Mobo and CPU reccomendation

[gdllv]

I'm planning to build a new system. Would like to get a couple reccomendations on a mobo and CPU that is decently price that gives a lot of performance. I do the following on my computer: heavy desktop multitasking, play a couple games, and digital photos and video. I don't really care about overclocking.

I was thinking of an ASUS motherboard. Intel or AMD? Any comments are appreciated!

 

[gdllv]

Also a case reccomendation would be great. I would like to have a case that provides a lot of room for expansion (i.e. add more hard drives), and easily accessible.

 

[uOpt]

I like the stuff in my signature a lot.

The Intel system is much better if you use CPU in the background and play in the foreground if you turn hyperthreading on, otherwise hyperthreading is not much good. I imagine it might be an advantage when serving lots of stuff out of the Ethernet card which is read from a software RAID-5 and similar gags, didn't measure yet.

The Intel box is pretty strong in compiling stuff (under Linux) and video/audio encoding. The AMD box blows the Intel CPU away in mysql, python, php and CMUCL-compiled Lisp code.

Both mainboards offer non-PCI Gigabit Ethernet.

The Intel board's hardware all runs under Linux and FreeBSD-5 out of the box with no fiddling whatsoever, including 5.1 sound and CSA ethernet. The 8-channel and the NVidia GbE in the Intel board need more effort in Linux, in fact the sound doesn't run yet for me. There will be no go for FreeBSD for either, but there's cheap PCI cards.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: gdllv
I'm planning to build a new system. Would like to get a couple reccomendations on a mobo and CPU that is decently price that gives a lot of performance. I do the following on my computer: heavy desktop multitasking, play a couple games, and digital photos and video. I don't really care about overclocking.

I was thinking of an ASUS motherboard. Intel or AMD? Any comments are appreciated!

Put up a budget, you'll prolly get some good answers.

As far as a case, look into an Antec SOHO Server. Big, good airflow etc. Mine's an older model, but looks sorta like THIS, but has a fan on the clear (see thru side panel).

Fern

 

[gdllv]

Originally posted by: Fern

Put up a budget, you'll prolly get some good answers.

Fern

My budget:

Case- $150
Mobo and CPU- $350

 

[DarcMetal]

I got an Athlon 64 3000+ and a Epox 8KDA3J Mobo for under $250.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: gdllv

My budget:

Case- $150
Mobo and CPU- $350

Bump. Somebody help this guy with recommendations. I'm thinking a AMD 64bit system, but I can't offer any help as I'm still stuck with the 32bit stuff.

 

[uOpt]

What the hell?

Good NVidia NForce3 mainboard: $80-$120. AMD Athlon 64 Newcastle 3400 +(2.4 GHz), is about $220. That is one of the fastest AMD64 you can get if your applications are clockspeed-bound.

What's the problem? And why blow $150 on a case?

 

[Zepper]

I would buy an Abit KW7, Soltek SL-KT880E-RL or the Asrock K7-880 (because they all have the P4-12V connector for CPU power) and a top Athlon XP (Barton). There are very few 64-bit apps to take advantage of the 64-bit processors and by the time there are (if you have invested wisely your savings from buying down now), you will probably be able to upgrade again at that time w/o spending a lot more in total. Or you could just spend the extra on more RAM, etc.
.bh.