Cpu & Gfx

SmackAHobo

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Dec 3, 2005
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I'm just about to get a new chrissy present, obviously a computer. But i'm unsure of 1 thing.

You see i'm going to get an AMD X2(Dual Core) 4200+ and an ATI X1800XT. But my friend tells me that my processor will not be able to keep up with this GFX card. Is this true?

Thank-you for all your help :)
 

SmackAHobo

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Dec 3, 2005
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really? So there should be no problem at all?

This is my full setup:
AMD Athlon64 x2 4200+ 2.2Ghz 640k Cache Socket 939
GECUBE ATi RADEON X1800XT 512meg PCI Express MODEL : X1800XTD-VIE3 VIVO Edition
LANPARTY UT RDX200 CF-DR (supports dual core) - Motherboard :p
OCZ DDR PC-3200 2GB Dual Channel (2x1024MB)
550 Watt Antec TruePower 2.0 ATX Power Supply

If u have any recommendations about this setup, please feel free :)

Thanks again!
 

jondl

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Aug 16, 2005
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If you want to save your money get an Opty and a 7800gt/gtx. Much more affordable and the performance is comparable. The opty will most likely OC higher than that 4200+
 

SmackAHobo

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My computer is going to be mainly intended for 3d animation and rendering, which requires a lot of ram :p
 

ribbon13

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Feb 1, 2005
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Hobby use? Get an Opteron 165 or 170

Why the X1800? Thats a gaming card, not a rendering card
 

SmackAHobo

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Dec 3, 2005
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Yes, but i will also be playing the latest games. And if not, which gfx card should i get? And why an opteron?
 

Fullmetal Chocobo

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Originally posted by: SmackAHobo
My computer is going to be mainly intended for 3d animation and rendering, which requires a lot of ram :p

Originally posted by: SmackAHobo
Yes, but i will also be playing the latest games. And if not, which gfx card should i get? And why an opteron?

Well, you should decide what you want to do more. You said it was primarily for rendering and animation, so get a rendering card. Rendering cards aren't great for gaming, and gaming cards suck for rendering... The PNY Quadro FX 2000 is the equivalent of around a FX 5900 in gaming...
 

Fullmetal Chocobo

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Originally posted by: SmackAHobo
well i'd like an evened out 1

A card that can game decently is going to be incredibly expensive though. In that case, I'd get a gaming card, but your rendering is going to suffer.
 

SmackAHobo

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Dec 3, 2005
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Ok, well i'll go with a gaming 1 then. But what is an example of a rendering card?

And could u please comment on my current setup and tell me if i should change anything.

Thank-you
 

ribbon13

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A Quadro or Wildcat are rendering cards. ATi's X1800 is supposed to have some really nice rendering features equivalent to nVidia's Sorbetto.
 

Fullmetal Chocobo

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Originally posted by: SmackAHobo
Ok, well i'll go with a gaming 1 then. But what is an example of a rendering card?

And could u please comment on my current setup and tell me if i should change anything.

Thank-you

I have a 6800GT OC in my machine right now, and I build my computer for rendering. But I don't even bother with that vid card in there. I'm going to wait until I build my wife a gaming machine, and then I can get another vid card (PNY Quadro FX 2000) and start rendering again.

Nvidia's rendering cards.

EDIT: As far as your specs, I have no idea. I've been using an Intel E7505 chipset for a long time, so I have no idea about your stuff. Sorry.
 

SmackAHobo

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ok, so on my current setup, does everything go well together? perhaps theres something else that i should have?
 

stevty2889

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4200+ and x1800XT will be good together, my 4200+ has no trouble keeping up with my 7800GT, nor does it have any trouble running at 2.618ghz on the stock AMD cooler either..
 

SmackAHobo

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Dec 3, 2005
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what about my ram? Is there any better ram u can think that i should get? (with better timmings) And i was seriously thinking bout 4Gb of it (i can afford it) what do u think?
 

Fullmetal Chocobo

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Originally posted by: SmackAHobo
what about my ram? Is there any better ram u can think that i should get? (with better timmings) And i was seriously thinking bout 4Gb of it (i can afford it) what do u think?

You should be good with 2GB. You can always upgrade if you get two 1GB sticks if you need to at later time.
 

SmackAHobo

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Dec 3, 2005
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yea i'm going to go with OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Platinum System Memory - $248.41.
That stuff looks awesome.

So moving on, i have got 2 options to do with my case and psu here
1)Should i get my case, with a 430w psu for $275 (is that even enough for what i'm gunna be running?)
or
2)Should i get my case without a psu ($257) and then buy a 550w Antec TruePower 2.0 ATX Power Supply for $179 and jam it in?

Once again thanks for all your help :p
 

Fullmetal Chocobo

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#2. Unless you know what PSU the case is going to come with... We see too many people skimping on the PSU, and it's a frightening thing.
 

SmackAHobo

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Dec 3, 2005
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what i don't understand is why the case comes to $275 with a psu and is only $20 cheaper without 1? Whats up with that? Could that mean that it would be a ****** psu?

O and whats the minimum u'd recommend for this computer that i'm getting?