Hello everyone. A friend recommended me to come here to seek some advice. I need to upgrade my computer. I have about $600 to spend. In a few months, I will be using a lot of software like 3D Studio Max, Photoshop, Premier, Macromedia Flash, etc.. mostly video editing and 3D Design and rendering stuff. Right now I have a Windows XP; 300W Power Supply; 1.2ghz AMD Athlon Processor (A1200BOX266); 1 gb of DDR Ram; FIC AD11 Mainboard with 4x AGP and AMD 761 chipset; Cd/DVD burner, 32mb Nvidia GeForce 2 videocard. At first, I wanted to get a new ATI x800 XT video card, thinking it would help with my 3D. But, it looks like I should go with a new motherboard and CPU instead. I need some help deciding what to get given the types of programs I will be using. Will having an old 32mb video card still hinder me if I get new MB+CPU? Single processor vs dual processor? AMD vs Intel? I want to get the most bang for my buck, and want to spend around $600, like I said before. Can anyone point me in the right direction for getting my PC ready for some mad 3D Studio Max skills? Thanks so much!
CPU+Motherboard or Video Card: Upgrade Help
- Thread starter NickCrocco
- Start date
Id definately go with a new processor and mobo. For those apps you plan on running, you would benefit more from that upgrade. I would prob go with a 3.2c and asus P4C800E-Deluxe. Should be less than $600 for the two, and would be a drastic improvement on what your running now.
The Socket 939 Athlon 64 3500+ Retail is $499 and the Asus A8V board is $169. I'd wait just a couple days, though, as the 939 boards are just becoming available. Socket 939 will probably become the most popular kind of Athlon 64, so it's worth looking into.
If you're considering video encoding as the main taxing thing he'll be doing, yeah, the P4 would be ideal. He could get the CPU, mobo and a great video card.
P4 3.2E Retail = $281
Asus P4P800 SE i865 = $94
Sapphire Radeon 9800 Pro with R360 core = $210
P4 3.2E Retail = $281
Asus P4P800 SE i865 = $94
Sapphire Radeon 9800 Pro with R360 core = $210
For most apps he mentioned, I second this option. Mobo/CPU/Graphics for your 600,- this is the best deal!
That 1GB he has is probably DDR266, but with a dual-channel board, I don't think it would choke the system much. It'd be interesting to see a comparison with dual-channel DDR400 vs. 266.
Schadenfroh
Elite Member
- Mar 8, 2003
- 38,416
- 4
- 0
get a cheap nforce2 IGP with the built in Geforce4MX in it untill its time to upgrade the video card, they can be had for about $60ish
then get a $80 2500 athlon xp barton
then get a $80 2500 athlon xp barton
Did you accidentally post that to the wrong thread? I certainly don't see how this applies to someone who wants to get the best thing he can get for $600. Recommending a bargain Socket A mobo makes no sense.
He said he had a GeForce2, and he didn't mention MX It's probably faster than the nForce2 IGP. You're actually telling him to downgrade his graphics.
If you want to recommend him sinking all his money into the graphics, it would make sense if you suggested a Barton CPU, an ABIT NF7-S (or whatever), and a Radeon X800. Your post, however, makes no sense. You're ignoring what the poster said. Are you trying to be rude?
Now I understand your signature.
Why are you guys suggesting the furnace...errr...Prescott? If he is going to go P4, I think the P4C would be a better choice.
Edit:
Are you open to any overclocking? You can get a much better bang for the buck nowadays if you consider o/c'ing. It's much safer and easier than it was in the past, and you can easily o/c a lot of the modern CPU's without a ton of loud fans, giant HSF's, and most importantly, without sacrificing stability...if done right and with the right components.
Also, will you be doing more video editing, or 3D rendering. The one place the P4 has a strong advantage is in video encoding, but if you are going to be doing mostly 3D stuff, that opens up your options a bit more.
Edit:
Are you open to any overclocking? You can get a much better bang for the buck nowadays if you consider o/c'ing. It's much safer and easier than it was in the past, and you can easily o/c a lot of the modern CPU's without a ton of loud fans, giant HSF's, and most importantly, without sacrificing stability...if done right and with the right components.
Also, will you be doing more video editing, or 3D rendering. The one place the P4 has a strong advantage is in video encoding, but if you are going to be doing mostly 3D stuff, that opens up your options a bit more.
It really depends on how much you want to get for your money.
Intel=Expensive
AMD= Much Cheaper
If you want to ge the most for your money never buy the top of the line product. Even though Intel chips generally perform about 10% faster in those types of Apps I would take a look at Newegg.com.
MSI "K8T NEO-FSR" K8T800 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket 754 =$92
AMD Athlon 64 3000+, 512KB L2 Cache Retail = $223
Sapphire Radeon 9800 Pro with R360 core =$210
**also whatever you do dont directly take any of our advise. Take what we have to say into consideration and go out on the internet whether it be ANANDTECH or tomshardware or other reputable sites and do some research on your own. Heck even find the products on newegg and read the reviews. Just take our information, do your research and try to make a good informed choice**
Intel=Expensive
AMD= Much Cheaper
If you want to ge the most for your money never buy the top of the line product. Even though Intel chips generally perform about 10% faster in those types of Apps I would take a look at Newegg.com.
MSI "K8T NEO-FSR" K8T800 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket 754 =$92
AMD Athlon 64 3000+, 512KB L2 Cache Retail = $223
Sapphire Radeon 9800 Pro with R360 core =$210
**also whatever you do dont directly take any of our advise. Take what we have to say into consideration and go out on the internet whether it be ANANDTECH or tomshardware or other reputable sites and do some research on your own. Heck even find the products on newegg and read the reviews. Just take our information, do your research and try to make a good informed choice**
3chordcharlie
Diamond Member
- Mar 30, 2004
- 9,859
- 1
- 81
I'd sugest a 2.8 or 3.0 P4c, rather than a 3.2 or 3.4, and whatever money you save will help you upgrade your graphics sooner rather than later.
Thanks everyone for your advice. Yeah, I was really just wanting some good suggestions to go and research myself, I just needed a place to start! Yeah, my RAM is DDR 266, and I would really like to use it and not need to buy new sticks... would I have any problems if I went with a P4 about RAM compatibility?
As for overclocking... I've never done it myself, but my friend is a Comp Sci major with an overclocked P4 3.2, so I'm sure he can help.
As for overclocking... I've never done it myself, but my friend is a Comp Sci major with an overclocked P4 3.2, so I'm sure he can help.
I can't even find the benchmark that was causing me to recommend the 3.2 Prescott. The Athlon FX53 and all the P4 3.2's are extremely close to each other in video encoding, so I suppose I'd just go with the Northwood for $266.
Is the Northwood even better? From the looks of it, the Northwood has a 512k cache while the Prescott has a 1mb L2 cache... Is the Prescott running hot a really serious problem even if I don't overclock it?
Ok, here's what I have picked out so far:
ASUS "P4P800 SE" i865PE Chipset Motherboard for Intel Socket 478 CPU: $94.00
Intel Pentium 4/ 3.2C GHz 800MHz FSB, 512K Cache, Hyper Threading Technology: $279.00
ATI RADEON 9800PRO Video Card, 128MB DDR, 256-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP -: $222.00
Arctic Silver Premium Silver Polysynthetic Silver Thermal Compound: $7.50
TOTAL w/ Shipping: $606.49
What do you guys think?
ASUS "P4P800 SE" i865PE Chipset Motherboard for Intel Socket 478 CPU: $94.00
Intel Pentium 4/ 3.2C GHz 800MHz FSB, 512K Cache, Hyper Threading Technology: $279.00
ATI RADEON 9800PRO Video Card, 128MB DDR, 256-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP -: $222.00
Arctic Silver Premium Silver Polysynthetic Silver Thermal Compound: $7.50
TOTAL w/ Shipping: $606.49
What do you guys think?
Prescott 3.2's all use the older Prescott stepping which runs hotter.
Here's a good article. Prescott 3.2's are running 13% hotter and 1% slower than Northwood 3.2's in most benchmarks.
http://www6.tomshardware.com/cpu/20040322/index.html
Looks like you should save a couple bucks and stick with Northwood.
The board/CPU/video card certainly look like good choices to me.
Here's a good article. Prescott 3.2's are running 13% hotter and 1% slower than Northwood 3.2's in most benchmarks.
http://www6.tomshardware.com/cpu/20040322/index.html
Looks like you should save a couple bucks and stick with Northwood.
The board/CPU/video card certainly look like good choices to me.
Question: Will my old RAM work with this new Motherboard?? I really want to not have to buy new RAM if I don't have to.
EDIT: I just opened up my PC to check the RAM. It's DDR 2700 333. The motherboard says it supports PC3200/2700/2100 non-ECC DDR SDRAM memory Dual-Channel DDR400/333/266 Max 4GB(Hyper-Path) , so it should work, right? BTW, it is 2 sticks of 512mb, so the dual channel should work okay...
EDIT: I just opened up my PC to check the RAM. It's DDR 2700 333. The motherboard says it supports PC3200/2700/2100 non-ECC DDR SDRAM memory Dual-Channel DDR400/333/266 Max 4GB(Hyper-Path) , so it should work, right? BTW, it is 2 sticks of 512mb, so the dual channel should work okay...
Okay. Will this hold back the CPU too much, or should it be okay? I know that 3200 is the way to go, but I just don't have the cash to get another gig of ram and toss the ram I already have that's only a year old. Is dropping another $180 for 3200 RAM worth it to make this CPU run up to speed?
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