Gyah! AMD! Intel! AMD! Intel!

[JonnyStarks]

Ok, I know this is getting worn into the ground, and I've read all the other posts but I'm still in need of a second (and third, and fourth) opinion.

I'm putting together a computer for school. It's mainly being used for gaming and surfing the net, but I often rip DVD's and convert them to WMV/DivX for viewing on my pocket PC, and I would like for my machine to do well on that as well.

I have no plans to overclock.

SO, I've been comparing prices for the last while, and I've come to this conclusion:

I could either get a 2.8C with an asus P4P800-Dlx with a ATI 9600XT
or I could get a 2500+ with an A7N8x-x dlx and save enough money to get a 9800pro

I'm going crazy deciding! I'm really itching to build this system soon... but by the time I end up buying everything things could be completely different. Should I just wait till April/May?

Help!

 

[Duvie]

Well since you will be mainly gaming I would get the barton 2500+ ad the best gaming card you can get....The 2.8c will by far do better in Divx encoding but if we are only talking about 15% by speed difference and HT can help boost divx encoding by 10% for a total of 25% faster. I am saying the 2.8c is equivalent to a barton 3200+ in this process...

However gaming sounds like the main app and you should do that the best you can and just do the divx encoding at night where you wont notice the extra 30 minutes or so it may taketo do it...

 

[wkabel23]

Well I don't think the 9600XT is the right video card for that system first of all...

secondly, how much does price matter?

 

[JonnyStarks]

Originally posted by: wkabel23
Well I don't think the 9600XT is the right video card for that system first of all...

secondly, how much does price matter?

Well, as I said, I will be going to university next year, which is not going to be cheap, so I would like to get the most for my money... not looking at spending over $1300CDN, maybe with a monitor... but I have an IBM 15" If I have to go that way.

Why would I want to avoid the 9600XT? The biggest screen I would get would be a 17" running at 1280x1024.

 

[Duvie]

I don't understand the comment either...i recently built a system for a friend and the 9600XT was a kick-*ss card....For the price of 154 we paid for it it has to be hands down one of the best price/performance in the mid range card area....Make sure you get the right XT....I saw some third party vendors with some different speeds...Look for the sapphire card with 500core and 600memory...Also it doesn't come with the vga to DVI converter so if you go flat panel with a DVI connector you will need to pick one up...

 

[wkabel23]

Originally posted by: Duvie
I don't understand the comment either...i recently built a system for a friend and the 9600XT was a kick-*ss card....For the price of 154 we paid for it it has to be hands down one of the best price/performance in the mid range card area....Make sure you get the right XT....I saw some third party vendors with some different speeds...Look for the sapphire card with 500core and 600memory...Also it doesn't come with the vga to DVI converter so if you go flat panel with a DVI connector you will need to pick one up...

Why buy a video card right now anyways? IMO, unless you need to play a game out today with a 9600XT then you'd be better off waiting till prices drop in spring.

And if you're on a budget 2500+ is the best choice.

 

[JonnyStarks]

Ok, so with the 2500+ and the 9800 I'd be looking at better gaming than the P4 setup? I don't suppose I'd be worrying too much about the video encoding, it is pretty satisfactory with my current P4 1.8.
Since this is my first build, I've been looking at some different articles on the actual building process and have read that an Athlon is trickier to install? Stories about cracking the core when applying the HSF?
How big of a concern is this to a noob?

 

[Necrolezbeast]

no concern at all...just make sure to pay attention to the grooves on the bottom of the heatsink and make sure you are putting it on the socket the correct way. The majority of cracked cores from heatsink installations are from the heatsink being seated backward, and that is easy to avoid if you remotely pay attention to what you are doing

 

[Duvie]

Originally posted by: Necrolezbeast
no concern at all...just make sure to pay attention to the grooves on the bottom of the heatsink and make sure you are putting it on the socket the correct way. The majority of cracked cores from heatsink installations are from the heatsink being seated backward, and that is easy to avoid if you remotely pay attention to what you are doing

Actually it is a bit more of a concern then many amd users want to admit...I have seen plenty of threads during my time about this...

1) leave the rubber bumper (4 of them) on the top of the athlon chip..This is not a mistake. this helps more then anyhing from letting the heatsink rock on the core during install....

2) placing the heatsink backwards usually results in more improper contact and possible damage from overheating then actually cracking the core...


Only thing more difficult then a P4 install as all the rest of the components are simliar in installation....For those who think this process isn't more fool proof then an IHS plate like on the P4 northwoods and the Athlon 64 bit chips, is a fool himself!!!!


Only thing the guy above said correctly is shouldn't be an issue if you take your time and pay attention do what you are doing....

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: Duvie
2) placing the heatsink backwards usually results in more improper contact and possible damage from overheating then actually cracking the core...

I did that with my SLK900A on my poor 1700+. I would consider myself lucky that I didnt do any noticeable permenant damage. Dont know for the life of me how I did it, I sat down and read and read and read how to install it and Ive never installed a heatsink backwards before that.

Take your time. If need be, print out information and pictures that might help.

I think you'd be ok with either setup but Id personally prefer the AMD setup as Im a gamer and dont encode at all.
Id also recommend the ABIT NF7-S Revision 2.0 motherboard. It is a rock solid board and has enough features for most people... although I dont think you'd be disappointed with the ASUS board.

 

[Vette73]

For a great cheap gaming system get a Abit NF7-S board, Athlon 2500+, 2 slabs of PC3200 memory, and a Radeon 9800

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: Duvie
Well since you will be mainly gaming I would get the barton 2500+ ad the best gaming card you can get....The 2.8c will by far do better in Divx encoding but if we are only talking about 15% by speed difference and HT can help boost divx encoding by 10% for a total of 25% faster. I am saying the 2.8c is equivalent to a barton 3200+ in this process...

However gaming sounds like the main app and you should do that the best you can and just do the divx encoding at night where you wont notice the extra 30 minutes or so it may taketo do it...

Precisely. As to installing the cooler, aside from being patient and aligning it correctly, also make very certain that you do not put any pressure on the heatsink while installing, just the clip. If you're really concerned buy the Vantec AeroFlow, it's the easiest to install sktA cooler I ever used, unless the Venus 12 for sktA has as good a install proceedure as the A64 model does. Installing it is so easy it almost takes the fun out of it....almost

 

[JonnyStarks]

Ok, you guys have reassured me on the HSF issue... just one more question regarding a possible Athlon setup:
Since the 2500+ has a 333FSB, there would be no need for me to pay an exta 50-100 bucks on specially tested dual channel ram, right? I'd just need 1 1gig 3200 stick instead of 2x512?

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: JonnyStarks
Ok, you guys have reassured me on the HSF issue... just one more question regarding a possible Athlon setup:
Since the 2500+ has a 333FSB, there would be no need for me to pay an exta 50-100 bucks on specially tested dual channel ram, right? I'd just need 1 1gig 3200 stick instead of 2x512?

I havent kept up with RAM prices lately but I wouldnt be suprised if 1x1024 is more expensive than 2x512. Dual Channel Kits are not essential but probably cheaper than buying 2 sticks separately.

 

[Falloutboy]

well if I were you I would go to newegg and get a 2400 Moible Barton and a NF7-S great combo for just under 170 bucks. the mobiles are overclocking monsters. most run at 2400-2500 with little issue and with good cooling 2700+. I just orderd me on today, after my duron started acting funky so I rma'd it