What AMD price/performance setup to get?

[MadOni0n]

EDIT - the original thread was what to get, intel or amd. I've chosen to get a new amd setup after my p4 2.4b messing up. I'm now finalizing what to get, i want something that obviously has a great price/performance ratio... and something that is very overclockable, but is very noob friendly (im new to overclocking). I've been reading that the xp-m series is great, so im deciding which one to get.

First off, newegg is selling two xp-m 2400+ bartons, one is 35watt and one is 45watt, the 35watt is $10 more, is that worth it?

I've chosen that these two are probably the best, the 2500+ is $2 more... but are there any hidden secrets why the 2400+ might be a better choice for overclocking and what not?

wheres the link for the 2500+ http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=19-103-401&depa=0 $89

heres the link for the 35watt 2400+
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=19-103-439&depa=0 $87

Which one should i be getting?

Now for motherboards, i've been reading alot about these. I see that the nf7-s is very popular, $87 off newegg http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=13-127-166&depa=0

Is this overclock friendly? i hear there are built in settings, that with just one setting i can bump it up?

Also, will these previous p4 peices fit into the nf7-s/xp2400/2500 and work good? My nvidia geforce4 ti4200, and my samsung pc2700 512mb tcb3 ram? And my regular 60gig 7200rpm (ata?) drive.

For overclocking, i dont want to go major or anything and do mods on the chip, but i do want to get a nice boost out of it. Which links should i follow? i've been reading alot in general on the boards, but i want to make sure i got everything straight. How much speed can i count on getting out of this combo without any physical mods?

ORIGINAL POST -
It's a long story, but my system:

*used to work* p4 2.4B Northwood
845g Max-L Mobo
512mb pc2700 samsung
nvidia geforce4 ti4200

its a long story, but my proc is fked up. I need to get a new cpu, but i have no idea what to do. A new p4 will cost me alot, depending on what i want to get... but then i thought about amd. What if i get some good amd mobo/cpu combo instead? Because intel is so damn expensive, the mobo/cpu would be a big boost for just a bit more. What do you guys think? And if so, what's a good combo under $200.

 

[Trey22]

In case you want to just replace the cpu you currently have, in the FS/T forum you can find a 2.4b for under $100 shipped.

 

[MadOni0n]

I'll consider getting a proc from the FS/T. I was just wondering if this would be a good time to switch to amd, would it be worth the extra money?

and hows my current p4 mobo? "845g max-L"? If that's bad, then i defiently want to get a new combo.. then go amd.

 

[Markfw]

I have seen Athlon64 2800+ and motherboard combos at times for under $200. If you can't find one of those now, and don;t want to spend the money on Athlon64, you could go with a mobile Barton and motherboard for about $130-$150

 

[MadOni0n]

Wow, i'd defiently jump on that deal - any good 64 combos under $200? Well for now im looking at xp-m prices. Which one should i be getting?

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=19-103-400&depa=0 $77

or

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=19-103-439&depa=0 $87

And about mobo's, what would be my best value / performance? i hear the shuttle is good http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=13-150-045&depa=0 or the nf7-s? is the nf7-s worth the extra money? Shuttle is $55, nf7-s is $87.

 

[Markfw]

Well I found AMD ATHLON 64 2800+ RETAILED 64-BIT BUNDLE W/ Details (FARCRY PC GAME; CHAINTECH VNF3-250; NO MEMORY; NO TESTING) for $209 ay mwave.com.

 

[MadOni0n]

hows the chaintech vnfs-250? and is it retail in that bundle? i dont see retail or oem anywhere.

edit: well it shows "retailed" but im pretty sure its reffering to the processor itself.

 

[Markfw]

I see that a lot in sigs and replys that say it is good. Can't swear myself. Edit the title of this thread, if thats the way you want to go, and you will get a lot more replies

 

[mamisano]

If you upgrade, go straight for Athlon 64. I would not switch to Athlon XP if you already have a P4 class system and only need a processor. Just pick up a used 533Mhz FSB Northwood, like a 2.8. You can go to the 3.06, but the board will not support HyperThreading.

 

[MadOni0n]

oh yea i forgot, if i upgraded i'd need to get a xp mobo/cpu.. then if i wanted 64, i'd have to get a new mobo again. Still, not sure if i want to pay the bucks for the 64.

 

[LanFear]

Go for it man, it's worth it. Recently built an A64 3200+ system and i couldn't be happier, rock solid and fast as hell. That chaintec board is pretty decent, both anand and toms hardware have/had reviews of it, try a search.

 

[MadOni0n]

I will. I see most 64 sigs have the 3200+? i was thinking of getting the 2800+ will that be good enough? whats special about the 3200?

 

[Markfw]

I have a 3000+. The 3200+ is just a little faster. That mobo can take up to a 3700+, and thats not overclocked, which you could do later if you got faster memory

 

[LanFear]

If the 2800+ is all your budget allows, then yeah it will still be a good processor. If possible i'd try to get a 3000+ like Markfw900 or better. 3200+ was the limit for price/peformance ratio for me, and it was definately worth the $$. They've probably dropped in price since i bought mine, about 1.5 months ago.

 

[LanFear]

the 3000+ A64 newcastle core @ 2ghz is $172.00 shipped from newegg. Pretty good deal, the 3200+ Newcastle is still the same price as when i bought it, $207-$213 shipped.

 

[MadOni0n]

$172 sounds great, but then i also have to buy a good mobo, which is going to be $80~ something right? gonna be atleast $250 or so, my budget is probably 180 or 200 tops.

 

[LanFear]

Gigabyte - K8VT800M

GA-K8VT800M GAK8VT800M VIA K8T800/VT8237 Serial ATA Chipset Audio LAN DDR400 ATA133 1AGP 3PCI micATX with cpu - AMD ATHLON 64 3000+ with cpu heatsink & fan complete combo kit.
Part - BZBP#K8VT800M-3000+
Updated - 9/16/2004 7:33 PM Total - $224.99

Price - $220
Shipping - $0.01 - $4.99

That's just one site. Goto pricewatch.com and look under motherboard/cpu combos and choose your processor, then look for someone offering a decent board with it. As with all online sellers, check their ratings at www.resellerratings.com.

 

[LanFear]

Still looks to be a bit over your budget, time to hit that pawn shop

 

[MadOni0n]

heh, i could try looking around FS/T

 

[MadOni0n]

.

 

[MadOni0n]

bump

 

[MadOni0n]

edited the first post, bump for the new subject.

 

[MadOni0n]

one last bump, real need help on this buy

 

[stevty2889]

If you are going to AMD, you should get an athlon 64. I don't think a 2400+ or 2500+ Althlon XP will really be much of an improvement. You can get a A64 2800+ and a motherboard for about $200 and that will be a much better investment. This one for example..

 

[MadOni0n]

Is the 2800 64 real worth it? I wanted to get the mobile 2500+ and the nf7-s because i heard it was an awsome overclocker, and it would be real cheap to buy for great performance. I havn't real researched or read much about the A64's.. are they worth it?