Need advice on Mobo and AMD chip purchase...

[ZenMonkey]

I hope I don't come across as being too much of a newb.

Currently:
I am running Windows XP on a 1gighz AMD Thunderbird chip on an Asus A7V with 640 megs of DDR133 RAM. I am using a Geforce2 and a SBLive.
I now have 1000 bucks to upgrade my system.

Here is what I know:
I plan to buy the Radeon 9700 Pro.
I do not plan to overclock.
I would like to keep my current RAM.
I am willing to drop the SBLIVE if the mobo has a better sound card.
Because the 9700 Pro is around 400 bucks, that leaves me 600 to spend on mobo and chip.
I want to buy a chip that hits at least the 2Gighz mark.

Here is what I don't know:
Do I really need an 8x agp board? Wouldn't it make sense to buy one if the Radeon supports it?
If I waited and bought an Nforce2 mobo, would it flake out cause I'm not using a Ti4600?

I'd really love some suggestions on a mobo+chip combo to upgrade to, and links to where I can purchase. I started to bid on a GA-7VAXP, but read some bad stuff on the forums about the VIA part of it. (I had several problems with the SBLIVE and VIA4n1 and GForce2 combo).

Thanks a million in advance for your advice.

ZM

 

[TheWart]

In my opinion, neither 8x AGP or the Nforce2 are for you unless you do some alterations in your plan. I would get an XP 2100+ along with an Epox mobo, and also upgrade the ram. I am under the impression that the main drawing point for the nforce is its memory bandwidth, and your PC133 wont be able to take advantage of it. I would think that upgrading your ram (to like 2100DDR) would also give you a bigger boost than even 8x AGP (esp b/c the Ram will affect your everyday use) . Good luck!

 

[ZenMonkey]

How does this sound?
From mwave.com:

1x KINGSTON KVR333X64C25/512 512MB PC2700 333MHZ CL2.5 DDR DIMM
1x EPOX EP-8K5A2+ BUNDLE W/ COOLING FAN & (AMD ATHLON XP 2200+; KINGSTON 512MB NON-ECC PC2700
1x ATI RADEON 9700 PRO 128MB AGP DDR (Retail)

All for 928 Bucks at mwave.com.

It doesn't say, but I am assuming that the RAM that comes with the motherboard bundle is also the 333mhz?

Thanks for the advice.

Also, would the motherboard's Realtek 650 be the best bet to go for sound? I've never used the SBLive for making music or anything.

ZM

 

[CrazySaint]

Originally posted by: ZenMonkey
How does this sound?
From mwave.com:

1x KINGSTON KVR333X64C25/512 512MB PC2700 333MHZ CL2.5 DDR DIMM
1x EPOX EP-8K5A2+ BUNDLE W/ COOLING FAN & (AMD ATHLON XP 2200+; KINGSTON 512MB NON-ECC PC2700
1x ATI RADEON 9700 PRO 128MB AGP DDR (Retail)

All for 928 Bucks at mwave.com.

It doesn't say, but I am assuming that the RAM that comes with the motherboard bundle is also the 333mhz?

PC2700 = 333MHz RAM, so yes. Btw, if you can get some PC2100 for noticable cheaper, I would just get that as the performance difference is about 2-3%.

Also, would the motherboard's Realtek 650 be the best bet to go for sound? I've never used the SBLive for making music or anything.

ZM

I'd keep the SB Live! since its better than the RTK650.

 

[TheWart]

Yea, I think that is the upgrade path you should go

 

[Abel007]

I would wait until the beginning of the year. Unless you absolutely need an upgrade like this, not only that but you will have more money saved and be able to buy whats new then. Your system looks fine from my standpoint currently. Unless your playing some gawdly game you should be able to last til then. If you know you can't, then the suggestion above sounds good to me. Its better than what I got.

 

[ZenMonkey]

You guys are the greatest...

I will probably wait until mid-September to upgrade...maybe prices will drop a bit. I just want to be ready for UT2003.

ZM