I want to get new computers but I need LOTS of help!

N

Nightt

n00b
Joined
Sep 28, 2004
Messages
25
Heya Folks,

New poster here looking to get some up-to-date computers. The main thing that I am concerned about is obviously performance (going to be using them to play EQII) and upgradeability.

I am leaning towards the AMD64 CPUs but I know next to nothing about which one to get, if I should buy now or later, MoBos, what type of RAM to buy, and the list goes on and on. The only thing that I am pretty sure about is that I want to go with the 6800GT for the video card :D .

If anyone has any suggestions, direction, or feed back for me it would be most appreciated! I am also looking for suggestions on what company I should be purchasing from. I was considering going through http://www.magicmicro.com/ , but I dunno :confused: .

Thanks,
Nightt
 
This should be in the hardware section

but a decent system would be A64 3200+ to 3500+

Corsair and OCZ and Muskin are good brands of ram at least 3200 and preferably 1Gb of it

lots of mobos you can get, Im looking forward to the new DFI lanparty UT myslef although there are plenty of good ones out

and make sure you get a decent PSU

basically it depends on the amount of money u have...
 
Neural thanks for the reply.

Yeah i wasnt sure where to post, figured since the systems will be for gaming i would put it here. Anyway I can move the post to the hardware section?

The A64 3200+ is that a 754 socket?

I have about $800 to spend per system.

I am so not a techy and am trying to learn as I go along.
 
You're looking to buy/build more than one system?

The $800/system seems a little limiting, seeing as how the 6800GT will itself cost 1/2 of that, if not more.

You'd have to get socket 754, as the 939 chips would pretty much top out your budget.

So...Socket 754 Athlon 64 3200+ - $220
1 GB RAM - $160...
Mobo - $120 - MSI K8N Neo Platinum is my recommendation
Case/decent PSU - $60?

Drives/misc if needed: $100 for hard drive and a cd drive?

So, either lower vid card expectations, or allocate more money towards a system.
And why are you building two (or more)
 
Thought I could skate by on $800 per computer looks like I will have to up my budget. I want to get two so I can try to get my girlfriend to play, figure if I can get her hooked she wont complain about me spending all my spare time gaming lol.

So if I want to go with the 939 chip what would your recommendations be for the MoBo and RAM? I don’t want to give up the 6800GT so ill shell out more money.
 
You could actually make this work, since it seems like the one you want your girlfriend to play on won't be the main one that you use.

If you really want socket 939, I think you really only have a few choices for CPU right now.

Socket 939 Athlon 3500+ - $315
Socket 939 Athlon 3800+ - $630
Socket 939 Athlon FX53 - $750 or so

My motherboard choice is the same, MSI K8N Neo Plat, they have a socket 939 version as well.

However, I would actually not get a Athlon 64 socket 939 at this time because you could buy a socket 754 CPU and mobo for the price of the 939 proc alone. And for upgradeability, they'll be introducing PCI-Express and DDR2 to the Athlon 64 socket 939 mobos later this year/early next year, so you'd probably end up buying a new mobo and stuff anyway, which is why I still typically recommend socket 754s since they offer a very nice price/performance ratio.

As for the second computer, you could use something like a 9800 Pro or so instead of buying a second 6800 GT (because would your girlfriend care as much as you about graphics?) and not use such a powerful proc.

My opinion would be to use a Sempron Socket 754 in the second one, or like an Athlon 64 2800+. I'm not quite sure about EQ II's sysreqs, so I don't know how much RAM would be needed.

Anyway, I always recommend Crucial RAM, $80 - $90 for 512 MB, get 1 GB for your comp, 512 - 1 GB for hers.
 
why dont you just build a box for your self and build another 1/2 as good for her that way you can buy a better system for your self, then if she doesnt get into gaming you havent wasted $800 that you could have spent on your computer
 
FPS said:
why dont you just build a box for your self and build another 1/2 as good for her that way you can buy a better system for your self, then if she doesnt get into gaming you havent wasted $800 that you could have spent on your computer
Click to expand...
You took the words right out of my mouth... :D
 
Great info! Appreciate the feedback.

I guess I don’t have to go crazy with my girl’s computer. If she doesn’t like gaming I will just have to 2box =)

I think I will take your advice BillLee and go with the 754-chip for now. I can save my pennies and upgrade when the 939 get the PCI-Express and DDR2 like you suggested.

I would like to get bear-bones systems where all I have to do is put the OS, RAM, and VID Card in. Any suggestions as far as a retailor?
 
Nightt said:
Thought I could skate by on $800 per computer looks like I will have to up my budget. I want to get two so I can try to get my girlfriend to play, figure if I can get her hooked she wont complain about me spending all my spare time gaming lol.

So if I want to go with the 939 chip what would your recommendations be for the MoBo and RAM? I don’t want to give up the 6800GT so ill shell out more money.
Click to expand...

An admirable goal if i do say so myself. We need to start a campaign to promote the introduction of more women gamers into society. :D
 
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