I need help buying a new pc.

[LockMate]

Sorry for starting a similar thread. But when one gots too long i find it messy to read.

Im considering a new pc purchase and i've read tons of reviews and all they've done is to confuse me.
I want a AMD64 cpu in my system but there are too many different ones. There are 2 different sockets and i dont know which one to choose. I know S939 is more future safe and 754 is abit cheaper but not much.

Ive read that dual ddr wouldnt give any performance boost, is this true?
I like to play games and i like to stick to my Radeon 9800pro. So agp compatibility is important.
What mobo+cpu would you recommend?

Thank you.

 

[dd_viper]

whats your budget?

if its ~$400 (S939 with MSI neo platium2 with nforce3 and an AMD A64 3200+ or higher depending on budget)

if it <$400 (S754 with $100-120 mobo, dont know much about 754, and a A64 3000+)

"Freeze, your under arrest for the murder of Moe Sislack and Apu Nahasapasa...OK nevermind, just moe, just moe."

 

[endyen]

Do you have everything but mobo and chip?
For $300 you can get <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-131-512&depa=0" target="_new">http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-131-512&depa=0</A> and <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-483&depa=0" target="_new">http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-483&depa=0</A> That should do you really well. If you OC, expect 2.45 with stock cooling. It's more than enough to outlast your graphics card, and keep you happy for a couple of years.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by endyen on 11/01/04 11:25 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[LockMate]

Im just keeping my Video Card from my present computer.
My budget is about $1600.
Are you suggesting i should get a 745?
I've read that the S939 MSI Neo2 has a lot of problmes.

 

[BrandtP]

With that budget I would look toward the 939 chipset since it is future safe. For that kind of money you can probably build a nice one. Go back to Newegg and check out the other 939 motherboards. They are not limited to MSI (Gigabyte and Epox have some as well. The former, I understand, is a reputable brand). Just my $0.02.

 

[LockMate]

Thx. But the thing is that I live in Sweden
Is there any big difference between dual and non dual ram?
If there isnt, I might go for the 754 because its cheaper and i can upgrade other stuff like hdds.

 

[snotling]

Dual RAM allows higher performance when coupled with a powerfull CPU.

but with a lower clocked CPU gains are only minimal.

As we have seen with NF2 boards in the past, when the NF2 400 non-Ultra and the NF2 Ultra (single vs Dual)were compared, benchmarks showed only slight diferences and sometimes the single channel solution had the upper hand.

Unless you wangt the absolute top performance and you are willing to pay a lot of money on you're CPU and RAM as well you might as well go with the socket 754.

also, If you buy new PC every 2 years or so Upgrading is probably not much of a concern.

 

[LockMate]

Ok.
Ill go for the 754, are there any mobos you would recommend?

 

[snotling]

I don't know what's available in Sweeden as far as models and brands you can find.

If you can wait a couple weeks, NF4 will probably be available from most major manufacturers. (BUT NF4 is PCIe not AGP)

Until then The NF3 is a good Choice, But you can find Cheaper stuff that will work, using VIA or SiS Chipset.

(this is not a recommendation)If you are brave and like to venture in the unknown, ASROCK even has a dual socket Motherboard with an ULi Chipset... at this point I have no feedback on this topic except a review at OCworkbench.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by snotling on 11/01/04 05:26 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[pat]

Chexk for the Soltek k8an2e-gr. That the one I use and nothing bad to say about it


-Always put the blame on you first, then on the hardware !!!

 

[endyen]

The best board for s754 (imho) is the Asus K8N-E Deluxe. The K8N is almost as good, with just a few less features, for a lot less money.

 

[LockMate]

I'll check all the mobos mentioned.
Thanks for your help!