Motherboard and CPU for a gaming system, which to choose?

[KalGor]

Ok im going with AMD, for two reasons, firstly as i understand it they tend to be better for the gaming market (and as title says this is what the system will be. Second reason, ive always had Intels and ALWAYS wanted to try a AMD based system.

So, after looking up a little ive managed to confuse myself totally in regards to AMD's.

Whats the real difference between 754 and 939?
Will one of these be substationally better for gaming?

Would also like recommendations on which CPU to go for, would like a really good CPU but im not going for top of the line.
And also a motherboard suggestion for the CPU.

Thanks for any help in advance.

 

[Xed]

Are you going to oc?

 

[fanboi]

That's still kinda vague. What's your budget? Do you need SATA-capable mobos or not? It seems you're only changing your board and CPU, so you have to make sure it works with what you have.

I just personally upgraded from a P4 myself, went with a ASUS K8N-E Deluxe board and Athlon 64 3000+. Good quality/price ratio.

However, that's a 754 socket. Problem with 939 socket is the lack of actual boards out there, only a few support it atm.

What people will recommend depends on your budget.

 

[KalGor]

Going to overclock in the future, not atm though.

Decided to build whole system from scratch, not jus replacing motherboard and CPU, so going to be designing rest around the actual CPU & MB.
I will however be using a ATI RAD 9800XT 256Mb Graphics card in the system since i already have one, and its still a decent card.

Budget £300-450 (willing to give/take a little on the price).

Currently thinking about this CPU
AMD Athlon 64 3700 (Socket 754)
Is it a decent gaming CPU?
BTW thats £370 (including VAT).
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/amd_64_bit.html

And possibly this motherboard.
Asus K8VSE Deluxe (Socket 754) Motherboard
£76.32 Including VAT
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/..._amd_motherboards.html

Really im just looking for any input here, i will try to drop the price of other components to make up the diffence if the performance boost really is worth it.

 

[Xed]

If you're going s754 I'd get the new dfi lanparty board and a 3400 with 1 meg cache.

 

[KalGor]

Is it safe to say Xed has hit it on the head, and thats why no more replys while gone?

 

[bigal40]

if you wantto go 754go with the 3400 but i would recommendgoing 939 as that is the future and will allow more upgradability.

 

[KalGor]

Anyone care to recommend a 939 board and cpu in that case?

 

[LifeStealer]

Give it a month for the good ones to spring up.

 

[KalGor]

Ah right 939 is THAT new ehhh ... ok i shall give it 6 weeks or so.