Picking and choosing parts.

C

CmaN3

Limp Gawd
Joined
Aug 5, 2004
Messages
368
Well guys, this will be my first foray into the SFF world. I was going to get a shuttle, but realized it was a little out of my budget, so I think I will be getting a windowed X-Qpack. But, I'm not sure about the rest of the parts. I do game, but 80% of it is just CS1.6, or KOTOR. and Even with new games, I dont care about having the highest settings. Before I had a axpbarton 2800 and a 6600GT and I was happy with my settings in the HL2 demo and such like that. Now for what I plan on getting:

Motherboard: Option 1: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130526 MSI Xpress 200
Option 2: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131588 Asus geforce 6100

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145450 2x512 Corsair XMS

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103470 Modile A64 3000+ w/ Venus 12 HSF

GFX: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102657 X1600XT

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144161 windowed X-Qpack

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144416 WD, 200gig

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104154 OCZ Modstream
OR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817194002 Enermax Liberty.

Now just a few questions: Obviously, which of the 2 motherboards is better? I personally like Asus, but I also like the looks of the xpress 200 and have heard some good things about MSI. As for the powersupply, Would the stock PSU be enough to power this? I have heard some bad things about it. But if not, would the modstream fit in the case, or should I just go safe and get a liberty, as I imagine it would have enough oophm for this system.

I plan on picking up parts as I get the cash, and should have this all done in spring.

Thanks guys.
 
IMHO, the ASUS 6100 will kick the Xpress 200's ass. Better yet, get the ASUS 6150. That'll do you just fine, as long as you don't try to OC. The Corsair mem is overkill if you're not OCing, so get GSkill or Geil or some other value dual-channel DDR400 with heatspreaders and tight timings. Btw, I'd reccommend 2gb, because you'll need it sooner or later. The 3000+ is great, the 3200+ is a couple bucks more and might not be worth it to you. It was to my friend when I built him his system. The X1600XT is not worth in, IMO. Get a 6600GT or 6800GS. The QPack pwns. I can't comment on HDDs. The Enermax Liberty fits really well in the QPack, so I'd go with that (I'm ordering mine from ZZF, free 2-day shipping at $109).
 
The ModStream wont fit unless you want to buy laptop dvd drives.... Even then it might be 2 long.

Edit: Its 160mm long, the Liberty is only 140mm, So you would have to get laptop drives, U MIGHT be able to squeeze a liteon. But you would only have 20mm to work with...
 
Ok, so the modstream is out, the Liberty it is, thanks.

M4rk: I got the corsair because it has a cas of 2. Plus I can upgrade in the future if I need it, I was fine on my old machine with 512 megs of ram.That 3000+ is a mobile, not a regular. It will be enough for me for a while i imagine, and I can overclock it if necesary. The reason I like the mobiles is the 1mb l2. I have a 6600GT AGP atm. Also, in most reviews I have seen the x1600XT and the 6800 GS are pretty close in most games, sometimes the x1600 loses, sometimes it wins, plus it is $50 cheaper and I want to go ATi this time.

Sorry if it doesnt sound like im taking your advice, but my main thing was the motherboard, and whether on not the modstream would fit. The rest of the stuff I pretty much know.

Thanks though. I'll look at the 6150.
 
Ok, just another question. Would a TT Venus 12 fit in the X-Qpack? Or shoudl I go for something smaller, as the a64 mobile doesnt come with a HSF. Thanks though M4rk.
 
qp20.jpg


it does too fit
 
Is that without any mods? If it does fit I think I'll go with a Modstream, seeing as it has an extra 50watts, just so I can use it for longer.

Anyone have any suggestion on the motherboard other than to look at the 6150? Any help would be appreciated.

EDIT: I couldnt find the 6150 in socket 754, so that rules that out. But after reading the newegg reviews on both those motherboards, I think I will go with the MSI, as it seems to have less problems, but I would still like some input.
 
hmm. you might want to think about waiting a little bit for a s754 mobo, as DFI announced at CES that their c51 chipset mobo is going to be s754. dunno when its supposed to b out tho, so if you dont want to wait then just ignore this :p
 
Im not buying this stuff right now. it will be awhile before I buy it. I will definately have to look at the DFI mobo when it comes out. Thanks!
 
Change the CPU to something 939 socket

Get the MSI 6150 board

Upgrade Video Card to either 7800gtx or

Change CPU to something 939 socket

Get the MSI mATX 939 board

Upgrade Video Card to 1800xt ....this assuming you like ATi better


As for PSUs:

-Check out the x-connect X2...that one is very pretty and works well

I prefer Seagate over WD because they are just better...but that is your call.
 
actually yeah, since ur waiting a bit too i'd really suggest going s939. it'll only be about $50 more than what you have going for s754 (a 3200+ venice is like $150 now right?), but you'll get dual channel for the ram plus when you need to upgrade down the line, u'll be able to upgrade to dual core on s939.

now if it wasnt for the opteron prices exploding (fucking 146's went up by nearly $100 :mad: ) i'd suggest getting an opteron 146 and oc'ing, but now the price doesn't really fit into the budget cpu sector nemore (its over $200 now, i guess its really up to you whether you want to stretch your budget / cost of computer or not, but now this would be $100 more than ur original choice with s754)

so i'd say (if u end up going s939) get either the 3200+ or the opteron 146, depending on how much you're willing to spend, and i'd recommend the foxconn 6150/430 mobo over the msi cuz the msi doesn't have voltage adjustments, which you'll need if you're going to overclock. the foxconn consistently gets to 275fsb stable, which is plenty for the x10 multi that you'll have with either of these two cpu's.

and i dont think the x-connects fit into a qpack, they're pretty big.
 
Hmm, I'll have to think about going socket 939. I was mostly going with 754, because a Mobile a64 has 1mb cache, instead of 512kb. Plus it is cheaper and has lower heat output.


Steeeve: I dont have the money for a 7800gtx or X1800xt, and I dont need that much power. But I will consider going socket 939. I might, im not sure as of now. But I think I will probably stick with the libery PSU, as I know it fits, and I have heard it is quite reliable.

Thanks guys.
 
both the PSUs fit...X2 has a lifetime warrenty :)

I have a Qpack so I'd know

if you don't want to get the better video card then thats fine...you can even stick with the mobo video card if you want but I would seriously get the 939 socket. 754 is way too out of date. I am not sure why you are worried about a mobile a64? You aren't building a laptop here :). Anyway, more cache is better...so 1mb would be better than 512kb so I am not sure why that would be a problem. As for the "heat" output...a 3000+ or 3200+ venice core isn't going to put out that much heat. It just wouldn't be that big of a deal.
 
A mobile athlon 64 has 1mb cache, while a Venice cored a64 only has 512kb. That is the reason I wanted to go socket 754. But yea, im definately considering socket 939. But I think I'll wait till DFI comes out with their mATX board before I make any definate descisions.
Also, I think I might go with a modstream... just because...
Thanks guys!
 
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