Upgrade questions, I'm sorta stuck.

[kd2777]

I am in the process of building my new computer. However I am somewhat stuck when it comes to the new nF4. I have been waiting awhile to upgrade to this, however I am hearing that it is going to be PCIe, and I just laid down 400 on a new Video card about a month or so ago. A couple of months ago I thought I heard that they where going to make a 939 AGP nF4, but from my latest readings I can't seems to find any info on it. Does anyone know for sure? I also have heard that soundstorm has been taken off the plate, if so that is dam near a deal killer for me!!!

If I have to go with the nF3; probably a 3400+ (90nm) 939, with a MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum, this setup cost about $422. However I am also temped to go with a ABIT IC7-G MAXII ADVANCE i875P board paired with a 3.0c for about $315, and just save the 100 bucks for when I upgrade to the DUAL cores next year. It is somewhat of a little point but if I go with the 3.0c I have a Zalman 7000a HSF I can use?.

I don't think there is a $100 performance difference in these two set ups, do you? I already have the RAM and Video card so I am not looking for any thing that requires PCIe or DDR2. SLI is also not a concern, because I am not going to buy a CPU fast enough to not bottle neck the SLI setup (not to mention I already have the AGP card).

Any opinions, recommendations, or comments would be greatly appreciated.

KD

 

[Kabob]

Not sure what you plan on using this system for. One thing though, if you do go with the Athlon 64, STEER CLEAR OF THAT MSI BOARD! Tols of problems with it. Pick up an ASUS K8N-E Deluxe or DFI Lanparty UT. I'm kind of partial to AMD's not, but there's nothing wrong with Intel's gear either. I agree, there shouldn't be $100 worth of performance difference between those two setups.

One thing you might want to do (and this is just me, and I'm a $$ saving freak) is check out www.outpost.com because they often have great sales on Intel CPU's packaged with ECS Mobo's (not the greatest mobo in the world, but if you can get a 3.2E + mobo for under $200, that aint a bad deal!!) That is a rare deal though, and it's been a few weeks since that. But you never know what you'll find!

Good luck with choosing!

-Kabob

 

[Markfw]

If money is a concern, get the Chaintech vns3-250 board for about $75. That will save you about $50 right there, and there is a fair difference in performance between the two.

 

[kd2777]

I'm sorry I guess I should have said what the system was for. I mostly surf the web, do schoolwork, very little gaming (mostly Farcry, Raven Shield, Ghost Recon, maybe Half-life2 when it comes out, and Ghost Recon2 when it comes out next year), and keep finance on it. It doesn't have to be the fastest machine in the world, just last me until the Dual cores come out, then I'll do a major upgrade.

Thanks

KD

 

[Markfw]

Then get the 3000+ and the DFI board.... Or see if you can find a socket 939 as cheap, and a socket 939 3000+ (they are out there) and then you be all set for dual core.

EPoX "EP-9NDA3+" NVIDIA nForce3 ULTRA Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL + the 3400+ 939 are $417. I will look for the 3000+ 939 in a combo and get back.

Monarch computer has the 939 3000+ for $199, and several good motherboard, Abit, ASUS, Gigabye and MSI.

 

[kd2777]

Newegg has the Epox and the 3400 (939 90nm) in stock, and that was one of the combos I was looking at, but Anandtech keeps recommending the MSI platinum, but I have heard several people say to stay away from it.

Anyway is the Epox a good board? I haven?t found any reviews for it yet.

Thanks

KD

 

[Markfw]

I don;t know but Even though I have had bad luck with MSI, after their recommendation, I might try it.

 

[kd2777]

Well I went with the Epox and the 939pin 3400.

Will report back in a couple of days with results.

KD