System build help (semi-noob).

[Hawkbit]

I'm the guy everyone here hates because I don't keep up on the newest technology like I should. I hope you hear me out, because I am in a pickle (figuratively).

Current system:
Intel P4 2.26 533fsb
768megs 2100 ddr
Intel 845EBG2L
PNY Geforce 4 ti4400 AGP
Maxtor 7200rpm 60gig ata 66/100 2mb
Antec case
Antec 350W
CDD
FDD

I use my system for online gaming (WoW), basic word processing, email and general internet use. In the near future I am going to pickup a digital camera (nothing special) just for pics of my kid. I also tinker with new games that come out. I don't OC at all and have no desire to try.

My current dilemma is that the fan burned up on the video card. I think the card is ok, but PNY is going to take 3-4 weeks to repair it which I can't deal with. My system is low on RAM anyways, so I figured instead of upgrading just the card and a little ram for ~$400, it might be time to just upgrade the whole system.

I have been very happy with my Intel board/CPU combo. Happy enough that I want to buy an Intel mb/cpu combo again. I am also looking at a MSI 6600gt for video. I also want to put 2 1gig chips in the unit.

I can handle shopping for the video card and the HDD on my own, but I am completely lost on the CPU, MB, RAM and possible power supply purchase. I know that I need a MB with a 10/100 card. I also know that pricewise, I want a 3.0/3.2gig cpu.

But I am totally lost on certain issues. What about AGP vs. PCI-e? I have read the boards here for the past few days and I don't think there is enough information to decide on which format to go with. Is PCI-e the new standard?

From the stickied CPU guide at tomshardware, I suppose I want a Prescott E chip with the 800fsb and HT, but what is the difference between the 478 and 775 versions (aside from needing different mb)? Which is going to be most viable in the long run for upgrades?

What about RAM speeds today? What speed is the medium between speed and price?

Basically, I have about $1000 to spend but I want to keep it as simple as possible. Any advice or recommendations are appreciated (even product recommendations). I did build the system I listed above, but I have not worked in the industry for voer 2 years now and my grasp on this stuff has waned.

Thanks!

 

[thecrecarc]

get amd 64

 

[TheOasis]

Originally posted by: thecrecarc
get amd 64

boy that helps...


Hawkbit,

do you want to make a complete new system for $1000 or do you want just a ram/cpu/mb/video card upgrade?

 

[nick1985]

if you are gaming, look at an thlon 64, they annihalate Intel on games

 

[Hawkbit]

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I want to upgrade.

The CDD, FDD, case should definately transfer over.

I will need to buy a new CPU, MB, RAM, Video Card, HDD (8mb) and possibly a power supply depending on the specifications of the new equipment.

I had such an awesome experience with Antec cases/psu and Intel MB/CPU that I really want to stay with them - they are what I know best.

Geez thanks again for your help (and not laughing at me out loud!!).

 

[nick1985]

Prices Include Shipping

Western Digital 80Gig, 8meg cache $58.50

1 gig of Kingmax basic 3200 $128

Chaintech Nforce4 Ultra $116

Antec True 430 $86

Athlon 64 3200+ $200

PCI-E 6800GT $454

Grand Total: $1042.50

Now, I understand you had good experience with Intel last time, but I suggest looking at AMD's new athlon 64 line of chips, especially if you are gaming.

Benchmarks:

Text

Text

 

[TheOasis]

ok:

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-908&depa=0 - 79
motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-136-152&depa=0 - 145
processor: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-502&depa=0 - 200
ram: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-440&depa=0 - 130
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-148-025&depa=0 - 97
graphics- http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-127-149&depa=0 - 329

total before shipping: $980

the SLI motherboard is for if you want to add another 6800, if you dont thats fine because thats still a great motherboard for a price that is on par with single slot NF4 boards.

EDIT: Nicks set up looks good too. it depends on what you want, better GFX power for more money and less HDD space? or more HDD space and a tiny bit less graphics power?

 

[ribbon13]

AMD A64 3000+ 90nm
Corsair Value 2x512mb
DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 Ultr
eVGA 6800GT

AMD A64 3000+ 90nm
Corsair Value 2x512mb
DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 ULTRA-D
eVGA 6800GT

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: TheOasis
ok:

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-908&depa=0 - 79
motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-136-152&depa=0 - 145
processor: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-502&depa=0 - 200
ram: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-440&depa=0 - 130
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-148-025&depa=0 - 97
graphics- http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-127-149&depa=0 - 329

total before shipping: $980

the SLI motherboard is for if you want to add another 6800, if you dont thats fine because thats still a great motherboard for a price that is on par with single slot NF4 boards.

i dont think that is an SLI motherboard, it doesnt use the SLI chipset...

 

[TheOasis]

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: TheOasis
ok:

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-908&depa=0 - 79
motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-136-152&depa=0 - 145
processor: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-502&depa=0 - 200
ram: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-440&depa=0 - 130
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-148-025&depa=0 - 97
graphics- http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-127-149&depa=0 - 329

total before shipping: $980

the SLI motherboard is for if you want to add another 6800, if you dont thats fine because thats still a great motherboard for a price that is on par with single slot NF4 boards.

i dont think that is an SLI motherboard, it doesnt use the SLI chipset...

what are the 2 pci-e x16 slots for then? i'm as confused as you now...

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: TheOasis

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: TheOasis
ok:

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-908&depa=0 - 79
motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-136-152&depa=0 - 145
processor: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-502&depa=0 - 200
ram: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-440&depa=0 - 130
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-148-025&depa=0 - 97
graphics- http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-127-149&depa=0 - 329

total before shipping: $980

the SLI motherboard is for if you want to add another 6800, if you dont thats fine because thats still a great motherboard for a price that is on par with single slot NF4 boards.

i dont think that is an SLI motherboard, it doesnt use the SLI chipset...

what are the 2 pci-e x16 slots for then? i'm as confused as you now...

not sure, but its deffinately not an SLi board

 

[Hawkbit]

I don't need a ton of hdd space. My 60 gig I have in my current unit has never had more than 30% used space.

But why did you both choose IDE HDDs over SATA?

Still looking over the other stuff, thanks again. Your replies were more than I could have hoped for.

 

[nick1985]

well there is no speed difference between IDE and SATA, so i really dont see 1 as being superior to the other

 

[Ike0069]

That board currently doesn't do SLI. I'm not sure why one would want 2 PCI-e slots not in SLI, but there is a mod that may make it work in SLI.

I suggest going with a NF3 MB. They are cheaper and support AGP which, for the 6800GT models, will be cheaper also.

 

[IH8 Money]

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: TheOasis

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: TheOasis
ok:

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-908&depa=0 - 79
motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-136-152&depa=0 - 145
processor: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-502&depa=0 - 200
ram: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-440&depa=0 - 130
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-148-025&depa=0 - 97
graphics- http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-127-149&depa=0 - 329

total before shipping: $980

the SLI motherboard is for if you want to add another 6800, if you dont thats fine because thats still a great motherboard for a price that is on par with single slot NF4 boards.

i dont think that is an SLI motherboard, it doesnt use the SLI chipset...

what are the 2 pci-e x16 slots for then? i'm as confused as you now...

not sure, but its deffinately not an SLi board

Not to hijack the thread but...
It is a makeshift SLI board, and can be used that way.
so both x16 are for VC, but it is not a SLI chipset.
Save $ for a performance hit.

 

[boomerang]

As you can probably tell, asking for Intel advice here isn't going to get you any help. I would suggest checking out the latest guide from the AnandTech website itself.

You don't need an Intel board to get the stability you want. You can trust the recommendations in the guide to be good advice. You also don't need a $450 video card or 2 gigs of RAM either.

Hope this helps.

 

[Hawkbit]

Thanks for the advice on the guide reference. I agree that I don't need a $400 video card. The 6600GT at $250 is more than fine for WoW. But I do want the ram... 768 does not cut it for that game.

I have only dealt with Intel in the past. Yep, the benchmarks above prove that AMD are better performing chips, but I am looking for simplicity. How simple is AMD to use? The Intel system I built from scratch and did a winxppro install in less than 2 hours... what headaches am I going to get from AMD?

 

[boomerang]

No headaches whatsoever. They build the same as an Intel.

 

[Hawkbit]

About the posts above, what is SLI? Seems as if you are saying that in the future I might be able to add another video card, but realisticlly, that's not going to happen. This system is going to have to last me a few years.

 

[ribbon13]

AMD vs Intel.

You install chip.
Install HSF or other cooling

0 Difference.

It's just a chip. Whichever is best 'bang for buck' or performs better. Happens to be AMD for games. So everone reccomends it.

 

[ribbon13]

$89 Fortron Blue Storm
$29 Raidmax 268WBP
$160 AMD ADA3000BIBOX
$135 Corsair VS1GBKIT400
$119 Chaintech VNF4/Ultra
$135 Seagate 7ST3200826AS
$188 Chaintech SE6600G
$62 NEC 3520a
$8 Samsung SFD321B/LBL1

$925

 

[Hawkbit]

Originally posted by: ribbon13
$89 Fortron Blue Storm
$29 Raidmax 268WBP
$160 AMD ADA3000BIBOX
$135 Corsair VS1GBKIT400
$119 Chaintech VNF4/Ultra
$135 Seagate 7ST3200826AS
$188 Chaintech SE6600G
$62 NEC 3520a
$8 Samsung SFD321B/LBL1

$925

Well, between the guide and your help, I am going to try an AMD system.

Trying to cut back a bit on the cost so I can drop more ram in. I have a standard ATX Antec case. Will the psu you recommended fit in there? I should then be able to skip the dvdr, fdd and case you mentioned because I have them already, correct?

Can you recommend a HDD that is a bit cheaper? a 60 gig drive is more than enough, to be honest.

How does the Chaintek cards perform compared to other video card manufacturers?

You guys rock - thanks again.

EDIT: The guide referenced quite a few problems with PCI-e cards... opinions on that?

 

[ribbon13]

Yes. Most PSU's are ATX sized. A few are ETX, bost most cases can support those too, there just longer... like this one.
http://www.pcpowercooling.com/about/whatnew_850_ETX.htm
So you have no worries.

The is no difference in the nVidia cards really, unless you get an uber-cheap one.

Get two of these for RAM
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-505&depa=0

 

[necine]

You might as well get a bigger hard drive then 60 gigs... You will see a performance increase and for something like 20-40 bucks it's worth it. If you follow the guide about you can simply sell your old computer for probably 300-400 or so... Just pick yourself up a Geforce TI 4200 for like 35 bucks... Everybody has one of those lying around. Then sell the old comp, and get the new one for just under 700. Then you save yourself money, you're building a new comp instead of simply upgrading, and you have a pretty case with pretty parts that will scream.

-woot

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: Ike0069
That board currently doesn't do SLI. I'm not sure why one would want 2 PCI-e slots not in SLI, but there is a mod that may make it work in SLI.

I suggest going with a NF3 MB. They are cheaper and support AGP which, for the 6800GT models, will be cheaper also.

It does support SLI however you must remove the Northbridge HS (void the warranty) and connect some traces with a #2 pencil. AT did a write up on it about a week ago.

-Kevin