Question about hardware buying strategy..

[Salvador]

Hi,

I'm about to buy the rest of the components for my first build and have a couple of questions..

First of all, would you just buy a CPU from Newegg or would you buy locally with an AMEX Blue card and then price match the price with some place like Newegg? The prices at a local place are about $30 more for the processor I want. Will I get better service from someone local if I had a problem or is Newegg pretty good with handling thing? I'm buying a retail CPU btw for the warrantee.

The other question I have is regarding specific hardware. I want to get a retail Athlon XP 1800+ or 1900+. Would I be able the tell the difference between the two chips performance wise? Also, I'm still up in the air on a mobo and was thinking on just going ahead and buying a ECS mobo for cheap right now and then upgrade once some of the newer boards come out. I'm sure I can find room for the ECS board somewhere down the road, especially becuase it's so cheap ($60 shipped right now at Newegg).

Would the XP 1900+ and ECS mobo be a decent setup for now?

Sorry for all of the questions. Respond to whatever you feel like responding too.

Thanks!

Sal

 

[busmaster11]

Blue stops pricematching by the end of this month.

I'd get an oem from newegg but thats just me... I'd get a 1900 because its not that much more. If you're a newbie I'd suggest an Abit or Asus because you're less likely to have problems with them. I've used everything, including ECS, etc... The K7s5a is an excellent board but it does have some rough edges that may be frustrating for you. You'll end up spendning about 250 for the setup, but I think its worth it. If thats too much, you probably won't lose much with the ECS board and the 1800 but its a risk.

 

[CubicZirconia]

I think I can safely say you will notice absolutely no difference between the 1800 and the 1900. I don't notice a difference between 1800 and 2000. If you really wanna save the money, don't be held back thinking the 1900 is noticably faster. It's not.