Building a budget gaming rig. How important is the FSB and 64 bit technology?

[fibes]

I'm getting ready to build my third system. I'm on a budget, so I can't swing a 64 bit processor and an expensive 64 bit motherboard. So, I was wondering if I can build a half way decent gaming rig without spending a lot of cash?

My questions are, since I'm building a gaming rig, is a 64bit processor much of an advantage over a 32 bit processor? What about the FSB? I planning to use a oc'ed 2500 Barton, so will I see much of a performance gain by using 64 bit technology vs. 32 bit?

Primary games I'm playing now are:
BF 1924
BF Vietnam
Farcry
Call of Duty

Future games:
Doom 3
HL2

P.S. I plan to splurge on a video card, a 6600 GT


Thanks in advance for all the advise!

 

[Vette73]

If ypu want a gaming rig on the cheap get a Sempron 3100+ ($124 reatil, includes heatsink) and a socket 754 board. I think chaintech has a VIA chipset board for $60-70 that would work well.

So less then $199 you can get a socket 754 chip and board.

 

[Neptune3000]

Today i got my A64 2800 in the mail with my chaintech VNF3-250 mobo. At first i was'nt impressed, but it only took a little time for me to start getting speeed sickness! very very fast! I cant even tell u.

I have 1x512mb crucial 3200
and 1x256mb crucial 266 overclocked to 3200,

FAST!

BTW, the upgrade cost me 230 shipped from newegg.com

I'm not sure if thats in your budget. Personally I dont use my computer so much anymore so I guess it was just a impulse buy....

 

[Concillian]

The A64 is a significant improvement in games over the AXP, especially in the newer games. I would do what I could to fit an A64 2800+ or a Sempron 3100+ into your budget.

There are dividers for the memory so you can run slower memory now, and then upgrade your memory speed later. An A64 it does okay with dividers with the memory controller on the processor. I guess you can do the same with an AXP, but it takes a larger performance hit running asynchronously because the memory controller isn't as efficient.

 

[WW2Planes1]

64-Bit technology won't give you any performance improvement right now because virtually everything is still 32-bit.
However, the A64 is still the best performing processor for gaming at 32-bit, so really that's what you should get (if you can.)

Also, unless you know that the 6600GT only exists in a PCI-E form right now (or rather, when it hits the shelves, it will only be PCI-E for a while) and the AGP form won't come out for a while longer.

If you're looking to build now, you might want to find a different card.

 

[mikeford]

When I think budget system its supposed to be cheap. This is my current one to be built in the next couple days mostly from Frys ad.

Boxed sempron 2600+ with ECS NU200 motherboard $80
Maxtor 160 gb ata133 boxed drive $70
Kingston 512 mb pc3200 $60
Ati 9200 $45 (last one from forsale/trade forum new in box)
Case with front usb and sound $18 (swapmeet openbox)
Rest from my junkpile
Total $273 for a fairly robust system.

 

[fibes]

Originally posted by: WW2Planes1
64-Bit technology won't give you any performance improvement right now because virtually everything is still 32-bit.
However, the A64 is still the best performing processor for gaming at 32-bit, so really that's what you should get (if you can.)

Also, unless you know that the 6600GT only exists in a PCI-E form right now (or rather, when it hits the shelves, it will only be PCI-E for a while) and the AGP form won't come out for a while longer.

If you're looking to build now, you might want to find a different card.

I have some time to wait. I don't think I will have it completed until the end of Christmas. I still have a lot more reserch to do, and I need to save up some extra cash.