Hey all, I'm new here. I'm going to be building a system soon and would like to get your input. This system is going to be multi-purpose. I'll of course be playing games on it but I'm also going to be doing alot of business from home which also may include web hosting. In any case, I would like some advice on my choice of the hardware for my system.

Case : SuperMicro Case (SC760-A)
CPU : AMD Athlon 1.2 Ghz
MB : Asus A7V Motherboard
Video : Asus AGP-V7700 Geforce2 GTS Deluxe
Memory : PC133 SDRAM DIMMS (256 megs+)
Monitor: Viewsonic 21" Monitor (Not sure which Model Yet Price req around $600)
RAID : FastTrak100 ATA100, 7200 RPM
HD : IBM Deskstar 75GXP 45 Gig ( 2 of em to start off )

Case : http://www.supermicro.com/PRODUCT/Chassis/sc760A.htm
CPU : http://www.amd.com/products/cpg/athlon/index.html
MB : http://www.asus.com.tw/products/motherboard/socketa/a7v/
Video : http://www.asus.com.tw/products/addon/vga/agpv7700d/index.html
Memory : http://www.crucial.com
Monitor: http://www.viewsonic.com
RAID : http://www.promise.com/Products/ideraid/ft100page.htm
HD : http://www.storage.ibm.com/hardsoft/diskdrdl/prod/ds75gxp40gv.htm

Here's an interesting review on the Fastrak100 vs SCSI based
http://www.gamepc.com/reviews/hardware_review.asp?review=cheetahx15&page=2

I have no clue as to CDROM. I'm not going SCSI this time around so the Plextor 40x is out and I don't know the good IDE CDROMs to get.

So do you see any problems? Serious bottlenecks in performance? Etc. Let me know.

Pioneer make good CD and DVD Rom drives, if not the best. I have a Pioneer 4x DVD (Branded as Compaq) it's multi-region and it's brilliant.

throw in Pentium 4 and more ram will be even better.

Thanks for the replies guys. To the guy suggesting an Intel Based CPU that is not available yet....I'll pass. This system will be Athlon based. I have two machine right now that are Intel based. A dual Pentium III and a Celeron. Atlon will complete my set.

As for more memory, for what? I'm running Windows 2000. How much is it worth to me to get say 512 Megs of memory? I'm running with 256 Megs right now and all is well.

I've updated my system specs. Here's my latest:

Case : SuperMicro Case (SC760-A)
CPU : AMD Athlon 1.2 Ghz
MB : Asus A7V Motherboard
Video : Asus AGP-V7700 Geforce2 GTS Deluxe (64 Meg DDR)
Memory : PC133 SDRAM DIMMS (256 megs+)
Monitor: Viewsonic 21" Monitor (Not sure which Model Yet Price req around
$600)
RAID : FastTrak100 ATA100, 7200 RPM
HD : IBM Deskstar 75GXP 45 Gig ( 2 of em to start off )
Sound : Sound Blaster Live Platnum 5.1
CDROM : Kenwood 72X
UPS : Smart UPS 1500


Case : http://www.supermicro.com/PRODUCT/Chassis/sc760A.htm
CPU : http://www.amd.com/products/cpg/athlon/index.html
MB : http://www.asus.com.tw/products/motherboard/socketa/a7v/
Video : http://www.asus.com.tw/products/addon/vga/agpv7700d/index.html
Memory : http://www.crucial.com
Monitor: http://www.viewsonic.com
RAID : http://www.promise.com/Products/ideraid/ft100page.htm
HD : http://www.storage.ibm.com/hardsoft/diskdrdl/prod/ds75gxp40gv.htm
Sound : http://www.creativelabs.com/sound/live-platinum-51/
CDROM : http://www.kenwoodtech.com/72x.html
UPS : http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=SU1400NET&language=EN&country_code=US

Here's an interesting review on the Fastrak100 vs SCSI based

http://www.gamepc.com/reviews/hardware_review.asp?review=cheetahx15&page=2

I assume the Kenwood CD is the one with 3 lenses? If it is then don't get it, there has been nothing but bad reports from everyone I have heard that has owned one. In fact one of the companies that badged them as there own stopped supporting them because there were that many problems.

256MB RAM ... more than enough

You'd be dumb not to wait for ddr ram. It's going to be out very soon. Along with one of the new 266mhz fsb t-birds. I don't know how far along the motherboards are.

Or wait for a p4, they are already being sold, just no motherboards yet.

The reason I am trying to spec out my system now is so that I have a goal price wise in mind. I have about half of what I think I'll need for this system.

Also, I have played the waiting game and it doesn't end. Yes DDR memory is going to come out and yes boards will then come out to support it. Then I'll have to wait some more for some good reviews to read and for people to try em out so that I can do some more research and who knows, may end up getting this same system anyway.

But I'm not buying/building this system immediately and by the time I have all the money together the DDR memory and Motherboards may be out already and I can check them out.

As for getting the Pentium 4 that may come later. Much Much later. I have two Intel Based systems right now and I want an Athlon based system to complete my set. Which is another thing, if I wait for the DDR memory and new motherboards to support it then I'll have to wait for a CPU that will be a better fit. The waiting never ends....

Well for the record, I work at Virtual Hideout (www.virtualhideout.net), and am active in the HardOCP Forums, AnandTech, and Ars Technica to name a few, and you may want to listen to my advice.

Case : SuperMicro Case (SC760-A)
CPU : AMD Thunderbird 1.2ghz
MB : ABIT KT7-Rad Motherboard
Video : Asus AGP-V7700 Geforce2 GTS Deluxe (64 Meg DDR)
Memory : Mushkin/Crucial 128/256MB PC-133 SDRAM (www.mushkin.com and http://www.crucial.com)
Monitor: SONY G400 19/18" Monitor - Nice Quality
RAID : There is onboard ATA100 Raid on the KT7.
HD : IBM Deskstar 75GXP 45 Gig ATA100 (x2)
Sound : Sound Blaster Live Platinum 5.1
CDROM : Pioneer 16x/40x DVD ROM Drive (Kenwood 72x isn't all that much faster, they are in a lawsuit right now, and its not that great of a cd-rom.
UPS : Smart UPS 1500 --> good choice
CD-RW --> Plextor PlexWriter 12x 10x 32x IDE CD-RW

You can contact me if you got any further detailed questions via e-mail (fiber@virtualhideout.net) ICQ (73218345) or AIM (fibroptikl)

TTYL!

Originally posted by fibroptikl
Well for the record, I work at Virtual Hideout (www.virtualhideout.net), and am active in the HardOCP Forums, AnandTech, and Ars Technica to name a few, and you may want to listen to my advice.

Case : SuperMicro Case (SC760-A)
CPU : AMD Thunderbird 1.2ghz
MB : ABIT KT7-Rad Motherboard
Video : Asus AGP-V7700 Geforce2 GTS Deluxe (64 Meg DDR)
Memory : Mushkin/Crucial 128/256MB PC-133 SDRAM (www.mushkin.com and http://www.crucial.com)
Monitor: SONY G400 19/18" Monitor - Nice Quality
RAID : There is onboard ATA100 Raid on the KT7.
HD : IBM Deskstar 75GXP 45 Gig ATA100 (x2)
Sound : Sound Blaster Live Platinum 5.1
CDROM : Pioneer 16x/40x DVD ROM Drive (Kenwood 72x isn't all that much faster, they are in a lawsuit right now, and its not that great of a cd-rom.
UPS : Smart UPS 1500 --> good choice
CD-RW --> Plextor PlexWriter 12x 10x 32x IDE CD-RW

You can contact me if you got any further detailed questions via e-mail (fiber@virtualhideout.net) ICQ (73218345) or AIM (fibroptikl)

TTYL!

You picked the components that we use in our office in various machines, the IBM drives are top notch, we have a couple of older 13gb 7k2rpm drives with 2mb cache and they are like 3 times faster than anything else we have ever used. The Abit KT7-Raid is simply put THE BEST Athlon motherboard ever, we use it with a 700 Duron clocked to over 1Ghz (Got to love that HB Pencil). As for the sound card, I have a Creative Live Plat at home (I got it about a couple of months ago - before they released the 5.1 version for the same price). Pioneer - well what can I say, they are the world leaders in optical technology, especially when it comes to DVD.

I had a bad experience with Abit boards. Yeah I know they're supposed to be great and people like them but I had to return mine.

On the other hand I have never had to return any of my Asus boards. Also I'm not an overclocker so those features don't impress me. I go more for stability since my machine runs 24/7

Originally posted by Stormblade
I had a bad experience with Abit boards. Yeah I know they're supposed to be great and people like them but I had to return mine.

On the other hand I have never had to return any of my Asus boards. Also I'm not an overclocker so those features don't impress me. I go more for stability since my machine runs 24/7

Then you must be one of the lucky people. The ABIT KT7-Raid is undoubtedly hands down - the best Duron/Thunderbird Board in the market.

Thing is the ASUS doesn't have onboard RAID, and it adds to the price.

Try the ABIT KT7-Raid though. If it fails, return it, or I'll help you sell it, then you can go buy an ASUS, but you'll never know unless you try.

"Then you must be one of the lucky people. The ABIT KT7-Raid is undoubtedly hands down - the best Duron/Thunderbird Board in the market."

I've heard this. I know Abits are good but I've heard problematic. They are still listed with Asus and the top and they are an overclockers wet dream. However, Asus has NEVER let me down and they're good boards. I know it's not fair but in this case I guess I am a bit brand loyal.

"Thing is the ASUS doesn't have onboard RAID, and it adds to the price."

The only RAID I want is the Adaptec Ultra160. I am going SCSI so having a RAID onboard that I wasn't going to use is just wasting money.

But I have time. I'm buying everything but Motherboard, Memory and CPU. Depending on the reviews, what people say in the forums I may decide to try Abit again but I probably wouldn't get one with RAID onboard unless its price is the same as other boards without RAID.

Well if you get the RAID, you can have the ability to hook up 4 more devices. Total of 8 IDE devices....I doubt you'll use it, but still...

Couple of other improvements, small and miniscule. The RAID is the only major upgrade or difference.

That RAID controller only supports RAID-0 does it not and is IDE? I'm getting an Ultra160 SCSI RAID controller to support RAID-5 and I will be getting the Cheetah X15 hard drive. Now, if that board had the Adaptect Ultra160 SCSI RAID on it then I'd say bye bye to Asus unless they had one too :)