New computer suggestions...

[Addikt]

Ok, so I really want to build a computer but I don't know if I should just wait until the next-gen GPUs and CPUs are out later this year...for now this is the system I am looking at building comments are appreciated.

CPU -- AMD ATHLON64 3400+ 512K Socket 754 BOX (Newcastle)
Motherboard -- DFI Lanparty UT nF3 250Gb Socket 754 nVidia nForce3
Memory -- OCZ 2 x 512MB PC-3200 DDR400 Premier Series 1GB (2.5-3-3-7)
Video Card -- ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon X800XT / 256MB GDDR3 / AGP 8x
Sound Card -- Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS
Optical Storage -- NEC ND3520 (Silver) 16x DVD+/-R Writer 4X Double Layer DVD
HDD Storage -- Western Digital 74GB S-ATA, 10K RPM (RAPTOR)
Case -- Antec Solutions SLK3000B ATX Mid-Tower
Power Supply -- Antec 480 Watt ATX12V

Right now I have been debating whether a WD Raptor is worth the price premium I could just go with a cheaper 7200 drive like a Maxtor DMax 10 just wondering if anyone thinks it's worth it.

Also I know I'm gonna get a lot of flak about buying a newcastle chip on an old platform but for the most part it seems to outperform most other 939 AMD processors despite only supporting single channel memory, but I'm not looking to overclock...I'm looking at stock speeds.

 

[Addikt]

*bump*

 

[thespeakerbox]

From the looks of your post and the specs you configured. It seems like price is somewhat of an option for you. So when the new class of hardware appears, you probably wont be able to purchase them right away. So id estimate around 1.5-2.5 years before getting something like a dual core setu is worth. Then again "worth it" is all a matter of opinion. Some people just have to have the cutting edge. My advice is to project the prices of future hardware and see iif youd get the value you want with sticking with your current setup. Good luck.

 

[Twsmit]

If you "must" have a s754 AGP system, that looks great. Though the raptor isnt really needed. I would axe it in exchange for a 250GB seagate, maxtor etc...

 

[Addikt]

I don't HAVE to have it...from what I have seen it is really good bang for the buck. Price is kinda an option. I don't want to go overboard and SLI 2 GeForce 6800Us I just want something that is a good bang for the buck. Also I am looking at spending 1500 CDN.

If the raptor isn't worth it I will just get the seagate 250GB 7200.8 or the maxtor dmax 10 200GB...

I could also take out the sound card in exchange for a 939 setup. But I keep thinking what is the point since they are going to phase otu 939.

I think my biggest concern is that I am getting an 8x AGP card and that there is a huge chance it won't be supported in the future, but by then I think that I will probably want to build a whole new system anyways and since PCIe offers nothing right now I don't think that will change for at least a little while unless the next-gen GPUs are better than I expect them to be. They say that they will be 2x better but I don't think enough time has gone by for them to offer something really big yet...like what was changed for the new ATI X800 and X850 lines as well as the nVidia 6xxx series.

So I think worrying about upgradability isn't really and issue like I thought it was before. The one thing these new dual core chips and GPUs could do though is push prices down...but that might not be until late next year, and I can wait but by then I will probably just want something newer and more expensive. I am just looking at building a system that could last me 3 years of gaming and maybe another without supporting all the newer games. Finally, I don't do as much gaming as I used to but I use the computer for other things. I could choose to get a cheaper vid card but I just don't think the performance is there for the price...a good example being the X700 line, the only one that is worth the money I think is the 6600 GT.

Thoughts?

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Socket 754 is a better choice than socket 939, unless you need SLI or a CPU faster than 3700+.

As for the AGP card, I don't know if that's a good or bad idea. I can tell you, though, that it seems to me a very foolish plan to spend $200 or $300 on a component whose function is, essentially, to make your PC games look better.

Finally, your suspicions about the Raptor are probably correct. It sounds like you'd be better off with a bigger 7200RPM disk, instead.

 

[Twsmit]

Well one thing for sure is any new platform... socket M2 is almost certainly PCIe only. So if you are concerned with the obsolesence of S939 but dont want to be stuck with AGP.... get a NF4 s754 board. You could pair it with a x800XL for $300 USD (or whatever you want) and use it in M2 or whatever next gen platform you move to.

 

[shoRunner]

you worry about them phasing out 939....so you got with a socket thats already been phased out....ok Take out the raptor and go 939 then you'll be able to go dual core if you ever desired to.

 

[Addikt]

I meant that because the new M2 socket is coming out AMD admitted that they will probably be phasing out both 939 and 754...so future-proofing this system doesn't seem to be as much of a factor as it was earlier this year.

Also, I just want a computer that will last me maybe 3 years of gaming and by then I won't worry about upgrading I will probably just buy a new machine.

Finally, as far as the video card goes it won't be supported in the future so I am trying to build a computer that I won't NEED to upgrade.

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

I would stick with S939, a Venice core, and a PCI-E card. S939 supports dual-channel, which will increase the performance a bit. Also, the Venice has a better memory controller, so you'll be able to run 4 sticks of RAM @ 400Mhz, instead of the older memory controllers which can only run them @ 333Mhz. If you don't do a lot of gaming, the X800XT isn't for you. The 6600GT offers excellent bang for your buck, and it'll run all current games very well. Also, don't get that RAM. It's a huge waste of money. Timings don't really make a big difference, as you can always run a divider when overclocking. Go with the 2x512MB pack of Corsair Value Select RAM, or some other good value stuff. The Raptor is way too expensive, and the performance just doesn't justify the cost. That's $130 you're wasting if you get a Raptor instead of a 7200RPM drive of the same storage capacity. $130 to load up programs about 3-4 seconds faster. That's just stupid, especially if your budget is only 1500 CDN. In order to justify having a Raptor, you'd need like a budget of $3000+.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Originally posted by: t3h l337 n3wb
I would stick with S939, a Venice core, and a PCI-E card. S939 supports dual-channel, which will increase the performance a bit.

Socket 754 supports PCI-E, just like 939. As for dual-channel memory, it's not a performance increase at all. Socket 939 model numbering presupposes dual channel memory. That's why a socket 939 CPU at 2.0 GHz is given the same model number as a socket 754 CPU at 2.2 GHz.

Also, the Venice has a better memory controller, so you'll be able to run 4 sticks of RAM @ 400Mhz, instead of the older memory controllers which can only run them @ 333Mhz.

Sorry, but that's not true, either. Socket 754 supports DDR400, just like socket 939.

 

[Addikt]

Well the reason I want to get the X800 XT AIW is because it's only $90 more than the X800 XL that I planned to buy originally.

I think I'm just going to stick with the AGP card...if I get an X800 XT chances are I won't need to upgrade video any time soon.

Good move, bad move?

I haven't played a lot of games lately, and I don't know if I want to get back into gaming again. Part of the reason I'm getting the X800 XT is not because I need it...but just because I want it.