Hardware Upgrade

Messy · Post by **Messy** » 25-05-2004 16:59

I've been thinking of getting a (huge) hardware update soon..well actually, I've been pretty much planning it all for a month or so.

Anyway, I'm about to get to the point where I have the money to start buying stuff (it starts out with buying a motherboard+cpu+psu, after that come things like a case+fans, a new hsf, memory and then a new hdd (and then some more stuff after that), and I'm still stuck with one big question:

What mobo to pick?
So, seeing as you'd expect at least a handful of people with enough knowledge to get a proper answer or at least a discussion out of concerning hardware matters, I've decided to ask a few relevant questions here as to what to choose for this particular upgrade.

1. I'm going for an Athlon 64 (yes, definitely)..but I'm not sure whether to go with the current 754 socket, or to wait for the 939 socket.
It's said it would be released this month, and it will definitely have some advantages I'm sure..but I will have to not only wait for an actual mobo to be released for this (which puts back the time of purchase at least another month or so before I can compare etc.), but I'll also not be able to use my planned Venus 12 hsf, along with whatever other (compatibility) issues this might bring with it.

2. If I would go with the currently available Socket754, I wouldn't know whether to choose for the Abit KV8-MAX3, or the Asus K8V Deluxe.
I am pretty sure that I'm going for the VIA K8T800 platform (don't ask me why

I stick to what has worked so far I guess..not planning to go nForce unless there's some really good reasons, but even if I would, it would probably not be as of yet, because that's another way to big change for me that I really don't want to consider), but I have no idea which board to pick.

The Abit is definitely faster, and better to overclock, as well as it having a northbridge cooler by default (yay).
The problem (besides the fact everyone seems to say Abit isn't exactly stable) is with this: I don't think the position of the northbridge and it's cooler will allow for my planned hsf (the Venus 12) to fit on the socket =\
I'm not sure, but I'm guessing this from the pic (http://www.motherboards.org/images/15/2 ... 2_p2_1.jpg), and the fact that the Venus 12 (in order to deliver better cooling) is supposed to be quite big (http://www.thermaltake.com/coolers/venus/rs/a1744.htm).

So I'm guessing it'd surely fit on the Asus K8V Deluxe (http://www.motherboards.org/images/15/2 ... 6_p2_1.jpg), this added to the fact Asus is definitely supposed to deliver some of the most reliable motherboards would make for it to be a very good choice, be it not that Asus is quite slow compaired to other motherboards

(regardless of reliability/stability issues), as seen here: http://www.motherboards.org/articlesd/m ... 386_5.html

So, in short:

1. Should I choose 754 right away, or go for the up and coming 939 socket?

2. Should I go for the Asus K8V Deluxe, or the Abit KV8-MAX3?

Also, any suggestions irrelevant to these questions (but of course relevant to a hardware upgrade

) are very welcome ^^;

(Also, for anyone with a Chieftec BX-03 case, or similar BX case, do any of you know if it's possible to use a fan-controller in the 5.25" bay while still being capable of closing the door? most buttons stick out quite a bit on these, see?)

ps: this thread was also posted at db-community forums

xiller8r · Post by **xiller8r** » 25-05-2004 17:04

In my experience asus are more reliable than abit, and as you say you know your venus will fit. Ive seen the chieftec cases with controls and the door can still close, i guess you could sand the controls down a bit if it was a problem. Most fans also come with an optional rear control too, i know my coolermaster jet4 did.

speedy · Post by **speedy** » 25-05-2004 17:23

i have a a7n8x-x mother board (asus nforce 2)
it's been reliable

Post by **The_One** » 25-05-2004 17:36

I'm in the same boat messy. I'm really starting to feel the need for a new comp but with a new AMD socket and PCI-Express just round the corner I figure I could hold on a bit more. By then the X800 XT should be a bit cheaper too (yeah right).

I just hope RAM prices don't go up any more.

I'd go with ASUS over ABIT any day of the week and I wouldn't touch VIA chipsets with a barge pole (although that's partly Creative's fault).

The new socket should bring with it dual channel RAM which will be nice but bear in mind they will all have 512kb of cache, not the 1MB we've been spoiled with for the 3200+ and up.

The first model out should be the 3500+, which (I hope) will have a price similar to the 3400+. No word on a 3300+ though.

Messy · Post by **Messy** » 25-05-2004 17:38

Thx for your replies

I've just found some pictures of the BX-03 I've never seen before (most reviews and articles use standard pictures) showing some shots of the case with the opened front-door in several angles:

http://img.hexus.net/chieftecbx/images/DSC02936.JPG http://img.hexus.net/chieftecbx/images/DSC02937.JPG

Although this is the BX-02 case, I guess the fan controllers (regardless of whether I'll pick the Thermaltake XController or the Zalman MFC1) will probably fit =) They don't seem to extend more than 3 cm and I think or hope the case will be able to handle that ^^;

I'd best just wait ordering the fan controller until after I have the case =)

edit: Eeck, images too big, [url] seems to fit them better =)

As for The_One, the 3400+ is pretty damn expensive tbh x_X
It's double the price of the 3200+ or so.

And how long do you reckon we'd have to wait? =\ I don't want to wait much longer tbh ;p

Post by **The_One** » 25-05-2004 17:55

I don't want to wait either tbh but I really don't know when the new socket is out.

It's so tempting to splurge out now but I just know the week after I buy the stuff socket 939 and PCI-Express will be released. >.<

If I was being rational I would say that there is always a new technology just around the corner, so waiting for the "next big thing" would be fruitless.

Damn you never ending upgrade cycle!

Messy · Post by **Messy** » 25-05-2004 18:02

Hmm..ATi seem to claim they have a technology that can implement both AGP and PCI-express compatibility within one VGA card. (http://www.ati.com/products/PCIexpress/index.html)

If anyone knows the Radeon 9800 Pro uses this technology or not..that would help me out a lot.

It's the card I currently own, and if it's compatible with PCI-Express, I will wait for that to come along

Also, as to the upgrade cycle-arguement.

PCI-Express is quite revolutionary compaired to most changes ^^; as it changes an interface (PCI) that has been used for a long time.

Thank god it's backward compatible though

(although not for AGP /o\)

Post by **The_One** » 25-05-2004 18:09

The bus will be backwards compatible but the slots aren't. Should see at least one legacy slot though.

The ATI feature you speak of is little more than a bridge chip that allows PCI-Express cards to work in AGP slots. Your 9800 pro won't work in a PCI-Express slot (won't even fit).

FeEdiKo · Post by **FeEdiKo** » 25-05-2004 18:16

buy a new pc if you need it, otherwise you could wait forever 0_o

Post by **The_One** » 25-05-2004 18:20

I think that's what I kind of said. :p

Messy · Post by **Messy** » 25-05-2004 18:23

The_One wrote: The bus will be backwards compatible but the slots aren't. Should see at least one legacy slot though.

The ATI feature you speak of is little more than a bridge chip that allows PCI-Express cards to work in AGP slots. Your 9800 pro won't work in a PCI-Express slot (won't even fit).

Bah..yes, just read into PCI-Express properly (http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1087) .

Also, this doesn't look like it will fit idd ;p

Oh well

I currently have a Radeon 9800 Pro 256mb, and I reckon I can go on with that card for at least a year and a half (I'm not so much of a hardcore tweaker, nor do I have the money, so yes I can live with that for some time), so I'll just buy a new mobo with PCI-Express then

And as Fee said, it's best to just go ahead and buy one, because I really need a new computer (1,0 Ghz damaged Intel Thunderbird, crappy cooling, those are the biggest problems

and I want 1 gig of RAM eventually, as opposed to 'only' 512).

Rens2Sea · Post by **Rens2Sea** » 25-05-2004 22:02

Messy, take the stuff i will buy $\o/$

Challenge Computers
-------
- NOT - Original Icemat Afternight Black € 29,50
//- MAYBE - Maxtor 200Gb U150 7200rpm 8MB 6Y200M0 € 171,50
//- MAYBE - Maxtor 200Gb U150 7200rpm 8MB 6Y200M0 € 171,50
//Maxtor 250Gb U150 7200rpm 8MB 7Y250M0 € 228,00
//Maxtor 250Gb U150 7200rpm 8MB 7Y250M0 € 228,00
Kingston Ddr 512mb / 400 Kingston 512MB 400MHz DDR PC3200 DIMM 3-3-3 KVR400X64C3A/512 € 114,00
Kingston Ddr 512mb / 400 Kingston 512MB 400MHz DDR PC3200 DIMM 3-3-3 KVR400X64C3A/512 € 114,00
//- AMD - MSI K8T800 NEO FIS2R, G-lan ATX, DDR400, SATA, Raid,Firew € 133,50
//- AMD - AMD Athlon XP 64bit 3200+ XP3200+ 64bit Skt 754, Retail € 320,50
//- NO PSU - Thermaltake Xaser III Aluminium Medium Tower New € 180,50
//Thermaltake Silent PurePower 420W ActivePFC € 78,50
Sweex Router/Modem ADSL Annex A CC300011 € 51,50

IComputers
-------

Western Digital 200GB (WD2000JD, 7200RPM, 8MB, SATA) € 150,00
Western Digital 200GB (WD2000JD, 7200RPM, 8MB, SATA) € 150,00
- AMD - MSI K8T NEO-FIS2R € 128,00
- AMD - AMD Athlon 64 3200+ (2.00Ghz, 1MB, 1600Mhz FSB) € 299,00
- NO PSU - Thermaltake Xaser V Damier V6000+ aluminium € 196,00
Zalman ZM400B-APS 400W € 87,00

<3 case with 6 coolers

Post by **The_One** » 26-05-2004 01:13

Seems a tad expensive for a 3200+.

Messy · Post by **Messy** » 26-05-2004 14:47

Rens2Sea wrote: Messy, take the stuff i will buy $\o/$

No ;p

The_One wrote: Seems a tad expensive for a 3200+.

It's in euros

The best price I've found for a retail (including hsf) Athlon 64 3200+ is € 272,-

BlackFlame · Post by **BlackFlame** » 26-05-2004 15:09

hmm im looking for a cheapish HDD best ive found is a 160GB (160Gb IBM/HGST Deskstar (ATA-100,7200rpm,2MB Cache, 8.5ms)) for £66.95 including delivery and VAT. but is it any good?