New parts.. need your advice and comments

[truflip]

ok after countless hours of researching in forums, websites etc... i've come down to this

$ 50 RaidMax 420 Watt PSU
$ 150 Athlon 64 3000+ CPU S939
$ 79 Asus A8V-MX S939 Motherboard
$ 211 XFX 6800 AGP8X
256-bit core
128MB 256-bit DDR
22.4GB/Sec Memory Bandwidth
3.9 Billion Texels/Sec Fill Rate
406 Million Vertices per Second
12 Pixel Pipelines

$ 490 + tax = $563.5
__________________________________________________
--------------------------------------------------

$ 50 RaidMax 420 Watt PSU
$ 150 Athlon 64 3000+ CPU S939
$ 84 Asus K8S-MX S939 Motherboard
$ 195 XFX 6600GT ($200 @ Sprint Computers)
256-bit core
128MB 128-bit 1200mhz DDR3
16GB/Sec Memory Bandwidth
4 Billion Texels/Sec Fill Rate
375 Million Vertices per Second
8 Pixel Pipelines

$ 479 + tax = $550.85
or
$ 91 Asus A8N-VM S939 Motherboard (a bit better)

$ 479 - 84 + 91 + tax = $558.9
__________________________________________________
--------------------------------------------------

also considers these motherboard for a PCI-E set up
$ 100 Biostar Tforce 6100
$ 100 Gigabyte GA-K8VT890-9
$ 102 MSI RS480M2-IL

my budget was 500$ with taxes included.. *sigh* so im already pushing it aiyahh.. so wut do u guys think?

 

[kirock]

also considers these motherboard for a PCI-E set up
$ 100 Biostar Tforce 6100
$ 100 Gigabyte GA-K8VT890-9
$ 102 MSI RS480M2-IL

my budget was 500$ with taxes included.. *sigh* so im already pushing it aiyahh.. so wut do u guys think?

I would definatelygo with a PCI-E set-up, it's X2 the bus speed AGPX8, soon AGP video cards will be no more, gone the way of the dinosaurs.
On your list MSI and Gigabyte are good. Are you sure you don't want to add SLI capability for future?


My rig specs are in my profile.

Cheers and have fun.

 

[DonNagual]

I'd highly, highly, highly recommend getting a better PSU. Highly.

From the sounds of the system you are looking at, that PSU you are looking at probably has more than enough power for your system, but that particular maker is known to make extremly low quality PSUs.

First, calculate how many watts you are going to need on this website: http://www.extreme.outervision.com/index.jsp

But just as important as how many watts the PSU can put out is how many amps are on the 12v rail of the PSU. You want to be getting one that is putting out somewhere around 24amps as a minimum.

P.s. I notice you don't have any RAM on your shopping list. Are you planning on using some old ram from a previous system? If so, probably a good idea to post what type of ram it is so we can help you confirm it'll work with the motherboard you end up choosing.

 

[DonNagual]

Wait a minute.... your budget is $500 Canadian dollars....

Here are some other suggestions from a canadian website on what I would consider as a minimum for what is acceptable (quality wise)

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1419089&CatId=106 (this one is actually a little low on the 12v rail at 18amps, but not too bad).

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1532784&CatId=0 (dual 12v rails for a total of 34 amps)

Both are around 90 Canadian bones. However, I can't stress it enough. That PSU you are looking at is going to cause you major problems. Stay away from it. Danger, danger. [flashing red lights everywhere].

Before you pick a PSU, read this thread on what companies are good, and what companies are not: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=792566

 

[truflip]

thanks for ur reply

well heres the situation, my gf bought an LCD but her PC is pretty old n outdated. the picture on her screen is blurry because she has an old old old motherboard that doesnt even upgrade (cept for ram) so her onboard video is useless rendering her LCD useless (because it is not gonna be able to do what its good for ... SHARP and VIBRANT pictures) .. her current PC makes her LCD look like a typical 5 year old CRT in terms of the sharpness..

anyway thats why im giving her my old set up of motherboard, CPU and video card. .

now, im not doing a full upgrade so i cant go on and spend 800$ on a new set up with this goodie and that goodie.. .im jus future proofing myself for the next couple years.. not 4 years. just 2.. MAYBE 3.. anyway I had jus payed my tuition so yea..

ok so i went to the website.. it says Id be using 270 watts with my set up..

and yes I am salvaging some parts from my old PC.. RAM, DVD-RW keyboard, mouse etc...

***gone to look at the other links and read more... ***

 

[truflip]

hm.. if i do get a better power supply.. id definitely have to get a lower priced video card.. and possibly switch to S754 CPUs

again this is not a full all out upgrade.. lol i jus need something to replace my old P4 and 9600PRO..

jus a quick comment on my PC. .rigt now. it has a 250Watt Bestec brand PSU... anyone ever heard of it? Jus curious.. it has never given me problem untill i put a buncha cathode lights and LED fans everywhere lol.. otherwise its been very stable.. maybe i can get one of this brand

anyway.. anyone kno wut would be equal, good and cost-effective replacement of my Asus P4SD-LA + P4 2.4GHZ HT CPU, and 9600PRO vid card? I cant do a full upgrade .. too poor

 

[vnf4ultra]

Ok, this was about as good as I could find for your budget.


Cpu amd 939 3000+ $153
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=14415&vpn=ADA3000BPBOX&manufacture=AMD

Mobo Asrock 939 pci-e x16 $99
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=16165&vpn=939DUAL-SATA2&manufacture=ASRock

Psu 400w Fortron $53
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=15860&vpn=AX400-PN&manufacture=Fortron Source

Video x700pro pci-e x16 $160
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=14798&vpn=X700PRO-128-PE&manufacture=SAPPHIRE


Total $465 + whatever tax/shipping you'd need.

I set it up with a socket 939 cpu and a pci-e x16 video card, so it's more future ready. A socket 754 agp system would cost less(which means you could get a slightly faster system), but at the sacrifice of upgradeabilitly. Either way would be fine for now, but the 939 pci-e x16 has a better upgrade path.

One other thought. That board I picked supports agp cards and pci-e x16 cards, so if your on a tight budget you could get everything I listed except the video card, and use your 9600pro agp until you've saved up for a card like a x800gto, 6800gs, etc in pci-e x16.
Edit: I guess ignore the above paragraph, I missed that you were giving the 9600pro to your gf at first.

The psu should be a good one, here are some customer reviews of it.
http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/FeedBack/CustRatingReview.asp?Item=N82E16817104953

 

[truflip]

VNF.. is it jus me or did the price for the mobo jus drop to 89?

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=16165&vpn=939DUAL-SATA2&manufacture=ASRock&promoid=1047

yep.. theyre the same mobo.. its on sale till monday.. lol hey man i got this post on my PM first.. jus sayin thnx again for pointing me to the right direction =]

 

[truflip]

EVGA ATX S939 NFORCE4 DDR PCI-E16 1PCI-E 3PCI SATA2 RAID Sound GBLAN Motherboard

I found this

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=15798&vpn=133-K8-NF43-AX&manufacture=eVGA&promoid=1047

its 150$ down to 80$.. what do guys think?

***edit.. make that $68.88 my bad...

***EDDDIT Again*

ok after looking around that site.. I've decided to modify some stuff... I didnt like the x700.. Isnt that weaker than a 6600GT? well if it is.. then i found a 6600GT around the same price... so heres the set up modified from vnf's

$153 AMD Athlon 64 3000+
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=14415

$53 Fortron 400W ATX12V PSU
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=15798&promoid=1047

$166 eVGA geforce 6600GT 128MB DD3 PCI-E
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=13354&promoid=1047

$69 eVGA ATX S939 NForce 4 Motherboard
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=15798&promoid=1047

Boils down to $440.45 Canadian

wit tax 7%. shipping 30$ express.. insurance 7$ it totals up to:
$510.45 CND

the motherboard is limited quantity n time.. so i gotta get it fast if its good lol

 

[vnf4ultra]

Yeah, it dropped $10, for whatever reason. The evga looks like a good deal though.

I'm pretty sure evga has a lifetime warranty, so that's a big plus.

I can't find much out about it though.
Except this.
http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/FeedBack/CustRatingReview.asp?Item=N82E16813188003
It all seems good unless you're installing win xp x64.

For that price though, as long as it works it's a good deal, and if it works well, it's a great deal.

 

[truflip]

all in all.. which would u recommend? the asrock or the evga?

 

[vnf4ultra]

If it were me, and I was on a tight budget like you are, I'd get the evga. Nothing else in that price range is even close to it really.