Kind of a Newbie, needs some advice

[zizzam]

OK so I used to be heavy into the PC scene but then my PC crashed and I had a car accident and i bought a car and a bunch of other crap, so Im basically a newbie again. My last setup was an old KT133 Abit or something with a 700mhz athlon, and a TNT2Ultra. I want to get a new mobo/cpu, and graphics card. I've read a few anandtech and firingsquad articles trying to get reaclimated, but I'm having a hard time deciding what direction I should head in. I'm not trying to spend a lot. I'm thinking about a Geforce4 Ti4200 for my graphics card. Now the mobo/cpu combo is really confusing me. Should I go with a more expensive MP processor, or get the XP2100? Then what mobo do I choose? Should I get a DDR setup? I dont know which boards are for DDR, and which arent etc...Any suggestions would be helpfull. I'd like to keep the mobo/cpu together around 200 bucks (not including RAM). Thanks

 

[mechBgon]

The MP processor is an XP that's been certified for dual-CPU systems, so stick with XP there. Most of the motherboards today are set up for DDR, including ones based on KT266A, KT333, nForce, SiS 735 and 745 chipsets. I would think about a Gigabyte 7VRX, a Thermalright AX-7 heatsink with a YS Tech adjustable-rpm 80mm fan, and whatever AthlonXP you can squeeze into the budget. The benefit of using PC2700 instead of PC2100 is minimal with today's AthlonXP's, but buying PC2700 could make it more re-usable down the road, so that's your call.

 

[newbiepcuser]

Save a couple of bucks and get the XP2000 and under. The new VIA KT400 and NForce2 chipsets should be arriving soon. So if you don't mind waiting to see what happens if not mechBgon made some good suggestions.

Anandtech KT333 round up

Sharkey KT333 round up

You're going to hear a lot of flames on the VIA chipset, I never had any problems myself.

I couldn't find the link, but Samsung's DDR 2700 came out on top for OCing, etc...

Option 2
Get Pent IV 1.6A and decent board and OC it. But that is going over 200 easily, cuz the chip itself is above 150.

Good luck.

 

[zizzam]

Thanks for the info guys, cleared up some issues for me. I'm defenitely going with an AMD setup rather than Intel I know that. I'll just start looking at reviews of different KT333 boards and pick the best one in my price range.