BUilding new System, Please input.

[joek71]

Hi guys, I am building a new system. My current one i am giving to my kids,the current one is'Abit KG-7Raid, AthlonXP 1500+'over clocked to 1.4gig stable', Mushkin DDRam 2100 512mb, Nvidia GeForce3, Philips Audio card"
I am keeping my Antec 1030B case. getting a mid-tower case for the kids. Can I put the old parts into the new case?

The new system will be this:
Epox-8K5A3+ $113
512MB Samsung 2700 $150
Swiftech-MCX462+ $44
AthlonXP 1900+ "AGOGA Stepping" $89
(2) Maxtor 80GB 7200RPM model#6Y080L0 Diamond Plus9 $216 for 2
Fan Sunon 120mm 3100rpm 90cfm $10
Fan adapter"Funnel" 120-80mm $n/a
memory cooler w/ fan. $9

What do you guys think? The entire upgrade is running me around $660 plus shipping, all from newegg.com

How much will I be able to overclock the cpu?

Please provide your thoughts they are greatly appreciated.Can I get some parts cheaper?

Thanks,
Joe

[NorthernYankee]

It all sounds good Joe, I just have 2 reccomendations.

Ditch the Epox and get teh Abit KD-7 Raid its only $3 more, it has everything the epox does except for the second set of RAID channels, but who really needs 4 anyways, and it will overclock better and is more future proof cause it has the KT400 chipset whereas the Epox has the KT333 chipset.

And on your processor I would get a 1800+ T-Bred its $69 so you save $20 and it will overclock better than the 1900+ pally

--NY

[joek71]

Thanks, but I thought you like the Epox mobo? What is the difference between the 4 and 2? And the AthlonXP1800+ is better then that stepping?

[NorthernYankee]

I do like Epox but the Abit is better, as for the 4 and the 2 I guess u mean the RAID channels. The Epox has 4 and the Abit has 2, I personnaly don't think many people will use 4 so 2 will be good enough.

And the 1800+ T-Bred(not the regular 1800+) will be a better overclocking chip then the 1900+ AGOGA because it is built on the .13 micron process and is better then the .18 chips.

--NY

[joek71]

Thanks for the info, I have a question about the case, I currently own a Sony VAIO, I am looking for the same kind of case in height, will my parts fit into a mini tower? The sony is H-14" by 17"
will my old parts fit into a same case? or should i get a little taller case?

[NorthernYankee]

If its an ATX size case it should, you will prolly just have to try it out and see.

--NY

[joek71]

Ok, would you know of any good sites where i can everything i need at a good price besides newegg? The one thing I dont like about Abit is that the cpu is to close to the edge. What is better to overclock the epox or the abit? Maybe another epox mobo?
Does Epox support the T-Berd chip?What about the EP-8K9A2+
how is this mobo compared to the abit KD7-Raid?

[NorthernYankee]

I buy 99% of my Computer hardware from Newegg there prices and Customer support are second to none.

The Abit will overclock slightly better then the Epox...thats why I personnaly would go with the Abit, but when I say slightly I do mean slightly in day-to-day use the differences will not be noticed. The Epox boards in my opinion are just slightly slower but are more feature rich and easy to get running fast. So the Epox would probably be better for your needs. But I would go with the Epox EP-8K9A2+ instead its like $12 more but it uses the KT400 chipset like the Abit I said earlier so it will be better in the long run. And yes they will work with the T-Bred.

So I would say go with the Epox EP-8K9A2+

--NY

[joek71]

Thank you NorthernYankee for your opinion, for the t-berd will the Swiftech MCX462+ be good or t-berd need different heatsink, due to the smaller core?

Thanks,
Joe

[NorthernYankee]

The Swifty will do Great on the T-Bred.

--NY

[joek71]

Thanks, I am getting the Swiftech with a fan adatper and a 120mm Sunon fan. So will get better cfm on the chip. To unlock the T-berd is it the same way as the AthnlonXP?