Best CPU/Motherboard/RAM combo for gaming/stability?

[Rufio]

OK.

I am sick of my crap always crashing out on me.

I am looking for the best CPU/Motherboard/RAM combo for gaming/stability.

Budget is around $300-$500.

What do you guys suggest? Or should I wait for all these new processors to come out?

 

[Jeff7181]

Hmmmm... I don't know how Intel rigs are as far as stability... but I've found as long as I don't overclock, I have absolutely zero problems with stability. To be honest... anything you buy should be perfectly stable if you don't overclock it. I know ATI has some driver issues... so maybe an nVidia card would be better suited for your needs/wants.

 

[Jeff7181]

Definately get quality RAM... Crucial or Corsair or Kingston seem to be the favorites.

Here would be my AMD suggestions (since I don't follow Intel prices and performance too closely)

Epox 8RDA - $85
Athlon XP2400 Retail - $104
Corsair XMS Low Latency PC2700 256MB - $65 each... get 2... $130

Total comes to $315

Then you still have some extra money left over if you want to upgrade your video card, or get a faster hard drive.

 

[Bound_Vortex]

(All from Newegg)

Epox 8RDA+ - $92
Athlon XP2100+ "B" - $75
Corsair 512 MB XMS PC3200 - $109 each x2 = $218
(assuming you have HSF combo...otherwise add ~30 for a Thermalright SK-7 + panaflo or whatever 80mm fan you like)

Total = $385

run 200 fsb and never look back

 

[Rufio]

right now i have an asus p4b266 motherboard, a p4 1.6a o/c'ed to 2.2ghz, and 1 gb of crucial pc2100 ram.

it crashes like crazy on me..

i want something new, fast and stable!

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Rufio
right now i have an asus p4b266 motherboard, a p4 1.6a o/c'ed to 2.2ghz, and 1 gb of crucial pc2100 ram.

it crashes like crazy on me..

i want something new, fast and stable!

Just upgrade your processor to the max that board can handle then...your PC2100 RAM will hold you back a bit in terms of performance... but if you buy a 2.2 Ghz or 2.4 Ghz CPU... it will be more stable than your overclock.

By the way... if you overclock, and your system isn't stable, that's a sign you've overclocked too far and should dial it back until it's stable...

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Crashing doesn't always mean that its the hardware's fault as often times its the software with the problem. Games are the most notorious programs to crash even the most rock solid hardware setups, it could be the game you play or even just a cluttered HD and a bunch of crap loaded on it.

If you keep your system maintained that should mean your software is running at the best of its ability and a crash would be most likely due to your hardware. Although viruses and, possibly even worse, adware can definately gum up a system pretty quickly along with improperly installed or uninstalled programs and aplications.

 

[Rufio]

Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles
Crashing doesn't always mean that its the hardware's fault as often times its the software with the problem. Games are the most notorious programs to crash even the most rock solid hardware setups, it could be the game you play or even just a cluttered HD and a bunch of crap loaded on it.

If you keep your system maintained that should mean your software is running at the best of its ability and a crash would be most likely due to your hardware. Although viruses and, possibly even worse, adware can definately gum up a system pretty quickly along with improperly installed or uninstalled programs and aplications.

i did a brand new, fresh reformat of windows xp pro, and it crashes and freezes on me.

 

[oldfart]

You have to troubleshoot it. Maybe you have a bad stick of ram.

 

[Rufio]

this might be lame, but i am merely using this excuse to upgrade.

 

[sman789]

what kind of video would you add to the "value" newegg system?

 

[dnoyeb]

I don't buy anything but Asus now. Tired of people calling me about this issue or that issue...