New build, go AM2 or stick with 939

[thepd7]

I am building a comp for a friend and it won't be upgraded (ever most likely) and I am thinking about sticking with a high-end 939 system. Thoughts? Looking to spend $2000 if anyone is interested in suggestions for a full system.

 

[avi85]

What will the computer be used for? Will he be gaming?

Also, if you're building the system from scratch, why not go with conroe?

 

[Vette73]

AM2 has a good selection of boards and the chips are coming down now. Also seems more and more deals are with DDR2 not 1.

I say a good AM2 system.

 

[o1die]

With that budget, go with a conroe e6600 and 512mb pci-e video card. You won't regret it. To run at the highest resolution, 512 makes it easy.

 

[elph]

At this point -even being a big AMD fan- It's just a much better deal to buy Intel. Go for a conroe.

 

[imported_inspire]

Just do your homework and make sure you get a setup that will run stable out of the box. AM2 is still a little new, but 939 is tried and true. You don't want a buggy compy adding drama to personal relationships...

 

[thepd7]

Appreciate the responses, but I am not going conroe. I am taking suggestions as to video cards. I am looking at a $400-$500 video card budget.

option 1: go with asus/dfi SLI board and get 2 nvidia cards
option 2: go with asus/dfi crossfire board and get 1 x1900xt/x

This will be a gaming machine but the guy mostly plays WoW and everquest.

background: My friend is his wife, I don't even know the guy. She makes good money as an Engineer and she wants to get him a kick ass b-day present. He probably doesn't need even close to the amount of machine I am going to get him. My main question is whether a system that will most likely not be upgraded (probably not ever) that I need before sept 1 (no waiting for AM2 to get better) should I go with 939 or AM2. For personal reasons no intel. Yes I am a fanboy, flame if you want, I want to have my way with AMD, har har, whatever, no intel.

 

[avi85]

 

[avi85]

Proposed 939 Build:

Athlon64 X2 4400+ - $235.00
ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe - $104.99
Patriot 2 x 1GB PC3200 2-3-2-5 - $204.99
2 x eVGA Geforce 7900GT KO 256MB - $529.98
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB - $94.99
2 x NEC 16X DVD±R DVD Burner ND-3550A - OEM - $57.98
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 4 - $71.95
Antec P180 Case - $124.99
OCZ GameXStream 600W Power Supply - $129.99
ViewSonic VX2025WM Black-Silver 20.1" Monitor - $328.99
Logitech G15 Keyboard - $66.99
Logitech G5 Laser Mouse
Logitech X-530 5.1 Speakers - $59.99

Total: $2062.82

Proposed AM2 Build:

Everything stays the same except the following:

Athlon64 X2 4000+ AM2 - $198.00
ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe Socket AM2 - 142.99
G.SKILL 2 x 1GB DDR2 PC2-6400 4-4-4-12 - $199.99

Total: 2063.82


I went slightly over the budget but you can lower it by getting an x1900xtx instead of the 2 x 7900GT's, in fact that may be the better choice. Just ask in video.

EDIT: all these prices are not including rebates, the rebates should add up to $60 or so if you're interested

 

[Vette73]

If going big time I would go with a NVIDIA nForce 590 chipset over the 570.

 

[thepd7]

Ended up going with:

AMD x2 4800+ socket 939
Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe
EVGA 7950 gx2
2 dvd burners (1 nec, 1 lightscribe samsung)
OCZ platinum PC3200 2-3-2-5 2x1GB ram
PCP&C 510 SLI PSU
Audigy 2 ZS
Lian Li PC-7B case
generic keyboard (no speakers/mouse/monitor were needed)

Totalled $1635 plus my 10% fee makes it $1800 to my friend.

All this guy really does is play everquest and WoW but his wife (although an EE and a very smart person) is not really up on current computers, she thinks he needs this to play mmorpgs in the near future. She says the new expansion of EQ requires a 512mb video card. I tried to tell her nicely that shes crazy but she would have none of it. Oh well, I just build the things. She could have had a great comp for $1k but if she wants to spend 2 I am not going to stop her. Anyhow, let me know what you think about the lasting power of this system.