Need help building 1st computer!

ChrisAdan650 · Nov 22, 2004, 10:24 PM

I'm currently in the process of building my first computer. Everything is going great except for the fact that I cannot choose between processors due to cost differences. My choices are, a Newcastle 3000+ socket 754 cpu with the Chaintech nForce3 250 OR the socket 939 based 3500+ Winchester with the MSI Neo2 platinum nforce3 ultra motherboard. Now here's the tricky part, if I go for the 3000+ 754 socket based cpu, I'd be able to afford the XFX 6600gt AGP video card. If I were to choose the 3500+ 939 socket based Winchester cpu, I'd be forced to use my current 9600xt AGP video card but I'd have money to spend on a thermal take heatsink and Arctic Silver Premium 5 for some good overclocking. Which would give me the better all around system performance? Thanks for any advice in advance.

Lowfat · Nov 23, 2004, 12:43 AM

Personally i'd do with the socket 939. However i wouldn't get a thermaltake HSF, i just came from a Volcano 11+ and it was a waste of money IMO.

pr0digal jenius · Nov 23, 2004, 02:10 AM

939, definately

Nacht · Nov 23, 2004, 02:25 AM

939, and get the as5. then save up money for a new gfx card

CaptinSxb · Nov 23, 2004, 02:30 AM

If you wait a little bit the new ati chipsets for 939 should be more widely avaible, they include a decent gfx card so you should be able to get by till you can afford a better gfx.

Nacht · Nov 23, 2004, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptinSxb

If you wait a little bit the new ati chipsets for 939 should be more widely avaible, they include a decent gfx card so you should be able to get by till you can afford a better gfx.

eck, i would say a no-go on that one. i think the highest those chipsets go upto is x300? or is it x700? either way, i think he'd be much better off using a standalone card. some of those chipsets use shared memory which will destroy performance.

CaptinSxb · Nov 23, 2004, 02:49 AM

Quote:

eck, i would say a no-go on that one. i think the highest those chipsets go upto is x300? or is it x700? either way, i think he'd be much better off using a standalone card. some of those chipsets use shared memory which will destroy performance.

I know but if he gets that as a stand in until he gets the 6600Xt he wont have to get a mb and temp card.

pr0digal jenius · Nov 23, 2004, 03:15 AM

i'd wait for the ati chipset, so that he can wait on a new video card AND have PCI-Express, as hsi 9600XT is AGP..that's a good idea

ChrisAdan650 · Nov 23, 2004, 03:23 AM

Alright, thanks for all the advice. Btw, what heatsink would be best for overclocking the 3500+? I was thinking about buying the Thermaltake Venus 12 CPU Cooler. Thanks again.

Sargentwhitey · Nov 23, 2004, 03:59 AM

that is a 90nm part right? if it is.. it should be quite easy to OC.. Im currently looking into a new Heatsink for my 3200+ S754 and Im looking at this one http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...118-113&depa=0 .. it seems to be pretty good at cooling.. Im looking forward to a decent OC on this one

ChrisAdan650 · Nov 23, 2004, 04:15 AM

What do you guys think of me going for the Athlon 64 3000+ 90nm Winchester, MSI K8T Neo2-F Via K8T800 Pro motherboard, and the Geforce 6600gt instead of going for the 3500+ Winchester and using my current card which is the 9600xt?

CDsDontBurn · Nov 23, 2004, 04:44 AM

i say go 939, and use your 9600xt as a hold me over until you can afford a better card. as far as cooling goes, look into the Zalman (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...118-113&depa=0) heatsink. very quiet, and even quieter when you have the adjustable fan controller plugged in. works pretty good too.

Vampyromaniac · Nov 23, 2004, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisAdan650

My choices are, a Newcastle 3000+ socket 754 cpu with the Chaintech nForce3 250 OR the socket 939 based 3500+ Winchester with the MSI Neo2 platinum nforce3 ultra motherboard. Now here's the tricky part, if I go for the 3000+ 754 socket based cpu, I'd be able to afford the XFX 6600gt AGP video card. If I were to choose the 3500+ 939 socket based Winchester cpu, I'd be forced to use my current 9600xt AGP video card but I'd have money to spend on a thermal take heatsink and Arctic Silver Premium 5 for some good overclocking.

Assuming you play games on your PC, given those options, I would get the 3000+ and the 6600GT. The 3500+ is more or less 10% faster, which would show most in non-gaming situations, but the 3000+ is already pretty fast, and I don't think you'd notice that difference as much as you would notice the difference between a 9600XT and the 6600GT (a much better graphics card) in games.

But, why not get a socket 939 3000+ Winchester? It will be low cost, and will overclock very well, and you can still get the 6600GT. You can stick with the stock retail heatsink and thermal paste; you can buy better ones later, when you have more money (but the stock items should do pretty well already.)

edit: just noticed you had the same idea a couple posts up.

I'd definitely go for that.

ChrisAdan650 · Nov 23, 2004, 04:05 PM

I'm thinking about going with the Athlon 64 3000+ Winchester and the Geforce 6600gt. I'm thinking about going for the new Nforce4 based motherboards but they seem to be taking awhile for them to be released. Thanks again folks.

krips · Nov 24, 2004, 03:34 AM

There is a collection of nForce4 board reviews at nforcershq. I, with the help of fellow nforcers, keep it updated.

swimtech · Nov 24, 2004, 05:12 PM

I gotta agree with Vampy in a big way - the 6600GT card is going to make a big difference (right at double!) in gaming over your present 9600XT, and the faster processor would make a minor (but noticeable - maybe 15%) difference.

The 64 Winchester 3000+ for socket 939 is priced low too - just 150 or so - and will have the dual channel memory advantage that no doubt is the reason for the socket 939 recommendations (it's my reason too) posted here.

Edit: Icing on the cake would be if you could hold out for an NForce4 or equivalent PCI Express mainboard (for AMD 64 CPU) and use an ATI X700 card, which should run a little faster overall than the 6600GT card and has double the onboard video ram (256Mb - X700, 128Mb - 6600GT) for about the same money.

ChrisAdan650 · Nov 24, 2004, 07:24 PM

thanks for the replies folks. I will try and hold out for the Nforce4 motherboards and I'll look into the x700. I just hope they release the boards soon!

ReV smokey255 · Nov 24, 2004, 09:06 PM

congrats man i just bulit my first one 4 months go now i am going to do a koolance

advise

read the insturctions
make sure you read like a lot

ChrisAdan650 · Nov 24, 2004, 09:26 PM

Well, I'm sure it'll be simple as long as I read the instructions. I've installed video cards, ram, hard drives, cd/dvd roms and such but I've never installed the motherboard itself and the heatsink for the cpu. Thanks again.

pr0digal jenius · Nov 24, 2004, 11:27 PM

motherboard tip: use ALL the mounting brackets you can, as I have snapped a board trying to skimp on the brackets

ChrisAdan650 · Nov 25, 2004, 12:03 AM

Thanks for the info pr0digal jenius. Will remember that.

pr0digal jenius · Nov 25, 2004, 01:36 AM

haha...yea...also..dont build machines in your socks due to static issues

aside from that...it's like legos...everying only fits in there one way....lol

ReV smokey255 · Nov 26, 2004, 12:33 AM

you can eaisly bulid this just take your time

Nov 22, 2004, 10:24 PM	#1
ChrisAdan650 DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 152 Rep Power: 0	Need help building 1st computer! I'm currently in the process of building my first computer. Everything is going great except for the fact that I cannot choose between processors due to cost differences. My choices are, a Newcastle 3000+ socket 754 cpu with the Chaintech nForce3 250 OR the socket 939 based 3500+ Winchester with the MSI Neo2 platinum nforce3 ultra motherboard. Now here's the tricky part, if I go for the 3000+ 754 socket based cpu, I'd be able to afford the XFX 6600gt AGP video card. If I were to choose the 3500+ 939 socket based Winchester cpu, I'd be forced to use my current 9600xt AGP video card but I'd have money to spend on a thermal take heatsink and Arctic Silver Premium 5 for some good overclocking. Which would give me the better all around system performance? Thanks for any advice in advance.

Nov 23, 2004, 12:43 AM	#2
Lowfat Xtreme Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can Posts: 4,254 Rep Power: 101	Personally i'd do with the socket 939. However i wouldn't get a thermaltake HSF, i just came from a Volcano 11+ and it was a waste of money IMO. __________________

Nov 23, 2004, 02:30 AM	#5
CaptinSxb DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Good Ol' U.S. of A. Posts: 404 Rep Power: 0	If you wait a little bit the new ati chipsets for 939 should be more widely avaible, they include a decent gfx card so you should be able to get by till you can afford a better gfx. __________________ A64-3200; x800xl; a couple other things ; and a floppy drive

Nov 23, 2004, 03:59 AM	#10
Sargentwhitey Has a JOB.. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 1,473 Rep Power: 0	that is a 90nm part right? if it is.. it should be quite easy to OC.. Im currently looking into a new Heatsink for my 3200+ S754 and Im looking at this one http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...118-113&depa=0 .. it seems to be pretty good at cooling.. Im looking forward to a decent OC on this one __________________ Mobile:Intel Celeron M 1.5GHz, 40GB WD, 1GB PC24000, Intel Mediocre Graphics 2, SB Audigy 2 Notebook

Nov 23, 2004, 04:44 AM	#12
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	i say go 939, and use your 9600xt as a hold me over until you can afford a better card. as far as cooling goes, look into the Zalman (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...118-113&depa=0) heatsink. very quiet, and even quieter when you have the adjustable fan controller plugged in. works pretty good too. __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Nov 23, 2004, 02:10 AM	#3
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	939, definately

Nov 23, 2004, 02:25 AM	#4
Nacht ein Krieger Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Clemson Uni Posts: 3,127 Rep Power: 0	939, and get the as5. then save up money for a new gfx card

Nov 23, 2004, 03:15 AM	#8
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	i'd wait for the ati chipset, so that he can wait on a new video card AND have PCI-Express, as hsi 9600XT is AGP..that's a good idea

Nov 23, 2004, 03:23 AM	Thread Starter #9
ChrisAdan650 DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 152 Rep Power: 0	Alright, thanks for all the advice. Btw, what heatsink would be best for overclocking the 3500+? I was thinking about buying the Thermaltake Venus 12 CPU Cooler. Thanks again.

Nov 23, 2004, 04:15 AM	Thread Starter #11
ChrisAdan650 DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 152 Rep Power: 0	What do you guys think of me going for the Athlon 64 3000+ 90nm Winchester, MSI K8T Neo2-F Via K8T800 Pro motherboard, and the Geforce 6600gt instead of going for the 3500+ Winchester and using my current card which is the 9600xt?

Nov 23, 2004, 04:05 PM	Thread Starter #14
ChrisAdan650 DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 152 Rep Power: 0	I'm thinking about going with the Athlon 64 3000+ Winchester and the Geforce 6600gt. I'm thinking about going for the new Nforce4 based motherboards but they seem to be taking awhile for them to be released. Thanks again folks.

Nov 24, 2004, 03:34 AM	#15
krips UD Cruncher Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Alberta, Canada. Posts: 144 Rep Power: 0	There is a collection of nForce4 board reviews at nforcershq. I, with the help of fellow nforcers, keep it updated. __________________ [color=navy]3200+ Winchester \| XP-90 \| LANParty UT nF4 Ultra-D \| Enermax 535W \| BBA X800XL \| 1GB OCZ PC4000 \| 2x80GB RAID1 \| Audigy 2 ZS \| Logitech Z5300E[/color]

Nov 24, 2004, 05:12 PM	#16
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	I gotta agree with Vampy in a big way - the 6600GT card is going to make a big difference (right at double!) in gaming over your present 9600XT, and the faster processor would make a minor (but noticeable - maybe 15%) difference. The 64 Winchester 3000+ for socket 939 is priced low too - just 150 or so - and will have the dual channel memory advantage that no doubt is the reason for the socket 939 recommendations (it's my reason too) posted here. Edit: Icing on the cake would be if you could hold out for an NForce4 or equivalent PCI Express mainboard (for AMD 64 CPU) and use an ATI X700 card, which should run a little faster overall than the 6600GT card and has double the onboard video ram (256Mb - X700, 128Mb - 6600GT) for about the same money. __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it. Last edited by swimtech; Nov 24, 2004 at 05:39 PM.

Nov 24, 2004, 07:24 PM	Thread Starter #17
ChrisAdan650 DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 152 Rep Power: 0	thanks for the replies folks. I will try and hold out for the Nforce4 motherboards and I'll look into the x700. I just hope they release the boards soon!

Nov 24, 2004, 09:06 PM	#18
ReV smokey255 John Kerry of video cards Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 574 Rep Power: 0	congrats man i just bulit my first one 4 months go now i am going to do a koolance advise read the insturctions make sure you read like a lot

Nov 24, 2004, 09:26 PM	Thread Starter #19
ChrisAdan650 DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 152 Rep Power: 0	Well, I'm sure it'll be simple as long as I read the instructions. I've installed video cards, ram, hard drives, cd/dvd roms and such but I've never installed the motherboard itself and the heatsink for the cpu. Thanks again.

Nov 24, 2004, 11:27 PM	#20
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	motherboard tip: use ALL the mounting brackets you can, as I have snapped a board trying to skimp on the brackets

Nov 25, 2004, 12:03 AM	Thread Starter #21
ChrisAdan650 DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 152 Rep Power: 0	Thanks for the info pr0digal jenius. Will remember that.

Nov 25, 2004, 01:36 AM	#22
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	haha...yea...also..dont build machines in your socks due to static issues aside from that...it's like legos...everying only fits in there one way....lol

Nov 26, 2004, 12:33 AM	#23
ReV smokey255 John Kerry of video cards Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 574 Rep Power: 0	you can eaisly bulid this just take your time