Its This Time Again

Flying-Bastard

<div class="IPBDescription">Help to buy new pc</div> Well, hi everyone. Been quite a long time havent been or posted on these forums. By the way maybe some know me by the name of "scip1o".

Anyways, i'm considering buying a new pc soon (YES!!!!), and since there surely are more than one pc specialists here maybe some of you could help me decide on the various parts i should buy. Here's my current list:

Processor: Athlon 64 3200+
Been waiting pretty long for that processor, doesnt really seem to have been worth the wait but its performance are rather good apparently (especially in games), and the 64 bit part will probably extend its longevity . I was first looking to purchase the most powerfull processor available since it has to last pretty long (3-4 years at least. my current one is at 5 now), but the FX is WAY too expansive and the price/performance difference of the 3400+ doesnt seem worth the 200 extra (canadian) bucks (Here the 3200+ is around 380 w/o taxes, and the 3400+ around 550). Apparently the 3600+ isnt available yet here, though i might be able to order it or something similar.

Graphic Card: ATI Radeon 9800
I'm not really sure about this one. It will probably be either the 9800 or the FX5900 (nvidia). The 9800 is priced around 400$ (can) here, but i saw the 5900 around 300$ apparently <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif' /><!--endemo-->. Really need help on this one. And the XT (or 5950) is a direct NO. I'm not paying 300$ plus for 20 extra frames per second.

Motherboard: MSI K8T Neo (FIS2R?)
Another place where i need help. After reading various stuff on Tom's Hardware this one seemed to be the best choice. Though Gigabite also seems to offer some good ones (and there again: VIA or Nforce3?).

Memory: Corsair 2x512mb
Something 2x512mb should do it. Corsair is reknown company so it should be good. About PC3200/3700/4400 i havent been looking recently so i havent got any idea to whats the best. I also heard there were various problems with memory with many Athlon64 motherboards. Anyone could clear things up for me?

Hard drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 SATA-150 120gb
120GB should be enough. Seagate makes quiet HD's (though performance is not best apparently), and there shouldnt be much problems with this one.

As for the rest, the soundcard should be an Audigy 2ZS internal, mouse/keyboard will be a Logitech Elite Keyboard/MX700 duo (though im not really sure about getting an MX700 (cordless) or MX500 (cord). Also i heard about the MX510:much difference?). The monitor will probably be a flat 19inch NEC.

Hope some of you can help decide me whats best. Also my budget is around 3000$CAN.

OttoDestruct

Unless that SATA drive is 10000+ RPM don't bother.

Nikon

ok, wow, well at least youve done your homework before asking for help.

for vid cards, I would currently have to say go with the ATI 9800 Pro. I was an avid fan of Nvidia, all ive used for the past 3 years, but the 9800 smokes the 5900 series so far. Nvidia has been blaming it on bad drivers, so you may want to read up on them a little more.

For motherboards, MSI makes a good product. Im partial to ASUS, ive never had one go bad on me, and their layouts have always seemed very logical to me. ABit also makes a good motherboard.

For memory, Corsair makes some killer memory, I currently use corsair pc3200 dual channel, and its fantasic. Kingston is also a great brand.

hope that helps

Marik_Steele

I could've sworn I'd read serious news sites ([H]ardOCP and the like) saying that after Q1 or Q2 2004, Athlon 64's would come in a new socket or pin configuration. Not sure what the difference or improvement is, but be aware that unless this change has happened already without me noticing, you may not be able to upgrade your CPU even in the near future without changing your motherboard as well.

(I'm hoping someone can confirm or disprove my memory here)

Nikon

<!--QuoteBegin-Marik_Steele+Mar 10 2004, 04:07 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Marik_Steele @ Mar 10 2004, 04:07 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I could've sworn I'd read serious news sites ([H]ardOCP and the like) saying that after Q1 or Q2 2004, Athlon 64's would come in a new socket or pin configuration. Not sure what the difference or improvement is, but be aware that unless this change has happened already without me noticing, you may not be able to upgrade your CPU even in the near future without changing your motherboard as well.

(I'm hoping someone can confirm or disprove my memory here) <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I R TEH GOOGLE MASTAR!!!!!!!!!

<a href='http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/display/20040112225451.html' target='_blank'>Athlon 64 939 pin chips</a>

but yes, AMD is rolling out a new set of processors using 939 pins instead of 754 pins, and will utilize a dual memory channel. But they are also not going to be discontinuing the 754 chips for quit some time. But with that said, it up to you on what is more important to you, getting a 64 bit chip now, and only being able to upgrade within around 1 years time, or waiting and being able to upgrade in a few years time.

Hybridclaw

buy a <a href='http://www.go-l.com/desktops/machl38/features/' target='_blank'>mach 3.8</a> it's only $20,000 <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Flying-Bastard

Well, thanks for the fast feedback <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->. I'll probably go and wait (<b>*SIGH*</b>) for 939 pin cpu (which is the pin number for the FX line i believe, or maybe 940), unless it takes too much time to arrive in canada.

<!--QuoteBegin-OttoDestruct+Mar 10 2004, 07:03 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (OttoDestruct @ Mar 10 2004, 07:03 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Unless that SATA drive is 10000+ RPM don't bother.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
May i ask why? Most 10K drives are SCSI i think and cost about 3 times more than regular ones. And even if there are 10k IDE drives they too must cost at least twice the regular cost. Why must i not bother then <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Oh, and idont have the money for a Mach3.8. Nor do you probably (if yes then could you buy one for me <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->)

Hybridclaw

<!--QuoteBegin-Flying-Bastard+Mar 10 2004, 08:21 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Flying-Bastard @ Mar 10 2004, 08:21 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Oh, and idont have the money for a Mach3.8. Nor do you probably (if yes then could you buy one for me <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->) <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
help me rob Bill Gates and we can buy as many as we want.......