Assitance on building a new machine... Help?

[Zand]

Yeah, I'm sure there's tons of posts like this on AnandTech..

Anyway, mine has a gimmick. I'm trying to build a computer that will last for the next *4* years for under 1000 dollars. I'm also a power-gamer. I'd really like this to work.

What I'd like: 512MB DDR Ram, Radeon 9700 Pro (is the pro necessary?).. I need a good, speedy processor that will last for a while.

I figured that building a power-gaming machine would be one that would last for around 4 years... Can I get links and such to the products (I'm assuming that whoever pitches in would toss me a newegg link).. I'm not asking for everyone to build me a computer, just to toss in a few parts. And if you suggest a mobo, can you suggest a good processor to go with? I already have a pretty good idea of what I'd like but it's nice to get some more input.

Oh, and the 1000 dollars doesn't include price of the monitor.

 

[WarmAndSCSI]

Lemme see...


Ummm do you want an Intel or AMD system?

 

[Zand]

I'd like whichever would last longer. I hear AMD from one side but Intel from another. Each has their good sides and their bad sides but AMD seems to have a larger following. Ugh, I need a cheap one but really high end at the same time. Was thinking XP 2700.. Intel's processors clock better but the AMDs benchmark better from what I hear.

 

[Batman5177]

well.....4 years is really stretching it.....and assuming Moore's Law will continue to hold up, i dont think it will last that long.

also, with Intel's new proposal of a hardware revolution (PCI-express), everthing will be outdated soon.

i had a p3 500mhz for around 4 years, and at the end of 4 years, everything still ran, but barely. i had to turn everything off in games, such as Max Payne. it was so choppy i didnt even want to play it anymore.

if you HAVE to get it now, get the fastest CPU you can, fastest video card, and a LOT of ram.

 

[Zand]

Well, what is the fastest ram?

I'm not a computer genius, really. I like networking a lot better..

Curiously, when I see ram on newegg, I see numbers like "32x64" next to the ram type, what does this mean?

 

[everman]

It would be impossible to build a pc today, and have it still be a power gamer machine 2 years from now. That said, I'd go for a 9700pro or 9500 pro, 512-1gig pc2700 ram (dual channel ddr with an nforce 2 mobo, amd cpu). I'd definitly go amd since prices are lower there. Going past 2 years, it will really be showing its age but should do alright as long as you don't want every new feature and best graphics.