Can someone review these parts for a PC please? 2

[DragonQ0105]

Here's the parts I'm looking at getting:

- Foxconn NF4UK8AA-8EKRS Motherboard --

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X3Jldmlld3M=&product_uid=85648

- AMD Athlon64 3000+ (939-Pin, Winchester Core, Retail Version) --

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X3Jldmlld3M=&product_uid=79190

- XFX GeForce6600 (256MB, PCI-E, DVI/TV-Out) --

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X3Jldmlld3M=&product_uid=78525

- Maxtor Diamondmax Plus 9 (160GB, SATA150, 7200rpm, 8mb Cache) --

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X3Jldmlld3M=&product_uid=50956

- OCZ Memory (2x512MB Dual Channel, DDR3200, CL 2.5-3-3-7, Lifetime Warranty) --

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X3Jldmlld3M=&product_uid=66689

- NEC ND-3520A DVD+RW Drive (DVD+R Dual Layer Supported) --

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X3Jldmlld3M=&product_uid=83151

TOTAL: ~£465


I got a decent motherboard which has loads of features etc. to try to future-proof this PC for a while, but chose to get the cheapest CPU from the Athlon64 Range - but since it's a Winchester Core, it should work great and be future-proof because the motherboard is 939-Pin (as is the CPU).

The RAM is from a not-so-well-known company, but looks very good with 5-star reviews. The HDD is a little on the small side, but should be fast and can be coupled with an additional Drive in the future if need be.

The DVD+RW is the slightly-better Model of the ND-3500A, which one of my friends has, and it's great, so I chose to get the later model.

The Graphics Card is from the top-mid range PCIExpress nVidia Cards, and should be perfect for games (read the specs + reviews).


Can I have some opinions on these parts please, and if they're good value and whether they'll work well together, please?

Thanks for any advise.

 

[stuuked]

what more can you say, looks like a niiiiiiice comp

 

[DragonQ0105]

Does anyone see any potential problems or performance bottlenecks?

 

[paparazi]

I have a few suggestions if you don't mind:

Foxconn is very new to motherboard manufacturing and a little unteseted see my alternative £10 more BUT NO POST CHARGE! SEE:

http://www.lowestonweb.com/Products/DisplayInfoMain.asp?e=1CCBF0ED-DC96-48B7-8AF9-017D3C1C0CC7

And there OEM Athlon64 3gig with Acasa cooler is cheaper NOTE NO POST CHARGE, SEE:

http://www.lowestonweb.com/Products/DisplayInfoMain.asp?e=969AA16E-0395-419D-9CC7-5E5EC5BD29CA

Last suggestion, a 128mb 6600GT, that is a much better card than a plain 256mb 6600, don't get hung up on memory size, the GT is much quicker and a more expensive card generally.
At a fiver more BUT WITH NO POST CHARGE, SEE:

http://www.lowestonweb.com/Products/DisplayInfoMain.asp?e=AB01AC6A-BA87-44A3-8394-DD3233828FC3

I rate this company 5 Star service, better in my experience than ebuyer but you might want to choose the best from both.

Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[paparazi]

Would just add there OEM 6600GT is infact a Genuine Leadtek Winfast but in a brown box without games.
Leadtek are a tier 1 manufacturer, that means they are recommended and directly supported by Nvidia themselves.

I would work out final price including postage, then compare these two retailers, I think you will get the better parts at the same prices overall as you quoted.
Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[DragonQ0105]

paprazi, can you find any benchmarks or tests to compare the 6600 256MB and the 6600GT 128MB please?

It's just that my current card is a GeForce2 MX400 64MB, and I was trying to get the best mid-range card for my money - but if the 6600GT with less memory is better, then I'll go for it.

I'd rather stay with my current choice in CPU too because it has a 3-year warranty.

 

[paparazi]

DragonQ0105
Here you go
The GT is around 50% quicker in Benchmark.
It's all down to the plain 6600 having a much slower GPU core and cheaper slower memory type.


GeForce 6600 256mb is typically 325MHz GPU core and 550MHz memory
Where as the Geforce 6600GT has a 500MHz GPU core and DDR3 memory running at 1000MHz (much bigger numbers)

3DMark 03 default

5750PCX 3116
X600 4177
6600 5227
6600GT 7911
6800 9590
X800PRO 10116
6800GT 11327
6800U 12282
X800XT 12343

See link: reviewing the Galaxy 6600 256mb

http://www.guru3d.com/article/content/158/1/

As far as the CPU goes, I'm inclined to agree to a certain extent but I am sceptical about 3 year warranties on CPU's, in my experience 3 year warranties are not worth the paper they are wriiten on, there are just so many ways the vendor can circumvent his responsibilities and put the burden of proof on you.
But at £12 more I guess it will give you peace of mind (I just hope you don't have to try for a replacement in 2 and a half years time cus it ain't happening lol)

Martin




We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[LloydSev]

BTW.. OCZ is a very well known company for people who buy overclockable parts online..

in fact I have OCZ RAM in my system at home.

Computer/Network Technician
CCNA

 

[DragonQ0105]

Thanks paparazi for that info.

However, the 6600GT 128MB is about £20+ more than the 6600 256MB...And on eBuyer there is a cheap 6600GT, but it's not Winfast...could you check these out for me and see if there's any reason to go for a particular one please? It'd help a lot.

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...sell_price&order=ASC&keywords=6600GT&show=all

Thanks.

 

[paparazi]

I pointed one out that was just £5 more than your plain 6600 at £114.99 inclusive of post! you aren't gonna beat that and it's the better Leadtek Winfast make.

http://www.lowestonweb.com/Products/DisplayInfoMain.asp?e=AB01AC6A-BA87-44A3-8394-DD3233828FC3

The Aopen works out at £133.67 on Ebuyer!
I've had dealings with both companies and have had better service from Lowest.
It's your money but I don't understand why you want to waste it.
Martin


We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[Sival]

Foxconn is not all that "new" when it comes to motherboard manufacturing, and I would have no problem using their boards. In fact, I have already built several systems with the board and CPU combo you propose, and have had nothing but great results thus far. I would opt for a Seagate drive myself instead of the Maxtor, altho I do acknowledge it will likely cost you a little extra money. NEC optical drives have always worked great for me and are usually very good performers as evidenced by their good reviews. Already enough on the graphics card. OCZ memory as good as it gets. Have fun.

 

[DragonQ0105]

Sival, with the exception of Foxconn and OCZ, I have used all of these manufacturers before with no complaints, and I've never tried Seagate, but I'll stick with Maxtor

Paparazi, I am aware of that link but it does appear the last person who bought one got an OEM Version. I'm not really bothered about the free games, but if it is OEM, it'll be hard to find support etc., am I right?

 

[paparazi]

DragonQ0105
Not at all!
OEM as a term can mean many differant things to the retail trade but in this case what you are getting is a genuine Leadtek WinFast PX6600 GT TDH
Exactly the same as the retail boxed version but in a brown box without the additional games.
So support is exactly the same as full retail version, drivers and firmware revisions can be downloaded as normal from Leadteks site:

http://www.leadtek.com/3d_graphic/winfast_px6600_gttdh_1.html

I just read a few feedback comments from people who have brought this card from Lowestonweb and many are reporting that they are recieving the full retail box version anyway.

Read these reports from recent customers:

I thought that OEM meant this card would come in a anonymous padded envelope with no instructions, but when it arrived it was a fully retail boxed Leadtek, with two free games, cables, instructions etc! Performance is great - I can run every game I own (including Far Cry and Call of Duty) at near max detail with little or no slowdown (on a 3Ghz Pentium 530). You can pay £150 or more for this card elsewhere - snap one up before they run out!
Review by Mark Bell

Challenge anyone for better bang for buck 05/01/2005 20:29
Stunning performance for the money....full Leadtek retail box (buy it at loads more under PX6600GTTDH) its SLI capable and came with Splinter Cell and Prince of Persia. Well done Lowest!!!!!! BUY THIS!!
Review by Robert Moore

Obviously full retail isn't gauranteed but as i said it doesn't matter either way, you will be getting the exact same card with the same support.

Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[DragonQ0105]

OK Thanks for the help.

 

[DragonQ0105]

Sorry one more thing:

It says it's a "PX6600GT-TD128SI"....it doesn't say it's a 'TDH', but a 'TD'. Is this just a model number or is there a difference?

 

[DragonQ0105]

Hehe more posts...

Although it says it's a PCI-E Graphics Card, the Overview says it's AGP 8x. Am I right in thinking this is just a generic overview for all 6600 Cards and that this particular one IS PCI-E?

 

[paparazi]

DragonQ0105
Lowest just cut and paste this overview from the Leadtek website like every other retailer but be assured they are quite specific about PCIe in the actual heading.

Also if you needed any further proof the second reviewer "Robert Moore" states his card is "SLI capable" which is a PCIe specific feature.

Also part numbers often differ from full model decriptions, Leadtek only make two versions (ATM soon to add a 256 version) of the 6600GT, one is the standard GT with exactlty the same core and memory speeds as other manufactures and the Extreme (a slightly overclocked version) much like the BFG OC.
Looks like you missed out in the short term as they are out of stock now until April 4th (mind you it takes 3/4 days to order anyway)
Martin



We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.