Building New 64bit System: Need Input

[silverwolf636]

I've decided to build a new system. I been doing a lot of compatibility searches with little luck. I don't have a bunch of money to put into it but here is what I've been looking at. I have been very happy with Ubuntu 10.04 lts Lucid 32-bit version and thought I would install the 64-bit version on this. All of this is from newegg.com
I would like your input on this system. Are there any compatibility problems here?

ASUS M4A785-M AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Model #:M4A785-M
Item #:N82E16813131595

XFX PVT94GYAJG GeForce 9400 GT 512MB 64-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
Model#: PVT94GYAJG
Item #:N82E16814150488

AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor ADX640WFGMBOX
Model #:ADX640WFGMBOX
Item #:N82E16819103871

Kingston HyperX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 Desktop Memory Model KHX8500D2K2/4G
Model #:KHX8500D2K2/4G
Item #:N82E16820104073

Along with this I have 1-Sata 500G and a 1-Sata 250G hard drives that will be installed.

Thanks gang,
--ray--

[TaZMAniac]

You should have no problems with any of that hardware but if I may, I'd like to make some recommendations about your choices.

First off is the motherboard. You are selecting a micro-atx board. If this due to case compatibility?
You also selected a motherboard that is the older AM2, AM2+, AM3.
Good if you have an older cpu you want to recycle. Since you are purchasing a new AM3 cpu you may want to go with a motherboard that strictly uses the AM3 cpu.

Several reasons for this. And yes, the motherboard will cost a bit more but you can make up that extra cost with savings in Ram prices.
Your choice of motherboard uses DDR2 Ram. This is so it will remain compatible with the older AM2 cpu's.

The AM3 only board uses the newer DDR3 Ram which is about $30 cheaper then the DDR2 you selected. So you see by upgrading to the newest version of motherboard , you will save the extra cost in Ram and have a much faster system.
And using a full ATX board will provide you with more pci and pci-e slots for future expansion.

I happen to be using a ASUS motherboard with a AM3 dual core cpu, 2 Gb's of DDR3 Ram and a lowly el-cheapo Nvidia based 8400 video card running on Ubuntu 10.04 64 bit with absolutely no problems at all.

Good luck with your build.

[silverwolf636]

You should have no problems with any of that hardware but if I may, I'd like to make some recommendations about your choices.

First off is the motherboard. You are selecting a micro-atx board. If this due to case compatibility?
You also selected a motherboard that is the older AM2, AM2+, AM3.
Good if you have an older cpu you want to recycle. Since you are purchasing a new AM3 cpu you may want to go with a motherboard that strictly uses the AM3 cpu.

Several reasons for this. And yes, the motherboard will cost a bit more but you can make up that extra cost with savings in Ram prices.
Your choice of motherboard uses DDR2 Ram. This is so it will remain compatible with the older AM2 cpu's.

The AM3 only board uses the newer DDR3 Ram which is about $30 cheaper then the DDR2 you selected. So you see by upgrading to the newest version of motherboard , you will save the extra cost in Ram and have a much faster system.
And using a full ATX board will provide you with more pci and pci-e slots for future expansion.

I happen to be using a ASUS motherboard with a AM3 dual core cpu, 2 Gb's of DDR3 Ram and a lowly el-cheapo Nvidia based 8400 video card running on Ubuntu 10.04 64 bit with absolutely no problems at all.

Good luck with your build.

I understand what you are saying about the AM2/AM3. I actually am still searching the motherboard. I thought I found one, MSI, but it was not on the compatible list of motherboards. I'll double check at newegg and see what I can find. If ya don't mind, keep an eye out on this thread for an updated setup. Thanks for the reply.

--ray--

[TaZMAniac]

If you can use a full atx board you may want to check out this ASUS board;


Newegg.com - ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard

I'll be looking forward to your updated list.
BTW.... Good price on that video card.
Nice thing with Linux is you don't need bleeding edge software to have a snappy system.

[silverwolf636]

Taz brought a couple of things to my attention. With that I'm setting up another system. The only thing I wish I could've thrown out a couple more dollars for is that the USB be 3.0 instead of 2.0. I took the AM2/AM3 to only AM3, DDR2 to DDR3 and a mini ATX to and an ATX. Well, here it is:

ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard
Model #:M4A79XTD EVO
Item #:N82E16813131402

A-DATA Gaming Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model AX3U1600GB2G9-2G
Model #:AX3U1600GB2G9-2G
Item #:N82E16820211409

AMD Athlon II X2 250 Regor 3.0GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor ADX250OCGMBOX
Model #:ADX250OCGMBOX
Item #:N82E16819103903


XFX PVT94GYAJG GeForce 9400 GT 512MB 64-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
Model #:PVT94GYAJG
Item #:N82E1681415048

--ray--

[TaZMAniac]

You went from a quad core to a dual core?
Why?
Money? Savings in price of Ram made up for difference in motherboard.
The quad core you originally selected will work in that motherboard.

Either way you will have a very nice system.
Hope your power supply is a quality one.
I find most failures are from cheap power supplies.

Good luck to you and enjoy building your new system.

BTW..... By the time I can afford a new upgrade, USB 4 will be out. LOL!!

[silverwolf636]

You went from a quad core to a dual core?
Why?
Money? Savings in price of Ram made up for difference in motherboard.
The quad core you originally selected will work in that motherboard.

Either way you will have a very nice system.
Hope your power supply is a quality one.
I find most failures are from cheap power supplies.

Good luck to you and enjoy building your new system.

BTW..... By the time I can afford a new upgrade, USB 4 will be out. LOL!!

LOL. Actually I didn't think the Quad Core would work on that system. Ugh. I feel like a yoyo here. back and forth comparing everything. Now I'm goin back and take a second look at that quad core and that mb you recommended. By the way, thanks a lot for your help. I've been working on computers since the mid 80's but have fell away from the technical part of it. I'm starting to get back into that area.

EDIT: I went back to the quad core. Ugh.
AMD Phenom II X4 820 Deneb 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor HDX820WFK4FGI - OEM
Model #:HDX820WFK4FGI
Item #:N82E16819103824

--ray--

[TaZMAniac]

I'm gonna pull that yo-yo string one more time. LOL!!
That Denab cpu is not a retail cpu.
No heatsink and fan and only 1 year warranty instead of 3 years like the retail has.

You're getting there.

Happy to help. Been building computers for well over a decade now. I know most of the pitfalls and mistakes made when doing this the first few times.
Just trying to guide you in the direction of a no hassle build.

[silverwolf636]

LOL. How's this one check out. Ugh. You think that ram is ok?

ram
Item=N82E16820211409]Newegg.com - A-DATA Gaming Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model AX3U1600GB2G9-2G

cpu
AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor ADX640WFGMBOX
Model #:ADX640WFGMBOX
Item #:N82E16819103871

--ray--

[TaZMAniac]

Looking good.
Ram should be fine.
Never used A-DATA but it has good user reviews so it should work right out of the box.

Linux should run like a banshee with your setup.
Like i said, I have a AMD dual core with 2 gigs of Ram and my boot times are around 25 seconds.

I should get more Ram as I sometimes run multiple virtual machines at the same time.
Gets a bit tight with only 2 gigs. LOL!!

Have fun!