Basically, I have about $450, maybe a little more, to spend. At the moment I'm running a POS eMachines with a 2.5ghz Celeron and integrated 64mb Video. I have another computer for gaming, but it's a shared computer.

In general, here's what I use my computer for-
;Browsing/Instant Messaging, etc.
;Audio/Video
;Compiles from VS2005
;Compiles from GCC through VMWare
;Several lightweight server daemons, (MoonEdit, etc.)

At the moment, I have a decent sound card, plenty of 10/100 PCI NICs, a few extra fans, and a case that would work if needed. (A few extra 450W power supplies, as well.) I would also move over any ram needed, (1.24gb PC3200,) hard disks, and CD/DVD drives.

So basically, here's what I need-
;Decent motherboard, with integrated video/PCI-E 16x
;Processor, preferably dual core
;(Possibly) Video Card
;(Possibly) Case+Power Supply

(First of all, let me explain this. For the moment, I have no video card. I'd like to eventually make this computer work for lightweight gaming, IE. not the crazy 300FPS stuff I see. For now, the processor is most important, not the gaming.)

As far as processor usage goes, I do -everything- I listed before _at the same time._ Two compiles from different OS's, iTunes, Firefox, three seperate IM applications, and so on. For now, it's alright, but I just need more power.

I've been looking at the Athlon X2 3800+, but after looking more at benchmarks, I've seen that there are quite a few better for the cost. I would prefer AMD if I get into gaming, but as it stands Intel is completely fine, considering I'd be running a lot of compiles and server applications.

What processor, motherboard, case, and video card combination would you suggest for the lowest price? nForce chipset preferred, and dual core is a must. The video card can wait, but if I can squeeze it in, what would you suggest for something better than a GeForce FX 5200?

Thanks for your help.

for U$ 450.00 ... keep your eMachine unless you double your budget.

Otherwise Athlon 64 X2 and MoBo with integrated SOUND never Video!

Do not save money on MoBo .. You ONLY get what you paid for!

A8N SLI Premium


PCIe Video cards are dirt cheap, you can get one for less than 100.00 U$.

MoBo Asus A8N SLI Premium would cost you about 170.00 U$ and you still need to grind some bucks for RAM and real good Power Supply, and nhere you do not save a dime without cutting the quality/performance ... whatever it means!

some of your PS might be good for a short time, as all the new MoBo will go for not less than .... 24 pin and extra connectors (beside SATAs).

You really need a budget of at least 1000 U$.


Enermax Noisetaker EG701AX-VE(W): Perfect Connections And Quiet

Here is what You could buy:

CPU AMD Athlon™ 64 3700+ Socket 939 1024K bus 2000 0.09u 1.4V 89W 64bit (2200 MHz) BOX - 250,95 USD
MB Msi ATI RS482M4-ILD, ATI RS482, S-939, mATX, PCI-Ex16 / 4xDDR400, U-DMA 133, 4xS-ATA Raid, Video&SB 8ch.&1394&Lan on board, DVI. - 90,51 USD

TOTAL: 341,46

with video card and case (including PSU)

VC GeCube Game Buster Radeon RX550 GU2 256Mb DDR2 PCI Express (128bit) TV-OUT DVI Dual Display - 80,01 USD
CASE FOXCONN TLA-776 ATX 350W 5,25' X 4 Air Duct w/filter, 4 USB 2.0 + Audio + Mic, Fan 80mm/CS, Silver-Black - 39,79 USD

TOTAL: 461,265

save your money for m2!

Well here goes, I run Mandriva Linux as my main OS, and I've been loving my System:

AMD X2 3800+
EPoX 9NPA+ Ultra Motherboard
2x 512mb Corsair XMSPro 2-2-2-5
2x Seagate 7200.9 Sata2 in Raid 0
Asus Nvidia 6600 128mb

I love this system for doing LOTS of stuff at once. I don't do much programming, but when I do compile some simple stuff, It's lightning fast. I can run XP through VMWare Workstation without seeing ANY system slowdown.

I'm not sure if you're using XP or Linux as your main OS. If it is Linux, then don't get the Asus SLI Premium. I owned that board before the Epox, and I had nothing but troubles getting ANY of the Lan ports to work. Apparently that's a trend with the A8N board and Linux.

I also play games using XP x64(it was a mistake buying it, not worth it). Running Half Life 2, I rarely dip below 60fps, which is amazing to me, I didn't think I would get that much performance out of this video card.

But if you want high multi-tasking performance from a system and would like it to still perform well in games, then You couldn't go wrong with the setup I've described.

Intel?
With whole respect
An exellent choice for the lawyers, but not for people who really use their PCs!.

I built business PCs with Intel and AMD, I wouldn't touch any Intel over 3 GHz any more, if I ever would.

AMD have very good and quiet stock heat sink fan assembly for boxed CPUs!

Intel?
With whole respect
An exellent choice for the lawyers, but not for people who really use their PCs!.

I built business PCs with Intel and AMD, I wouldn't touch any Intel over 3 GHz any more, if I ever would.

AMD have very good and quiet stock heat sink fan assembly for boxed CPUs!

Intel might want U$ 1000 for CPU but for this price you have better at least 2 AMD Athlons 64 X2 4400+!kkep in mind that INTEL needs
1.33 times electrons than AMDs! Saying so Intel works over 90 degrees celsjus (190 farenheit) while my rig is rarely heating to 52 degree Celsjus (125 farenheit) usually running 47-48 celsjus on 27 celsjus ambient (80 farenheit) !

So you need Air Conditioned room with lower temps like 72 or below to " make it cooler".

INTEL also does NOT make dual core processors equal to AMD.
The difference is that AMD has integrated dual cores with memory controler, while intel packed two CPUs on a pin frame!

Intel v. AMD epic

There is a substantial difference between powerful Word Processor and real PC!

The Final Word


If you couldn’t tell by the last twelve pages of analysis and benchmarks, we really like the Athlon64 X2. The Athlon64 X2 is indeed, as the title implies, dual-core processing implemented correctly. The X2 gives significantly better performance compared to its single core brethren, gives excellent performance with single-threaded applications, all while consuming roughly as much power / creating as much heat as a single core Athlon64. After seeing the Athlon64 X2’s in action, the inadequacies of Intel’s Pentium-D and Pentium Extreme Edition are much more visible.
Performance wise, we are confident in saying that the Athlon64 X2 4800+ is the fastest overall processor on the market today. The vast majority of multi-threaded applications showed the 4800+ at the top of the benchmark charts, and it only falls behind to the Athlon64 FX series in gaming. Even in games, the 4800+ chip is only a small amount behind the FX. The chip is far more balanced compared to the Intel’s dual-core Pentium-D/EE processors when handling single threaded applications. However, while the 4800+ rules the charts, one should consider that most of our applications did not show much benefit from the 4800+’s 1MB of cache (per core) compared to the 4600+ 512 kB of cache (per core). In the majority of applications, the 4600+ (which is quite a bit less expensive) performs nearly identically to the top of the line 4800+ model.

With this much computing power, it’s amazing to witness how little power these chips consume while running. They consume about 33% less power compared to Intel’s dual core lineup while at the same time delivering better performance most of the time. In addition, the chips are far easier to cool, which will lead to lower noise (more enjoyable) computing environments. AMD is bundling a very good retail cooler with these chips which keeps the chips nice and cool while staying near silent. AMD’s 90nm SOI manufacturing process is producing some amazing products – the engineering teams behind these chips should be proud of their accomplishments.

AMD knows they have a phenomenal chip on their hands, and unfortunately, they are charging out the nose for them. Even the “cheapest” Athlon64 X2 processors are well over $600 ranging in upwards to $1200 for the top of the line models. In addition, chip supplies have been low, so prices are staying high even though these chips have been out for a few weeks. While the Athlon64 X2 is a steal in comparison to a dual Opteron processor configuration, it may be tough to convince a casual buyer that AMD’s chips are better compared to Intel’s Pentium-D lineup which runs at higher clock speeds and is about half as expensive. Believe me, the Athlon64 X2 is a far better way to go for a dual-core workstation/server/game rig. Still, if you’re looking for a true budget dual-core solution, Intel’s Pentium-D reaches price points the X2 cannot touch at this time.

Rumors have abounded that AMD will release a lower clocked X2 model to address these needs, but we have not seen any concrete evidence of such a processor yet.

Sorry Intel, you’ve been beat once again.


Must read:

AMD v. INTEL


Well rumors are now confirmed Athlon 64 X2 3800+

I believe that lawywers need PCs as much as we need lawyers.

Great majority of the US Lawyers = lost freedom due to intimidation and legal EXTORTION!

Should we get rid of all layers the world would be really marHvelous!

PS.
I am NOT biased,
[size =8]
Nothing personal:
I am marketing a can of "lawyers repellant"!
It can also house a couple basball bats, or whatever are other tools needed to get rid of social parasites! .... but there are some very rare exceptions![/size]

By the way Dick Chenney is now inviting few attorneys for bear hunting, and this time he promissed to many that this time he will not miss any one!

mad tatanka
and where do you get this prices?
delyvery?
sorry I ´m from México NO the eu
need at least 1000 usd
taxes and mailing

The prices are from Romania is true. But here I saw that the prices are 5% higher than in the US. So I belive so that there are cheaper. If this is not true I coul deliver the sistem to you like a package and i do'b think that will be 1000 USD, It is like i send you 10 DVDs.

If you want contact me and we shall talk about this