***Need Advise for New PC***

[Capt_Maroc]

I'm planning to purchase a new PC within the next few weeks. After reading the differences between AMD-vs-Intel and NVIDIA-vs-ATI, I came to the following PC:
Processor : Intel® Pentium 4 3.0 800 FSB, NW, box 279,90 €

Motherboard : Gigabyte GA-8 IK1100 Intel® 875P MCH,5xPCI,1xAGP,
6xDDR, Sound, 1GBit LAN, Raid, S-ATA, FW 129,90 €

Videocard : Radeon 9600 Pro 256MB DDR, DVI, TVout, retail 146,90 €

Memory : Infineon 512MBx2=1024MB PC400, CL3 149,80 €

CD-Writer : Samsung SW-252BEAB 52x/24x/52x, IDE, bulk 44,90 €

DVD-ROM : Samsung SD616 16x/48x, IDE, bulk 33,90 €

HDISK : Samsung 160GB 160GB,7200U/min,S-ATA/150 119,90 €

Kboard/mouse: Logitech Cordl.Optical Deluxe 59,90 €

Case : SNOGARD® SNOGARD® DRAGON 54,90 €

Power : LC-Power Hunter 420 Watt,1 fan,Thermo,gold 29,90 €

I have some questions about this system:

1) Is the power supply ok and is 1 fan sufficient?

2) What is the main advantage of using a S-ATA/150 Harddisk?

3) As you can see, I didn't select a SoundCard. The Motherboard has
an AC 97 CODEC Realtek ALC655 sound-on-board output. Will there
be a (big) difference in sound quality compared to using the
Sound Blaster Audigy?

4) Do I need an extra cooler for the CPU or will the standard Intel
cooler do its job?

I am very thankful if you could give some feedback and advise

Captain Maroc

[flyerBoy]

nice setup
dont know about your questions
you getting the same card as me?


























http://members.optushome.com.au/bk.lewis/flyerboy2.gif
intel celeron 4 1700 MHz
512 MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM
Ati radeon 9600Pro 256MB
30 GB HD 5400 RPM

Windows 2000 Professional

[ant_1984]

Nice system! I can't answer all of your questions but the power supply should be more than adequate and assuming you don't plan on overclocking the cooling should be sufficient and 1 fan should be sufficient.

As for the AC97, I was using that and it did a good job but when I upgraded from the AC97 to the Audigy2 ZS I did notice the Audigy had better sound quality. Also with AC97 set up for 5.1 Surround Sound (for my 5.1 speakers)I would lose some FPS and with the Audigy I got those back. The Audigy has a whole lot of nice features that now I know about them I don't think I could do with out. BUT, if you only have ordinary stereo speakers the AC97 should be sufficient. I didn't notice any drop in FPS with it set ups for stereo speakers and sound quality was pretty good.

Here's my specs:
P4 2.8Ghz
Gigabye 8SG800 MB
1GB Kingston PC2700
Gigabyte Radeon9600 Pro (128MB)
Audigy 2ZS linked to Logitech Z-640 5.1 Speakers
60GB HDD
Liteon CD Burner
Pioneer DVD Burner
XP Pro

Hope this helps,
Anthony

[Qballbandit]

Is it pre-built, or are you building it?? I built my system online, and it was only like $20 for 2 extra case fans. I like the fact that I have 1 intake fan, and 3 blow out fans. Your power is fine! I would maybe go with an Audigy sound card as well, I have the SB Audigy X-Gamer 5.1 with a logitech speaker system (5 speakers and a woofer with killer bass!) and it sounds much better than the onboard my system came with. Other than that, you have a pretty killer rig going!! But, if you can muster up more cash, go with a 9700 or 9800 card, as the 9600 has four pipelines, as apposed to 8 on the 9700 & 9800!! :7

AMD Athlon XP3000+
ASUS A7N8X nvidia nForce2 Ultra 400 mobo
ATI Radeon 9600 pro, 128mb
512 PC3200 ddr
WINXP Pro

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3f295fda5ad61e56.jpg

[FatTulip]

In response to Q2, the answer is;

Serial ATA runs at 150MBps as opposed to your standard ATA-133 which is running at, wait for it... 133MBps!

The theoretical difference in access speed is only 12% By the time you've installed the equipment, the effort you've put into it will probably outweigh the faster read times.

The main advantage is that SATA is more flexible, nothing more.

If your motherboard is enabled with a RAID card (redundant array of independent disks) then you can pair a set of HDDs in the same way as you would a set of paired DIMMS, the disks will work as one and reduce transfer times by anything upto 35 / 40%.

[comphollic]

Nice system...just need to make a few changes...Instead of a 256mb 9600pro just get the 128mb 9600pro since 256mb is overkill for that card (you save some cash there), or better yet 5900XT if the price is right....
i would also buy the sound blaster audigy as someone mentioned above me..another thing is to buy some other type of memory that doesn't have CL3, anything lower would be fine...
never heard of that power supply so i can't help you out there..if you want you can buy the extra cooler since it would help alot lowering the CPU temps, just make you you have adequate airflow in your case...

Good Luck with your new system

[TJNut]

Here's my 2 cents:

1) I don't recognize the PSU brand - most of that wattage have two fans in the PSU. If your talking about case fans - mo is bettah. But noise can be an issue as fans increase.

2) RAID 0 and faster transfer rate. Mobo must be SATA and RAID capbable
3) PCI sound card will reduce load on processor - always a good idea IMHO
4) Unless you are overclocking, the standard cpu cooler should be fine.

Finally, my motto is: JEEP. "Just Empty Every Pocket" and get the most computer you can afford. Keep an eye towards the ability to upgrade if possible. I just ordered a new system to replace my older one (beneath my banner):

Intel P4 3.2 800mhz FSB
MSI Neo2 FIS2R (865PE) Mobo
Corsair TwinX 3200LL (1.0 Gb)
ATI AIW 9800 Pro
Audigy 2 ZS Sound Card
2x Seagate Barracuda 80 Gb SATA HD - RAID-0
Viewsonic G90F 19" Monitor
Antec 430 TruePower PSU
Plextor 708A DVD +/-RW Burner
Sony 16xDVD 40XCD ROM

Quite an upgrade eh? I am eagerly awaiting the Fed Ex dude.

TJNut

[Capt_Maroc]

Thank you all for your comment. I wish I could afford ro buy a 9800 card but he, I'm a student with a budget...... It's a pity that I live in the Netherlands. Otherwise I could make use of the cheap prices in the US.

Captain Maroc