Re: deciding on a new amd64 system
On Wed, Jun 06, 2007 at 11:15:06PM +0200, Gilles Sadowski wrote:
> I'm also inquiring about hardware for a new system.
> Based on previous posts (with some replacements for parts I didn't
> readily found in the closest shop), here is my tentative list (with
> alternative choices):
>
> CPU Intel Core 2 Duo E6400
> CPU AMD Athlon64 5000
> RAM 1024MB DDR2-6400 800Mhz
> Fan Zalman CNPS9500
Stock fans actually work quite well, are very quiet, and unless you
intend to do serious overclocking, I wouldn't bother with a seperate
fan.
I would pick the Core 2 over the Athlon 64 at this time. The Core 2 is
a more modern design and performs better. The Athlon 64 is still nice,
but it isn't a match for the Core 2.
> MB (Intel CPU) Asus P5N32-E SLI + S775 DualX16 FSB1333 FW GbLan
> MB (Intel CPU) Intel Mbo DP965LT-Skt LGA775/1066/DDR2-800/SATA/IDE/1394
> MB (AMD CPU) Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe-AM2/SATA/Wifi/DDR2-800/G
I have only bought Asus boards since 1993 now, and have no intension of
changing. The one intel board I have dealt with at a previous job
didn't last very long before it died. I was unimpressed. Asus seems to
have much more thought out board designs. Nothing wrong with the intel
chipset though. I used an Asus P5B in the last machine I built (for my
sister) and it just works.
> HDD WD 320GB SATA
> HDD WD 160GB SATA
> HDD Seagate 160GB 8MB SATA-II
> HDD Seagate 320GB 16MB SATA-II
I would certainly go for the WD drives. I have used many WD3200KS
drives, as well as some 250 and 500GB versions.
> Case Silverstone TJ01-SI (No power supply)
> Case Antec Atlas (TruePower Trio 550W)
> Power Fortron Blue Storm 500W 23dB
> Power Silverstone ST50EF-Plus (recommended)
I have lately been very happy with silverstone cases and power supplies.
Machine so quiet you have to check the power light to make sure you
actually turned it on.
I really like the TJ04-B and the TJ09 (for a large system). Silverstone
power supplies use very large fans which make almost no sound. Very
high build quality too.
> Graphics Asus Extreme N7600GT Silencer 256MB
7600GT is a very nice card. Good performance for the money.
> Screen Samsung 205BW
> Screen Samsung SyncMaster 226BW (recommended)
I never did like samsung screens.
> Screen ViewSonic VG2230wm
Viewsonic has usually done well for me.
> Headset Plantronics 340
> Microphone Plantronics Audio 15
I have no idea on those. I use a 10 year old set of rather nice sony
head phones, and I have a pair of JBL Multimedia Pro speakers that sound
amazing and cost $10 (Didn't make much sense to me).
> Keyboard Cherry Cymotion Expert G86 Black USB
> Mouse Logitech MX40 Laser
I tend to stick with some logitech mouse and keyboard. Sometimes a
wireless combo like the mx3200 or similar.
> Is there some reason to avoid some of the above HW (e.g. no linux support,
> bad components,...)?
I think everything on your list has linux support.
> What would be the preferred choice (for CPU, MB, HDD, case, screen, power
> supply, fans)? Is it safe to assume that currently, an AMD CPU performance
> is equivalent to an Intel CPU at about the same price?
No I wouldn't assume that. And remember the cost you pay is for a whole
system, not just the cpu. After all if $100 extra gives you double the
performance, and the whole system costs $1000, is the extra $100 worth
it? I would think it is, but for some people that don't need the extra
performance, it might not be.
Of course you can get a stupid little Athlon 64 X2 3600+ system from
dell for $399CDN at the moment. Hard to beat that price/performance
ratio. Of course it is a Dell, so who knows... :)
--
Len Sorensen
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