[__Xzyx987X]

Well, I've never built a computer from scratch before now, and I gotta say it can be a real pain in the butt. First of all, my memory won't run in dual channel mode no matter what I do. Apperently the low-lactency RAM I got has some compatibility issues with my mobo. None of the things I tried on it worked, so maybe if anyone here could offer advice... but I'll get back to that later. I'll probably start a thread for it if the mobo tech support people are no help. Second, one of the jacks for my onboard audio seems to be dead. That not a big problem since I only need one, but it took me forever to figure out why the sound wasn't working. Trying the other jacks was almost the last thing I though of :hdbash:.

But other than that, things seem to be running smoothly. Here are the specs I ended up with:

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (Currently at 2.41GHz, but maybe I could take that up a little later. Actually though, I'm already getting roughly 4 times the performance of my old Pentium 4 1.7GHz, so no complaints here .)

Memory: 512MB x2 Corsair Memory (I forget the exact type. It's rated for up to 400MHz, but right now it's only running at 200MHz. I'm not gonna mess with it till I get the dual channel issue resolved though, as I may have to return it anyway.)

Motherboard: Giga-Byte GA-K8NSNXP-939 nforce3 (Between the memory and the audio problems this thing's been nothing but trouble. I'm probably not going to keep it for very long though. I'd like to move on to a PC Express system within the next 2 years. It'll be fine for the moment.)

Graphics: XFX Geforce 6800 128MB AGP 8x (Seems to perform well for a lower end card. I got 3408 on the 3dmark 2005 Demo version even with the memory issues and no overclocking.)

I gotta say, even with the problems I've had this is way better than my old set up. Now I can finally catch up with what the PC gaming world has been up to for the past couple of years . And I was able to get the whole thing done for under $1500, so I won't have to wait so long for my next upgrade. I'm gonna be gone over the weekend, but after that I'm gonna try to get the memory problem solved, and then tweak the crap out of this thing .

 

[moomoomoo]

Nice computer.

Unfortnate about your ram - however, if you bought both of them from the same place I would think you can get either one of them changed (hopefully the ram!). Not really your fault that both weren't compatible.

 

[Mad]

Some thoughts:
Lower end GFX card? I dont think like you. I got a 6200td 128mb, and its just perfect for me.
Your memory IS running @ 400Mhz. It may show at your BIOS 200Mhz, but since its ddr, it doubles the transfer rate. The Dual channel thing, you have to set the RAM sticks not together, err, im kinda lost here in the explanation, someone will help you better with that...
Your processor couldnt be better, but the MOBO, you could have bought one with NForce 4 chipset.

Besides all said above, you got a really great PC, good luck and happy gaming!!!

 

[GeneralClaymore]

you have to use 2 of the same sticks or ram with the same ram chips on them. and put them in like Slot 1 and 3 for it to run in dual channel mode, it either 1 and 3 for ur GB mobo or 2 and 4. i dont know cuz my mobo 1 and 3 is high voltage ram and 2 and 4 is low voltage ram for me.

so try 1 and 3 first.

 

[__Xzyx987X]

Nice computer.

Unfortnate about your ram - however, if you bought both of them from the same place I would think you can get either one of them changed (hopefully the ram!). Not really your fault that both weren't compatible.

Actually, I got them at completely different places... And if it were up to me, I'd get a different mobo since there was a bad audio jack, and besides, I spent more on the RAM.

Some thoughts:
Lower end GFX card? I dont think like you. I got a 6200td 128mb, and its just perfect for me.

Ok, it's not all that low end . But, I'd say a $200 card is fairly low end when there are $600 ones at the high end.

Your memory IS running @ 400Mhz. It may show at your BIOS 200Mhz, but since its ddr, it doubles the transfer rate.

Ah, OK. I didn't realize that.

The Dual channel thing, you have to set the RAM sticks not together, err, im kinda lost here in the explanation, someone will help you better with that...

I know I have to put the sticks together to get it in dual channel, but when I do that the system resets at the BIOS screen. The guys at Giga-Byte did respond to my tech support request while I was gone. The first idea they had didn't help, but I'll carry on a diolouge with them until they run out of ideas.

Your processor couldnt be better, but the MOBO, you could have bought one with NForce 4 chipset.

I didn't want to spring for a PC Express system when the graphic cards in my price range wouldn't really be able to utilize the extra bandwidth. I think all the nforce 4 chipset mobos are PCI Express, but I could be wrong.

Besides all said above, you got a really great PC, good luck and happy gaming!!!

Thanks .

you have to use 2 of the same sticks or ram with the same ram chips on them. and put them in like Slot 1 and 3 for it to run in dual channel mode, it either 1 and 3 for ur GB mobo or 2 and 4. i dont know cuz my mobo 1 and 3 is high voltage ram and 2 and 4 is low voltage ram for me.

so try 1 and 3 first.

So far I've only been able to get it to boot in 1 and 3, and I know for a fact it doesn't run in dual channel mode in those slots. Everyone I've talked to before has said that dual channel mode only activates when the RAM is in 1 and 2 or 3 and 4 on my particular mobo.

 

[cooliscool]

You do realize that the green jack is main output, right? Plugging your 2.1 speakers into the blue (line in) or pink (mic) isn't going to work.

Those jacks can be turned into multichannel outs though, if necessary, by your driver control panel.

 

[__Xzyx987X]

Yea, the green jack was the one I was trying. It was only when I figured out how to configure it to use a different jack that I got it to work.