Switching to AMD

[Eclipse556]

I'm looking to switch to an AMD processor b/c i want to get the PCI-Express 16 graphics card (BFG or eVGA 7800GT) and none of the Intel Mobos have that hookup.

i've never used anything but an Intel so i dont really know much about the AMD processors. so i'm going to the experts to get some suggestions.

eVGA is running the 7800GT with free SLI mobo deal right now so that is the motherboard i was looking into getting.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813188002

any suggestions for an AMD processor for this mobo and graphics card? this is budget conscious and i dont need to have the newest/fastest cpu. i play a lot of battlefield 2 and would just like to have the setting real high or maxed out.

open to suggestions, thanks!

 

[coomar]

any socket 939 cpu is going to be fine with your xp-90

the 7800gt only needs 2.1-2.2 gHz to not be bottlenecked (and 2.4 is attainable with any cpu)

 

[VivienM]

Originally posted by: Eclipse556
I'm looking to switch to an AMD processor b/c i want to get the PCI-Express 16 graphics card (BFG or eVGA 7800GT) and none of the Intel Mobos have that hookup.

All Intel i915/i925/i945/i955 boards, except some of the ones with onboard graphics, have X16 PCI Express...

(Now, if you're talking socket 478, that's a different story...)

 

[Eclipse556]

yeah, it's socket 478...thats my problem

with christmas coming up i was hoping i could i stretch my luck and switch over to AMD b/c from everything i've heard and read it's better for gaming.

what is the best place to get an AMD processor and what is the lowest specs that i should go?

 

[davegraham]

*cough*

dave

 

[Markfw]

Whats the budget ? Any use except gaming ? do you OC ?

 

[slatr]

Get a 148 from flickerdown

 

[Eclipse556]

i don't OC, i do use it for school and some photoshop editing. i'd definitely like to keep it under $250, preferably under $200 if possible

 

[Leper Messiah]

anyone know how that board there OCs? If its decent, I'll be buying one this week.

 

[stevty2889]

There is actualy a socket 478 motherboard with PCIe..this Asrock board..

 

[Zap]

That's actually not a "true" PCIe 16X. The Intel 915GL chipset doesn't officially have support for PCIe 16X. Supposedly compatibility is limited and performance will be lowered.

 

[stevty2889]

Originally posted by: Zap
That's actually not a "true" PCIe 16X. The Intel 915GL chipset doesn't officially have support for PCIe 16X. Supposedly compatibility is limited and performance will be lowered.

The AGP slot isn't a true AGP..the 915 chipset is where intel dropped AGP for PCIe. It may not be true PCIe 16x, but it's more than enough for a 7800GT.

 

[CheesePoofs]

That board you are looking at is a Jetway. This is Anandtech's review of it.

If you're going to overclock, I'd recomend getting an opteron. Especially if you want dual core, opteron 165's are amazing overclockers for the price.

 

[Leper Messiah]

sweet. As soon as all my paychecks clear, I'm buying this.

 

[Zap]

I looked up the 915GL chipset and Intel says it only supports PCIe 1X. It appears that the motherboard manufacturers just squeeze a few 1X lines into a physical 16X slot for a total of 4X - kinda like those pseudo-SLI boards that had two physical 16X slots, but really one was 16X and the second was 4X.