Need some advice before ordering (ordering tonight)

[Pocketace]

Going to be building a PC soon! Hopefully before Christmas. I was going to go with AMD and the new nForce4 SLI, but didn't want to get in with new technology and have it all buggy. I decided to go with a well-based Intel system! Here is is....

ANTEC Performance Plus Metallic Gray SOHO File Server Case without Power
GIGABYTE "GA-8GPNXP Duo" 915P Chipset Motherboard For Intel LGA 775 CPU -RETAIL
GIGABYTE ATI RADEON X800 XT Video Card, 256MB GDDR3, 256-Bit,
Fortron 530W Power Supply, Model "FSP530-60GNA" -RETAIL
Intel LGA775 Pentium 4 550 3.4 GHz, 800MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache
Corsair Value Select 184 Pin 2x512MB DDR PC-3200 - Retail
Western Digital 80GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model WD800JD, OEM
SONY 16X DVD-ROM Drive, Model DDU1613, OEM
Microsoft Windows XP HOME Edition With Service Pack 2 -OEM

Ok, how does this look? Is the motherboard good for gaming? Had a little trouble finding one with DDR1 cabability and DDR2. Is the 915P Chipset good?
Do i really need a X800 XT or would a X800 Pro be good also?

Thanks,
Ace

 

[Mrvile]

Everything looks ok, but why Intel? AMD runs their CPUs just as stable, probably stabler (they run cooler and faster). Also, what will you be using this computer for?

Anyway, if you are going to be considering AMD get:

3200+ socket 939 Winchester 90nm CPU
MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum motherboard OR Asus K8N-E Deluxe motherboard

By the way, what is your budget?

 

[Rike]

If you are planning to do serious gaming, which judging from your vid card you do, Intel is not your best choice. Go with an A64 939pin nforce3 250 mobo and a 3500+. Saves you money on the DDR2 also.

 

[airfoil]

I'd buy an AMD 64 3500 on the Nforce3 platform over the Intel.

*Definitely* buy a bigger hard drive (160 GB or greater) and replace the Sony DVD ROM with the NEC 3500A DVD multi writer - the cost differential on both these 'upgrades' is minimal.

 

[Hajime]

Go for an Athlon 64, not a P4.

Sopcket754 is "dead", but has some really great performers for real cheap if you want to go that route.

Otherwise, it might be wise to wait for the nForce4.

 

[Rike]

Originally posted by: airfoil
*Definitely* buy a bigger hard drive (160 GB or greater) and replace the Sony DVD ROM with the NEC 3500A DVD multi writer - the cost differential on both these 'upgrades' is minimal.

Second those recommendations. Also, your a bit over powered on your PSU. A 400 watt PSU would be just fine and still leave you lots of head room. I like your case choice, it's the same one I use (though I modified mine with a blowhole). Great case.

Oh, and welcome to the forums.

 

[Pocketace]

I would much rather have a pci-express PC for upgradability. Also, someone said i would save money on DDR2. I'm not even getting DDR2, so i wouldn't save money. I would wait for nforce4, but don't want to wait a couple months before all the bugs are worked out.

Would i really see a huge performence loss between a AMD 3200+ and a INtel 3.4GHZ? In real life applications? (not benchmarks)

Yes this will be fore gaming!!!

Ace

 

[Rike]

Originally posted by: Pocketace
I would much rather have a pci-express PC for upgradability. Also, someone said i would save money on DDR2. I'm not even getting DDR2, so i wouldn't save money. I would wait for nforce4, but don't want to wait a couple months before all the bugs are worked out.

Would i really see a huge performence loss between a AMD 3200+ and a INtel 3.4GHZ? In real life applications? (not benchmarks)

Yes this will be fore gaming!!!

Ace

The DDR2 thing, that would be me. See what I get for not reading carefully? Anyway, If your really worried about upgradability, then you REALLY should wait for nForce4. With the P4, your stuck in 32-bit land. The A64 will take you to 64-bit land when it's time to go. Of course, this depends on your upgrade cycle. If you upgrade on a two year or less cycle, it won't matter. And look at this. It's not the same chips that you are talking about, but it gets the idea across. I still say A64 3500+.

 

[Pocketace]

Does anyone know when the nforce 4 boards will be out? Also, is there any bugs in them, or when they come out can i right away get them? Or should i wait?

 

[Rike]

The link I posted was for one of the first nForce4 that will come out. Should be available the end of this month or the first two weeks in Dec. It's unlikely that the mobo manufacturers will want to miss the holiday shopping season. Most "bugs" are fixed with a BIOS update. These happen all the time.

 

[airfoil]

Originally posted by: Pocketace

Yes this will be fore gaming!!!

Ace

You just answered your own question - when it comes to gaming, AMD certainly rules. Check out

this Anandtech review.

 

[ezdriver]

I just built a system on the ASUS A8V board with Athlon 64 3500+ (Winchester) and a gig of Corsair XMS 3200 memory. VERY fast and VERY stable system. All the reading I have done just points in ONE direction for gaming...AMD all the way. You may want to rethink your selection if gaming is the main thing you will be doing with your new system. Good luck, though, with whatever choice you finally land on.

ez

 

[Pocketace]

I tihnk this is goin gto be my plan...

Build a nice intel system w/ pci-express

In two-three years or whenever the next time i builkd probably switch over to amd...


I've heard that there is very little noticiable difference to the human eye to whether AMD or INtel is better. Plus, isn't the grphx card more important that the CPU for gmaing????

 

[Hajime]

Pocketace:

Intel is more expensive for less performance.

Or, in other words, AMD is cheaper for better performance.

Why spend more money for less performance?

 

[erikistired]

i've been diehard intel for years now. a month ago or so i finally took the plunge on an amd a64 system and i won't buy intel again for a gaming system. if you're going to upgrade again in 2-3 years going to pci-e now hardly seems worth it. you don't gain anything, and probably won't til you're ready for your next upgrade.

 

[Pocketace]

I've spent less money with this intel than a AMD64 would cost. I think i'll just stick with Intel, since i've always had Intel and trust their service. I will be upgrading though once 64 bit goes mainstream (such as 64 bit OS, games needing 64 bit etc...) Thanks for all your help and hope my system works out...

PEACE!

Ace

 

[Rike]

Another win for the Intel marketing machine . . .

Pocketace, you relieze that NO ONE in this thread said the P4 was the best choice for gaming. We are not just fanboys. Personally, when Intel starts giving me more bang-for-the-buck than AMD, I will buy their products.

Still, I hope your new system works out well and that you're happy with it. Just know that you could have had more for your money. Not more money, the same money.

 

[Hajime]

Rike: I'm wondering why the OP posted in the first place if he isn't going to listen to anyone .

 

[Rike]

Originally posted by: Hajime
Rike: I'm wondering why the OP posted in the first place if he isn't going to listen to anyone .

Get out of my head, Hajime. You're not supposed to hack people's brains.

 

[Pocketace]

I'm going to listen, in fact i said i was going with amd, but didn't want to wait a couple months for the new nforce 4 board out. If you would read the thread you would know this. Also, i see no advantage that 64 bit gives to gaming over 32-bit. I also have learned that benchmarks arn't real life performence. I've seen the diff. between AMD and intel and can honestly say that i see no diff in them. They are great processors, and unless you can find a SLI board out that is bug proof, i'm sold with intel.

 

[KBtn]

My 2 cents = AMD over intel for gaming. Check the web for reviews on gaming performance.