Upgrading AMD XP System, need your input!

M

Masume

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 4, 2005
Messages
274
Rise from the grave!

It's been a long 6 months.. but the time to upgrade has finally arrived. I am basically looking for a dual core, SLI ready, setup that will be able to handle what the new year brings. I have managed to set aside enough funds to really get a nice system together, but I need some guidance. Products are listed from the egg, but I am more than willing to shop at the other well known etailers (ZZF, etc)

Budget 1100-1400 max

Parts list as followed

Tower: No idea as of yet. Suggestions welcomed
Cpu: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Dual Core Processor Model ADA3800BVBOX - Retail
Mobo: ASUS A8N-SLI Premium Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Ram: Crucial 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered System Memory Model CT12864Z40B - OEM
Video Card: eVGA 256-P2-N518 Geforce 7800GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
Dvd burner: BenQ Black IDE DVD Burner Model DW1640 - OEM
Harddrive: Maxtor MaXLine III 7L250S0 250GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM
Power Supply: Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-550 ATX12V 550W Power Supply - Retail
Sound Card: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 (old system)

Concerns:
*There seems to be some kind of vcore issue with x2 processors and the asus board.. is this still an issue? If it is still a big problem, I am considering going the Abit SLI route.
*I have heard great things about the oczpower supply from many review sites.. Is it worth the extra 40-60 dollar price verses the Antec?
*I really want to go the x2 route, but its about 200 dollars more than an equally clocked venice chip.. is it truely worth that premium? Prices have dropped quite a bit, is now the time to jump on? or is the gains still miniscue in comparison? I game and run multiple programs at once (music, gaming, and an instant message junkie)
*Ram has always been a picky thing to choose. I plan on getting a second stick of 1gb ram to take advantage of dual channel in the near future. The general vibe I got from the memory forum is this is a pretty decent stick of ram for the price. I do hope that was the right message.
*Thinking of picking up some teflon mouse skates for my mx510 as well as a func pad. Any opinions on this pad choice? It seems this is the one to beat.

I really appreciate any suggestions and helpful comments on my build.

Thank you very much in advance! I'll check periodically as the week progresses :)


My Current Specs:
1x AMD Athlon XP 2600+ "Barton", 333MHz FSB, 512K
1x ASUS A7N8X-X nForce2
2x Kingston Value Series 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200
1x EVGA GeForce 6800 GT, 256MB GDDR3, 256-Bit, TV-Out/DVI, 8X AGP
1x Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2
1x 120gb Western Digital 8mb cache 7200rpm hard drive
Click to expand...
 
go A64 no need for another XP Processor

U got a good video card add another 512mb and get a nice A64 processor and mobo and ull be set :)
 
I would hold off alittle while. I think your system is good for another 6 months or so. The market is deffinalty going to open up with new things then. And you will have more options of an upgrade path.... IE, faster CPU's / Dual Core/ Intel if you want...

Its not like your computer is slow now... if you can Hold off, I would.

But all you really need is a new Mobo and CPU
 
Agreed...MB/CPU is all you need. You can do that for a little over $300 depending on what you get.
 
i agree with both posters above, just a cpu and mobo upgrade is really a good upgrade for you. im in the almost exact same position as you, same budget, almost same current setup, and same future plans. however, you have a 6800GT, which is still good for another 6months to a year, so you dont need a vid card upgrade like i do(currently 9700pro). So i'd say get a nice NF3 mobo so that you can use your 6800GT and get a upcoming venice core or something, and when dual cores come out, you can upgrade to that if you want. a NF3 mobo and venice cpu on newegg should be around $300, and if you want to overclock it get a decent heatsink. good luck!
 
Thank you very much with your responses.

I figured it would be my mobo and cpu that would need the most attention.
The only problem is that AGP NF3 boards are hard to come by..
I could go with MSI or the mobos with VIA chipsets, but I still have scars
from the socket A days..

I have heard good things about DFI, and how they have a Nforce3 board with an AGP slot in the works.. but there is no confirmed ETA it seems

So in light of all this.. I will probably wait for DFI and those new Venice chipsets..
Just needed some confirmation with the community :rolleyes:

Thanks again guys.
 
we're sure you meant nf4 ;)

Agreed with what the rest of the posters, your system is fine, and you already have a good vid-card. Put off the upgrade as long as possible.
 
just OC the crap out of that 2600, and then if it dies you will have an excuse to upgrade...

there is the whole.. wait to upgrade argument.. but.. in 6 months.. there will just be more stuff on the horizon..

i personally go with something that is the "last gneration" but is proven and cheap... but right now is interesting.. cause that would be s754.. and i don't know if i would go with 754 or 939 if i upgraded.. i could reasonably go either way...
 
USMC2Hard4U said:
I would hold off alittle while. I think your system is good for another 6 months or so. The market is deffinalty going to open up with new things then. And you will have more options of an upgrade path.... IE, faster CPU's / Dual Core/ Intel if you want...

Its not like your computer is slow now... if you can Hold off, I would.

But all you really need is a new Mobo and CPU
Click to expand...

Agree here...the new AMD stuff is moving too fast, you've got a "mature" system that's still pretty decent...but if you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth then upgrade every 2 weeks... :D
 
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