New PC for the brother!

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

So, the original plan was to use an old S478 CPU with a PCIe enabled S478 board, but today, I realized. What the hell, I can build a better PC for $60 more than before. So, throw some thoughts on this.
Newegg.com - ABIT AN52 Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 520 MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Newegg.com - AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Brisbane 1.9GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor - Retail
Newegg.com - OCZ Value Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Centurion 532 RC-532-SKN1 Black Aluminum bezel, SECC chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Newegg.com - FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX400-PN, RoHS, 12cm FAN, version 2.2, 2 SATA, 20+ 4 pin, PCI Express, 400W Power Supply - Retail
Newegg.com - LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner with LightScribe - OEM
Newegg.com - SYBA PCMCIA PCI to Cardbus Add-on Card Model SD-PCI-PCM - Retail

The last item is so we can use his PCMCIA Sound Blaster Audigy 2. . Yes, there's no HD, because I already have that item. 200GB Seagate... forgot the model.

So, any recommendations? It's coming to $383 shipped.

EDIT: We're using my old GeForce 6800 for video.

[gvblake22]

For the same price as that Lite-On drive, you can get the Samsung SATA DVD burner. I have the Samsung one and it is awesome and VERY quiet.

As for the motherboard, just remember it has an 8-pin EPS power connector and that power supply doesn't have such a connector. Supposedly you can still run it with just the single 4-pin CPU power connector, but I just wanted to bring that to your attention.

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Originally Posted by gvblake22

For the same price as that Lite-On drive, you can get the Samsung SATA DVD burner. I have the Samsung one and it is awesome and VERY quiet.

As for the motherboard, just remember it has an 8-pin EPS power connector and that power supply doesn't have such a connector. Supposedly you can still run it with just the single 4-pin CPU power connector, but I just wanted to bring that to your attention.

When did that happen? Well. Haha.

I chose that board because it has numerous PCI slots (we need three, minimum), four DDR2 slots, a nice chipset, etc.

Is that 8 pin thing completely necessary? I've never actually seen a PSU or mobo with that before.

[Yellowhello]

My mobo has the 8-pin connection, and you only need it it get more power to the CPU during OCing. For more stability.

[gvblake22]

I've never owned a motherboard with an 8-pin EPS connector, but I think Capper said you could run it with just the 4-pin connector too.

[Yellowhello]

Yes, I believe you can run it with only the 4-pin connection. The 8-pin just adds more stability.

[Reloadron]

The idea behind the connector (8 pin) called out in the EPS specification was to allow for the delivery of more power to the CPU. A 4 pin ATX specification connector had two 12 Volt lines and two commons. The EPS specification took that connector to 8 pins consisting of four 12 Volt lines and 4 commons. Thus, in theory, we double the allowable current to the CPU.

Things work this way. Each pin in the connector is rated for about 5 Amps of current. Working to the ATX12V2 specification the max allowable current on any 12 Volt rail is 20 Amps (240 VA). The original intent of the 12V2 rail was to provide power to the CPU. The 240 VA thing is a safety issue. That is why multi-rail PSUs limit the current per rail to 18 Amps. The 240 VA (VA= Volts * Amps) thus 12 * 20 = 240.

The demand of CPUs was ever increasing as to power required. However, newer CPUs are doing more with less. A four pin CPU connector will work just fine in an eight pin socket on the motherboard assuming the CPU is not going to draw more than 10 Amps. The issue is not stability, the CPU will either work or not work. The CPU will have about 18 Amps available on a connector connected to a rail.

Something else to note is that terms like EPS and ATX refer to specifications and are not the specific names of connectors. The connectors have specific part numbers called out in the specifications.

From our for what it's worth department.

Ron

[fps justin]

i think that pc will serve your brother great.

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by Reloadron

Something else to note is that terms like EPS and ATX refer to specifications and are not the specific names of connectors. The connectors have specific part numbers called out in the specifications.

From our for what it's worth department.

aahh, thanks for the tip. What should we be calling the 8-pin connector?

[[Dr. V]]

You can most definitely run it with just the 4-pin. Make sure you don't OC it too too much though.