Need Advice for new system build

[Kartajan]

I just got the money, and it is past time to step up. My profile has my current config...

Intent is for a gaming system, with good encoding speed for video & MP3. Multitasking is a given.

MB needs: IEEE-1394a, USB 2.0, good onboard sound, onboard LAN, prefer Serial ATA for future upgrades..

I can get it now, debating the wait for NF2, or maybe new SiS chipset on P4...

P4B533 E (L/1394), P4 2.26G 533MHz, 2x 256M Corsair PC2400 C2 for $661

or

A7N8X, Athlon XP 2100+, 2x Corsair 256M PC3200 C2 for somewhere around $650 whenever it decides to be available. (based price on A7N266E, added $25)


Western Digital 120GB SE hard drive
PLEXTOR😛X-W4012TA CD-RW
Pioneer dvr-A04 DVD-RW
Asus GF4 Ti4400 (or any gf4 ti4400 w/ dvi out)
Hercules Prophetview 920 LCD (? or Samsung 19" Monitor??)
Antec SX635 Case? ---- i think it is good for both options- front panel access to 1394 & USB would be useful
(cheap color laser?)

*keeping Mouse, KB, scanner from previous system


Useful thoughts? Dings on my choices? Help in deciding?

*edit- getting RETAIL CPU's, not immediately planning to O/C- but maybe later I might get the right stuff & bump it all up.
*considering a watercooled case like the koolance, but not sure about it..

 

[CrazySaint]

You might need to re-think your RAM options. If you get the 2.26B, you'll need PC2700 and I'd wait until I see some reviews that show that PC3200 actually shows any improvement in speed before I spent all that money for high speed RAM for a XP2100+ which can only use PC2100 because of the 266FSB (unless you unlock your CPU and reduce the multiplier so you can crank up the FSB). As for the video card, if you can limp along on that gF2MX for about another 6 weeks, you could either get the Radoen 9700 for about $350 or get that Ti4400 for a lot cheaper 🙂 Personally, given those to choices, I would get the P4 2.26B (along with some PC3000 or PC3200 RAM), which will be faster at default than the 2.26B, and should OC to around 2.7-2.8GHz+.

 

[Zugzwang152]

If you're gaming, I'd say take the cheaper AMD cpu, take the pc2100 ddr, and then use the money for a ti 4600 or wait for the radeon 9700, or even "limp along" on the gf2 for a few more months and take a look at the new nvidia offering.

 

[Kartajan]

As to my memory choices, NForce 2 allegedly supports DDR-400 (PC-3200), where as ASUS says the P4B533 only goes to PC-2100 (Chose 2400 for CAS2).

Just trying to get faster soon. Any dings on the rest?

 

[Cuda1447]

I would suggest wait a month for the P4 prices to drop. Then grab a p4 2.4 for around $200. And then get the rest of your parts, maybe wait another 2 weeks for the video cards to drop in price. TI4400 like Crazysaint said would be a nice card at a good price. But this is all suggestions in the event that you want to save money where possible... and judging from your post. You have alot of funds for this. 🙂

GL