Decision 2005

[jimmyj68]

Today's article on the AMD Intel cpu situation has really put my upgrade questions/plans up for grabs. Here's what I have now:

intel 865 PERL motherboard
3.2E Prescott
1 gig dram
MSI 5900xt vga
RAID 0 80 gig Hitachi HD's
Revo 7.1 sound card

I considered a switch to AMD after some 15 years, here's the candidates:

Antec P160 case
Foxconn NF4UK8AA-8EKRS 939 motherboard
Athlon 64 3200+ Venice CPU
leadtek PX6600GT video card
corsair XMS 1GB DDR SDRAM (2x512)
Zalman VF700 VGA cooler
all for $825.98

Or, stay with intel like so:

Antec P160 case
Intel 925XECV2LK LGA 775 motherboard
MSI NX6600GT video card
pentium 4 650 800FSB cpu
corsair 256mb 240 pin DDR2 sdram (2)
zalman CNPS7700 cpu cooler
zalman vf700 vga cooler
all for $1,109.67

The p160 case is mostly a fancy case option, I know I can get a good,cool,quiet case for less. All in all cost isn't a factor. Considering the points made in today's Antech article - what would you do?

p.s. this is probably my last upgrade. I'll turn 69 next month and I guess i'll put my computer hobby down and start reading my backlog of books.

 

[fuentefan]

You wouldn't notice a significant upgrade with the options you provided. THe 3.2e is actually a good performer.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Originally posted by: fuentefan
You wouldn't notice a significant upgrade with the options you provided. THe 3.2e is actually a good performer.

Other than that, the AMD system will be your best option. Early Happy Birthday.

 

[jimmyj68]

I'm kinda leaning toward AMD - but - but - should I find it impossible to resist dual amd and intel processors, the AMD offerings are going to be real expensive - comparatively. But - - the motherboard I would have would take the new cpu with just a bios upgrade for AMD. Maybe, taking into consideration that intels offering will require a new motherboard, and as always a new technology motherboard will go for a premium price - in the end it may all balance out.

Thanks for the birthday greetings. I have to remind myslef how old I'm supposed to be because I sure don't feel like it. But it will take me at least another ten years to catch up on my reading.

 

[rise]

lol, you sound like my mom, 71 years old and walking 18 holes

anyway, i sense you want to upgrade so i think definitely go with an amd nf4 board. as you said, you'll be ready to drop in an x2 when the prices stabilize and performance wise it looks like they'll thrash intels.

 

[jimmyj68]

Thanks a lot folks - I'm still believing this is my last upgrade-so - who knows. Sadly, I'm still a couch potato. You know the drill - I'm going to start getting some regular exercise "next week" - just like I'm going to pick up book "X" tomorrow. I think 39 and 1/2 years working for Uncle Sam has ruined me. Since retirement I haven't felt very motivated.

 

[n7]

You already have a great system.

If you like to game, you could add a better video card.

ATM though, it really doesn't make sense to build another system.

I get the upgrade bug sometimes too though, so i shouldn't talk.

I have a 3200+ right now...& i'm about to upgrade to a 3200+...don't ask

 

[jose]

Maybe you should wait till the end of the year as your system is fine. Then prices should be lower also. But in the end I'd recomend going w/ a NF4 A64 system. Intel has nothing currently that impresses me. Here are some spec's for a long lived system. Get a DFI SLI mobo, 2 - 1gig dimms, an X2 processor and whichever video card you want.. Both ATI & Nvidia will have new stuff at the end of the year.

Regards,
Jose