New Build

[scarecrowdr]

Hi All---Been a Long while since I been in VirtualDR.....

I'm going to build a New System..I am convercent with the Old components but not this PCi-e n DDR2....
So, which of these is the Best or is there Better for the Same Money..
M2N-SLi Deluxe or KN9-S....The M2N-SLi Deluxe looks quite good to me..
Would a 7600 GC/GT/GS be OK or would you go for an 8600.
Also if I buy 2 sticks = 2GB Corsair XMS2 6400cs be ok..n if I buy another 1GB Corsair for 3GB is that OK..

OCUk is doing a bundell---AMD Athlon-64 x2 Dual Core 5600+ 2.80GHz & 2GB Corsair XMS2 6400cs + M2N-SLi Deluxe for £234.96p
Is that Good ?

If you know of Better that's from £500 or under, PLEASE do Tell!!....
UpTo the £500 must include these---1x 80GBt HDD SATA - 1x DVDRom drive-
1x DVD-RW - 1x Graphics card. + Tower....Though I know what Tower I want.
THANKS.

[lgbpop]

If that price is considered good by the UK members I'd say go for it, even thought I think the KN9/KN9-S is slightly better. Go for the 8600 version you can afford, so you get the DX10 capability. (It beats the pants off a 7600 anyhow; I have an 8600GT/KN9/X2-4000 system and love it.)

One other thing - unless you plan to use SLI graphics, buy the mobo without it if you can and save the money. One excellent card is better than two good cards in SLI from what I have heard around here, and less expensive as well.

[scarecrowdr]

So you recomend a non-SLi board then ?
I have been reading about the KN9 boards on various forums, n there seems to be more for Against it than for it..That's put me off of buying it.
I will have another Read about Both of em..
Thanks.

[lgbpop]

FWIW, I found an Everest report on my system - just the hardware summary and memory benchmarks (mine is the one listed as unknown). Note the CPU is OCed from 2.0GHz to 2.7GHz, a decent overclock and almost as fast as the 5600 you're buying.:) Anyhow, the system is similar to what you were asking about.

[Train]

If I might add, unless you are using a 64 bit OS, stick with 2 GB of ram.

Don't want you to waste the money on what the OS can not use.

[scarecrowdr]

Cheers Train, I'll do just that...What Mobo do You Recomend then !! ?
I don't want to make a misstake on the Mobo..Though I don't play Games I still want a High end Board or Middle end will do. Know NOWT about these AM2 PCI-e boards. Photoshop CS3--LightRoom n LightZone with some Multitasking is my forte
THANKS.

[Train]

Have not paid any attention to mobos couple years, but will say I prefer the MSI ones. GIGABYTE and ABIT would be the next brands I would look at.

Some MSI mobos.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010200022+50001312&name=MSI

[scarecrowdr]

Well! that little lot confused me Train..LOL.

Thanks Igbpop for those Everest reports. Quite interesting.

I'm leaning more to the Abit KN9 Ultra + 8600GT card + 2GBt of Corsair DDR2 800/PC2-6400 RAM.

This Dual core n PCi-e is rather confuseing in it! Was easier to understand the older stuff...
Thanks for Helping.

[lgbpop]

Was easier to understand the older stuffWe were saying the same thing when Socket 370 came out while we were used to Slot 1 Pentium IIs.:)

The above components will be the core of a nice system. For those graphics needs, if you can afford an 8800 card now (here's (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150172) a good one, not top-shelf version but right up there) and avoid upgrading later, you'd save money in the long run. If money's tight now, go the 8600 route. Either way, you'll like the result.

In case you're wondering, the RAM I use in this system (the one in the Everest report) was GSkill (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231114). It torques me off that I paid twice as much for it just six months ago - and it was a deal THEN at $190 for a 2 x 1GB kit.:o

[liam858]

This Dual core n PCi-e is rather confuseing in it!


Anything inparticular?


Liam

[scarecrowdr]

OK Guys n Galls---I think I'll go for this--(unless someone says better)
ABIT KN9 Ultra - AMD Athlon 64 x2 6000+ - Gainward GeForce 8600GT 256MB Golden Sample PCi-e @£93(unless you know better for less)- Crucial 2GB kit 2x1GB Ballistix DDR2 PC2-6400 4-4-4-12 800MHz Sli ready RAM.
80GB HDD - 500GB HDD (both Sata) Floppy Drive with card reader - DVDRom drive (IDE) - DVD-RW sata drive @ £510 approx.,
PSU to find n add to this.....
If any of you can find all this cheeper, Please do tell...UK £ only.
Already got a Tower (in fact I got 3 spare).

[lgbpop]

Nice pieces! You can find a cheaper vidcard, but Gainward's worth the money I'm told. That system deserves a Tagan PSU.;)

[liam858]

Did you shop at any of these:

http://discussions.virtualdr.com/showpost.php?p=1178837&postcount=10


Liam

[scarecrowdr]

Yes at Microdirect.co.uk + scan computers and computerplanet.co.uk
Niether of them has the Abit KN9 Ultra.
They both have the Asus M2N SLi Deluxe <<is this as good as the other, or better..

[liam858]

I'd go with the Asus over the Abit, depends if there is much price difference....the Asus is about £70...


Liam

[scarecrowdr]

It looks like I can get All i need from Overclockers UK (ocuk)
Asus M2N-SLi Deluxe
AMD Processor 6000+ if you think I could do better with a lower, please tell
Corsair 2GB (2x1Gb sticks) DDR2 XMS DHX 6400
Graphics card, two to choose from x1950 Pro or Asus Geforce 8600
Coolermaster Real Power 700w psu (needs one with 6 SATA Leads) OR
Corsair HX 620W ATX Modular SLi Compliant psu (looks good)
Scythe card reader n floppy
Seagate 80GB HDD Sata for XP Pro
Samsung 500GB HDD Sata
Samsung SH-S203BEBN SATA DVD-RW
Samsung SHD-163BBEBP SATA DVD-Rom
Cost nearly £610
NO Postage added to this lot!!
What do you say???

[liam858]

8600GT easily....higher memory clock, SM 4.0, DX10, X1950 is old generation.

The coolermaster gives you more juice...same noise levels, same size fan, good brands, but the Coolermaster is out of stock...hmmm.


Liam

[scarecrowdr]

How on earth do you know it's 'out of stock'---You not working there are you LOL. Looks like the Corsair then! Yes, i gota be honest, I prefer the 8600 also.
(Trying to get everything except Tower from one place if I can, to save on Postage). Cheers liam.

[scarecrowdr]

PS liam---What do they mean by "B" grade in Overclockers..Is it OK to buy em. Good price on the KN9 ultra, only place I've seen this board. Just curious

[liam858]

It's either missing a manual, unboxed (Original box, they still package it up in a statuc bag and a box) or missing some bits and bobs (Cables etc), and some of them are returns aswell, which may mean they have a limited warranty.

I don't work there, lol, but i use the site a lot, e-mail them if you have any questions, i think they aim for no more than 4 business hours for a reply from the webnotes system.


Liam

[scarecrowdr]

Many Thanks liam--It's Appreciated..
Still not quite sure about the Mobo as there appears to be Probs with Bios Drivers etc., unless they now been ironed out...Everywhere i go on internet everyone keeps suggesting Ruddy Intel boards....Cost to much for my likeing.

[Train]

MSI, ASUS, Gigabyte and Abit are all good.

Whatever you do and wherever you buy - avoid:
Jetway
PC Chips
ECS
These aren't the bottom of the barrel; they'd have to improve greatly to achieve that status. Their failure rates are obscene.

[lgbpop]

I just updated myself on this thread...as much as I like and recommend Abit boards, never buy one as open-box, refurbished, etc. unless that's your only option. (That goes for ANY component, really.) I'd buy Asus before I bought an open-box Abit.

[scarecrowdr]

Thank You all--Appreciated this way..
I'm still a little unsure which un to buy...If I go for the ASUS P5K E WIFI P35 + E6550nConroe processor with everything else the same, it pushes my price to £635 without Tower. (i got 3 of em to chose from at home)

ASUS M2N-Sli Deluxe + 6000+ processor and all others is £610.
I can't believe I'm still fussing over which un to buy! LOL
Why can't things be more straight forward!!!!!!

[liam858]

Well, for some slight future-proofing, the Intel route would be better, performance would be better too, as AMD are changing up sockets like underwear, and inteel seem to be sticking with socket 775 and working their way through bus speeds.


Liam

[scarecrowdr]

Ok--If I go this route with Overclockers UK, I can get these 3 components--
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual core 6000+ 3.00GHz Retail/Asus M2N-SLi Deluxe/2GB Corsair XMS2-6400C4 TwinX Dual Channel Kit-Bundle @ £246.71p
Asus GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) Retail £82.24p
Thermaltake ToughPower 750W Modular Power Supply (one i want out of stock) £82.24p
Scythe Card Reader & Floppy Drive-Black £21.14p
Western Digital Caviar Special Edition 80GB SATA 2 8MB cache OEM (for XP Pro) £29.36p
Samsung Spinpoint T 500GB SATA 2 16MB cache OEM £64.61
Total= £with VAT & p&p is £538.00p
with a Samsung DVDRW + Samsung DVDRom its £570.87 Total.
Do you think thats Good---If not, Why Not.
THANKS for your Patiance.

[scarecrowdr]

OK Good Folks---Have ordered my Goods from Overclockers UK n it arrives tomorrow (Sat)
Phoned them up first n they recomended the "Corsair HX 520W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Compliant PSU, as I'm not a High End Gamer n wont need the 750W un....Hope they be correct on that un....
I will let you know how it gos once up n running..
THANKS for your Help..Appreciated.

[scarecrowdr]

well this system is up n running 12 marathons n going strong!
Fast is an understatement, it's lighteningly, blisteringly, stunningly FASssst.
PSCS3 N Lightroom works great.
So far I am delighted....
CHEERS ALL.