Is this a good gaming machine?

[evil0verl0rd]

Case - Antec Sonata
Mobo - ASUS P5GD2 (Includes Integrated Network Card and RAID Chip)
Processor - Intel LGA775 3.4 GHz (Is the extra 200$ I pay for Extreme Edition worth it?)
Memory - 2 x Samsung 512MB DDR PC3200
Graphics Card - GeForce 6800GT
Sound – Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro
Cooling - None
HDD – Samsung 160 GB, 7200 RPM
Optical Drive – Samsung 16X DVD R/W
Monitor – Samsung 17” CRT
Keyboard and Mouse – Samsung
Speakers – Samsung 5.1 Setup
Lighting - Antec LED Light tube

a) Would I get a better price/performance ration by using AMD? Please keep in mind that I multitask a bit...there will be Photoshop CS, Flash, 4-5 browser windows, Trillian and Winamp running at all times (except when gaming). I will also be playing VCDs and DVDs on it pretty frequently.

How obsolescence proof is it?

What are the changes you recco? This thing is already way over budget, so be cautious.

To RAID or not to RAID?

And in case you're wondering why there so many Samsung products in this list, that's because I work for them, and will be getting most of this system at 15-20% off.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
evil0verl0rd

 

[steviep]

In order to be upgrade proof, upgrade the motherboard to the Asus P5AD2-E premium, with the Intel 925XE chipset. It's the only current motherboard chipset to support the future 1066 FSB processors, and the only one that stands a chance at upgrading the processor in future. The rest of the motherboards are pretty much a dead-end.

I would also swap the ram for a set of DDR2, though I'm not sure if Samsung makes it..and the hard drive with a 74GB Western Digital Raptor for my main drive (and use one of my many other ATA133 drives for storage, or in your case, a larger Samsung drive). There is a performance increase in using the Raptor (as it's 10,000 RPM), but there is a cost difference. You could always throw in a 36GB raptor (which is around $100 US I think) as your boot/app drive, and use the 160gb samsung for everything else.

Is the Extreme edition worth it? Not if you're already overbudget. The small performance increase isn't worth the money. Though, if you don't have the motherboard I mentioned, the 1066FSB EE processor won't work on the Intel 915 chipset anyway. Just make sure you have the "J" model of your 3.4 (with the 1mb L2 Cache) and you'll be fine.

And yes, with what you'll be doing (tons of multitasking, some of which involves multimedia), go with intel and hyperthreading. I know I am

 

[Dallows]

If it was me I would put an AMD64 chip in there. You can get a low like 3000+ 939pin winchester and overclock it pretty high if oc'ing is your thing or you can just get a winchester 3500+ or something, would be way better than any P4. If your concern is more photo stuff and multitasking then maybe you should stick with a p4, but if gaming is important then AMD is the way to go. Personally, I had a p4 3.0E and it sucked balls. The fan was ridiculously loud and it ran really hot, I love my AMD 3500+, it's cool, quiet and runs like a dream. I don't notice a difference in performance at all. I think hyperthreading is bull to be honest.

 

[S1nF1xx]

What are the changes you recco? This thing is already way over budget, so be cautious.

If you're bulding a gaming machine you're making a huge mistake not getting an AMD 64. They are far superior to the P4's. Check the benchmarks.

 

[Dallows]

give us a list of all the prices but I bet you're killing yourselve on the sound card which is most likely more than you'll ever need, maybe the case too? Unless you need a lot of space or can get a good deal on a 160gb, you don't need it, 80 would probably be fine, check newegg for deals and even the For Sale/For Trade forum here.

 

[steviep]

OK, let me put it this way. If concern #1 is gaming, then yes, AMD.
But despite what the AMD people in this thread tell you, the Intel is far better at resource management. What I mean is, that a CPU-intensive task (i.e. encoding) would tie up the AMD quite nicely (100% CPU usage) and opening other apps (i.e. internet explorer, photoshop) would be very laggy. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.

Whereas the intel chip would manage itself much better, and devote 'threads' of the CPU to the encoding, and threads to the other applications. The lag would be much less noticable. However, when it comes to playing games, the AMD is most definately better. Personally, a 3+Ghz pentium 4 can handle any game that will be made in the next 2 years provided you have a top notch video card (as you do), so even if it's not as good as the AMD at gaming, you'll still get great framerates. Unless you're a gaming enthusiast, with the need for the extra 20 FPS and higher 3DMark scores, you're better off with the P4.

 

[mulpsmebeauty]

To AMD or not to AMD, that is the question.

Ok, if I can add a few thoughts. To echo that which has gone before, AMD is both cheaper and quicker for games. You could get yourself something like a socket 939 Asus A8V Deluxe motherboard and AMD64 3500+ processor for (I guess) less than the price of the Intel setup (I'm in the UK so can't link you US prices). This would outperform the Intel setup for games by quite a margin. From what I've seen, the margin IS significant. Not necessarily an unnoticeable frame or two here and there. Additionally, lots of motherboards have adequate on board sound solutions (such as the mobo I mentioned) that will more than get you by until you decide if you want to step up to something more expensive. I.e. you could save on the sound card if you wanted, though I think the onboard solution will cut your frame rates slightly in games.

For Intel - I've never really multitasked in the way you describe in your post so can't comment on the usefulness of Hyper Threading. I hear it's good, but my AMD 3400+ does everything I want, so I don't miss it.

Finally, I also hear that the 6800 series have cocked up video playback. I have a 6800Ultra but don't watch films on my PC so can't confirm, but apparently video playback eats up about 80% of the CPU time, making the PC effectively useless if you are running anything else in the background, or have 2 monitors with video on one, and other tasks on the other. I don't know if this is AMD specific or not.

Fortunately in this day and age, whatever you pick will do the job fast and effectively, so I wouldn't panic that you can make the "wrong" choice. You can only choose whether gaming or multimedia is your priority and pick accordingly, safe in the knowledge that whatever you choose will do both jobs well.

EDIT - Also, I wouldn't bother with RAID 0 for day-to-day tasks. I've used RAID 0 (speed) with a couple of 160Gb disks and was unimpressed. It was outperformed by the single 74Gb Raptor I've got now. Those two disks are now in RAID 1 (redundancy) and used as data storage

 

[S1nF1xx]

What I mean is, that a CPU-intensive task (i.e. encoding) would tie up the AMD quite nicely (100% CPU usage) and opening other apps (i.e. internet explorer, photoshop) would be very laggy. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.

Any processor is going to be maxed at 100% when encoding. You want it too.

 

[GeForceX]

Case - Antec Sonata
Mobo - ASUS P5GD2 (Includes Integrated Network Card and RAID Chip)
Processor - Intel LGA775 3.4 GHz (Is the extra 200$ I pay for Extreme Edition worth it?)
Memory - 2 x Samsung 512MB DDR PC3200
Graphics Card - GeForce 6800GT
Sound – Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro
Cooling - None
HDD – Samsung 160 GB, 7200 RPM
Optical Drive – Samsung 16X DVD R/W
Monitor – Samsung 17” CRT
Keyboard and Mouse – Samsung
Speakers – Samsung 5.1 Setup
Lighting - Antec LED Light tube

a) Would I get a better price/performance ration by using AMD?

Yes.

Please keep in mind that I multitask a bit...there will be Photoshop CS, Flash, 4-5 browser windows, Trillian and Winamp running at all times (except when gaming). I will also be playing VCDs and DVDs on it pretty frequently.

Trust me. AMD will be juuuuuuuust fine.

How obsolescence proof is it?

Your set up is not good, basically. So it's definitely proved.

What are the changes you recommend?

If you are willing to shell out for the Extreme Edition-- shell out for an FX-55 CPU with a matching motherboard. Neo 2 Platinum works surely. Get XL Low Latency PC-3200 RAM with it (reputable companies of course). One 74 GB Raptor HDD. Get a frickin' 21" CRT. Why 17"? That is like sooo 1930's. 21" CRT's of Diamondtron/Trinitron technology is so cheap nowadays. Why a Samsung mouse/keyboard? Get Logitech's or Razer's and get a Saitek keyboard/Regular one (maybe Samsung here would work).

To RAID or not to RAID?

Nah. Just set up Windows XP on the same drive that will run games but on separate partitions. That drive has to be the faster one (Raptor).

And in case you're wondering why there so many Samsung products in this list, that's because I work for them, and will be getting most of this system at 15-20% off.

Splendid.

Thanks in advance.

No problemo.

Regards,
-y1ffz3r.