What went wrong with your motherboard? That seemed to be a pretty new system.

BTW, what company was the board made by?


Sir Spectre


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Edited by - Sir Spectre on 01-11-2003 23:10:24

did u manage to save ur data in the end, Xeno?

First of all, you don't need a 64bit CPU, simply because it's not supported enough. Less than 5% of all software is written for 64bit architecture, so you wont get additional speed. It could even prove slower than a 32bit CPU because it emulates some of the advanced 32bit CPU functions, and emulation is way slower than hardware support. AMD or Intel is really a matter of myth and taste, so you can let your budget decide. I don't take either side, they're both good, but I am using an AMD, so...
Secondly, if you want really good memory, take a Corsair or Winbond, or Kingmax/Kingston memory, and make sure it has ECC (error correction). also make sure it can be burst-buffered, if you're taking 512MB+ modules.
As far as the MoBo is concerned, any Asus, Abit or Gigabyte is a sound solution. Microstar does have HQ MB's but their stability varies. Abit is the fastest, but you never know... Asus for stability & quality, Gigabyte for reliability and lifespan. The choice is yours.
Oh, yeah, make sure that heat isn't an issue, especially with AMD. (ThermalTake comes to mind...)


Careful what you wish... You might just get it.

Edited by - Chetnik on 02-11-2003 02:08:31

my harddrive is screwy
its made my some cutom place and it broke down alot of times
i hate that.
i get far on my games and stuff
and the next day it wont even start up!

is my writing above your comprehension or is your intelligence below an average person?

Have I thought through my system well enough?

I don't build anymore and haven't stayed up on the new technology so here is a custom computer I have configured at a dealer who will put it together. Is this a good buy?:

1. Aluminum case plenty of bays 420watt supply
2. 800FSB Pentium 4 2.6Ghz 512k (requires 875/865PE MB )
3. DDR-400-800FSB ASUS P4P800 I865PE AGP8x Dual DDR with these features onboard:
* Intel Hyper-Threading Technology (whatever that means)
* 3COM Gigabit LAN
* ADI AD1985 SoundMAX 6-channel CODEC S/PDIF out interface (Is this enough sound for FL?)
* 4 x USB 2.0
4. 512MB x 1 Kingston PC3200 400Mhz DDR Memory (I have only 1 for later upgrade up to 4 Gig)
5. Intel Certified Heat Sink & Fan + 3 Extra case fans (where do the extra fans go?)
6. Western Digital 7200rpm 120 Gig ATA100 8MB Special Edition HD
7. nVidia GeForce-4 TI4800 SE 128MB DDR AGP8x w/TV Out & DVI (I'm not changing this, the best for the price and I need TV Out.)
8. Sony CDRW 52x24x52 EIDE
9. Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 5.1 w/1394 IEEE (Is this necessary if I have onboard sound? Or should I just reuse my present Sound Blaster Live Value Edition older version?)
10. Teac 1.44 Floppy Drive (Just in case)
11. Windows XP Pro (Thanks Taw for the suggestion.)
12. Here at home I have a relatively new Creative Labs DVD-Rom and intend to put that in once I get my new computer.
13. Also, something I already have, I am going to transfer from my present computer the 40 Gig Western Digital 7200Rpm hard drive.
14. Possibly I might add my Linksys Wireless LAN if I need it, although I don't think I will.

Total price with Creative Labs Audigy included $1061 US. +$65 for s&h.


Sir Spectre


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Edited by - Sir Spectre on 02-11-2003 03:34:07

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Intel Hyper-Threading Technology (whatever that means)

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It's a server (usually Xeon) variant CPU's neat property, I wont bother you with the tech details, but it boosts CPU performance by 5-20%. Doesn't work w/ all apps, tho. Your CPU doesn't fully support Hyper-Threading, but it's fast enough w/o it, so don't worry yourself too much with it.

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512MB x 1 Kingston PC3200 400Mhz DDR Memory (I have only 1 for later upgrade up to 4 Gig)

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You should consider adding another one of the same kind, because then you'll get max memory performance, again 5-20% boost, depending on the task(s) (new P4s and i865 have a memory boost system that works only w/ pairs of identical modules, similar to nVidia/AMD's system)

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+ 3 Extra case fans (where do the extra fans go?)

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To the front and to the back of your (aluminum) case, the one(s) in the back should evacuate the air, and the one(s) in front should supply the interior w/ fresh air. If you're gonna keep your comp case open (you take one of the side panels off), you wont need those.

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(Is this necessary if I have onboard sound? Or should I just reuse my present Sound Blaster Live Value Edition older version?)

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Audigy is a masterpiece, but you don't need it. (unless you want to do some serious audio editing, AND you have a $500+ speaker system to attach to it, or some badass headphones, +HIGH QUALITY music, not the 128kbps mp3 crap)
I'd stick with the Live! Value that you already have, just d/l latest drivers, and you're fine.

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Sony CDRW 52x24x52 EIDE

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I dunno... Maybe if you can find a TEAC W540E 40/12/48 (W/RW/R)... The best CD-ROM type drive ever built... Talking from personal expirience. If not, take a Plextor, or Toshiba, no Sonys, LGs LiteOns, NECs and similar crap... Trust me.

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Is this a good buy?

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The money/performance ratio is OK, if you wanted an all-round monster machine... If not, you could take something a bit weaker, and leave the extra money for software, badass headphones, drinking...
Happy shopping!
If you have any more q's feel free to ask. I'll do my best not to screw up w/ the answers...

@Chetnik, I do want a monster machine, the last monster machine I got (this one I'm using) lasted me 5 years.

As for sound, I take it I shouldn't use just the on-board sound?

I have no problem using my older Creative Live, but I do like to play mp3s at least 192kbps and most of the time 320kbps. My computer is wired through a Home Entertainment surround sound 5.1 stereo system, not one made for a computer or anything. The video as well is hooked to my widescreen TV as well as the audio with the same surround sound, which is why I needed TV out.

One day I hope to have Optical wire input/outputs for my new stereo system. But right now I don't have that. Does Audigy have optical out?

I've been playing music with this Live and have no problem with it. Maybe it is still enough for me. Unless will I really be able to tell the difference?

I love classical vocal music, so a clearer digital pattern from the computer would be great in my mind. But maybe unnecessary unless I have an ecoustically perfect sound system (which mine is not). I could wait until I upgrade my sound system for this sound card upgrade.

I've had a great CD writer from Sony for a while, and it's worked fine (if slow 4x2x4). But other Sony equipment I've heard bad things about so I'll take your word for it. If I add a Plextor upgrade, it adds 30 to the price.

But again, should I drop the audigy?

Sir Spectre

Edited by - Sir Spectre on 02-11-2003 05:02:18

Optical out? Why? It is used mainly on DAT/Minidisc single and double (48kHz and 96kHz sampling). With a standard 44.1kHz you can manage sound freqs up to 22049 Hz, and since humans can hear up to 19000 Hz this is more than enough. No need for optical. You can use S/PDIF, if you want to. It's almost like a standard optical (it is, but it's not... too complicated), if it makes you feel better. Audigy has it both in/out, Live! Value doesn't... But I really don't think you need it.
All of this reffers to playback, but if you want to edit HQ music, you need more samples in the recording phase, so as not to discard any subtle effects, but later on it will be downsampled anyway, it's just that you can choose what to leave out. As for your planned "home theatre", the idea seems good, although i still don't know if your speaker system is good enough for Audigy to make a noticeable difference. If you're satisfied with the current sound quality, keep SB LIve! Value. If you can hear speckles, "emptiness" in lower-bitrate songs 128-160kbps, your speakers are ok, if you can detect the loss on medium 192-224kbps bitrates, they're great. Only B&W speakers and Audigy Gold or better can "show" you the loss at 256-320kbps, so don't bother.
All in all, If you're so eager to spend some money, take the Audigy, it can't hurt to have it.
One more thing: music quality GREATLY relies on the music source (reader) and the music carrier (media-CD, MD,...), so if you don't have, say, a top of the line Yamaha CD player, and/or a Technics/Marantz/Marshall DAT/Minidisc/Amp you don't need any of this HQ audio equipment(expensive sound card w/ optical out) Live! + standard CD ROM + a regular 5.1 speaker set is perfect.

Great, thanks. I have now honed my system to exactly as I want it. Thanks Chetnik.

In 5 or 10 years, when I have money to burn, I will get the perfect solution for my music. Whatever that will be in 5 to 10 years.


Sir Spectre


... No more signature.

I'm glad I could be of assistance. If you need anything else, ask away, but maybe it's better if you use e-mail, or start a new thread, this one apparently got stolen... Sorry Xeno, we'll stop now.

@ Xeno:

If you have to have 64 bit, why Opteron? I know that MS is working to push out a 64 bit OS to suit the new Athlon 64 FX-51 and Athlon 64s.

I know way way less than Chetnik on this but..... what he said about 64 bit. There aren't any games or home use OSes yet that would make use of it anyway.

Also, I saw that Intel is coming out with a P4 with a gigantic L3 cache built-in.

Price-wise both the top end Athlon 64s and the super cached P4s are going to be bank busters though ... over $500 each.

lordy Chet u make me go all goose-bumpy when u get all techy! suddenly all is well with the world!

()
Do you have something important you'd like to tell me...?

Edited by - Chetnik on 03-11-2003 03:06:37

Okay, The Opteron is cheaper right now than the AMD 64's.

The performance of the Opteron does not weaken because of its 32bit predicessors. Quite the opposite actually. The one that i looked at was a 1.4GHz processor... It blew the socks off of a AMD 3200+. There was no comparison. More and more things will be going to a 64 bit system, so why not get it now. It wont hurt anything. Stock, the chip runs lower than 40C... Thats before its overclocking abilities though .

It scored, I think, in the 5000 area in the 3DMark03 benchmarking test, with a radeon 9800, and without AA. It was amazing the power of the chip.

The motherboard is really nice. It is the: Asus Motherboard for Opteron 200 Processors Model SK8N Retail

Look here

Thanks for your advise sofar!

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