help me with a motherboard and cpu

[1stimer]

So far I have purchased a 17" lcd (princeton senergy $190 AR) and 512 mb of pc2700 ddr memory ($30 staples deal), and an antec mid tower case w/350 watt power supply ($40 AR from best buy).

I will be using this system for web surfing, office apps, occasional photoshop usage and an occasional game or two. I am leaning towards the 6600gt video card in order to play some newer games, but this might be overkill for me. I will be purchasing an 80 gig hd, and will use my current dvd burner in this system.

I have been out of the loop for a couple few years as far as motherboards and cpu's go. As you can tell I am a bit of a cheapskate and usually like to stay a little behind the newest technology. I told myself I was going to try AMD for my next computer, and am not opposed to the sempron. What do you guys think would be a good choice for a motherboard and cpu combo? I saw fry's has the ecs board combo with kt600 chipset for around $75. I cant remember what processor that comes with. Is this worth getting? Any other budget but good quality stuff out there I should look into? Also is the 6600gt overkill for me? Thanks a lot if anyone is willing to help out an old geek who had a commodore 64 as his first computer.

 

[RalphTheCow]

I'm another old guy who's first computer was a Vic20, so you know I'm cheap also! I'm returning my new Dell 3000 tonight because it has no AGP or PCIe slot for a video card. I'm thinking about an AMD Athlon 64 3000+ for about $150, and an Asus K8N motherboard for $85. It sounds to me like you should just go with integrated video for now and add the video board if and when you need it. This is just from a week or two of research - the people here have convinced me that AMD is cheap and fast.

 

[FastEddie]

ECS will have an NF4 Ultra in both 754 and 939 here in the next couple of weeks. Both should be based priced below $100. That gives you cutting edge on the cheap.

 

[1stimer]

TY Ralph and Eddie. I am almost positive I will be adding a video card...just not sure if I need to go with the 6600gt or an older nvidia with a dvi for my lcd.

Originally posted by: FastEddie
ECS will have an NF4 Ultra in both 754 and 939 here in the next couple of weeks. Both should be based priced below $100. That gives you cutting edge on the cheap.

Stability is my biggest concern for my motherboard. I'm showing how out of the loop I am because I dont know what 754 and 939 are. I just want to be able to use the ddr memory I already purchased. I'll make it easy....best bang for my buck right now with under 200 bucks to spend on heatsink, cpu, and board???

Text

 

[RalphTheCow]

I'm not an expert myself, but 939 is newer, so boards are more expensive and less tested, but you would then have a chance to upgrade to a faster processor later. With that budget it sounds like the 754, which may not be bad thing since the boards should be more reliable from being tried and tested in use.

 

[FastEddie]

A64/939 has onchip dual channel memory controller, is newer, will last longer.
A64/754 is first itteration of Athlon 64, and will be EOL (End Of Life) by the end of the year.

 

[Peter]

*sigh*

No it won't. Socket-754 is the platform of choice for mobile and budget segments, and that'll stay like that. Future, much faster Semprons will continue using that platform past this year, and who says future Semprons won't ever be 64-bit?

The _current_ Athlon-64 offerings for socket-754, that's what's EOL Q4/2005. The platform isn't.

 

[Peter]

Back to the topic. The entry point into the modern world is the ECS 755-A2 board paired with an Athlon64 2800+. Sums up to 150 euros here, should be well below USD 200.

Going with socket-939 is going to inflate cost, since the boards start at $35 more than that ECS board, and you'll have to buy another, exactly identical one of those $30 DIMMs.

 

[FastEddie]

Originally posted by: Peter
*sigh*

No it won't. Socket-754 is the platform of choice for mobile and budget segments, and that'll stay like that. Future, much faster Semprons will continue using that platform past this year, and who says future Semprons won't ever be 64-bit?

The _current_ Athlon-64 offerings for socket-754, that's what's EOL Q4/2005. The platform isn't.

From the AMD Roadmap on Anand's fron page: AMD Roadmap

"You might note that we have added an "EOL" column for the processors. This is only for the desktop versions of the chips, and it indicates AMD's plans for when to phase out each model. In the past, we might see processors drop well below the $100 mark before they were discontinued, but now that AMD has closed the performance gap with Intel, they are halting the shipment of their "performance" processors once they drop below about $120. This raises the average sale price of AMD's processors, and that's a good thing as a more profitable AMD is a more competitive AMD. As we mentioned in the last update, all of the socket 754 chips are scheduled for EOL by Q3'05; beyond that, Athlon 64 will only be available on socket 939."

The platform may be around for mobil products, but it looks like the Desktop 754 line is being EOL'd at the end of the year, as I stated.

 

[1stimer]

First of all----thanks so much for anyone that has taken the time to respond.

Well I just bought the xfx 6600gt video card from buy.com -- 180 after rebate, and I have decided to not go so budget and somewhat future proof this machine...I know this can never really be done, but I think the 939 board offers me the better opportunity to do this???

[/quote] and you'll have to buy another, exactly identical one of those $30 DIMMs.[/quote]

Another brand pc2700 ddr333 memory stick will not work??? It needs to be identical down to the numbers on the back of the stick???

 

[1stimer]

What about something like this?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...pNo=1087917&CatId=1619

 

[imported_slippy]

I think that is a sickeningly good deal. If you want advice and a step-by-step on building that system, check out the November 2004 issue of MaximumPC because they built a system with that board and processor.

I would check your local library system online to see if they carry the magazine at any of its branches near you. I have a stack of the past year's issues which I've taken out from the library and just keep renewing.

They are really whores to most of the companies though so make sure to balance their reviews with many reviews of other sites online. I really hate how all of these reviewers online get promo boards from companies and then review them, instead of having the integrity of buying a true market product off the shelf and reviewing that, but I suppose that would be more expensive.

I felt I really overshot my needs with my new system, an a8n-sli, but I don't regret it.

But here is the main problem you might have.... there are two versions of that 6600gt videocard.

There are only two videocard slots today. One is AGP, which is fading out in terms of future upgradability. PCI-E is the other, and the new standard.

The a8v deluxe only has an AGP slot on it. Make sure you got the agp version of that videocard if you want that. If you want to be more future minded, you might want to get the pci-e videocard and a pci-e board.

Good luck. Even though I didn't build the system they showed in that November issue, I found it indispensible for advice on every part of the construction.

 

[FastEddie]

Originally posted by: 1stimer
What about something like this?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...pNo=1087917&CatId=1619

Tiger Direct is the absolute worst for paying rebates! Look at zipzoomfly or newegg for combo specials. Both vendors do combo specials often.

 

[imported_slippy]

I see didn't finish my thought about online sites. Some sites gush over the products they are given because they have gotten them for free. Try to find reviews that are not from company samples, or ones from sites that even though they got it for free, have no problem giving a company the axe on their products... meaning no free passes.

I found that to be the biggest problem with my search... nearly 70% of all reviews are from people who are in bed with the companies, or bottomfeed off of free review components from companies to keep their systems upgraded with the latest and greatest stuff. Be wary and very critical and conscious of motives, and you should have no regrets with your final decisions.

 

[imported_slippy]

I've never bought from tigerdirect, so I know nothing of them, but pricewise that is a good deal. Just wanted to clear up that I wasn't endorsing tigerdirect since I have never used them.

 

[FastEddie]

Pricewise it is a real decent deal, but TD is the worst! There are people who've waited seven or eight months to get rebates out of TD.

 

[1stimer]

Yes I did get the AGP version of the video card...thanks for asking. I dont feel the need to go with pci-e, although that looks to be the trend of the future. I have also heard of the problems people have had with tiger direct, but that seems like a good deal. Thanks for the advice on the setup instructions. I'm sure that will come in handy if I do decide to go that route. Damn---I'm getting deeper into this than I set out to.

Couple more questions for you kind folks and maybe it will benefit others as well.

1. What about matching up with another 512 stick of memory?
Must it be the EXACT same as the 2700 ddr333 that I already purchased????

2. The Antec case came with 350 watt smartpower PS...Is this good enough?

Sofar....antec slk2650-bqe w/350 ps
maxtor 80gb ultra ata/133
xfs 6600gt agp vid card
pny 512mb pc2700 ddr333
princeton 17" senergy lcd

mobo, cpu, and cd is all thats left right?
Thanks again---you guys are great. Keep me going!

 

[imported_slippy]

Well, the problem is that the dual channel memory controller of the athlon 64 seems to be implemented differently with different motherboards. Some boards are generally finicky. Some boards allow unbuffered, unregistered ram and some don't. Sorry that's a vague answer, but that's what you're likely to hear from anyone.

I think that psu will probably work fine for what you intend to use your system for. Most people seem to be having trouble with memory on sli boards, but I don't think you'll be having that much of a problem. You should be fine if you just get the exact same type of ram, which is what I guess were asking about. It is best to match any two sticks of ram exactly for best compatibility with each other and the board itelf.

Unfortunately, I think you'll be getting much deeper into this then you imagine right now. I know I was completely consumed by it for a week.

Here's my basic system.

motherboard- a8n-sli deluxe $200 (I wanted a pci-e motherboard and this was the only one out, was actively searching for a $130 pci-e board at the time, and this is all that was out. )

cpu- athlon 64 3000+ 939 $150 (Any chip in this series will serve you very well)

memory- 2x 216 mb kingston value ram 3200 ddr400 (unregistered and unbuffered) $75

videocard- msi 6600gt $180 (I like it but wouldn't recommend it)

hard drive- seagate 120gb baracuda sata $92 (Good drive, had some noise originally, but seems to have chilled out

optical- Benq 1620 dual layer dvd burner $70 (High quality burns with b7p9 firmware)

floppy drive- sony $9 (a floppy is a necessity with any system)

case- thermaltake xaser v8000 aluminum $89 (aluminum- almost bought a japanese steel case that weighed twice as much. It weighs 15 pounds, the one I nearly bought weighs 35!)

power- Neopower 480 $110 (went with the positive reviews, some disparage it now, but it works for my needs and doesn't sag)

56k modem- zoom external serial modem 3490 $25 (even though about to get dsl, still needed a modem, and this one is compatible with linux, many internal software-based modems are not)

mouse- logitech mx310 $25 from staples (best value for a high quality mouse, very powerful sensor that never skips)

keyboard- micro innovations $9 (great key action for the price)

OS- Windows xp home oem- already had

Monitor- something I had lying around

Soundcard- will get an audigy platinum eventually when it comes down in price, but I'm not having any problem with the onboard sound of my motherboard. You might find the same if you get a motherboard with onboard sound. I'm not an extreme gamer, so I don't need things like EAX and what not to enjoy my computer.

Speakers- what I had lying around. Will get the logitech 5500 someday.

I received a $10 off deal from an mwave promotion and then $40 of shipping was added to the order.


As long as you have something in every one of those categories, you should have a working system. The components I used however completely overshot my needs, but I don't regret it because I will be able to easily grow into it, and most of its components are future compatible. In terms of the categories though, this is the minimum you need for a working system.

 

[1stimer]

Thanks Slippy. I have decided to not go budget and get an athlon64 socket 939. I think this will future proof me for a couple few years. I like the looks of the asus A8V deluxe...so I am going to wait and see if the 3000+ processor comes down in price before I get that to throw in the asus. (My memory should work fine in that board right?) I also might wait to see what other socket 939's come out in the meantime. Thanks alot for everyones help. My current system is fine for now, (socket 423 p4 1.7 I think) so I can be patient and wait a little while. I will be giving it to my son when I pull the trigger on the new mobo and cpu.

 

[AntiNowhere Man]

I am not sure if anyone has mentioned www.newegg.com, but they always have good hardware for cheap. They have daily specials too with pretty speedy shipping. Check it out if you want.