Time to upgrade. Need some input.

M4v3r1ck · Post by **M4v3r1ck** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 6:50 pm

So it really has been awhile since I upgraded my memory, cpu, mobo, and video card so this is the time that I've decided to get a new machine. I've taken my budget and pieced together some of the components that I would like to have in my new system. The only problem is I have not been able to stay within my budget. My max after taxes and shipping can not exceed $2000 (cdn). Here are the system pieces that I was looking at. If any of you can think of alternative pieces of hardware that would save me money and not sacrifice performance, then please share.

case: Coolermaster TAC-T01 Wave Master
PS: Antec True Power II 550W EPS12V
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ socket 939
Cooling: Masscool / Socket 754, 939, 940 / AMD Athlon 64 / Ball Bearing / CPU Cooling Fan
Mobo: DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 SLI-DR Expert
Memory: OCZ EL Titanium PC3200 2GB 2X1GB DDR400 CL2-3-2-5 184PIN Dual Channel Memory Kit W/ Ramsink
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB SATA2 3GB/S 7200RPM 16MB Cache
Video Card: EVGA GeForce 7900 GT KO / 256MB
Sound: Creative Sound Blaster X-FI Xtreme Music 24BIT Sound Card
Monitor: Samsung 940BF 19IN LCD*
OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition OEM**

* Could possible save $50-100 on a cheaper monitor but that may be sacrificing too much?
** May just hold off a bit to get the new OS from Microsoft. Vista. That may bump up the price a bit though?

Suggestions? Comments?

Mav

Post by **Neophyte** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:56 am

Nice system!

By not including a water cooling kit, I'm assuming that you don't plan to overclock the hell out of this computer. You might be able to save a bit on RAM and on the motherboard if this is true. I'll have to take a closer look when I get some more time.

But today, I would build around an Intel Core Duo 2 processor. Unless you're against Intel for various reasons. Core Duo 2 spanks the dookie out of AMD 64's at everything, including lower power requirements. I would look at an E6400 which should be in your price range.

Post by **Serpent** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:04 pm

Neophyte wrote:Nice system!

By not including a water cooling kit, I'm assuming that you don't plan to overclock the hell out of this computer. You might be able to save a bit on RAM and on the motherboard if this is true. I'll have to take a closer look when I get some more time.

But today, I would build around an Intel Core Duo 2 processor. Unless you're against Intel for various reasons. Core Duo 2 spanks the dookie out of AMD 64's at everything, including lower power requirements. I would look at an E6400 which should be in your price range.

i've always been told and also heard...for years...that amd cpus were better specifically...for gaming? has this changed, with the onset of the intel dual core?

TooLBlue · Post by **TooLBlue** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:19 pm

AMD also has dual core, correct?

Post by **D.A.R.K.[CotC]** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:30 pm

yes, amd has dual core, and is the best

Post by **Neophyte** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:41 pm

Serpent wrote:i've always been told and also heard...for years...that amd cpus were better specifically...for gaming? has this changed, with the onset of the intel dual core?

Chipzilla woke up, and had one helluva appetite!

The old Pentium 4's were slow. They needed a ton of clock cycles to get work done. And had a long pipeline so they couldn't adapt very quickly to change. They we designed to run up to speeds of 8 - 10 Ghz. But the problem was that we're still at 4 Ghz, and they're needing a ton of cooling and power problems to be solved before they can clock that high.

Intel got tired of being last to AMD and redesigned their CPU. The new Core Duo 2 behaves more like AMD's (lots of work done at a slower Ghz speed) and runs a lot faster. But they also fixed heat and power requirements.

I fully expect AMD to answer the Core Duo 2 attack. But for now, all that AMD can do is give you higher clock speeds.

TooLBlue wrote:AMD also has dual core, correct?

Both companies now are starting to roll out dual core CPU's. There is more single core CPU's on the market than dual core at the moment. AMD's dual core CPU earns the 'X2" label. Where you have to be careful with Intel, but I think the '2' in the name describes the dual core CPU. (I.E. Core Duo T2400 vs. Core Duo 2 E6400 is a single core vs. a dual core respectively.)

Post by **Baron[CotC]** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:42 pm

Mav, the current AMD socket is AM2, not 939 -- you're listing already obsolete parts.

the AM2 socket also runs on newer DDR2 RAM.

If you bought the system as you listed, there would be no upgrade path as your motherboard, CPU, and RAM arent compatible with whats being produced.

I recently upgraded to an AMD X2 on the AM2 socket and its very awesome.

M4v3r1ck · Post by **M4v3r1ck** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:57 pm

Neophyte wrote: But today, I would build around an Intel Core Duo 2 processor. Unless you're against Intel for various reasons. Core Duo 2 spanks the dookie out of AMD 64's at everything, including lower power requirements. I would look at an E6400 which should be in your price range.

What is a good motherboard that would work with that processor? Wondering if I should focus on an SLI board. I'd be nice to throw a second gpu into the machine at a later date, but that may not be necessary. Is the newer Nvidia chipset the better of the chipsets?

Post by **Neophyte** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:12 pm

M4v3r1ck wrote:What is a good motherboard that would work with that processor? Wondering if I should focus on an SLI board. I'd be nice to throw a second gpu into the machine at a later date, but that may not be necessary. Is the newer Nvidia chipset the better of the chipsets?

You can get nuts with SLI today. You can even build Quad SLI systems now. Yeah, 4 GPU's over 2 cards with almost 4X the performance. (For people who want extreme resolution settings.) The drivers are still pretty beta, but it works for most apps. (Like 200+ games I think)

Any Intel 975 chipset will support SLI. Nvidia also makes good chipsets for it, like an NForce 590 SLI. And either can be found on Asus or DFI mobo's. But I tend to lean to the Intel branded boards to ensure that I'll have solid compatability with all my apps at the sacrafice of the coolness factor. Chipsets are up to tastes and what you want your computer to do I suppose.

But some exotic chipset's can really mess with system compatability. Some times with add-on cards and other times with a low level process, like Direct X. If you have no plans for SLI or at most will only use a GeForce 7950 GX (SLI on a single card) then an Intel 965 chipset (or maybe an Nforce 4 Ultra) would better match the mainstream system design and will work with wider range of applications.

This where all that extra cost of a Falcon-NW or Alienwear PC come in to play. Those guys have tested various vendors and have sorted through the issues and can recomend a stable system. And this is where I sometimes cheat and see what boards they are using to determine which I'll take some serious looks at.

M4v3r1ck · Post by **M4v3r1ck** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:54 pm

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... 12&CatId=0

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... N32SD-4800

Which one is better? Pros and Cons?

probably middle of the pack??? I don't need and certainly can not afford anything that is blazing quick, but I don't want to buy something that I'm going to be unhappy with.

M4v3r1ck · Post by **M4v3r1ck** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:59 pm

M4v3r1ck wrote:http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... 12&CatId=0

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... N32SD-4800

Which one is better? Pros and Cons?

probably middle of the pack??? I don't need and certainly can not afford anything that is blazing quick, but I don't want to buy something that I'm going to be unhappy with.

I am not really sure about the processor on that first one. It may serve me better to go with something like this: http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... 78&CatId=0 and then just get a cheaper video card like a 7900 GT?

Post by **Baron[CotC]** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:04 pm

The AMD motherboard you listed is using the old 939 socket, you'll never be able to upgrade that.

If you want to go AMD, look for the AM2 socket, which uses DDR2 RAM.

Post by **Neophyte** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:07 pm

M4v3r1ck wrote:I am not really sure about the processor on that first one. It may serve me better to go with something like this: http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... 78&CatId=0 and then just get a cheaper video card like a 7900 GT?

I like the sound of that. You'll have a better CPU up front and then can upgrade to SLI when ever you need to.

I'm planning an upgrade early next year and I'm waiting to hear how well the Unreal 3 engine run's on current generation platform. U3 will be the next big test of gaming hardware performance.

M4v3r1ck · Post by **M4v3r1ck** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:13 pm

Baron[CotC] wrote:The AMD motherboard you listed is using the old 939 socket, you'll never be able to upgrade that.

If you want to go AMD, look for the AM2 socket, which uses DDR2 RAM.

oh ya, forgot to include that socket.

M4v3r1ck · Post by **M4v3r1ck** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:18 pm

I like the sound of that. You'll have a better CPU up front and then can upgrade to SLI when ever you need to.

I'm planning an upgrade early next year and I'm waiting to hear how well the Unreal 3 engine run's on current generation platform. U3 will be the next big test of gaming hardware performance.

What would be faster?

Two of these: http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... 85&CatId=0

Or one of these:
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... 65&CatId=0