Help! Dream PC - Confused

[eLinux]

I had my dream machine all set up and everything...$1800 (more or less, after shipping).

Here's what it looked like:

Link

Here's the problem...there's no motherboard!

I *was* going to buy this motherboard along with the computer linked above:

Mobo

Of course, I was not going to buy a refurbed one...but it looks like NewEgg has stopped carrying this motherboard.



I have heard superb reviews of this motherboard from many different sources.

I was actually going to buy the computer a few days ago when I realized the motherboard is no longer sold at Newegg...

So now I am stepping back and looking at my options.

I could just find another motherboard, but I really don't know where to look. I've never really kept up with motherboards as much as other PC technologies. Gigabyte has always been one of my preferred motherboard manuf. Now, the motherboard I was going to buy that they developed is no longer being sold at Newegg.

So maybe I should just get a 64bit processor, I thought. AMD64? It benchmarks amazingly well... It's powerful. It's cool (temperature, that is; compared to the Prescott anyways ). But why in the world would I buy a 64 bit processor if I'm going to be using Windows often (yup, don't ask about my username...I still use Linux, but Windows more often nowadays) and Windows only supports 32 bits?

Sounds like a waste of money and a poor purchase.

So I figured I would buy a G5... Man! OS X, in my opinion, is amazing. It's powerful, smooth, beautiful, and it's...well, just plain cool! But a G5, at least the one I'm looking at (keep in mind with a student discount) is going to cost me $2800! That's at least $1000 more than the PC I was originally looking at buying would cost me.

I'm looking for ideas/thoughts/insights on what I should do... G5? AMD 64, even though Windows only supports 32? Or just find a new motherboard for the computer that I have already designed (link at the top)?

I don't know much about the "latest and greatest" motherboards, so if you say I should just stick with my P4 3.2ghz, then please suggest a specific (comporable or better) model... I'd rather not downgrade; one of the reasons I really liked the Gigabyte board because it has so many features.

Thanks!

 

[magomago]

I don't see how getting an A64 is a wasteful upgarde when a 3000+ keeps up with a 3.2C and is priced competitively.

 

[Corporate Thug]

9800 pro would be a better buy, the powersupply is overkill

 

[So]

Wthlon 64 Will be a good option. At that budget you might even be able to go the socket 939 route.

 

[eLinux]

Originally posted by: magomago
I don't see how getting an A64 is a wasteful upgarde when a 3000+ keeps up with a 3.2C and is priced competitively.

You're right...it's not really wasteful to buy it. I'd just feel like all the power is going to waste, ya know?

The processor I'm sure if ultra powerful if it was running a 64bit environment. But Windows 64 won't be out for forever.

 

[eLinux]

Originally posted by: shady06
9800 pro would be a better buy, the powersupply is overkill

I've read benchmarks that state the 9800 pro runs slower than the 5900XT... Dunno for sure, though. Just what I read.

 

[eLinux]

Originally posted by: So
Wthlon 64 Will be a good option. At that budget you might even be able to go the socket 939 route.

Socket 939? Haven't heard much about it. Care to provide more details? i.e., is it really worth going that route? Are Intel processors going that route, as well?

 

[Mik3y]

lets get this straight first...athlon 64 does not mean it is a 64 bit only cpu. it means it can do 64 bit. in comparison with intel, amd is stronger in the 32 bit environment. i dont see how you can have a dream computer composing of a P4 3.2Ghz. thats not exactly very high end. also, i dont see how you can compose a dream system without even knowing anything about the athlon 64's. you should check out hte compilation of my dream rig in my sig. its about perfect for me. it also costs $10,000 for it all. i just wish i had that type of money!

 

[nick1985]

Case $145

DVD Burner $66

Heatsink $30

RAM $220

Motherboard $88

PSU $68

CPU $404(if you want to OC, i suggest getting the 3000+ and OC'ing it to 3400 speeds)

Video Card $389

Arctic silver--$7.50

Sound Card $111

hard Drive *2 $186.98

TOTAL: $1715.48

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: eLinux

Originally posted by: shady06
9800 pro would be a better buy, the powersupply is overkill

I've read benchmarks that state the 9800 pro runs slower than the 5900XT... Dunno for sure, though. Just what I read.

This is not true by any stretch of the imagination, they are very close in performance, and the 9800 Pro is the clear winner in newer games.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: eLinux

Originally posted by: shady06
9800 pro would be a better buy, the powersupply is overkill

I've read benchmarks that state the 9800 pro runs slower than the 5900XT... Dunno for sure, though. Just what I read.

link?

the 9800 pro is faster. believe me

 

[So]

Originally posted by: eLinux

Originally posted by: So
Wthlon 64 Will be a good option. At that budget you might even be able to go the socket 939 route.

Socket 939? Haven't heard much about it. Care to provide more details? i.e., is it really worth going that route? Are Intel processors going that route, as well?

Definitely not, but down the road, Athlon64s will go that route. If you tend to replace your mobo/CPU at the same time, it's a waste, but if you're going to change CPUs in the same board, it my be worth it.

For current socket 754 boards, I like the MSI and ASUS boards (although I just got my ASUS and it was DOA so I'd lean twoards the MSI boards).

 

[eLinux]

Originally posted by: Mik3y
lets get this straight first...athlon 64 does not mean it is a 64 bit only cpu. it means it can do 64 bit. in comparison with intel, amd is stronger in the 32 bit environment. i dont see how you can have a dream computer composing of a P4 3.2Ghz. thats not exactly very high end. also, i dont see how you can compose a dream system without even knowing anything about the athlon 64's. you should check out hte compilation of my dream rig in my sig. its about perfect for me. it also costs $10,000 for it all. i just wish i had that type of money!

I know the AMD does 32bit as well.

My "dream computer" is just fine as a dream computer. I'm not going to spend $10,000...

I know plenty about Athlon 64s. Please, don't come to this thread to flame. I'm asking for advice, not insults.

 

[eLinux]

Originally posted by: Acanthus

Originally posted by: eLinux

Originally posted by: shady06
9800 pro would be a better buy, the powersupply is overkill

I've read benchmarks that state the 9800 pro runs slower than the 5900XT... Dunno for sure, though. Just what I read.

This is not true by any stretch of the imagination, they are very close in performance, and the 9800 Pro is the clear winner in newer games.

Thanks for the heads up...'preciate that.

 

[Corporate Thug]

http://www.hothardware.com/viewarticle.cfm?articleid=438

 

[eLinux]

Only problem with an ATI card is that it is not well supported in Linux...which I still use from time to time.

Either way, the graphics card is not a big deal. I'll probably end up getting the ATI, though, just to play it safe...

Nevertheless...does anybody have any really great experiences with a specific AMD 64 motherboard they'd like to share? Any recommendations?

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: eLinux
Only problem with an ATI card is that it is not well supported in Linux...which I still use from time to time.

Either way, the graphics card is not a big deal. I'll probably end up getting the ATI, though, just to play it safe...

Nevertheless...does anybody have any really great experiences with a specific AMD 64 motherboard they'd like to share? Any recommendations?

did you see my post?

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: eLinux
Only problem with an ATI card is that it is not well supported in Linux...which I still use from time to time.

Either way, the graphics card is not a big deal. I'll probably end up getting the ATI, though, just to play it safe...

Nevertheless...does anybody have any really great experiences with a specific AMD 64 motherboard they'd like to share? Any recommendations?

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=572

 

[eLinux]

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: eLinux
Only problem with an ATI card is that it is not well supported in Linux...which I still use from time to time.

Either way, the graphics card is not a big deal. I'll probably end up getting the ATI, though, just to play it safe...

Nevertheless...does anybody have any really great experiences with a specific AMD 64 motherboard they'd like to share? Any recommendations?

did you see my post?

Yes I did...I'm certainly not ignoring your post. You have a well-priced and good system there...

I'm simply looking for as much feedback and as many ideas as possible.

 

[wetcat007]

Originally posted by: Acanthus

Originally posted by: eLinux

Originally posted by: shady06
9800 pro would be a better buy, the powersupply is overkill

I've read benchmarks that state the 9800 pro runs slower than the 5900XT... Dunno for sure, though. Just what I read.

This is not true by any stretch of the imagination, they are very close in performance, and the 9800 Pro is the clear winner in newer games.

Just get a GeForce 6800 GT, problem solved it's faster than both

 

[eLinux]

I'd love to...just a bit outside of my budget.

 

[Mik3y]

the gt is actually cheaper...you can get it for $300-350 at if you search well enuff.

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: Mik3y
the gt is actually cheaper...you can get it for $300-350 at if you search well enuff.

Cheaper than what? the 9800Pro is $203 the 5900XT is $189

 

[Mik3y]

than the x800 pro.

nm, i thought he wanted to get the x800 pro. sorry, read wrong.

 

[eLinux]

...bump for more mobo suggestions.

I'm actually now leaning towards an AMD 64. Is the FX really worth it? The FX53 is fairly expensive, but the AMD 64 3400+, and maybe even 3500+ is (although more than I was thinking to spend) not badly priced...

What major advantage does the FX provide?