Got a 3.2 P4 now, should I still build a AMD 64 system?

[imported_Mackie1604]

Got a nice gaming system now, 3.2 P4 800-mhz.....512k cache

But I want to build a AMD64 system, 939, probably 3500 or 3800.....but they are so pricey right now.

I'm also getting a new video card, probably a 6800 Ultra or GT.....and my current machine has a fairly small power supply.

Am I going to see a nice power boost going to a 3500 or 3800 compared the P4 3.2???

I use my machine for lots of stuff besides gaming, so I don't want it to suck.

I also will have access to WinXP 64 builds well before they are ever released.....so that's another bonus.

 

[MDE]

I wouldn't bother right now. Honestly the boost isn't worth the cost unless you can sell your P4 setup for some serious money.

 

[imported_Mackie1604]

That's kinda what I was thinking.

I have a Media Center Box as well, that's 3.06 533, I was thinking about making that my Small Business Server, make the 3.2 my Media Center PC, and take my Shuttle AMD 2100 that's my SBS now and sell it for 300-400.

The major issue I also see, is no PCI-Express Boards for 939.....

 

[Demo24]

the 939 bascially beats all the P4's except the rare occasion of the P4 ee which cost about twice as much. I would say tis worth it. PCI-e isnt really worth paying for. There will be 939 PCI-e boards comeing later this year though.

 

[InlineFive]

I also think that Mackie has an excellent system and shoult wait a while.

DEMO24: Not to flame you but you don't seem like you know what you are talking about. Should he go to all the trouble of selling his system (and hopefully getting enough money) to buy an A64 system that might get under 10FPS more? For a new builder with a lower end system AMD is the current King Of The Hill.

 

[Demo24]

I know what Im talking about but if your seriously considering a 939 3500 then you arent worrying to much about the money. especially if hes gonna buy a 6800gt ot ultra. Also a 3.06 withh 533 compared to a 3500? 3500 is gonna kill it. Will be a lot better. besides its gonna last him longer and as he said he will have acces to windows 64

 

[MDE]

If his current system runs everything it needs to just fine, then why upgrade? Sure, if you're a speed junkie it may be worth it, but for anyone else, I'd pass for now and wait for a really good deal.

 

[Vee]

No, no point for you now.
64-bit are not going to become rarer or more expensive (at least not in the longer perspective). You're not missing any opportunity

 

[Markfw]

First, even though I am an AMD fan, upgrade your video and wait a bit, you are fine for now.

That said, I am glad you are open to the fact that at the moment they are better for most everything, especially gaming.

 

[MalikChen]

Uh, some of us have to think about money. Just because he is going to get a high end card doesn't mean he has wads to spare. Also, a 3.2 800mhz P4 will benchmark within a few percentage points of a 3500+. They're both good chips. Personally, I'd wait until everybody gets their act togeather with PCI-express and DDRII before I switched to an entirely new platform.

I've got an A64 too, and I don't really even use XP 64-bit. Not too many programs are optimized for XP64, and entirely new drivers have to be written for every piece of hardware.

 

[Stormgiant]

I agreed. It would be a "smarter" choise to wait until maybe end of the year and them see what's happening.

He already has one damm fast machine.

 

[Acanthus]

Wait for Nforce 4 and affordable 939 Cpus.

-Acanthus

 

[imported_Mackie1604]

Well, I got a couple good things going for me now.

#1, I got the case already, 600w power supply, 1 gig of ram (making 2gigs in my P4 3.2 now) DVD burner and DVD ROM already set aside for this new bad ass machine.

#2 I work for MSFT so I can get XP64 whenever I want and latest build with stuff you guys don't get :brokenheart:

#3 I can get well below cost on Video Cards from EVGA and ATI......I'm thinking the 6800 Ultra......but that card, plus Motherboard and 3500 or 3800 CPU, is gonna run me almost $1000-$1200!!!

What I might do, is a get a 6800 GT, and put it my 3.2 now (Dell SC400 Server, should have enough power to handle a GT) and just use that until the AMD craze dies out and I can buy a 4000-4500+ when they are relaesed next year.

Thanks for all the insight, I really appreciate it.

Mackie