Opinions a new computer

[DeathscytheHELL]

Here is the situation
Current System built in 2000
p4 1.5
abit th7 motherboard
640MB pc800 Rambus
MSI 5600 Video

When I buy, I tend to follow what I read from you AT forum users say the most
I also don't built top of the line systems, so no SLI 7800 video cards on AMD 4800 dual cores

In Feb 2005, I built a friend an AMD64 3000+ almost from scratch, for less than $800
with lots of success *thanks for the great posts*
AMD64 3000+
Gigabyte K8N Motherboard
1GB Crucial DDR Ram
Leadtek 6600 gtx Video
+case

Instead of building an AMD64 for myself at that time, I wanted to wait to see how the Dual cores, and IBM/Sony's processor would turn out.
Now I have come across a stumbling block...

My system (without overclocking) won't handle a game I have been waiting for: Black and White 2, with its system Reqs of p4 1.6
And this is a trend for the rest of the year.
A Pentium system doesn't seem to be an option at all.
And I still want to back the IBM/Sony processor next year, if it is successful.

I will probably build with 2Gb Ram, A 6600 or 6800 Sli Videocard

So... should i build the cheapest the AMD64 3000+ I can, and plan on buying a new system or even a dual core processor next year too? Recently This seems to be a popular way to build a new system on the forums probably because the motherboards can be used for the Dual cores as well.

Or... should i go all out with the AMD dual core either 3800 or 4400? being the best performance for the money out right now? I do tend to do a lot of things at once
Will the AMD dual core 3800 last as long as my P4 1.5 system did?

-- --
If I determine that the AMD dual core 3800 will last 3-5 years, then $1000+ is worthwhile
I actually have enough saved up to buy a top of the line Alienware system...but i am not stupid enough to buy it, instead i will build two or three systems that actually have a use.
Or get a laptop too.

As for what I do...
Gaming, I try a little of everything, but mostly play NWN which doesn't need much
The MMO's are unplayabe on my system on even the moderate settings, and i haven't tried Doom3 or Half Life2 not that they are my type of game anyway.
I Use my current system as a TiVO with a cheap winfast card from leadtek
I would edit the commercials out and burn them to DVD's but it takes too long (Rambus is to expensive to get it to 1.5GB)
I try a little of everything, Photoshop editing, video editing but this current systems lack of 1gb Ram and not being HT is really limiting what I do.
Even my Hard Drive Enclosure, doesn't work right with my motherboard with my 250Gb HardDrive, since it doesn't have High speed USB2 ports.

 

[Fresh Daemon]

My system (without overclocking) won't handle a game I have been waiting for: Black and White 2, with its system Reqs of p4 1.6

I daresay it'll run it. But how desperate are you to play it?

And I still want to back the Cell processor next year, if it is successful.

I think this is the wrong market for Cells. They're designed for embedded devices (like a phone or a PDA) and massively parallel operations (like a render farm). Since dual-core isn't really supported all that great we'd have to get a lot further in multithreading software so that the number of Cell processors you'd need to equal an A64 would actually work.

If you want to back Cell, get a console.


Before we can answer more questions about your rig we'd need to know your budget and your typical computational needs. You've said you want to play one game, but are you a gamer per se?

 

[Sunrise089]

You seem like a normal guy (read: not building a new PC every 6 months) so I hope this works for your situation:

You seem to have a fairly open budget, so lets examine each part and focus on value over a moderate term:

Processor: You want an overclocked 3000+ A64. Everyone and their brother will recomend the x2 3800+, but you seemed to tolerate a pretty slow PC and seem to not require the ability to play Doom 3 at 1600x1200 while ripping a CD, so we can do some simple math. 1 3000+ now = a little over $100. An x2 = a little less than $400. There are no games that take advantage of multi cores. When such games do come out (and it will NOT be in the near future by and large) dual core chips will be less than $150. So lets save the $300 that will not help you a bit in B&W2 and [flash!] we have just saved up more than enough to upgrade to a 7800gt.

MB: Don't get SLI, get the new ATI Crossfire chipset on the AT homepage right now.

Memory: 1 gig is absolutely plenty unless you have already applied the extra $$$ to your processor and graphics card. Translation: if you have a A64 4000+ and a 7800gtx, move to 2 gigs rather than upgrade to an FX-57, but do NOT move to 2 gigs if you have not maxed out your CPU and GPU choices within reason.

Graphics: As said above, with your decent budget you want a 7800gt or gtx, and no thoughts of SLI.

An overclocked 3000+ and 7800gt will EASILY handle any game available better than a 3800+ X2 and a 6600gt, and this setup will last you just fine until dual core is standard and cheap (or your cell option is released)

Best of luck

EDIT: I re-read the part about Photoshop. If you are pretty serious about it you may want to spring for the dual core.

 

[DeathscytheHELL]

If I build an AMD64 3000+ system, is it as easy as it sounds to update to a dual core next year when they drop in price?

 

[Sunrise089]

Its pretty easy, right now they are the same socket (939). But you probably will not WANT to upgrade within a year, unless you felt the need to upgrade your Pentium back in 2001, and if you lasted until now you are a prudent fellow. IMHO the 3000+ will last you easily until applications are widespread that take advantage of dual cores.

Hope this helps

 

[kleinwl]

Originally posted by: Sunrise089
Its pretty easy, right now they are the same socket (939). But you probably will not WANT to upgrade within a year, unless you felt the need to upgrade your Pentium back in 2001, and if you lasted until now you are a prudent fellow. IMHO the 3000+ will last you easily until applications are widespread that take advantage of dual cores.

Hope this helps

I second that.... just built a 3000+ venice (OC to 2340MHz) and it runs great. If you want dual core, I would recommend waiting until the M2 socket comes out (unless you do alot of multi-tasking (defrag/anti-virus/encoding/ripping) while playing games.

IMO the M2 socket with DDR2 ram will be more useful for dual-core (see Anand's writeup about DDR500 speeds).

1GB RAM is plenty (I have 2GB, but never see it used).

 

[GamerExpress]

That looks pretty good.