I'm miffed!

[Dayton]

Here's why:

I am going to be buying a sick system soon, put to gether myself, you know buy it all from NewEgg. I have saved up a TON of cashish, like 3500-4000 bucks.

My problem is that I have no idea what to go with, AMD or Intel. NO PLACE on the net gives me a str8 answer - websites, forums, etc. They go into all these specs (which is greek to me, I understand what mhz and FSB is but that's it) but don't really tell you what would be better.

I mean, Intel seems to have bigger FSB specs, but some other kid told me that AMD can handle just as much as Intel.

Here are my main concerns:

1. I will be doing HEAVY gaming and 3d Animation.

2. I want to makes sure I have the fastest, most stable AND performance efficient CPU AND make sure it stays nice and cool.

3. I want to eventually accumualte as much RAM as possible even up to 8-16 gigs.
DDR-2 specifically. What would I need to do this?

4. I want dual processors and dual vid cards - what do I need to do this?

If someone can help me out with a srt8, specific route for this that would be AWESOME.

Thank you much,

Dayton.

 

[so_cal_forever]

If you're into gaming, look no further than the A64. Hell, for the cash you're packin' you could build 2 sweet systems (one P4 and one A64, definatly what I'd do). However, if you only want to go with one box, I'd suggest AMD for the sheer fact that they're better in gaming.

Now, concerning dualies: not for gaming. Why? Because of cache latency and for the fact that multi-threaded (kind of like processor SLI) are far and few.

 

[templarknightx]

Geez. 8 to 16 gigs of DDR2? Is that even possible?
But don't let you intuition trick you on this, and make you think higher numbers equates with better performance. Having so much RAM and DDR2 at that would probably make latency really high.

Use your money on a FX-55 and some nice, quick DDR.

 

[Ballz2TheWallz]

lol A64 elimnates the main FSB concern which is the memory controller which is now on die of the chip, and the clock of that is called the HyperTransport speed which operates at what i think i see motherboards saying 2000mhz? A64 owns gaming go for the Fx-55 with some 2-2-2 1T low latency DDR1 ram, DDR2 has shown no real benifit for amd to want to switch over,really jus a selling point for no nothing intel buyers

but if you wanna go ballz out get a dualie rig with the fastes opertons and call up EVGA(yes CALL!) and ask for 2 6800 ULTRA EXTREME EDITIONS

 

[RandysWay]

I say go AMD for gaming. 8+ GB is freakin' overkill for games.. 1-2 GB will be PLENTY. If your gaming, dualies will be worthless.

 

[Dayton]

LOL ok, I may be going insane noob with all that RAM - I totally just figured bigger and more = better.

So it seems that you guys think the AMD FX-55 wiht regular DDR RAM is the way to go?

Remeber I will be using programs like 3ds max as well SO I would like to get at least 4gb of RAM.

FX-55 sells on NewEgg for like 1200.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-496&depa=0

Does this thing keep cool? How would I best cool it? lol!

Also, if this is the way to go, I was thinking the Tyan mobo, it's like 500+, for it RAM capacity.

And even though I will use it for 80% work related stuff - 3D animaiotn - I should stick with single processor right? You guys say two for gaiming is worhtless, but will it hurt? I will use it mostly for 3D, but want games to run smooth on it too.

 

[RandysWay]

You just said you'll be doing mostly gaming. Now you're doing 80% work ?

...

Then, by all means, if you'll be rendering as much as you say - go for dualies, and go for 4+ GB of ram.

 

[BigTaf]

Here this would be a hell of a system anyway you look at it. If you got the money.

Athlon FX55
DFI SLI Motherboard
4x 512mb Gskill PC4400
2x Geforce 6800 Ultra PCI-E
PPC 510watt SLI Power Supply
2x WD Raptor 74gb 10k RPM( Raid 0)

 

[corebreach]

Yes. High amounts of RAM is definitely the way to go with 3ds max. Also, it supposedly experiences performance gains from P4 w/HT but I don't know if this matters much in the face of an FX-55.

 

[Dayton]

You just said you'll be doing mostly gaming. Now you're doing 80% work ?

...

Then, by all means, if you'll be rendering as much as you say - go for dualies, and go for 4+ GB of ram.

I said gaming AND 3d animation Sorry for the confusion anyways. Dual FX-55's? 2 f'n grand+?

Let's do it.

 

[Dayton]

Yes. High amounts of RAM is definitely the way to go with 3ds max. Also, it supposedly experiences performance gains from P4 w/HT but I don't know if this matters much in the face of an FX-55.

I have heard that was well about P4 being better for 3ds max and 3d in general.

Having high amounts of RAM will not affect my latency will it? I mean, I will mostly likely go with Corsair.

 

[InorganicMatter]

Athlon64 FX-55
DFL nForce4 SLI-DR
4x 512MB Corsair XMS PC440 with blinkey lights
2x eVGA 6800 Ultra PCIe
PC Power and Cooling Turbo-Cool 510 SLi
4x WD Raptor 74GB (Raid 5: 3 drives 1 hot-swap)

 

[Dayton]

Do any mobo's support dual FX-55's?

 

[Phranq]

"Do any mobo's support dual FX-55's?"



Nope, not at this time at least. You need to calm down buddy. Any game out there right now will run great on an FX-55 with a nice video card. I'd suggest a 6800 Ultra or an X850 XT or something along those lines. You don't want 8-16 gigs of RAM which would be insane and DDR2 isn't a must. I think 2 gigs of dual channel DDR400 RAM or something similar would do great. A dual proc system probably isn't what you're looking for.

 

[Dayton]

"Do any mobo's support dual FX-55's?"



Nope, not at this time at least. You need to calm down buddy.

LOL!!! I know dude, I'm like a mad scientist with this stuff.

I actually will probably go with dual opterons in the Tyan thunder mobo.

Thx everyone for all your great replies, all were a great help.

D

 

[Glacier]

http://www.boxxtech.com/

check out that site, they sell computers mainly geared towards 3d application use, so i would suggest configuring one on their site, and then buying your own parts and putting together a system to match it.

if you do lots of 3d work, it will be really stupid to not buy a dual processor system.

i dont really have any reccomendations, so build to your own feels.

beware of listening to others on forums, there are alot of people on the internet that will try to sway your opinion to that of what they feel is the right thing to do. not saying that hardocp members do that, but i would still choose wisely.

also, check out some 3d app sites for reccomendations. there would be people with first hand experience with high end systems for max/maya.

 

[Dayton]

http://www.boxxtech.com/

check out that site, they sell computers mainly geared towards 3d application use, so i would suggest configuring one on their site, and then buying your own parts and putting together a system to match it.

if you do lots of 3d work, it will be really stupid to not buy a dual processor system.

i dont really have any reccomendations, so build to your own feels.

beware of listening to others on forums, there are alot of people on the internet that will try to sway your opinion to that of what they feel is the right thing to do. not saying that hardocp members do that, but i would still choose wisely.

also, check out some 3d app sites for reccomendations. there would be people with first hand experience with high end systems for max/maya.

Thanks man, will do.

 

[Lunas]

let me highlight the special facts of this guys post besides the fact he cant spell strait and has alot grammer errors.

Here's why:

I am going to be buying a sick system soon, put to gether myself, you know buy it all from NewEgg. I have saved up a TON of cashish, like 3500-4000 bucks.

My problem is that I have no idea what to go with, AMD or Intel. NO PLACE on the net gives me a str8 answer - websites, forums, etc. They go into all these specs (which is greek to me, I understand what mhz and FSB is but that's it) but don't really tell you what would be better.

I mean, Intel seems to have bigger FSB specs, but some other kid told me that AMD can handle just as much as Intel.

Here are my main concerns:

1. I will be doing HEAVY gaming and 3d Animation.

2. I want to makes sure I have the fastest, most stable AND performance efficient CPU AND make sure it stays nice and cool.

3. I want to eventually accumualte as much RAM as possible even up to 8-16 gigs.
DDR-2 specifically. What would I need to do this? Most motherboards onyl support 4 gig max there are some server boards and dual processor boards that support up to 8gig there is a dual amd mobo coming out in april that supports sli it also supports larger ammounts of ram

4. I want dual processors and dual vid cards - what do I need to do this?a hole in your wallet

If someone can help me out with a srt8[strait or clear oh and the word answer needs to be here too], specific route for this that would be AWESOME.

Thank you much,

Dayton.

ok now enough bashing and wondering where the real [H]forumers are and why they havent given a good answer to dayton yet. Now for an answer.

Ok you brought up the fact you dont know much about computers. Dont listen to those who say ya they know it all and take every answer you get with a grain of salt including this one. What you buy is your choice. Amd or intel can be debated until the end of time in the end both have stregnths and weaknesses. (I personaly like amd.) This can also be applied to nvidia and ati.

You mentioned that you are wondering about sli or dual processor units... well that would be nice to have especialy if it worked with every thing but it doesnt work with every thing so it is not a very justified waste of money. I would recomend that if it means the diffrence of moving down to a lower speed proc or videocard then dont do it. 5k is really easy to spend on hardware with out even going into dual.

Ok now choose who your gonna go with amd or intel and stick with it same witht he videocard.

Now set a firm budget and subtract 500 from it, the 500 is reserved for tax and shipping.

Now go look around at the various hardware review sites to find the general best motherboard for the processor brand you want... right now i would go with this one

i would then put the highest speed processor i could and the top cpu cooler with a thirmal take smartfan 2 on it it is the highest cfm 80 mm fan i know of it pushes 75 cfm at full speed with 41 db of noise. or you could take that money you would spend on this and put it on a vapochill case so you can learn about extreme overclocking.

And now pick up the top of the line videocard from your vendor of choice if you want to go with sli then nvidia is your only choice.

Ok now pick accessories like a quality keyboard a quality mouse a lcd pannel monitor dvd drive and dvd burner I recomend sticking with a IDE hard drive as the boot drive i have discovered that some motherboards can glitch and loose settings pointing to the sata drive as the boot drive as well as IDE you dont have the pains of having limits on operating systems as virualy all os have native support for ide but none not even windows xp sp2 have sata working flawlessly. You can easily rack up 5000 in accessories alone flat panel monitor with a 16ms response time is recomended for games.

And i wont tell you every part to buy that is up to you and you will be happier with the system in the end anyway.

 

[Glacier]

also, do you REALLY need an lcd monitor??

i do understand that they have improved the specs/image quality by leaps and bounds over the past few years, but they cannot match image quality and price point of high end crt monitors.

i do lots of graphic design (very little in the 3d aspect) and in all honesty, i would never purchase an lcd monitor on a limited budget. i could probably write a horrible essay here, but its almost 2 am, and i need some sleep.

but, i know that people will be reccomending lcd monitors on your large budget, and lots of them would think of you as an idiot for not chosing an lcd monitor, but for anything to do with graphics, go with a high quality 22" crt monitor if space is flexible.

in the end, it is your money, and it is you who will be looking at the monitor, so make the right choice.

good luck with the system build man, i wish i had your kind of budget

[edit] whoops, i swung and didnt really hit anything with my post . basically, i reread your post, and realised that multi-monitor displays are absolutely perfect for 3d work. so in that respect, i would have to change my position on the monitors (!!!!!), unless you have some massive deskspace. doing 3d max work on one monitor and then on 2 or more, is like night and day of the amount you can accomplish in the same time frame. i realise that i cant even hit the enter button right now, so its a pretty good indicator of me needing sleep. well, im pretty sure that there will be lots of people in here that will be able to help you choose the right monitors, cuz im probably not as technologically knowlegable as most of hardocps members are. good luck [/edit]