Switching to AMD64 system

[TheNewGuy8]

So I did a bunch of research around these boards and have decided that its time to scrap my P4 3.06 machine and move to the AMD world.

This will be a computer designed for the next 2 years or so.

I know I want to go with an evga 7800GT card, though I can't figure out the differences between the ones out there. Some of them have faster clock speeds, but how can you tell? And is it worth the price increases? Any help here is appreciated.

Here is a 7800GT for only 289, and it has a combo deal with an X2 4400 for only $436. That seems awfully low to me...am I missing something? Isn't the X2 4400 a good chip?

Motherboard I'm still hung up about. I know the EPoX EP-9NPA+Ultra is considered one of the favorites around here - is it worth the cost?

CPU - I'm still hung up on this. I currently have a P4 3.06 533 mhz FSB that was pretty high end 2.5 years ago. Since I need to change the CPU I want to notice a pretty big increase in power. I know it doesn't matter for games - but I do a bunch of photo editing, video editing, and usually have at least a web browser and music going at the same time. So I think a dual core would be a good idea for me - but if the price differential is too great then I'll probably pass. What do you all think? Have there been any recorded tests about how great of a difference the dual core chips make for that kind of multi tasking?

I have 2x512 RAM at the moment. I figure I'll leave it for now, and if I need to later throw on another 1g stick. Wait...can I do that? can you have 2x512 and 1x1g and still run dual channel? Does all the RAM need to be identical if the new 1g DIMM is on a new line?

Thanks for the help,
cheers

 

[Broly]

yeah its good just

4400 runs of a differnet core than that of hte 4800 +
this is a great deal man, snag it.
The x2 is the future, hence amd's flagship silicon the fx60 being dual core now too
yeah it will run dual channel just fine just make sure the 2 512's are in the same oclor same with the 1gb

best of luck man

 

[Broly]

P.S. Dual cores excell tremedously for mulittasking and the 4400 falls like 8 percent behind the fx55 in gaming
not too dignificant since mose games are gpu dependent not CPU depedent


most boards are not picky, and I doubt the epox is

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

Thats the price for just the processor. 30 dollars less than normal @ 466. so you add them together.

 

[Ricemarine]

When they say combo deal, they mean you pay $436 + the $289 for the whole combo. Unless I thought the wrong way, my mistake. You can keep your 1 GB of ram, not worth upgrading yet.

 

[Lasthitlarry]

I can't recommend anything above a 3800 X2, the prices aren't justified, you can always OC.
Hell, I usually don't recommend anything above a 3200+, dual core is good for tasks and such, but it won't be utilized by games for a good 2 years.

Also, make sure your RAM will be the same pin numbers and rate (184/DDR)

Good choice on video card, you will be VERY pleased with it's performance in games. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, consider the X800 GTO.

Other than that, mobos... MSI, Asus, Gigabyte, are good as well.

 

[TheNewGuy8]

Oooohhh, how stupid - I didnt understand the combo thing. Lol! I thought it was saying BOTH for $436. awww, there goes that adrenaline rush...

So ya, that Proc. is too much for me. I'd either go with the X2 3800 or a single core, probably the 3200 - and I'd be tempted to go with the opteron equivalent...even though the prices just jumped. Think the opty is still worth it?

 

[gotsmack]

doesn't the evga come with a free mobo?

 

[Ricemarine]

Originally posted by: gotsmack
doesn't the evga come with a free mobo?

eVGA does have the 7800gt + their eVGA SLi motherboard for $330 AR at ZZF, not sure about newegg.

 

[professor1942]

If you're going single core I'd snag a 3700+ San Diego, quite cheap and very overclockable. 3200+ sounds a little weak to me...

 

[TheNewGuy8]

oh decisions decisions....grrrr.

anyone have a dual core 3800 and can lend any advice about how much more helpful it is?

Would it make video editing faster if all I was doing was running one video editing program? Or does it only shine if you are running multiple programs at once?

Also - about the single cores - can someone explain to me the difference between all the diferent names? winchester, san diego, etc?

 

[Bobthelost]

The DC 3800 would be faster for any programs that are mutli threaded. Multi threading is where the program is split up into tasks that can be done at the same time by different CPUs. Photoshop is multithreaded, as is DVD shrink and more and more programs are being written to be able to use multithreading.

DC does help multitasking, but you don't multitask enough to take advantage of this, i damned well don't. Mutlitasking when refering to DC CPUs is running DVDshrink in the background as you play Q4. NOT running Q4 with a few background apps that are minimalised in the background.

The different names refer to the different core types and designs. I refer you to the A64 wikipedia entry : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athlon_64

 

[Hulk]

TheNewGuy8,

It's funny, we're actually following the same computer paths. I bought a Dell in December 2002 that I'm still using today. Purchased via Hot Deals forums for like $450 with an LCD. Upgraded processor to 3.06 and memory to 1GB a few months later and am typing on it today. Up until this computer I was building and upgrading about twice a year. Then clockspeed increases slowed, heat increased and I just couldn't justify upgrading for a few hundred MHz and a faster FSB.

Now with the introduction of the AMD X2 chips I am considering an upgrade. I also do quite a bit of video editing as well as photo editing and audio work. I am not considering any chip except for the X2. Intel and AMD have put all of their eggs in the dual core basket, that is where the hardware market is moving and the software market will follow.

My preferred video editor, Sony Vegas 6 is already dual core capable. I also tend to do a lot of multitasking so the dual core is a must for me.

I am most likely going with the 4200 since the extra cache on the 4400 doesn't do much for video/audio/photo apps, pure clockspeed seems to rule there. I'm not going to overclock, I can't tolerate a failure, this is a work machine so I would like to buy the clockspeed and the 4200 seems to be the current sweet spot.

As for the motherboard I'm also considering the Epox and also the Asus A8N-E but am concerned about the chipset fan noise. I'm also actually toying with the idea of the Tyan nForce4 Ultra board, for ultimate stability.

Be sure to post when you build the system I'd like to hear how it works out!

Good luck.