New Rig Help

[dailo]

So I've been out of the loop and have no idea what all this new technology is. So I ask is a PCI-E vid card worth the money? I'm not as much of a gamer as I used to be, but I would still like the option of running some games in the future if it doesn't cost extra. I plan on getting an Intel 630 chip, and maybe doing a little over clocking, but not too much. What would be a good motherboard you guys would recommend to go with it? I just want a stable motherboard with some overclocking functionality. I was looking at this memory: http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=85018-12. Thanks in advance.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

If you want to be able to upgrade your videocard down the road, go PCI-E. There aren't going to be any newer AGP cards afaik.

Being out of the look for a while, have you looked at Athlon64, AthlonX2, and Opteron?

You're probably going to get a lot of "Get AMD!!!" responses in here, so might want to check them out now to see if that's something you want to do.

I have an A64 and I'm quite happy with it.

Do you have an AGP videocard right now that you wanted to use? ASRock makes a socket 939 board that performs quite well that has both AGP and PCI-E on it.

 

[dailo]

I have a 9800 Pro, but i'm giving my old rig to my brother and I want to get an nvidia card. I've never owned an AMD system before, and I've always been a big Intel fan. I don't know why i'm skeptical to get an AMD, probably because I know they heat up a lot with the older chips. Is this still true?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: dailo
I have a 9800 Pro, but an AMD system before, and I've always been a big Intel fan. I don't know why i'm skeptical to get an AMD, probably because I know they heat up a lot with the older chips. Is this still true?

Now Intel's chips are the hotter ones.

If you're looking for cool and quiet operation, the A64 and related chips are the way to go.

What's your budget?
Maybe we could give you an AMD alternative for the same price and you could look at some benchmarks to see what performs better.

 

[eXx08]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: dailo
I have a 9800 Pro, but an AMD system before, and I've always been a big Intel fan. I don't know why i'm skeptical to get an AMD, probably because I know they heat up a lot with the older chips. Is this still true?

Now Intel's chips are the hotter ones.

If you're looking for cool and quiet operation, the A64 and related chips are the way to go.

What's your budget?
Maybe we could give you an AMD alternative for the same price and you could look at some benchmarks to see what performs better.

 

[dailo]

I was hoping to only spend around 500 for cpu, mobo, and memory. And get a decent pci-e card. I was looking at the x2 and those are starting at 300. If I remember correctly, the Ghz rating for AMD is lower intel? Like if I wanted to calculate an athlon 3200 to intell i'm supposed to double it again? Perhaps I shall go with AMD, I've heard a lot of good things about the chip. Maybe I will go for an x2 if I can fit my budget. What's the best x2 and A64 configuration? This won't be a gaming rig, thanks a lot!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: dailo
I was hoping to only spend around 500 for cpu, mobo, and memory. And get a decent pci-e card. I was looking at the x2 and those are starting at 300. If I remember correctly, the Ghz rating for AMD is lower intel? Like if I wanted to calculate an athlon 3200 to intell i'm supposed to double it again? Perhaps I shall go with AMD, I've heard a lot of good things about the chip. Maybe I will go for an x2 if I can fit my budget. What's the best x2 and A64 configuration? This won't be a gaming rig, thanks a lot!

The ratings have gotten more ambiguous over the years, but it used to be that the "3800+" rating on an X2 would mean it would compete with a 3.8ghz P4 chip. The "XXXX+" rating system was originally supposed to be the thunderbird equivalent speed. (Like an 1800+ AthlonXP was about as fast as a 1.8ghz Athlon Thunderbird even though it was only 1.533 Ghz).

This turned quickly into a gauge for what P4 clockspeed you could compare it to. It's gone back and forth for if the "XXXX+" rating is a good indicator of the P4 clockspeed equivalent based on the progress of P4 chips and the Athlon chips architecture changes.

Instead of trying to figure out some naming differences, I'd say look at a $500 mb/cpu/ram setup for Intel and a $500 setup from AMD and then see how they compare in benchmarks.

I haven't really been keeping up with the 939 opterons, but they seem like a great deal.

Just for an example of a mb and ram combo
(using newegg prices... you can probably do better if you shop around and check out hot deals)

Epox 9NPA+ ultra = $108 shipped

Ram:
Probably 1gig for now
Patriot Sig 2x512mb = $71 shipped AR
Corsair Value 2x512mb = $78 shipped
or get 1x1gig rather than 2x512mb so later on you can add another 1gig stick
Corsair Value 1x1gig = $94 shipped

(plenty of other choices)
Leaves about $300 for a CPU

A64 3700+ San Diego = $233
X2 3800+ = $322
Opteron 165 = $307

Those options are all in the $500 range. From what little I've read about the 939 opterons, that 165 is probably your best bet.
Thread about the Opteron deal

 

[dailo]

I currently have a P4 Prescott 3.2 478 socket. How would those amd systems compare perforance wise?. Even though it's only 1.8 GHZ? Thanks.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: dailo
I currently have a P4 Prescott 3.2 478 socket. How would those amd systems compare perforance wise?. Even though it's only 1.8 GHZ? Thanks.

Look at some benchmarks here in the CPU articles area or go to Tom's Hardware at the CPU charts or somthing.

 

[dailo]

I think I'm going to go for the following setup when it's available:
DFI nF4 Ultra-D
Operton 165
Patriot Sig 2x512mb

What do ya think?

 

[dailo]

Scratch that. After reading more on the opteron, it's more for servers and not for workstations. I will go with an X2 3800 instead. Thanks a bunch!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: dailo
Scratch that. After reading more on the opteron, it's more for servers and not for workstations. I will go with an X2 3800 instead. Thanks a bunch!

The new 939 Opterons are very good options for regular desktop users.