MicroATX system to replace gBOX

[DarkEternal]

Hi all,

I'm looking to upgrade my gBOX SFF system, which contains:

P4 2.4GHz 533Mhz FSB
512MB PC2700
Geforce4 TI4200 128MB
Audigy

Since I can get a pretty sweet deal on a new processor, I'm looking to upgrade to:

P4 650 3.4 GHz
Aspire X-QPACK
some kind of matx motherboard (i915G?)
eVGA Geforce 6600GT 128MB

I'm planning on upgrading to a 915 motherboard so I can keep my DDR memory. I'm not too sure about the compatibility issues between the 650, the PCI Express 16x card, and the motherboard, though; I haven't been keeping up with computer parts. Do i915G motherboards come ready to use with the 6xx series? I've read some stuff about needing to flash the BIOS with a 5xx processor, which I'm not sure I'll be able to do.

Also, would it be better to go ahead with a DDR2 motherboard? Then I would need to buy DDR2 memory as well, and I'd like to avoid this if it won't have any benefits.

I figure that I can get the processor for $140, and the rest of the components for about $315, and I can get a couple of hundred bucks back from selling my old box, I should be in good shape. What do you guys think?

 

[dderidex]

Well, you didn't ask, but, IMO, you are crazy for going Intel at the moment.

Athlon64s now decimate Intel performance-wise from top to bottom.

Not to mention they run a LOT cooler, which is fairly important for SFF builds.

And still cheaper for the same performance. An Athlon64 '3000+' in Socket 939 will outperform that P4 you are looking at in many areas, and you can get one for $140, as well.

Only problem is your ram. PC2700 will choke even an Athlon64, forget the bandwidth-starved Pentium-4 processors. And only 512mb? You do realize more and more modern games (Battlefield 2, Everquest 2, etc) effectively require 2gb, right?

Best build I could recommend "for cheap" would be:
$140 Athlon64 '3000+' Socket 939 dual-channel
$89 Jetway A210GDMS Socket 939 motherboard
$116 1gb (512mb x 2) OCZ 'Performance Series' PC3200
$90 Aspire X-QPACK
$155 AR Radeon X800 PCI-Express
$39 Zalman CNPS7000 CPU HSF
====
$629

Maybe over your budget, but keep in mind that:
* It's upgrade-ready. Want to stick an AMD Athlon64 X2 dual-core CPU in there? Perfectly fine! GeForce 7800GTX? A-OK!
* You really do NEED some of those parts. 1gb of ram is the ABSOLUTE MINIMUM for gaming anymore. And buying a P4 at 3.4ghz for a gaming system is rather a mistake.

 

[Steeeeve]

without getting into an Intel vs AMD battle...the above poster is correct..the AMD is cooler which is better for the SFF

 

[DarkEternal]

hmm, well the only reason i was planning to upgrade now was because my girlfriend is working at intel and can get me a half-off discount on some of the processors; however, her internship is going to be up in a few weeks. so i was only considering basing the computer around an intel chip. i'll take a look at some amd chips; but in the meantime, assuming i'm going with an intel chip, how does the rig look?

 

[ND40oz]

I'd go with a 945g or 955 mb so that you have the option to upgrade to dual core down the road. With a 915 board your stuck with single core.

 

[sabrewolf732]

I'd go with a 945g or 955 mb so that you have the option to upgrade to dual core down the road. With a 915 board your stuck with single core.

myabe it's just me but, I would never put a dual core intel in a sff...

 

[sleepeeg3]

I would if I could get a 50% discount! Why not go with a P-D 830, if she can score a nice discount?

 

[sabrewolf732]

I would if I could get a 50% discount! Why not go with a P-D 830, if she can score a nice discount?

yeah but I would put it in a mid or full. I wouldn't put it in the qpack unless you get another 90 or 120 modded in there

 

[dderidex]

If she's really getting THAT big a discount, the thing to do would be to find out what her limits are (how much she can buy a month, etc) and sell the ridiculously overpriced Intel parts on eBay or something.

Then buy an AMD system.