System comparison

[imported_catch22]

Hi guys,

i'm trying to compare two system builds. I want some input if it's worth paying the extra money or not. I'll be using the system mainly for gaming and I won't be overclocking at all.


Build one:

MSI "K8N Neo2 Platinum" NVIDIA nForce3 ULTRA Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL

AMD Socket 939 Athlon 64 3800+, 2.4 GHz, 512KB L2 Cache 64-bit Processor - Retail

ASUS nVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra Video Card, 256MB DDR3, TV-Out/DVI, 8X AGP, Model "V9999Ultra/2DT/256" -RETAIL

OCZ PowerStream 420W Power Supply With Adjustable Power Rails With LED Indicators, SATA Connector, Model "OCZ420ADJ" -RETAIL

Thermaltake VA3000 Dream Tower Black Tsunami VA3000BWA ATX Case with Transparent X type side panel window -RETAIL

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS GAMER Limited Edition PCI Sound Card, Model "SB0350" -RETAIL

Corsair Value Select (Dual Pack) 184 Pin 1G(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200 - OEM

Western Digital Quiet Drive 250GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model WD2500PB, OEM Drive Only

Pioneer Black DVD +/-RW Drive, Model DVR-108, OEM

Asus Black 16X DVD-ROM Drive, Model DVD-E616P1 Black, Retail

SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5inch Floppy Disk Drive, Model MPF920, OEM

Product total: $2,091.49 from newegg


Build two:

MSI "K8N Neo2 Platinum" NVIDIA nForce3 ULTRA Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL

AMD Socket 939 Athlon 64 FX-53, 1MB L2 Cache, Windows Compatible 64-bit Processor - Retail

ASUS nVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra Video Card, 256MB DDR3, TV-Out/DVI, 8X AGP, Model "V9999Ultra/2DT/256" -RETAIL

Antec 550W Power Supply, Model "TRUE550" -RETAIL

Thermaltake VA3000 Dream Tower Black Tsunami VA3000BWA ATX Case with Transparent X type side panel window -RETAIL

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS GAMER Limited Edition PCI Sound Card, Model "SB0350" -RETAIL

CORSAIR XMS, Xtra-Low Latency 2-2-2-5, 184-Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200, Model TWINX1024-3200XLPRO - Retail

Western Digital Quiet Drive 250GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model WD2500PB, OEM Drive Only

Pioneer Black DVD +/-RW Drive, Model DVR-108, OEM

Asus Black 16X DVD-ROM Drive, Model DVD-E616P1 Black, Retail

SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5inch Floppy Disk Drive, Model MPF920, OEM

Product total: $2,575.49 from newegg


So, is system two worth the extra close to $500? Is there anything you would change to either build?

Thanks for your help guys.

 

[Giantwasp]

As far as I can tell the differences are
CPU: 3800 or FX-53
PSU:Antec or OCZ
RAM Value or Low Latency

Not know what the price difference is between thes parts but asuming it is significant simular in scale to the Uk prices when I was looking ealier. This is what I think based on what I have learnt recently (Although I am a liitle new to this).

The performance benefit of the FX-53 is not worth the high price difference but the FX chip has certain other benefits if overclocking.
The Antec is better than the OCZ and you are going to need a lot of power for the 6800 Ultra the OCz should be enough but the Antec will have more to spare and might be worth it.

Unless you are a serious overclocker the price difference on the RAM is not worth it and you are better off with the value.

Also I have got an 6800 Ultra because I needed dual DVI card but if you don't then a GT id better value and you can overclock it to ultra speeds.

Edit:
Tip for the future just list all componenents in common once and then list the ones ou are triying to compare and add on individual prices.

 

[imported_catch22]

I can bump up the PSU no problem. I was wondering if I should go with the OCZ 520W or the Antec 550W. The OCZ seems to have better outputs, but, I don't know if they're as high quality as Antec.

Also, i'm not going to buy this system til november. Will there be anything that comes out around that time that will be a big upgrade over what I already have picked out?

P.S.

Thanks for the tip too.

 

[Giantwasp]

If your not planning to buy for another 3 moinths you are not doing anything wrong by starting your research now but by that time there will be lots of new hardware that you may prefer and also the prices of the things that you are looking at right now will have changed dramatically

 

[imported_catch22]

Ok, thanks for the help GW.

Anybody else have any input?

 

[newParadigm]

I would recomend two things with that systen build, if you are looking into getting the FX consider an Opteron, as the FX's are Opteron's with certain things disabled.

I second the suggestion to get a GT instead of the Ultra, if you get a Gainward Golden Sample card, it will OC almost all the way to Ultra Speeds right out of the box, gauranteed (This Gaurantee is made by Gainward not me, they test every golden smaple cared at OC'd speeds before sale).

Also, if your board has RAID, consider 2 120gbs harddrives in RAID0

 

[imported_catch22]

I haven't really thought about an Opteron. Is there much point to get one if i'll i'm going to be doing is gaming and burning a few dvds?

 

[newParadigm]

Proly not, depending on the Price difference between the FX-53 and the Opteron.

 

[GMElias]

well, just a bump for you...can't help much on the hardware since I haven't built a comp. in 2 years.
-Elias