P4 3GHz or Athlon64 3000+

[Avalon]

If you do a little bit of both...hmm
I suppose if your video encoding is more of a casual thing, just pick up an A64.
Reasoning being, if you aren't a hardcore encoder, you won't mind the difference in encoding times much, or notice it as much for that matter, when using an A64 versus a P4.

 

[Gurck]

Originally posted by: GeneralGrievous
The advantage of getting faster RAM (ie PC4000) is that you might be able to use it in your next rig as well.

Depends how long it is till your next build. DDR2 ram isn't far off, and won't be compatible with current DDR ram.

Originally posted by: frisbfreek
I read the review of it here on Anandtech... is it true that I won't be able to use memory faster than PC3200 with this motherboard?

pc3200 ram is rated to run at a 200mhz system bus max. Afaik no chip out there, at stock speeds, runs at higher than a 200mhz system bus. Since no manufacturers officially support OCing, afaik (though many bend over backwards to help OCers out ), the fastest ram you'd ever need to run things at stock speeds is pc3200 and manufacturers won't endorse anything faster or even go there, as providing tech support for OCers would be nightmarish. The "pc____" is simply what max speed it's rated to run at; pc4000+ ram should run fine in any system, it just won't be used at anywhere near the speeds it's capable of in older / non-OC'd systems.

As far as video encoding vs. gaming; any moderate encoding job is something you start and then go to bed... If you do a bit of both, I'd still go with the AMD; if you sleep for 8 hours and an encoding job takes 6 on an intel & 7 on an AMD, who the hell cares? Games are noticeable as you're playing them, I'd rate proficiency at playing them higher than proficiency at encoding, unless it's something you do a LOT of and/or do for a living.

 

[azndelite6983]

Stock HSF should run fine even with a moderate oc as long as you have a few good case fans.

IMO, always buy the highest performance RAM you feel like paying for, because even if your mobo doesn't "support" it, the extra speed will do wonders fo oc possibilities. I am using corsair xms pc3500 RAM in an asus p4g8x deluxe mobo that only supports pc2700, but I can oc pretty much as much as I want to and not worry about my RAM.

I say get the A64. If I hadn't bought my p4B before any of that stuff came out, I would have jumped on the A64 right away.