Check out my new ultimate gaming system ....

[Wasqa]

Hi all! I'm thinking to make a new system. Please tell me what you think, any respond appreciated.

CPU – T-Bird 1.33GHz, Socket A, FSB 266MHz
M-Board – ASUS A7A266, Socket A, ATA/100, 266FSB
Memory – 256Mb, DDR, PC2100, 266MHz
HD – 40Gb, UDMA 100, 7200 RPM
Video – 64Mb, nVIDA Geforce2 MX 400
Sound – SB 16 PCI
Case – Mid Tower, ATX, 300watt

I also have several questions:

Video – What is the difference between MX 400 and 200?

Video – Is Gforce2 getting as hot as Voodoos?

Video – Do I need a special fen for Gforce2 card?

Case – The Mid Tower I’m planning to buy supports 3 fens. Will it be enough to cool my system?

Thanks,

Wasqa.

 

[Zerophobia]

It depends on what kind of fans/heatsinks buty I'd say YES since your not overclocking anything. My #1 suggestion to you is take a serious look at that video card! The GF2 MX 400 has more memory than it's memory bandwidth can effectivly use. Overclocking the video memory will loosen up the bottle neck but even better would be to return the mx 400 card and get a GTS version. the prices on them have plummeted lately.

PS. Wanna play tribes2 ?

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duron750[1000]
abit kt7a
256 pc133
hercules geforce2mx 32
sb16 pci
wdc 12gig
roadrunner
netgear10/100+router

 

[Mephisto]

I've got a very similar system (also T-Bird 1,3 Gig, 40 GB HD, A7A266, 256 MB PC266). In my opinion, forget about the MX, get a GTS (like me

or Ultra ).

 

[semidevil]

nice system. To make this a 5 star gaming system, I say get a better sound card if you can afford it.

 

[But_Why]

I agree with semidevil, lose that soundcard and get something better.. A lot of people seem to be raving about the sb live xgamer and the TB Santa Cruz. Might wanna look into one of those.
Me? I'm happy at present with the SB live value.
BW

 

[KilrB]

Yep, I have a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz and it's much better than my SB Live card was. And for an Ultimate gaming system like you want, you should look more at a GeForce2 Pro or an Ultra maybe even a Geforce3

. Forget about the MX.

 

[terence]

I also recommed the sblive x-gamer. Its pretty cheap (less then $50 I believe) and you get digital ouput. I'd also recommend upgrading to 512MB ram. Its not much more expensive and makes Windows 2000 run better if you'll be using that OS.

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“When a team doesn't double me, it's like they're disrespecting my game.”

-Shaquille O'neal

 

[Chilly3]

Dump the MX, stay with Nvidia, but dump the MX.

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AMD Duron 700MHz, BCM-bc133kt, 256mbRAM,
Annihilator 2, Soundblaster LIVE!,Windows ME
30gb Maxtor 7200rpm

 

[toml]

I agree with dumping the MX...check out newegg.com..they have the geforce pro 2 32 mB for 138 free shipping...it can be overclocked nearly to an ultra...I just bought the turtle beach santa cruz...I'd back getting that instead of the SB series...

 

[Wuzup101]

Toml - If you are refering to the Leadtek GeForce2 GTS Pro 32meg it is a great card (I have one and love it) but you aren't going to see ultra specs out of it.. Sorry

As ZEROphobia said the MX has more memory than it's bandwith can use (well said zero). Also that card that tom was talking about is a great card and I highly recomend it. You can overclock it quite nicely, but dont expect ultra specs as it doesn't have the 5ns memory.

------------------
AMD Tbird (AXIA) 1Ghz @ 1Ghz w/ OCZ gladiator
Asus A7V
384megs crucial cas2
Leadtek 32meg Geforce2 GTS Pro (225/420)
Soundblaster Live Value
Western Digital 20gig 7200rpm (UDMA 100)
Nec 40x cdrom
Sony 12x8x32 CD-RW
17" KDS Avitron flat screan (1024x768 @ 85hz)

 

[HarldyWorking]

I agree also with the dropping of the MX.

I just recently built my friend the same system you have specs for. He bought a MX 64mb card even after I told him 64mb is a waste on that card.

I suggest get the pro or ultra. It seems that you have some money so spring for the video card. You won't be sorry, its definitly a big difference.

------------------
T-Bird [email protected]
ASUS A7V KT133
256MB PC133
ASUS V7700 Geforce2 GTS 64MB
Soundblaster Live! 5.1 X-Gamers
AOpen 12x40x DVD-ROM
WD 7200rpm 30gig HD
WD 7200rpm 20gig HD
-----
Hail to the King Baby!

 

[Mik]

just became aware of this

Lian Li pc-68 with USB and a 350 watt supply by Enermax Power
what do you think?
my next comp will most definitely have it
considering voodoo 5 5500 will need hook up for the fan it has on board, you will need all the power you can get today
price not too high at around $200 for the power supp. and case. i will say it is perhaps too costly on average but we are talking ultimate comp right now...the biggest rigg for gamers now.

 

[Mik]

just became aware of this

Lian Li pc-68 with USB and a 350 watt supply by Enermax Power
what do you think?
my next comp will most definitely have it
considering voodoo 5 5500 will need hook up for the fan it has on board, you will need all the power you can get today
price not too high at around $200 for the power supp. and case. i will say it is perhaps too costly on average but we are talking ultimate comp right now...the biggest rigg for gamers now.

 

[Mik]

sorry to post twice


just sort of happened
its not a quick way to get as many posts here as possible so i can move from junior member to a full one. no i would never do that.
no seriously i just didn't see it appear here at first so i reposted


just to add on a lighter note for a super system you need the best heatsink you can get to give that overclocking ability down the road.
i saw good prices on ThermoEngine over at Sharky but its up to people's taste i guess.
i would certainly opt to cut down on cost on speakers or hard drive and cd rom so that i could get the extra power supply or a good heat sink and fan for the CPu.
any thoughts?

 

[Ruffian]

Dont get a Voodoo5 5500, 3dfx went out of business, so its gonna be hard to find drivers down the road, and plus a Geforce2 GTS is just as good as a Voodoo5 5500.

Also the voodoo5's cant manage a high AGP bus.

------------------
Athy [email protected] 1.65v
Abit KA7
128meg PC133 7.5ns can do [email protected]
Asus V7700 Pure 32meg (215+?/366+?)
IBM 75GXP 45gb
WD 10.2GB 7200rpm ATA66
Diamond MX300
Toshiba SD-M1402 (12x dvd/40x cd)
Plextor 8/4/32 CD-RW
3COM 56k hardware modem (just incase)
SMC 10mpbs ISA NIC (for DSL)

 

[Ruffian]

Also, an extra power supply is not going to fit in that case. Most aluminum cases are pretty small (although big enough for what you need).

Also, dont cut down on the speakers trust me, if your gonna cut down on anything, dont cut down on speakers, unless you dont like loud music or dont like cranking it up during a game. If you get speakers, I recommend the Cambridge Soundwork FPS2000 Digital.

For hard drive, dont get anything but IBM. In my opinion they are the best, and can handle some serious overclocking. Also for a CD-ROM get one of those 72x I think Kenwood makes them, but I'm not for sure, you'll have to ask around.

Some other cases you might want to consider are the Antec SX1030 (comes in beige or black) these are the cases used by Alienware. Also the Addtronics 6896A. Both are full towers.

Good luck.

------------------
Athy [email protected] 1.65v
Abit KA7
128meg PC133 7.5ns can do [email protected]
Asus V7700 Pure 32meg (215+?/366+?)
IBM 75GXP 45gb
WD 10.2GB 7200rpm ATA66
Diamond MX300
Toshiba SD-M1402 (12x dvd/40x cd)
Plextor 8/4/32 CD-RW
3COM 56k hardware modem (just incase)
SMC 10mpbs ISA NIC (for DSL)

 

[Baloneyflaps]

Lose the MX; you'd be much better off with a a 32mb GTS.

 

[Wasqa]

Thanks for all the replies. I did some serious research on MX: it is not what I want

. As for some one mentioned I had some money to spend, unfortunatly i don't. The system I specified would cost me only around $650.

Also I did a research and found out that a new nVidia chipset coming out in Q3 2001. It looks very promesing. So I decided to hold to my present system and get a new one around Christmas.

I found a great hardware review webcite, and I think all of you will like it.

TomsHardware.com

Thanks again for all the replies.

 

[AlladinSane]

What monitor you're going to acquire? If you're not goint to high resolutions, a modest video card can give you a better price/perfomance. But if money is not a problem... Oh and forget the SB 16 sound card. It's crappy even by low standards.

 

[g13]

Like AlladinSane said, what monitor will you pair the vid card with? Also, regarding the soundcard, what speakers will you pair it with? If you really want that Asus DDR board and the cheaper audio you might also consider A7A266 DDR with integrated audio. Again, it just depends on what your ouput devices are and what you really want.

[This message has been edited by g13 (edited 06-06-2001).]