First AMD system build! Need MB/comments

[Siphon]

i have the Neo 4 Mobo (not platinum) and an AMD 3000+ (Venice core), so i should be able to do exactly what you did right?
(i've also been wondering: what extra features does the nforce4 ultra chipset give you over the the regular nforce 4?)

also, are there any drawbacks of o/c'ing like the cpu burning out faster or anything?

 

[The_Necromancer1]

i would get a DFI Lanparty, not to expensive, but only can ber beat by a fatal1ty mobo

 

[TRDCorolla1]

Hi BDillon. You might want to take off the Zalman heatsink and Artic Silver. YOu won't be needing that while AMD has already supplied you with their version of heatsink/fan in their retail box. You also want to change that memory stick to match that motherboard or any AMD supported motherboard for that matter. I would usually go with an XMS series memory stick, but since you are on a budget this is ok:

CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Unbuffered DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145526

and here's a pretty good motherboard to get:

MSI K8N Neo4-F Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130491

I also notice you have two DVD ROMs and not one of them is a DVD RW. These days, people don't usually get two optical drives. You can still perform disc copy without a second drive. Make sure to get a DVD RW drive. It will also burn CDs too.

LITE-ON Black 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 4X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2M Cache IDE DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106966

 

[Siphon]

i dont think that ram would work, it's 240 pin while the mobo has 184 pin slots.

 

[TRDCorolla1]

My bad, try this one:

CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145440

Got carried away with Intel.

 

[BDillon]

Thanks Corolla,
I will soon change the DVD-RW, but which drive will it replace in my first post?

I don't want to change the ram because I need pc4000 for overclocking and what not.

I need more help on the motherboard, I don't know whether to go with which of the following with my above specs:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130492
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136152

 

[winterfreshpwnz]

No definitely keep the Zalman and Arctic Silver, you'll need them if you wanna OC.

 

[BDillon]

I hear that AMD processors run cool even with stock cooling, but my friend who has an Intel proc overclocked .8ghz more than stock recommends this Zalman.

Is it going to be worth it for overclocking even this AMD 3700+??

 

[winterfreshpwnz]

I thought you were gonna get a cheaper CPU? Anyway yes it will run a lot cooler with a Zalman. AMD's do run cooler, but trust me, if you buy a different heatsinkl then it will OC a lot better.

 

[mighty_chick]

what would u estimate the temp drop is from stock to the zalman?