Cpu Q for new rig

[ajgoodfellow]

They're just mislabelling it

It can be confusing as the X2 4200+ has 512KB of L2 cache per core (1MB in total). The X2 4400+ has 1MB of L2 cache per core (2MB in total). OCUK, for example, just say that it's got 1MB of L2 cache (X2 4400+) which is a little misleading where other sites state the total level of cache. I've asked OCUK to change their descriptions but without prevail

 

[Xionic]

though with the new 170 stepping (which i have ) your lucky to get 2.5Ghz @ stock volts.... would advise u stick with the 4400+ if your unsure on clocking. better safe than sorry

 

[King_Boru]

Xionic has posted a very good spec, for a good price: definitely worthwhile !!!

why on earth would you get an SLI board for an X1800? you have to spec from the ground up. if your going ATI then get a crossfire board, if your going nvidia then get an sli as they are not intercompatible with multi gpu rendering. (if you decided to go that route in the future.)

 

[Xionic]

if you read my spec ul notice i recomended against it. but it was his request

EDIT: though just depends, take DFI for example...there has been a lot of reports about the crossfire boards been poor for clockers. so a lot have gone with SLI even though there using a ATI card. makes no difference at the end of the day if hes not planning on using xfire/SLI.

 

[Delvis]

If you're not interested in XFire or SLI I'd get the ASUS A8N SLi Premium motherboard as it's a nice, stable proven board

The 256MB X1800XT is a bit of a bargain at the moment and it's still a very fast card. The X2 4400+ has the extra cache over the X2 4200+ which gives a fair overall boost in performance and a large boost for cache intensive utilities. You're likely to keep your CPU longer than your grapihcs card (on average) so I'd go for the faster chip.

The X2 4400+ will easily clock to X2 4800+ speeds - it might even make FX60 speeds if you're lucky.

Not wishing to confuse you any more but the Opteron 170 is also worth considering. It's slower than the X2 4400+ at stock (2GHz vs 2.2GHz) but it is an amazing overclocker - they're all reaching 2.6GHz on stock volts or with a slight voltage bump. This makes them an FX60 chip - very, very fast! This would be the chip I'd go for

EDIT: Just read Xionic's post above. I didn't realise that the 512MB X1800XTs had dropped so much - that's definitely the better option.

I'd go for something like:

GX-048-PC PowerColor ATI Radeon X1800 XT 512MB GDDR3 AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-048-PC)
£219.95 £219.95
MB-111-AS Asus A8N-SLi Premium nForce4 SLi (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard (MB-111-AS)
£104.95 £104.95
MY-007-GS G.Skill 2GB DDR ZX PC3200 (2x1GB) CAS2 Dual Channel Kit (F1-3200PHU2-2GBZX) (MY-007-GS)
£129.95 £129.95
CP-148-AM AMD Opteron UP 170 Dual Core San Diego 2.0GHz 2MB Cache (Socket 939) - Retail (CP-148-AM)
£269.95 £269.95
Subtotal £724.80
VAT £126.84
Total £851.64

True true...Tis a nice setup, although you'd buy that opteron because you want to overclock it , with the X2 4400 on there its like £863 i think it said...

Also guys (sorry to keep hassling ya!) the memory kit from corsair "Corsair 2GB DDR XMS3200C2PT TwinX (2x1GB) CAS2 (MY-079-CS)" is the same price as the Gskill memory, would you still rather buy the Gskill or??? My corsair memory currently has given me no trouble at all, so its just another idea

 

[Xionic]

personal preference really, if your not planning on clocking then RAM is RAM

also your not hastling its what forums are for

glad to help

 

[Delvis]

if you read my spec ul notice i recomended against it. but it was his request

EDIT: though just depends, take DFI for example...there has been a lot of reports about the crossfire boards been poor for clockers. so a lot have gone with SLI even though there using a ATI card. makes no difference at the end of the day if hes not planning on using xfire/SLI.

I know what you mean dude, i dont see any point in getting an sli board or crossfire if im not gona use it....But ive just heard its an all round good board...Well how about a non sli board then? any recommendations?

 

[ajgoodfellow]

Both GSkill and Corsair make good ram so you wouldn't have a problem with either

 

[Xionic]

Asus A8N-E nForce4 Ultra (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard (MB-088-AS)... cant see u going far wrong with this at £72

 

[ajgoodfellow]

I know what you mean dude, i dont see any point in getting an sli board or crossfire if im not gona use it....But ive just heard its an all round good board...Well how about a non sli board then? any recommendations?

Epox make good motherboards. The ASUS A8N-E is also a good motherboard - both worth considering

They are actively cooled by noisy northbridge fans though and there isn't a disadvantage with going for an SLI board except the purchase price of the motherboard itself

 

[Delvis]

yea thats one thing i do hate about boards these days...The noisey northbridge fans :/...thats why the heatsink n pipe on the asus sli board is good too...Hmz

 

[ajgoodfellow]

Yeah - that's why I'd definitely consider going for it

 

[Delvis]

Rite, think im pretty much set on geting the following:

GX-048-PC PowerColor ATI Radeon X1800 XT 512MB GDDR3 AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-048-PC)
£219.95 £219.95

CP-127-AM AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4400+ (Socket 939) - Retail (ADA4400CDBOX) (CP-127-AM)
£284.95 £284.95

MY-079-CS Corsair 2GB DDR XMS3200C2PT TwinX (2x1GB) CAS2 (MY-079-CS)
£124.95 £124.95

MB-111-AS Asus A8N-SLi Premium nForce4 SLi (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard (MB-111-AS)
£104.95 £104.95

Total Inc VAT = £863.39

I think the x1800xt will tie me over for a fair while, well hopefully, i dont inted to upgrade for a few years after this in all fairness...

Gona have to look at my bank now and direct debits going from it

 

[ajgoodfellow]

That's a good choice of components - it'll be a nice PC!

Enjoy it!

 

[Xionic]

yea m8. should perform well. GL!

Xionic

 

[Havana_UK]

Nice choice of parts. I use the same RAM, Mobo & CPU, and I am very pleased with it.

CPU clocks nicely to 2.6GHz with the RAM on a 166MHz divider.

Hav

 

[harris1986]

Delvis i know very well, he won't oc , i'l have to welcome him to the ways and steer him towards the promised land

 

[ACESHIGH]

Rite, think im pretty much set on geting the following:

GX-048-PC PowerColor ATI Radeon X1800 XT 512MB GDDR3 AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-048-PC)
£219.95 £219.95

CP-127-AM AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4400+ (Socket 939) - Retail (ADA4400CDBOX) (CP-127-AM)
£284.95 £284.95

MY-079-CS Corsair 2GB DDR XMS3200C2PT TwinX (2x1GB) CAS2 (MY-079-CS)
£124.95 £124.95

MB-111-AS Asus A8N-SLi Premium nForce4 SLi (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard (MB-111-AS)
£104.95 £104.95

Total Inc VAT = £863.39

I think the x1800xt will tie me over for a fair while, well hopefully, i dont inted to upgrade for a few years after this in all fairness...

Gona have to look at my bank now and direct debits going from it

Yep, a very good choice of components, should run great !