Which System? - Custom AMD64 3500+ VS Dell XPS 400

[bamacre]

As of now, the 3500+ will be faster than the Pentium 930 in regards to gaming, and any other single-threaded application. However once games are coded for multiple cpu's/cores, like Crysis (which will be released in early 2007), the Pentium 930 will blow the 3500+ away.

Look at it like this, the 930 is enough processing power for now, the video card is much more important for gaming anyway. And in the future when more multi-threaded apps are available, you'll be doing even better.

 

[Shadow Conception]

Originally posted by: t3h l337 n3wb
If you don't need it too soon, I suggest you wait for Conroe. The most EXPENSIVE Conroe (non extreme) is priced at $530. The cheapest is around $200 and should overclock very well.

Even so, $200 is more than my budget can handle. If I were to upgrade to Conroe, I'd probably be stuck with a Radeon X600 SE for a good period of time.

Originally posted by: bamacre
As of now, the 3500+ will be faster than the Pentium 930 in regards to gaming, and any other single-threaded application. However once games are coded for multiple cpu's/cores, like Crysis (which will be released in early 2007), the Pentium 930 will blow the 3500+ away.

Look at it like this, the 930 is enough processing power for now, the video card is much more important for gaming anyway. And in the future when more multi-threaded apps are available, you'll be doing even better.

When that time comes, I'm seeing that most of the AMD chips will go down in price 30-50%, which is the perfect time to grab some new parts for upgrading. I'll most likely get a AMD Athlon 64 3800+ X2, or something similar, without having to go Intel. If I were to go Intel, I'd have to completely change my setup, motherboard, etc.

Also, when you get a new CPU, do you have to reinstall Windows XP? I'm suspecting that the Windows XP is specifically configured for your exact system, so if I were to upgrade my CPU, would I have to reinstall it?

 

[bob4432]

go the dell route, you seem too worried about building your own, but just get 1 optical drive and get a 7900gt instead of the 7600gt.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: fire400

An AMD single core does not impress me, if you're going AMD, try an single core Opteron at the least or just get the X2.

Yeh, unless you will only be playing games. I use my pc about 25% for gaming, about 25% for office apps, and the rest encoding and doing some graphic work. Intel was better suited for me. I may go with an X2 after prices drop.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: fire400
An AMD single core does not impress me, if you're going AMD, try an single core Opteron at the least or just get the X2.

fire400 - man you don't make much sense. how could a opteron single core be okay but not a regular venice or diego single core? do you even know the differences between the 2? let me spell it out for you - basically none. the opteron have 1MB of cache where the venices have 512KB and the diegos have 1MB also, plus the fact that there is a little higher possibility that you can o/c a opteron higher, but that is it, and as you can see i am running a single core opteron because when i bought mine it was cheaper than a 3000-3200venice.

i feel you need to learn a little more than spat off about sh!t you only know about 1/2 about.

 

[kingtas]

Originally posted by: UsandThem
If you do not "need" the XPS system (overpriced) you can get a E510 or 5150 system with the same specs (or better) and a 19" LCD for under $700.00.

I looked into both the E510 and the XPS400. The system specifiecations state that the E510 has a 305 Watt PSU and the XPS400 has a 375 Watt PSU. That may mean quite a bit when you are running a 7600GT or 7900GT. Am I right?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: kingtas

Originally posted by: UsandThem
If you do not "need" the XPS system (overpriced) you can get a E510 or 5150 system with the same specs (or better) and a 19" LCD for under $700.00.

I looked into both the E510 and the XPS400. The system specifiecations state that the E510 has a 305 Watt PSU and the XPS400 has a 375 Watt PSU. That may mean quite a bit when you are running a 7600GT or 7900GT. Am I right?

Yes, though the amps rating of the 12V line is the key for medium-high video cards.

With Dell, people have had PSU problems in the the past with many budget models trying to add a medium or better graphics card, especially if Dell only offers a low-end card in their own options.

Are you planning to buy a pre-built computer instead of building your own?

 

[kingtas]

Torn between the Dell or the build I listed here. Any advice?

My post