Dual core or better graphics

[The I]

I'm giving advice for a younger cousin who'll be building a computer for gaming. I've been having something like this in mind:

ASUS A8-R MVP Crossfire
AMD 64 XP 3200 Venice OR AMD 64 X2 3800+
Asus GF7900 GT OR Asus GF7600 GT
2 * 512 MB Kingston ValueRAm
Antec 2650 BQE chassis
NEC ND-3550 DVD-burner
WD 250 GB 16MB Caviar SE16

He won't be doing any overclocking.

Now the things I'm slightly unsure about:

Mainboard: As far as I remember this board got a pretty warm welcome in the reviews, but I've also heard problems mentioned later, at least when it comes to OC'ing. In this case my interest is of course mainly in stability and performance (though I don't think that matters much in mainboards). Any better alternatives?

The budget probably doesn't hold for both a dual-core AMD and a 7900 GT so the thing I'm not quite sure about is where it's best to save money.
As said the computer will be used for gaming and that's going to be the main bottleneck, so I'm quite sure than 'out of the box' using an XP 3200 and GF7900 GT is probably fastest. But my cousin's probably going to keep using this computer for quite a few years, and will the single-core processor become the bottleneck when dual-core becomes the norm in games?

RAM: is having only a GB a problem at this point? - is it worth trading off on the CPU or GFX to get another GB?

My main concern in this build is actually more the 'future' than the 'present' as I don't think my cousin's playing any of the really demanding games right now. So making the system adequate for as long into the future as possible is the main priority.

What's your take on this?

 

[HardWarrior]

Don't get an nV card for a Crossfire mb. DC processors, in some for or another are going to become the standard. Also, expecting several years out of a static gaming rig may be a bit too optimistic. It all depends on how interested your cousin is in keeping up with the next big thing. A good example of this would be Vista-compatible games, which are supposedly going to be a lot more vivid than contemporay games. DX 10, the foundation graphics API for Vista, is going to require a new class of video cards.

 

[deadseasquirrel]

What are his monitor's specs? And what, specifically, does he like to play? FPSs, all the latest demanding games, RTS...? Does he plan on using this computer for anything like video encoding or anything?

HardWarrior is right. Dual-core will become the norm, but right now, not really any games take advantage of it. 1 game does at 1280x1024 and that's about it. Although this will likely change in the future, it's not going to be within the next couple of months. So, a CPU upgrade in 6-12 months to a dual-core would be possible. And would cost him that $150 extra or so (who knows-- by that time there might be some 3800 X2s on ForSale/ForTrade for around $200).

On the flipside, the argument of DX10 and Vista-compliant video cards does exist. He will likely need to upgrade that video card in 6-12 months as well, even if he gets the 7900gt Again, like HW said, expecting a build to last several years w/o upgrading is unrealistic.

It really comes down to the first questions I asked-- what games, what monitor, and does he mind upgrading in the near future. He will most likely get more longevity out of the 3200+ 7900gt config, and may be able to last a few months into '07 with that config, while the 7600gt config might need an upgrade badly by winter this year.

 

[caridle]

Some suggestions:
1. MB: if u use NV card , cannot use mb with Crossfire, just use with SLI
2. CPU: u can use due core, one is the norm this year, and many games support duo core,and NV card drivers support duo core.
3. mem: just use 1 GB, if cannot consider overclocking.

 

[HardWarrior]

If hardcore gaming, with lots of eye candy and high-resolution is on the menu then 2gig is the way to go.

 

[n7]

Dual core really doesn't help much with games for now.

On a tight budget, i'd go with the better video card (7900GT/X1800XT) & single core CPU. Later one can always upgrade to dual core.

The Asus A8R-MVP is okay for stock settings, & some people seem to be able to OC reasonably well, but i owned that board, & i wasn't one of them.
So i'd suggest staying far away if you want to OC, since i know others had issues too...

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Originally posted by: caridle
Some suggestions:
1. MB: if u use NV card , cannot use mb with Crossfire, just use with SLI
2. CPU: u can use due core, one is the norm this year, and many games support duo core,and NV card drivers support duo core.
3. mem: just use 1 GB, if cannot consider overclocking.

Its dual core you intel drone

 

[bdww00]

diff mob preferably sli
def get the 3800 x2 for sure
and 7800 gtx or any 7800 card and up for good performance

get 256 bit mem interface card and prefer 256 mb of ram u can always unlock pipes and shaders

 

[Yoshi911]

A few things, these I will list, in my opinion are your best bang for yer buck

First of all, Overclocking is by no means dangerous or specialized these days and is a very simple process and does not reduce the life of the items when done correctly. All it takes is lowering the HTT multiplyer, using your RAM deviders and pumping up the Frequency's. For 25mins of work you can have a $600 preforming CPU

Opteron 165
- $300 - brand spankin new Dual core (OC it to a 2.4ghz any Opty can do this)
Geforce 7800 GT
- $250 on ebay or here on Anandtech Forums (get XFX, EVGA, BFG all lifetime warrenty dont require proof of purchase)

ASUS MB $75-125
- Reliable, slightly overclockable

Any speed 2GB Ram
- $130-$150 for a deal

 

[The I]

Currently I have had the eye on the BenQ FP91G+ for him, which is 1280 by 1024.

My cousin is not a heavy user and he's not planning on upgrading for the first couple of years so my goal is to find what ages most gracefully. So far it's probably only gaming and school-work so that's what to keep in mind.

So far I'm gathering that the x2 is a good idea in the longer term, but I'm still not quite sure which you think will be bottlenecked first: the x2 with a gf7600 GT or the 3200 with the GF7900 GT?

SLI and Crossfire: does using an NVIDIA-card on an ATI-board matter if you don't plan on using SLI? - I might be ignorant, but as far as I can see it an average user won't need either SLI or Crossfire, when the gfx-system is outdated would switching to a new card instead of just getting another not be equally efficient?

 

[The I]

Overclocking: I would do it if I was building something for myself but my cousin's 14 years old and doesn't have the skills to do it, and I probably won't get a chance to do it for him, I'm mostly just telling him what to buy.

 

[Yoshi911]

in that case go for opteron anyway because they have 1meg L2 Cach and 7800 gt will be the best bang for your buck

 

[TanisHalfElven]

Originally posted by: The I
I'm giving advice for a younger cousin who'll be building a computer for gaming. I've been having something like this in mind:

ASUS A8-R MVP Crossfire
AMD 64 XP 3200 Venice OR AMD 64 X2 3800+
Asus GF7900 GT OR Asus GF7600 GT
2 * 512 MB Kingston ValueRAm
Antec 2650 BQE chassis
NEC ND-3550 DVD-burner
WD 250 GB 16MB Caviar SE16

He won't be doing any overclocking.

Now the things I'm slightly unsure about:

Mainboard: As far as I remember this board got a pretty warm welcome in the reviews, but I've also heard problems mentioned later, at least when it comes to OC'ing. In this case my interest is of course mainly in stability and performance (though I don't think that matters much in mainboards). Any better alternatives?

The budget probably doesn't hold for both a dual-core AMD and a 7900 GT so the thing I'm not quite sure about is where it's best to save money.
As said the computer will be used for gaming and that's going to be the main bottleneck, so I'm quite sure than 'out of the box' using an XP 3200 and GF7900 GT is probably fastest. But my cousin's probably going to keep using this computer for quite a few years, and will the single-core processor become the bottleneck when dual-core becomes the norm in games?

RAM: is having only a GB a problem at this point? - is it worth trading off on the CPU or GFX to get another GB?

My main concern in this build is actually more the 'future' than the 'present' as I don't think my cousin's playing any of the really demanding games right now. So making the system adequate for as long into the future as possible is the main priority.

What's your take on this?

might i suggest getting PD805. dual core and cost less than a 3200+
or
cheapest 64 bit sempron you can find.
x1900xt/x1800xt/7900gt.

i own a dual core and i traded cpu for gfx and i bitterly regret it cuz had i gotten a a64 3000+ and a 7800gt (at that time) i would be gaming at 16x12 but now i barely push 1280x1028 (at low low settings) in the latest games.