Well, the title says it all. Should I go the AMD64 route or P4. I currently have an ATI9800PRO 128MB card I want to use. I would appreciate some input and possible links to reviews. I would like to spend less than $1000. I already have the Video Card. I would like a powerful system that can play my MS flight simulator, planetside, 1st person shooters, doom3, unreal 2, etc. Can you guys recommend a motherboard as well. I currently have a AMD ATHLON 800 MHZ. Its time to UPGRADE.
 
Thanks
 
ABE

Definetly Athlon 64 for gaming. At the moment, I don't have time to suggest you a complete rig. I will do it later today or tomorrow if no one else have answered you!
 
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Asus A7N8X / <font color=green><b>AMD Sempron 2800+</b></font color=green> (tbred @ 167x12)
Kingston DDR333 2x256Megs
<font color=red>Built by ATI Radeon 8500LE 128Megs</font color=red> @ C:275/M:290

Thanks. I am planning on buying everything Monday or Tuesday.

Hi.
 
This would be my recommendation:
 
Power Supply: <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-104-974&depa=0" target="_new">Fortron 400w</A>: $58.00
Mobo: <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-130-457&depa=0" target="_new">MSI K8N Neo Platinum</A> : $130.00
Cpu: <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-483&depa=0" target="_new">Athlon 64 3200+ Newcastle</A> : $282.00
Memory: <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-450&depa=0" target="_new">Corsair XMS TwinPack 1gb</A> : $234.00
Sound Card: <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=29-102-158&depa=0" target="_new">SB Audigy 2 OEM</A> : $72.49
CD-RW: <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-106-940&depa=0" target="_new">Lite-On 52x32x52 CD-RW</A> : $30.99
DVD-Rom: <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-131-117&depa=0" target="_new">Lite-On 16x DVD-ROM</A> : $29.50
 
Total : $836.98
 
If you wanted DVD-RW instead of DVD-ROM:
 
DVD-RW: <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-106-933&depa=0" target="_new">Lite-On 8x DVD-RW</A> : $70.99
 
New total : $878.47
 
Of course you still would need a case which you could get a good one for under $75.  And then mouse and keyboard if you wanted to upgrade those too.  And speakers lol.
 
All of this is at Newegg.com.  Great site.
 
Good luck.
 
 
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MSI K8N Neo Platinum
Athlon 64 3200+ Newcastle
512mb Apacer pc3200
ATI 9800np 256-bit 128mb  
3dMark01: 20,371 3dMark03: 6334 Aquamark3: 46,310

Wow!!!. Thanks for the post. I was wondering what kind of frame rates you get on the best games. Do you have Microsoft Flight Simulator or X-plane? I would appreciate some stats.
 
Thanks

i was in the same boat as you not too long ago but then pay cuts hit and i haven't purchased everything that i wanted.  anyways, personally i am not an OCer so this is what i chose.  i wanted to get the MSI neo platinum for my MB because of its strong performance.  just make sure that you update the drivers as soon as you get it.  Athlon 64 3200+, i wanted to get the clawhammer for the xtra cache but i haven't seen one for a while.  so you may have to get the newcastle with the 2.2 core and 512k cache.  the 3200+ has teh best price/performance for current cpus.  i was going to go with some corsair xms xl ram but since crucial came out with ballistix i would go with that.  it has basically the same CAS timings but is much cheaper and that brand will still work with the neo platinum.  if you need HDs i wouldn't get raptors if you are going to stay under $1000, they are around $180-160.  everything else you should have, video card, keyboard, mouse, monitor...ad nausem.  
cpu ~ 270
ram ~ 270
MB ~ 130
HDs? ~ 160
TOTAL ~ $830

pretty good picks I'd say... Although if not overclocking then cheaper RAM would probably be ok.  
 
I admit I did have to chuckle when I read the top customer Review of the A64 3200+...:

  Must be some new stepping I've not heard of!  
 
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Epox 8RDA+ V1.1 w/ Custom NB HS
XP1700+ @200x10 (~2Ghz), 1.4 Vcore
2x256Mb Corsair PC3200LL 2-2-2-4
Sapphire 9800Pro @412/740

There is no game available today that wouldn't run like a dream on that system, so I wouldn't sweat it.
 
I suspect those games should easily run at a framerate exceeding that of your monitor, even at high res.
 
---
Epox 8RDA+ V1.1 w/ Custom NB HS
XP1700+ @200x10 (~2Ghz), 1.4 Vcore
2x256Mb Corsair PC3200LL 2-2-2-4
Sapphire 9800Pro @412/740

The only thing I am worried about is the new PCI express standard. Thats why I am confused. I am going to buy a new Video card when they drop in price. I will have a 1GB or RAM. I am just worried about the 3200+ designation. It runs at a lower clock speed. I know the whole AMD bit about performance, but is it truly superior overall to the P4's?
 
Thanks
Abe

were are the AMD fag boys. they ant called intel yet!

I know the whole AMD bit about performance, but is it truly superior overall to the P4's?
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
 
It depends on what you do with it. You would be happy with a P4-3.0C. If you have bucks to burn, go the 775 route. Just wait a tad longer for better pricing. And yes, AMD64 is VERY good in games.    
 
 
Abit IS7 - 2.8C @ 3.4 - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100  
Sony DRU-510A - THAT'S MORE LIKE IT!

Ok, which board should I go with. MSI? I like that one. Also, one more questions. Which memory name brand should I go with?
 
Thanks
 
Abe

For lot's of features either that board or the new ASUS KN8-E, I think it's called. A great value board is the Chaintech VNF3-250. Memory? See what <A HREF="http://forum.msi.com.tw/thread.php?threadid=51996&sid=" target="_new">these people</A> are running.
 
Abit IS7 - 2.8C @ 3.4 - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100  
Sony DRU-510A - THAT'S MORE LIKE IT!

if you wanted a gaming computer,  i always found the video card to make more performance boost than processor.  get a <font color=red>Geforce 6800 GT</font color=red> $399 like me,  and 16 parallel pipes, SM 3.0,  superscaler design.  than save money by getting a <font color=blue>3.0e prescott</font color=blue> $215 with hyperthreading technology, dual channel capabilities.
 
Prescott 3.0E 1MB L2 HT
1GB PC 3200 Dual channel(PAT)
Asus P4P800 Bios 1016  
PNY Geforce 6800 GT 256MB DDR3
57,397 Aquamarks

hmmm. There we go again confused. AMD64 or P4. The key thing here is gaming and I do a lot of it. Especially MS Flight Simulator 2004. Can someone benchmark that for me on a AMD64 and a P4?

"The key thing here is gaming and I do a lot of it."
 
A64 is the answer. Video card DOES play a bigger role but all things = a64 will blow away a similar priced intel p4 setup in gaming... Of course if converting a movie to divX it might take an hour with the same p4 and an hour and 2 minutes with the a64 but if you use a different compession programe the a64 might have a small advantage. If gaming is what maters use an a64 cpu.
 
If I glanced at a spilt box of tooth picks on the floor, could I tell you how many are in the pile. Not a chance, But then again I don't have to buy my underware at Kmart.

Ok AMD64 it is. Which memory company should I go with. I want a 1GB of Ram. I don't do any of the overclocking stuff so recommend the best!!!!

Good question. First decide what board you want (chipset) the 2 popular options are nforce3 250 and via k8t800 and they are both produced by many mother board makers. Don't let people tell you the via k8t800 is bad cause its via all the review sites (afaik) love it if via ever made a winner the k8t800 is it. The nforce250 is good too. Once you know what board you want post here and ask about memory some boards can be finiky just like intel. It's not like all memory wont work but some work better at lower timmings etc.
 
If I glanced at a spilt box of tooth picks on the floor, could I tell you how many are in the pile. Not a chance, But then again I don't have to buy my underware at Kmart.

Corsair or OCZ for MSI Board.  
 
Abit IS7 - 2.8C @ 3.4 - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100  
Sony DRU-510A - THAT'S MORE LIKE IT!

Hot Off the MSI Forum Press. First guy I've seen with Ballistix!
 
 
 
k8n neo crucial pc 4000 ballistix  
 
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Just received my crucial pc4000 after searching high and low for a stick of ram that will work on this board, i think i have finaly found it the board seems a lot more stable than any other ram ive tryed and ive tryed most of them corsair,ocz adata
 
my board is now running 260 cas 2.5,3,3,8
sandra mem bw is 3995/3996
 
with A64 3200 clawhammer C0 i am about to try my 3400 cg to see how it go's
 
still have more test to do but its looking very good  
 
Abit IS7 - 2.8C @ 3.4 - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100  
Sony DRU-510A - THAT'S MORE LIKE IT!

since whne does hyperthreading help in gaming performance?  
 
while a p4 will play games fine, if he is looking for the ebst, then it is obvioulsy the athlon 64, i cant believe you would try to sell him on a 3ghz prescott...
 
 
anyway,  motherbaord wise id say the msi k8n neo platinum for its extensive features and stability in using DS memory in all of its slots. if you want to save some money, the Chaintech VNF3-250 is an excellent value and also works well with memory using all of its slots.