AM2 3800+X2 or something else?

[usefulidiot127]

So right now I am running a poor old athlon xp 3000+ system.

I've decided to upgrade and I need to have the system done by late july/early august.

So far I have bought myself a new Coolermaster centurion case and a Hiper 580 watt modular PSU.

I'm going to reuse my hard drives and optical drives but the rest is all fair game.

My instincts tell me my best option is to get a new AM2 system after the supposed july 24th price cuts. I really need to keep processor-video card-motherboard-memory within 500 maybe 600 dollars. My only concern with AM2 is the lack of any true reliable motherboard right now. I've heard of a lot of memory issues amongst other motherboard problems since its a new socket. So I've considered going with socket 939 but that seems like a silly move, I want a futureproof computer, at least as futureproof as possible.

My other option would be to go with a new Intel, I've never built an Intel system and i'm not that familiar with the new series of processors or the pricing/performance scheme. Is it comparable to the AM2 I was pricing up? What should I buy??

I'm thinking
Processor no more than 200 dollars
Motherboard 100-150 dollars
Memory 150 dollars
Video card no more than 200 dollars


what to buy...what to buy... and when

 

[Markfw]

when is easy, 2-3 weeks (or a little more) What ? ask then

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Wait for the price break and go for the S939 X2's. By the time the majority of kinks (bios revisions, chipsets, options) get ironed out for the AM2 platforms it will be time to upgrade again. It's called the bleeding edge for a reason. Don't fool yourself with so called future proofing. There aint no such animal. Any MB you by now will have obsolete/underperforming chipsets in a couple of years. Any ram you buy now will be woefully inadequate in a couple of years. Any GPU you buy now will stutter and barely play new games in a couple of years. See the trend? The best price/performance point NOW is S939 and even more so after the price break. My three cents.

 

[cmrmrc]

wait for the memory problems to be fixed...OCZ, and the other companys are working with the mobos manufacturers to fix all the issues. In fact, most issues are pretty much cleared with the M2N32-SLI, and K9N series.

Another option is to go with a decent board and cheap ram, I heard cheap rams don't have issues on the boards.

I'd say: AM2 X2 3800+ (~150$)
MSI K9N PLATINUM (~100$)
1GB OCZ GOLD DDR2-800 (~100$)
7600GT (~150$)

 

[Supercoolyo]

Well, here's what I suggest.

(Similar to cmrmrc, but a bit different on RAM and GFX)

AM2 X2 3800+ ($150 according to cmrmrc, though I couldn't find for less than $250 myself... Not the X2 at least.)

MSI K9N PLATINUM ($100 according to cmrmrc, I could only find the nForce 570 edition for that price, it's $130 for SLI... Though if you go ATI that won't be an issue.)

2GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) 5-5-5-12 1.9V RAM ($160 after rebate if bought by June 11th, definitely a steal there)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145590

Sapphire Radeon X1800XT 256MB GDDR3 PCI-E x16, Core clock - 625MHz, Mem Clock - 1.5GHz, 16 Pixel Pipes - $229 after rebate if bought by July 18th and mailed within 20 days.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102008


The above system will be much more future proof, the CPU is great, the mobo can use the FX series for future upgrades, the RAM is very overclockable and hella fast for its price, and the GPU can take any game out today with max (or near max) settings. Additionally, it's Shader Model 3.0 support will keep it from getting outdated down the road.

If you can get things for the prices cmrmrc suggested (on the CPU especially), then within your budget you would be able to get what I suggested if you wanted.

 

[coldpower27]

Originally posted by: usefulidiot127
So right now I am running a poor old athlon xp 3000+ system.

I've decided to upgrade and I need to have the system done by late july/early august.

So far I have bought myself a new Coolermaster centurion case and a Hiper 580 watt modular PSU.

I'm going to reuse my hard drives and optical drives but the rest is all fair game.

My instincts tell me my best option is to get a new AM2 system after the supposed july 24th price cuts. I really need to keep processor-video card-motherboard-memory within 500 maybe 600 dollars. My only concern with AM2 is the lack of any true reliable motherboard right now. I've heard of a lot of memory issues amongst other motherboard problems since its a new socket. So I've considered going with socket 939 but that seems like a silly move, I want a futureproof computer, at least as futureproof as possible.

My other option would be to go with a new Intel, I've never built an Intel system and i'm not that familiar with the new series of processors or the pricing/performance scheme. Is it comparable to the AM2 I was pricing up? What should I buy??

I'm thinking
Processor no more than 200 dollars
Motherboard 100-150 dollars
Memory 150 dollars
Video card no more than 200 dollars


what to buy...what to buy... and when

I would suggest you wait till after Conroe arrives, then you can make a decision.

Judging by what we know now,

a E6300, a P965 Series motherboard from ASUS, MSI, Foxconn, Abit etc etc... some DDR2-800 of 5-5-5 timings quality maybe 4-4-4 as well as a 7600 GT should fit the bill rather nicely.

 

[cmrmrc]

Originally posted by: Supercoolyo
Well, here's what I suggest.

(Similar to cmrmrc, but a bit different on RAM and GFX)

AM2 X2 3800+ ($150 according to cmrmrc, though I couldn't find for less than $250 myself... Not the X2 at least.)

MSI K9N PLATINUM ($100 according to cmrmrc, I could only find the nForce 570 edition for that price, it's $130 for SLI... Though if you go ATI that won't be an issue.)

2GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) 5-5-5-12 1.9V RAM ($160 after rebate if bought by June 11th, definitely a steal there)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145590

Sapphire Radeon X1800XT 256MB GDDR3 PCI-E x16, Core clock - 625MHz, Mem Clock - 1.5GHz, 16 Pixel Pipes - $229 after rebate if bought by July 18th and mailed within 20 days.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102008


The above system will be much more future proof, the CPU is great, the mobo can use the FX series for future upgrades, the RAM is very overclockable and hella fast for its price, and the GPU can take any game out today with max (or near max) settings. Additionally, it's Shader Model 3.0 support will keep it from getting outdated down the road.

If you can get things for the prices cmrmrc suggested (on the CPU especially), then within your budget you would be able to get what I suggested if you wanted.

you have chosen good parts, but the thing is, i'd say wait until the AMD price drop (thats why i said 150$) and then buy the parts....

 

[coldpower27]

Originally posted by: cmrmrc
wait for the memory problems to be fixed...OCZ, and the other companys are working with the mobos manufacturers to fix all the issues. In fact, most issues are pretty much cleared with the M2N32-SLI, and K9N series.

Another option is to go with a decent board and cheap ram, I heard cheap rams don't have issues on the boards.

I'd say: AM2 X2 3800+ (~150$)
MSI K9N PLATINUM (~100$)
1GB OCZ GOLD DDR2-800 (~100$)
7600GT (~150$)

I would think your being a tad agressive on under estimating the prices.

The official price of the Athlon 64x2 3800+ will be 169US.

Look at the 3800+ Dual Core on Newegg right now it's 297US, with the real price being 303US from AMD. So it doubtful on such a cheap product it would deviate that far from it's official price of 169US.

110US for the motherboard at Newegg. 170US for the processor, The memory is actually close enough, though you need rebates to achieve it for OCZ, the 7600 GT you can have as low as 135US if you include rebates. Though they come in at 160 or so as well.

When suggesting price to people please don't round downwards....