the server (if you are using old parts for it).

The HSF, Case and PSU are all pretty quiet. I bet if you put the case fans on 'LOW' you will hardly be able to hear much sound. Especially with the door closed. Although your GPU fan might be louder. Might want to get a quiet cooler for it later so it isn't out of place. :O

 

[Hazar]

yeah, I guess I'll be adding that as well

I'll use the 2 gb I have right now for the server of course.

 

[Hazar]

quick search found these, wishlist updated.

 

[Barney Fife]

you did read that I'm going to use the vid card and ram I have in that wishlist for my server and not my main computer right?

Why don't you like the heatsink? It has been rated as one of the best from the reviews I've read.

No I did not. That part where you mentioned your Linux server, is so close to your Sig, I skipped it. and you did say "Video Car".

About the HSF: That HSF is going to be huge, and I mean huge like Mount Everest, and will not cool system better than smaller ones. Make sure your case will hold it, can contain and supports it.

(IMHO) I believe those horizontally long HSF will put too much weight stress on your MB, because, that HSF will be very heavy.

And the; smaller base, extremely large head means; the entire weight will rest on (that) little tiny HS-base on the bottom.

That's also why, HSF got 21 reviewers (Very unpopular).


I like the rest of your selection, except the KB. What's with the waterproof KB? You gonna use it in the bathtub? just don't electrocute yourself. lol.

The KB is small and very light; won't become handy for gaming; specially FPS. Again this is my opinion.


Good Luck.

 

[Asus]

The buttons on those keyboard wear out pretty quick. They actually tear.

 

[Hazar]

to barney fife:

other people disagree about how effective the coolers are.
http://techgage.com/article/scythe_mine_cpu_cooler/1
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/cnps8000-scythe-mine.html
http://www.bigbruin.com/2006/scythemine_1
http://hardwarelogic.com/news/62/ARTICLE/1191/2006-06-07.html
http://www.ocmodshop.com/ocmodshop.aspx?a=472&p=1188
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/index.php?x=reviews&id=411
http://www.modthebox.com/review470_1.shtml

and about the keyboard, it'll be for the server since I don't have a spare keyboard at the moment. It wouldn't be used too heavily and I wanted to try out one of the flexible ones

 

[Barney Fife]

Well then, I stand corrected. Enjoy.

 

[Hazar]

ordered D: