Need advice before buying...

[Kalisperas]

I'm planning on upgrading my system, but I'm on a budget and would like to get the best bang for my buck. I've decided to get an Athlon 64, and the processer is where most of my indecision lies. I was originally planning on getting a 3200, but then I noticed that I could get a 3000 for about $40 cheaper. Is the 3200 worth the extra $40? Also, I saw that there is a 3400 with a 1MB cache, but it's $245, which is more than I'd prefer to spend. But is the extra speed/cache worth it, or would I ever even notice (keeping in mind that I do a lot of processer heavy tasks, such as video encoding and 3D rendering)? I really don't want to spend over $200 on the processer unless there's a substantial difference, which is what I'd like to know. Oh, yeah...what's the difference between socket 754 and 939? Is it worth it to spend more on a 939 the same speed as a 754?

And then there's the motherboard. I'd like to keep it under $100 if possible, and I've narrowed it down to the MSI K8T NEO-FSR or the Asus K8V-X. They both seem to have the same specs, so is one better than the other? I'm using an MSI board now and I've been happy with it, but I've also heard good things about Asus. Or should I be looking at something different altogether?

Also, I'd like to get 1GB of PC-3200 RAM. Does it matter much whether I buy a dual channel kit or buy the two sticks seperately? And are there any brands that are somewhat inexpensive but still reliable? Or am I better off just paying more for a better brand?

 

[moonsite]

Dual channel all the way, Kingston is good for value ram. For $40 difference, I would just stick with the 3000+. Get socket 939 instead of 754. 754 is at a dead end.

 

[Kalisperas]

Alright, so I guess I'll go with a 939. I'll probably go with the 3200, just because I feel like I'll regret it if I don't. But I just can't decide on a motherboard. I'm torn between the Abit AV8, the Asus A8V Deluxe, and the MSI K8T Neo-2F. Can anyone advise me on whether any of these boards are better or worse than the others? They seem to be pretty similar feature-wise, but I just don't know enough about them to decide.

 

[KarenMarie]

I have always been a HUGE fan of Gigabyte motherboards... they are in all of my last six builds. $$$ for $$$ they offer quite a lot, and their tech support is amazing!

 

[Thermalrock]

Originally posted by: Kalisperas
Alright, so I guess I'll go with a 939. I'll probably go with the 3200, just because I feel like I'll regret it if I don't. But I just can't decide on a motherboard. I'm torn between the Abit AV8, the Asus A8V Deluxe, and the MSI K8T Neo-2F. Can anyone advise me on whether any of these boards are better or worse than the others? They seem to be pretty similar feature-wise, but I just don't know enough about them to decide.

always asus. never msi. you wont regret.

 

[Kalisperas]

Hmmm, I hadn't even considered Gigabyte. It looks like their comparable board uses the nForce3 chipset as opposed to the Via K8T800 Pro chipset...is this a significant factor to consider, or are they fairly similar?