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New PC System Specs - opinons needed

H

HotShot

Limp Gawd
Joined
Sep 24, 2001
Messages
169
I'm toying with the idea of a new pc. Tell me what you think of these specs

purpose - gaming (doom3, HL2) and skool work

budget - best bang for buck <$2000 AUD ~$1,400 USD

Notes - got monitor and keyboard, NOT overclocked, I want the system to last 3 years

cpu -- AMD XP 2500+
mobo -- ASUS A7N8X-X
ram -- Geil 1024mb Pack (dual Channel) 2x512 ddr 400
hdd -- Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 200GB 7200rpm ATA100 8mb Cache
dvdr -- Sony DRU700A - 8x +/- DVD Burner
case -- Antec SLK3700BQE ATX Super MidiTower
power -- ANTEC TRUE480 TRUE POWER 480W
mouse -- Logitech MX-510
video -- Geforce FX6800 or GT
cooler -- Zalman CNPS7000A-AlCu

Any opinons comments welcome.
 
I would go with an A64 2800+ and a 754 mobo... (about $220)

The xp would be a bottle neck for either of those cards listed...
 
bobsaget said:
I would go with an A64 2800+ and a 754 mobo... (about $220)

The xp would be a bottle neck for either of those cards listed...
Click to expand...


Based on the [H]'s doom 3 hardware guide there's very little real world difference between the system you suggested and a 2500+ or 3200+ system.

If I were going to get a amd 64-bit proc/mobo setup I'd go for a 939 pin design, which would mean I would go with a 3500+ and 64-bit mobo, which out goes my budget.
 
well I have heard that the 2800+ or 3000+ A64 overclock to about 3400+ speeds or higher... that would definately stomp an xp3200+...
 
yeah I see where you are coming from...

But, building a system around one game's benchmarks isn't always the best idea... go and take a look at how the a64's stack up against xp's in other games...
 
bobsaget said:
yeah I see where you are coming from...

But, building a system around one game's benchmarks isn't always the best idea... go and take a look at how the a64's stack up against xp's in other games...
Click to expand...


Yeah I've tried looking for more comparative reviews but there are none as comprehensive as the doom 3 guide.

hmmm
 
OK

how about this:

AMD ATHLON 64 3500+
Asus A8V-DELUXE (Socket 939)
Geil 1024mb Pack (dual Channel) 2x512 ddr 402
Seagate 200GB 7200rpm Baracuda ATA V Serial ATA 8mb Buffer
Lite-On SOHW-832S
Antec SLK3700BQE ATX Super MidiTower with 350WATT p/s
Logitech MX-510
Geforce FX6800GT
Zalman CNPS7000A-AlCu


It comes to about $2500 AUD ~ $1,785USD
 
HotShot said:
OK

how about this:

AMD ATHLON 64 3500+
Asus A8V-DELUXE (Socket 939)
Geil 1024mb Pack (dual Channel) 2x512 ddr 402
Seagate 200GB 7200rpm Baracuda ATA V Serial ATA 8mb Buffer
Lite-On SOHW-832S
Antec SLK3700BQE ATX Super MidiTower with 350WATT p/s
Logitech MX-510
Geforce FX6800GT
Zalman CNPS7000A-AlCu


It comes to about $2500 AUD ~ $1,785USD
Click to expand...


Now that is a kickass system right there! It is making me drool... lol! :D
 
Originally Posted by HotShot
OK

how about this:

AMD ATHLON 64 3500+
Asus A8V-DELUXE (Socket 939)
Geil 1024mb Pack (dual Channel) 2x512 ddr 402
Seagate 200GB 7200rpm Baracuda ATA V Serial ATA 8mb Buffer
Lite-On SOHW-832S
Antec SLK3700BQE ATX Super MidiTower with 350WATT p/s
Logitech MX-510
Geforce FX6800GT
Zalman CNPS7000A-AlCu

It comes to about $2500 AUD ~ $1,785USD





The only thing i would do differantly is run 2 raptors in raid 0. That would put him over the mark though, but if your spending that much money, what's a few more dollars.
Btw, kick as* system.
 
Wouldn't it make more sense to get the 754pin Athlon 64 3000+ just to be future proofed? You said your machine will be for school work too, so I imagine there'd be a performance increase for applications and stuff like that, if you look at benchmarks for other games the A64 out performs the Pentium 4 3.2ghz in a lot of situations.
 
Your configuration is pretty nice. My suggestions:

cpu -- AMD 64 3000+ or 3200+ (+40)
mobo -- Chaintech VNF3-250 or Epox EP-8KDA3J (+$20)
ram -- Corsair XMS TWINX1024-3200XL (2-2-2-5)
hdd -- Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 200GB 7200rpm ATA100 8mb Cache
dvdr -- NEC 8X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW
case -- Antec SLK3700AMB w/350W PS
mouse -- Logitech MX-510
video -- Geforce FX6800 GT
cooler -- Zalman CNPS7000A-AlCu
Total cost ~$1400US

You could save about $100 if you get RAM with looser timings, such as Corsair TWINX1024-3200C2 (2-3-3-6). I've used both Geil and Corsair. Corsair makes a better product imho. The real world Doom3 benchmarks are definitely something to consider when making your rig, but they don't tell the whole story. Based solely on the 1600x1200 benchmark, the AMD FX-53 is just as good as an Athlon XP. Obviously, the FX-53 smokes the XP, even in Doom3. Here's some food for thought. Trust the people who are telling you to spend a few dollars more on an A64. I'd recommend that you use the power supply that comes with the Antec case. I've used them on similarly configured rigs without any problem. If they aren't what you want, you can can always pick up a ps later on.
 
Languageguy said:
Your configuration is pretty nice. My suggestions:

cpu -- AMD 64 3000+ or 3200+ (+40)
mobo -- Chaintech VNF3-250 or Epox EP-8KDA3J (+$20)
ram -- Corsair XMS TWINX1024-3200XL (2-2-2-5)
hdd -- Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 200GB 7200rpm ATA100 8mb Cache
dvdr -- NEC 8X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW
case -- Antec SLK3700AMB w/350W PS
mouse -- Logitech MX-510
video -- Geforce FX6800 GT
cooler -- Zalman CNPS7000A-AlCu
Total cost ~$1400US

You could save about $100 if you get RAM with looser timings, such as Corsair TWINX1024-3200C2 (2-3-3-6). I've used both Geil and Corsair. Corsair makes a better product imho. The real world Doom3 benchmarks are definitely something to consider when making your rig, but they don't tell the whole story. Based solely on the 1600x1200 benchmark, the AMD FX-53 is just as good as an Athlon XP. Obviously, the FX-53 smokes the XP, even in Doom3. Here's some food for thought. Trust the people who are telling you to spend a few dollars more on an A64. I'd recommend that you use the power supply that comes with the Antec case. I've used them on similarly configured rigs without any problem. If they aren't what you want, you can can always pick up a ps later on.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the AnandTech heads up - I completely missed their doom 3 article (what an Idiot I am lol)

After a bit of read oooo yes sounds interesting.

But I must ask, the socket 754, now from what I recall from other articles, this socket will be superseded sooner than later is this right? and that the socket 939 will take it's place? or maybe I read it wrong or something?
 
HotShot said:
Thanks for the AnandTech heads up - I completely missed their doom 3 article (what an Idiot I am lol)

After a bit of read oooo yes sounds interesting.

But I must ask, the socket 754, now from what I recall from other articles, this socket will be superseded sooner than later is this right? and that the socket 939 will take it's place? or maybe I read it wrong or something?
Click to expand...

I'd say Socket 939 if it fits the budget, but there's nothing wrong with a socket 754 processor :D I've got one myself, and it's pretty fast.
 
get an Abit motherboard, all others are just plain shit
 
Andrew87 said:
Wouldn't it make more sense to get the 754pin Athlon 64 3000+ just to be future proofed?
Click to expand...

um... the future is not a 754 chipset, they will be phased out before to long. 939 is the way togo if you want longevity.

cheers.
 
Because motherboard chipset revisions are as important cpu revisions, I don't understand the reasoning behind the 'longevity' argument. Let's go back in time.

It's January 2002 and you put together a smokin rig with an AMD Athlon XP 1800 and an Abit KR7A-RAID, with the hot VIA KT266A chipset. But a year later, the nforce2 chipset comes out, and a year after that the KT880 chipset comes out. Two years and eight months after your original purchase, you're in the market for a new computer. Are you going to plunk an AMD Athlon XP 2500 in the KR7A-RAID? Probably not. You are going to look for the best bang for the buck in mobo and cpu.

Likewise, say you purchase an Athlon 64 3500 (939-pin) today. When you are ready to upgrade again, you probably won't want to plunk a new cpu into one of the first socket 939 mobo's ever made. At this point, newegg only has 3 models from which to chose.

People who upgrade alot tend to sell off the mobo/cpu together. They want to take advantage of the newest mobo chipsets. People who upgrade infrequently will have so many generations of mobo chipsets pass by that they wouldn't want to hold on to their original mobo when they upgrade. There must be people who drop new cpu's into old motherboards because many people state that upgradeability in mobo's is important to them. But, for most users it isn't really relevant.
 
I wasn't stating that the 754 was not a good choice, as that is what i would upgrade to myself if i couldn't wait any longer. I was mearly stating that the 939 is now the pin of the future (albit, not a very mature one yet), and that the 754 production lines are all but diminishing as we speak. And all future production CPU's from Athlon are 939's. So why buy a product (754) whos production line has already stopped. I myself am going to wait a little bit longer for a 939 purchase when the prices come down and mature a little more, and there are more mobo's avail. Not to mention the fact of being able to run in dual channel. Then i will get the cheapest proc, prolly a 3500, untill the prices fall down again so i can get the most outa my mobo that i can.

As for myself i am still using a Soyo KT333 Plat Ed. with XP2000 and a Ti4600. So i am not one to upgrade all the time. I like to get the most for my money without the hassle of buying a new system just to tear it apart a couple months down the road to part out and upgrade again.
 
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