New System Build... Need your Opinions!!

[GlassJoe]

Hola, all! I have been away from the Anandtech forums for almost three years and it seems my old username was thrown out due to a lack of use. Well, here I am again and I need some help. I haven't been in the "computer game" for some time now and realized the other day I needed to upgrade my system's backbone components. I did a little snooping around the past week or so and think I have a hardware combination that should serve my needs well for the next few years. My computing habits usually focus around a little gaming, alot of web surfing, and even more DVD ripping/encoding! So here are the components I have chosen:

Intel P4 650 Prescott CPU
Asus P5WD2 Premium Mobo
Mushkin Extreme DDR2 PC6400 1GB 5-3-3-8 (512 x 2)
Asus Radeon X850PRO Video Card

So what do you think? I have already upgraded my existing power supply and all of the other items of the system and now its time for the expensive parts! I also want to go buy the 64-bit version of Windows XP to use with my new hardware. Does anyone know of any major problems with the newest version of Windows? Thanks for the time taken to look at my stuff... cya!!

John Beck
glassjoe@cableone.net

 

[w00t]

if you only do a little gaming maybe you should go apple great for web surrding dvd ripping and encoding should work out perfect and since you do little gaming you could play a little.

 

[biostud]

go for a AMD X2 3800+ setup, faster and less heat.

I don't think going for XP-64 is a very good idea unless you really have some programs that benefit from 64-bit. The driver support is not that good, specially not for multimedia devices like TV tuners. So to save yourself for some troubles stick with regular winXP.

 

[GamerExpress]

Originally posted by: w00t
if you only do a little gaming maybe you should go apple great for web surrding dvd ripping and encoding should work out perfect and since you do little gaming you could play a little.

OH NO NOT THE A WORD. I would go with a X2 setup over the Pentium D. I have seen plenty of info out there on both AMD and Intel setups with the new Dual Core Technology, I just don't see the advantage of going with Intel right now. The X2 3800+ is a decent price budget wise and has the room to overclock it later if you want the performance gains.

 

[imported_Kensai]

x850 Pro is a waste of money. Get an x800XL. Go with an X2 based system..

 

[GamerExpress]

Originally posted by: Kensai
x850 Pro is a waste of money. Get an x800XL. Go with an X2 based system..

Yeah that was my second point, I forgot to mention that the x850pro is a waste.

 

[GlassJoe]

Thanks for the feedback. Why do you guys think that the x850PRO is a waste of money? I just did a side-by-side comparison of the two and the x850PRO is more powerful and it is only $16 more than the X800XL. What's the deal?

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Dude how much are you spending for the X850 Pro. Get a X800XL for now and stick with it. Otherwise go all out and get a 7800GT(X). THer'es no point getting ATI top of the line when R520 is on the verge of release. You're just killing yourself.

Furthermore, I suggest AMD X2. 1GB ram won't be sufficient soon enough. 2GB FTW!

 

[GamerExpress]

Originally posted by: GlassJoe
Thanks for the feedback. Why do you guys think that the x850PRO is a waste of money? I just did a side-by-side comparison of the two and the x850PRO is more powerful and it is only $16 more than the X800XL. What's the deal?

I don't know where you did a side by side comparison, the x850pro does have a bit more power, but when it's not used to the fullest potential then it's wasted. The x800xl has 16 pipes, where the x850pro has only 12 pipes, BIG DIFERENCE.

Go with the x800xl trust me, it's cheaper and actually performs better in real world applications.

 

[GlassJoe]

The side-by-side comparison I did showed that the 850 had like a 520mhx core clock versus a 400mhz core clock on the 800. Also, the memory clock on the 850 was 1080mhz versus the 800 at 980. Also the memory on the 850 shows GDDR3 versus just DDR for the 800.

Like I mentioned in my initial post, I've been out of the game for a while and do not know the true worth to all of these numbers. Having said that, don't these mhz increases give the 850 a slight advantage over the weaker 800? Thanks again!

~ Oh yea, the 800XL on newegg is $276 and the 850PRO is $293, both being retail versions (Asus namebrand). Here are the links...

800XL...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814121530

850PRO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814121534

Thanks again!

J. Beck

 

[i1o0i]

Get HIS Hightech Radeon x800xl (432mhz core clock, 1000 memory clock)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814161143

Spec you should buy.

DFI Lanparty ultra-d mobo
AMD X2 4400
2x1GB OCZ Platinum RAM
HIS Hightech Radeon x800xl video card

 

[zest]

the 7800GT is a good option to concider..


the Mushki XP6400 is an exxelent coice...very nice