how do i choose chipset?

[taurus252]

I am looking to build a new pc for main use for online gaming. I am still debating the motherboard but would like to know which chipset is best for gaming- do i need to buy the chipset seperately when buying a mobo? I am so new that its embarrasing. any help will be appreciated

 

[JohnAn2112]

The motherboard will have a chipset. You should look into the Nforce 4 chipset with a dual core Athlon 64 CPU.

 

[secretanchitman]

AMD for gaming, but Intel for everything else (encoding, photoshop, demanding program tasks).

there is something called SLI, in which you can use 2 video cards to increase graphics power. both AMD and Intel has this.

if you want that, AMD's chipset is called Nforce4 SLI, while Intels version of it is called Nforce4 SLI for Intel Edition.

feel free to ask any questions. dont be so embarassed...we were all n0obs once!

EDIT: stupid grammar mistakes.

 

[RichUK]

AMD for gaming, but Intel for everything else

mmmkay


dont think so.

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: taurus252
I am looking to build a new pc for main use for online gaming. I am still debating the motherboard but would like to know which chipset is best for gaming- do i need to buy the chipset seperately when buying a mobo? I am so new that its embarrasing. any help will be appreciated

The chipset is already soldered onto the mobo, so you do not have a socket like you do with CPU's, so they are not interchangeable, the chipset is usually the defining aspect into which mobo you get, and if you wish to use another chipset, this would mean purchasing a new mobo.

If going with AMD, the NF4 (nForce 4) has the best features at the moment, and is the most popular.

 

[stevty2889]

Originally posted by: secretanchitman
AMD for gaming, but Intel for everything else (encoding, photoshop, demanding program tasks).

EDIT: stupid grammar mistakes.

Umm, thats not exactly accurate anymore, maybe about 2 years ago..but A64's keep up in encoding and photoshop now, and the X2's are unmatched by anything Intel has..

 

[taurus252]

Well alright thanks for the replies guys...and to think Im doing all of this for Q4 lol...ok anyway
So I am going to look into a board with the nforce chipset with a dual core athlon 64 cpu. I would also like it with SLI for future upgrades.

Now someone mentioned

X2 Dual core processor- which processors fall under that category..someone told me to go for the amd 4000- does this fit the bill?.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

The X2 dual cores that are currently available

X2 3800+ 2.0ghz 512 l2 cache
x2 4200+ 2.2ghz 512 l2 cache
x2 4400+ 2.2ghz 1024 l2 cache
x2 4600+ 2.4ghz 512 l2 cache
x2 4800+ 2.4ghz 1024 l2 cache


There is rumored to be a 4000+, but it has yet to be released, it would be 2.0ghz 1024 l2 cache. The 3800+ is currently the biggest seller because of the lower price and high overclockability, but the 4000+ will probably take it's place if and when its released.

 

[Leper Messiah]

X2 and an NF4.

 

[phantom404]

Originally posted by: Leper Messiah
X2 and an NF4.

/Agree

Would def go dual core. I went from AMD64 to 4800X2 and it rocks. Ran 2 instances of prime95(utilizes both cores to 100% usage), scanned for virus and browsing the internet with no prob what so ever. I also have an SLI setup. At lower resolutions it doesnt really matter but anything really 1600x res or above would def show the true power of SLI.

 

[taurus252]

So when looking for a mobo do I have to find one that has the nforce4, and say x2 4400+ 2.2ghz 1024 l2 cache . Thats what the mobo has to be in total?

 

[phantom404]

Originally posted by: taurus252
So when looking for a mobo do I have to find one that has the nforce4, and say x2 4400+ 2.2ghz 1024 l2 cache . Thats what the mobo has to be in total?

Just a motherboard that says nforce4 and see if it has all other little features you want like SLI,onboard sound, number of usb ports, pci slots, etc. Some boards will say they support X2s and some you'll have to update the bios in order to support the X2s but as long as the motherboard is socket 939(AMD64/X2x) it should work even though you might have to update the bios.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: taurus252
So when looking for a mobo do I have to find one that has the nforce4, and say x2 4400+ 2.2ghz 1024 l2 cache . Thats what the mobo has to be in total?

Two different parts 1.mobo 2.cpu

I think all socket 939 mobo's will support X2 CPU's, it doesn't even have to be an nforce4, can be an nforce3, ATI, ULI, ect... The nforce4 is just the newest and most popular because it supports PCI-e graphics cards.

 

[taurus252]

Thank you I just read that X2 have issues when used for gaming because of multithread issues...I will reserach more on that.

 

[phantom404]

Its not really x2 having the problem but windows itself having problems with timing issues and stuff. Microsoft has came out with a patch that for me has fixed the problem. The only games i experiance problems before hand were older games like Warcraft3. I just set the game to run on one core and it worked fine. Since Microsfts patch though, I no longer have to do that. Ill be glad to help set up if you need it.

Besides Nvidia driver problems BF2, farcry, HL2, CS and WOW all work fine form me.

 

[taurus252]

thanks everyone for the help...Phantom...your system sounds great and I think I am going to use it as template for what I want to build. Thanks again...So I think X2 is the way to go