Very Computer

by **greg** » Sun, 29 Jan 2006 03:19:49

Me again. I'm getting close to buy a machine.
Hope somebody can give me some input on the two configs below. They are
from different stores, Config 2 is from a store that's usually more
expensive. I'm a heavy user (scientific number crunching), but
clueless about hardware. Graphics not that critical for my needs.

Are these performing systems? Will they run OK run under Linux (Suse
10.1)? Which one is better? Is there any change I could make to save a
buck, or to improve the systems? Thanks a lot.

Config1
-----------
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 939 Dual Core
mobo: ASUS A8NSLI DELUXE NFORCE 4 SAT 2
graphics: GeCube ATI X700PRO 512Mb DDR3 PClex16
RAM: 1024 Mb DDR400 (2x512) Kingston CL3
HD: SATA 250Gb 16MB Buffer 7200rpm Maxtor
power supply 350W
870 Euro

Config2
---------
CPU AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+(2.0GHz) 64bit
mobo: Foxconn NF4UK8AA-8EKRS Sk939 FSB2000
RAM: Kingston 1024Mb PC400 DDR
Disk: Seagate 200Gb SATA 7200rpm
graphics: AOpen Aeolus 6200TC DV128/256 PCI-E 128MbDDR
350W (775)
1100 Euro

by **General Schvantzkop** » Sun, 29 Jan 2006 03:39:29

> Me again. I'm getting close to buy a machine.
> Hope somebody can give me some input on the two configs below. They are
> from different stores, Config 2 is from a store that's usually more
> expensive. I'm a heavy user (scientific number crunching), but
> clueless about hardware. Graphics not that critical for my needs.

> Are these performing systems? Will they run OK run under Linux (Suse
> 10.1)? Which one is better? Is there any change I could make to save a
> buck, or to improve the systems? Thanks a lot.

> Config1
> -----------
> CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 939 Dual Core
> mobo: ASUS A8NSLI DELUXE NFORCE 4 SAT 2
> graphics: GeCube ATI X700PRO 512Mb DDR3 PClex16
> RAM: 1024 Mb DDR400 (2x512) Kingston CL3
> HD: SATA 250Gb 16MB Buffer 7200rpm Maxtor
> power supply 350W
> 870 Euro

> Config2
> ---------
> CPU AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+(2.0GHz) 64bit
> mobo: Foxconn NF4UK8AA-8EKRS Sk939 FSB2000
> RAM: Kingston 1024Mb PC400 DDR
> Disk: Seagate 200Gb SATA 7200rpm
> graphics: AOpen Aeolus 6200TC DV128/256 PCI-E 128MbDDR
> 350W (775)
> 1100 Euro

Some general comments,

1) Avoid Maxtor drives, they're incredibly unreliable. I always buy
Seagates. Eventually they'll be the same because Seagate has bought Maxtor
but for now buy Seagate drives.

2) I'd pick the ASUS motherboards over the Foxconn. ASUS is a top tier
producer. MSI and ABIT are fine also. However you don't need SLI, get a
non-SLI Nforce4 motherboard.

3) Make sure you get an Nvidia graphics card. Nvidia has much better Linux
support then ATI.

4) Power supply. 350W is not enough. Get at least 450W and make sure it's
a name brand supply like Enermax or Antec.

5) 1G of RAM is on the low side. Get 2G if you are planning on doing any
serious computing.

by **greg** » Sun, 29 Jan 2006 05:35:22

Thanks for the reply. A couple of questions concerning the points you
made:
2) among non-SLI mobo, would you recommend A8V-E or A8N-E ?

3) could you recommend any Nvidia graphics card?

by **General Schvantzkop** » Sun, 29 Jan 2006 06:26:05

> Thanks for the reply. A couple of questions concerning the points you
> made:
> 2) among non-SLI mobo, would you recommend A8V-E or A8N-E ?

> 3) could you recommend any Nvidia graphics card?

I'm using an MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum with an X2 4400+ and 4G of RAM and
Fedora Core 4. I'm guessing that an A8N-E is an
Nforce4 card and that A8V-E is Via. I'd always pick Nvidia over Via so get
the A8N-E. As for Nvidia Graphics cards I'd choose that by price. You want
a mid priced card, something in the $100-$150 range. You don't need a high
end card, those are for games, and there aren't a lot of PCI Express cards
under $100. I don't think brand makes a lot of difference, most of them
are just using Nvidia's reference design.

by **William Par** » Sun, 29 Jan 2006 14:48:32

> > Thanks for the reply. A couple of questions concerning the points you
> > made:
> > 2) among non-SLI mobo, would you recommend A8V-E or A8N-E ?

> > 3) could you recommend any Nvidia graphics card?

> I'm using an MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum with an X2 4400+ and 4G of RAM and
> Fedora Core 4. I'm guessing that an A8N-E is an
> Nforce4 card and that A8V-E is Via. I'd always pick Nvidia over Via so get

Can elaborate on "Nvidia over Via" comment? I usually go with Via, just
because I don't have to download any binary drivers.

Quote:> the A8N-E. As for Nvidia Graphics cards I'd choose that by price. You
> want a mid priced card, something in the $100-$150 range. You don't
> need a high end card, those are for games, and there aren't a lot of
> PCI Express cards under $100. I don't think brand makes a lot of
> difference, most of them are just using Nvidia's reference design.

To OP, it all depends on your application. If it's SMP aware, then dual
core helps. Otherwise, go with single. For number cruching, CPU is
first priority, and then memory. Again, check with your program.

--

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by **Ken** » Sun, 29 Jan 2006 15:05:56

> Me again. I'm getting close to buy a machine.
> Hope somebody can give me some input on the two configs below. They are
> from different stores, Config 2 is from a store that's usually more
> expensive. I'm a heavy user (scientific number crunching), but
> clueless about hardware. Graphics not that critical for my needs.

> Are these performing systems? Will they run OK run under Linux (Suse
> 10.1)? Which one is better? Is there any change I could make to save a
> buck, or to improve the systems? Thanks a lot.

> Config1
> -----------
> CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 939 Dual Core
> mobo: ASUS A8NSLI DELUXE NFORCE 4 SAT 2
> graphics: GeCube ATI X700PRO 512Mb DDR3 PClex16
> RAM: 1024 Mb DDR400 (2x512) Kingston CL3
> HD: SATA 250Gb 16MB Buffer 7200rpm Maxtor
> power supply 350W
> 870 Euro

> Config2
> ---------
> CPU AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+(2.0GHz) 64bit
> mobo: Foxconn NF4UK8AA-8EKRS Sk939 FSB2000
> RAM: Kingston 1024Mb PC400 DDR
> Disk: Seagate 200Gb SATA 7200rpm
> graphics: AOpen Aeolus 6200TC DV128/256 PCI-E 128MbDDR
> 350W (775)
> 1100 Euro

I like the first configuration except for the video card. Ask if they can
swap out an ATI for an NVIDIA equivalent. You should run fine then in
Linux.

It may be possible to run the gatos drivers with that ATI card though, but
I'm not sure. 1Gb memory will be fine. The maxtor will likely do the job.
The company may be willing to change brand for you.

by **John-Paul Stewar** » Mon, 30 Jan 2006 01:03:34

>>graphics: GeCube ATI X700PRO 512Mb DDR3 PClex16

> It may be possible to run the gatos drivers with that ATI card though, but
> I'm not sure.

??? The GATOS drivers are primarily for TV-related functions, and they
don't support the X700 chip at all.

The ATI proprietary drivers, however, will support that graphics card.

by **Johannes Truschnig** » Thu, 30 Mar 2006 01:16:34

In any case, you should absolutely get a matched pair of DIMM-sticks for running your setup in dual-channel-mode, thus greatly improving memory-performance. I would stick with Config1 for that matter, since it features a X700-card, which comes with rather nice, completely free and open drivers, unlike NVIDIA's offerings.

On 27 Jan 2006 10:19:49 -0800

> Me again. I'm getting close to buy a machine.
> Hope somebody can give me some input on the two configs below. They are
> from different stores, Config 2 is from a store that's usually more
> expensive. I'm a heavy user (scientific number crunching), but
> clueless about hardware. Graphics not that critical for my needs.

> Are these performing systems? Will they run OK run under Linux (Suse
> 10.1)? Which one is better? Is there any change I could make to save a
> buck, or to improve the systems? Thanks a lot.

> Config1
> -----------
> CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 939 Dual Core
> mobo: ASUS A8NSLI DELUXE NFORCE 4 SAT 2
> graphics: GeCube ATI X700PRO 512Mb DDR3 PClex16
> RAM: 1024 Mb DDR400 (2x512) Kingston CL3
> HD: SATA 250Gb 16MB Buffer 7200rpm Maxtor
> power supply 350W
> 870 Euro

> Config2
> ---------
> CPU AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+(2.0GHz) 64bit
> mobo: Foxconn NF4UK8AA-8EKRS Sk939 FSB2000
> RAM: Kingston 1024Mb PC400 DDR
> Disk: Seagate 200Gb SATA 7200rpm
> graphics: AOpen Aeolus 6200TC DV128/256 PCI-E 128MbDDR
> 350W (775)
> 1100 Euro

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phone: +43 650 2 133337

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by **General Schvantzkop** » Thu, 30 Mar 2006 04:32:58

> Me again. I'm getting close to buy a machine. Hope somebody can give me
> some input on the two configs below. They are from different stores,
> Config 2 is from a store that's usually more expensive. I'm a heavy user
> (scientific number crunching), but clueless about hardware. Graphics not
> that critical for my needs.

> Are these performing systems? Will they run OK run under Linux (Suse
> 10.1)? Which one is better? Is there any change I could make to save a
> buck, or to improve the systems? Thanks a lot.

> Config1
> -----------
> CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 939 Dual Core mobo: ASUS A8NSLI DELUXE NFORCE
> 4 SAT 2 graphics: GeCube ATI X700PRO 512Mb DDR3 PClex16 RAM: 1024 Mb
> DDR400 (2x512) Kingston CL3 HD: SATA 250Gb 16MB Buffer 7200rpm Maxtor
> power supply 350W
> 870 Euro

> Config2
> ---------
> CPU AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+(2.0GHz) 64bit mobo: Foxconn NF4UK8AA-8EKRS
> Sk939 FSB2000 RAM: Kingston 1024Mb PC400 DDR
> Disk: Seagate 200Gb SATA 7200rpm
> graphics: AOpen Aeolus 6200TC DV128/256 PCI-E 128MbDDR
> 350W (775)
> 1100 Euro

Avoid Maxtor drives, the're nothing but trouble, get a Seagate. Also avoid
ATI graphics cards, Nvidia has much better Linux support. Finally the X2
3800+ only has 1/2M caches, get a 4400+ if you can afford it. I'd prefer
an ASUS motherboard over the Foxcon, I have MSI motherboards in my A64
systems.

Very Computer

please critique these two Athlon X2 3800+ configs

please critique these two Athlon X2 3800+ configs

please critique these two Athlon X2 3800+ configs

please critique these two Athlon X2 3800+ configs

please critique these two Athlon X2 3800+ configs

please critique these two Athlon X2 3800+ configs

please critique these two Athlon X2 3800+ configs

please critique these two Athlon X2 3800+ configs

please critique these two Athlon X2 3800+ configs

please critique these two Athlon X2 3800+ configs