OT: Building A New System

[Fyron]

Just get XP Pro if you want XP... it is not much more expensive than XP Home these days, only a couple of bucks.

[Thermodyne]

Here is what I would go with for a machine that needed to be stable first, and reasonably fast at the same time.

Intel Pentium 4/ 2.8C GHz 800MHz FSB, 512K Cache, Hyper Threading Technology - Retail
Specification
Model: Intel Pentium 4 2.8C w/ Hyper Threading
Core: Northwood
Operating Frequency: 2.8GHz
FSB: 800MHz
Cache: L1/12K+8K; L2/512K
Voltage: 1.525V
Process: 0.13Micron
Socket: Socket 478
Multimedia Instruction: MMX, SSE, SSE2
Warranty: 3-year MFG

Intel 865PE Chipset Motherboard for Intel Socket 478 CPU, Model "D865PERLK" -OEM
Specifications:
Supported CPU: Socket 478 Intel Pentium 4(HT)/Celeron Processors
Chipset: Intel 865PE + ICH5R
FSB: 800/533/400MHz
RAM: 4x DIMM for DDR400/333/266 Max 4GB
IDE: 2x ATA 100 up to 4 Devices
Slots: 1x AGP 8X/4X/1X(0.8/1.5V), 5x PCI 2.2
Ports: 2xPS2,1xCOM,1xLPT,1xLAN,8xUSB2.0(Rear 4),3xIEEE1394(Rear 1),RCA/Optical SPDIF Out,Audio Ports
Onboard Audio: Analog Devices AD1985 Codec
Onboard LAN: Intel 82547EI 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet
Onboard SATA/RAID: 2x Serial ATA, RAID 0/1
Onboard 1394: Agere FW323, 3 Ports
Form Factor: ATX

2 sticks of
Buffalo Technology 184 Pin 256MB DDR PC-3200 - OEM
Specification
Manufacturer: Buffalo Technology
Speed: DDR400(PC3200)
Type: 184 Pin DDR SDRAM
Error Checking: Non-ECC
Registered/Unbuffered: Unbuffered
Cas Latency: 3
Support Voltage: 2.6V
Bandwidth: 3.2GB/s
Organization: 32M x 64 -Bit
Warranty: Lifetime

2 of these
Maxtor 160GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model 6Y160P0, OEM Drive Only
Specifications:
Capacity: 160GB
Average Seek Time: 9.3 ms
Buffer: 8MB
Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM
Interface: IDE ULTRA ATA133
Features: Maxtor Shock Protection and Data Protection Systems
Manufacturer Warranty: 3 years
Remark: OEM Drive Only

And two of these
Western Digital Raptor 36.7GB 10,000RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model WD360GD, OEM Drive Only
Specifications:
Capacity: 36.7GB
Average Seek Time: 5.2 ms
Buffer: 8MB
Rotational Speed: 10000 RPM
Interface: Serial ATA
Features: Not specified
Manufacturer Warranty: 5 years
Remark: OEM Drive Only

The other stuff you can buy what ever you can find on sale. This system would not need a lot of air, so almost any case and about 3 fans. Two blowing in and one out, a little positive pressure in the case keeps the readers clean. I like cases with filtered intakes.

I would set the system up with a bootable sata mirror on the raptors and use the ide drives in a windows mirror for storage.

What I’ve listed here can be had for $845.00 US. If you need a gig of ram, just add another 90 bucks.

It would make a right good system, real stable and on the lower edge of fast. But if you want real fast, you have to go with a Hammer

http://Groups.msn.com/ThermodynesPlace/fx51244ghz.msnw

[ March 21, 2004, 18:29: Message edited by: Thermodyne ]

[Atrocities]

Thanks Therm.

That is very helpful.

[Will]

I'm currently on a Soyo MB, with Athlon CPU. But they seem to have a rather nice P4 mobo as well {link}.

Memory, I've used Kingston and PNY in the past, and they've worked well for me, no failures. Get cooling sleeves though, they only cost something like $1.50, and I know DDR can get fairly hot (friend's personal experience with burned fingers, not my own).

For the DVD Drive, I have a Lite-On DVD burner, supports +, -, +/-, RAM DVD formats, and was at same speeds to the other DVD burners I was looking at (a Sony and some other brand). Only difference was the Lite-On was $190, and the other two were $240.

HDDs, I've only used Maxtor and Western Digital. I haven't had a hard drive failure. One of my friends had a Western Digital fail after something like 9 years (I think the computer was dropped...).

[Electrum]

Therm's specs are fine. But figure on 2 Memory modules. P-4's are memory hungry, there want a lot, & the want it fast. 2 modules will make use of the dual DDR.
you also might look at the Asus P4P800. It has comparable specs to the Intel board (I think expect for firewire) for a comparable price. Asus has a proven record for stability, performance & tweakability. Intel keeps their Boards pretty average.

[Roanon]

Originally posted by Electrum:
Asus has a proven record for stability, performance & tweakability.

They have a long record, but are relying on it lately, instead of producing Boards up to their previous standards. Their latest Boards, especially the P4B800, has serious design flaws. Capacitors blowing is not what I call stable or reliable, and waiting for replacement Boards 4-6 weeks is not customer service. I seriously advise against Asus right now.

[Wardad]

Your right about the capacitors, but it is a wide spread problem.
There is some really cheap caps coming from China.

We had one customer who is buying those cheap caps, and then complaining about our power management chips.

It seems this cheap stuff tests OK on RCL analyzer equipment, but fails under real life stress.
We found that some old, crude, tried and true methods, would expose the weakness. Take a few measurements, mix in a little MATH, and the problem is well defined.
Then the real problem of communicating some basic math and science to managers begins.


BTW: I have been very happy with MSI mother Boards.