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What ya think

J

JeebusCrispies

n00b
Joined
Jun 7, 2003
Messages
13
I know these threads are a dime a dozen here but I guess it's because most of you are so helpfull.

I haven't built a new system in a few years so I'm a way behind. But going from what I've seen here and shopping newegg, I have sort of an idea of what I'm gonna get in the next coming weeks. I love tax season :D

Due to paying off other bills and such I'll be left with a budget of somewhere around 800 U.S.. I could probably do a little more or less if possible, I'm patient. I game a lot so that's one of the main reasons for a new box, plus I encode a lot of videos. My current machine is just not cutting it in either catagory. So this is what I've priced so far.
_________
MSI "K8N Neo2 Platinum" NVIDIA nForce3 ULTRA Chipset Motherboard $143.00

Fortron Blue Storm 500W ATX12V V2.0 Power Supply $89.00

AMD Athlon 64 3500+ $289.00

Corsair Value Select 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - Retail $138.00

2 Arctic-Cooling Arctic Fans 3 80mm Case Fan $7.98
_________

I have plenty of HD space so that's not a problem, but i need a new video card and I'm not sure which one to get. I've heard the 6600gt is the best bang for the buck, but was wondering if there was something in that price range with a little more memory than 128, or if it would really matter with the corsair memory on my list. Also my case and fairly new DVD Burner should suffice for the time being.

I appreciate all the help and advice I get. I need it.

Thanks
 
Knock the proc down to a 3200+, OC it, buy a 6800NU or GT, if you can afford it, since you aren't going SLI.
 
Well how's about going here: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1133509&Sku=A455-2110 B and dropping to a 3400+ instead but getting it with good mobo for $299 and some extra tat which you may or may not have a use for.

With any luck you could then maybe just about squeeze up to a 6800GT which should be in the region of $400.

If you don't fancy that, the 6600GT is the best card for $200. It's 'only' got 128Mb but this only becomes an issue at very high resolution and with anti aliasing and anisotropic filtering turned on. Although it's a very good card, the 6600GT can't actually provide good frame rates at the resolutions at which 128Mb becomes an impediment.

Either way, for games you'll be much better off with 1Gb RAM. I would try and prioritise getting up to this level.
 
Stoopid Guy said:
Knock the proc down to a 3200+, OC it, buy a 6800NU or GT, if you can afford it, since you aren't going SLI.
Click to expand...

Ok as far as the proc goes, that sounds like a plan. Thankyou. :) Now to the next part of your reccomendation. What's the main difference between the NU or the GT? And my god what the hell is SLI? Is it the replacement for AGP? Should I just go ahead and go with SLI if said mobo is compatable?


mulpsmebeauty said:
Well how's about going here: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1133509&Sku=A455-2110 B and dropping to a 3400+ instead but getting it with good mobo for $299 and some extra tat which you may or may not have a use for.

With any luck you could then maybe just about squeeze up to a 6800GT which should be in the region of $400.

If you don't fancy that, the 6600GT is the best card for $200. It's 'only' got 128Mb but this only becomes an issue at very high resolution and with anti aliasing and anisotropic filtering turned on. Although it's a very good card, the 6600GT can't actually provide good frame rates at the resolutions at which 128Mb becomes an impediment.

Either way, for games you'll be much better off with 1Gb RAM. I would try and prioritise getting up to this level.
Click to expand...

So are you saying you wouldn't recommend that mobo? Or are you just not a fan of MSI? If so, what board would you recommend for that proc?

As far as tiger direct goes, I've never really looked at them so I'll give them a shop and compare prices. Thanks
 
You've picked a fine mobo judging from the opinions of other people and reviewers (I've never owned one myself), it was just that you could get a different but equally good mobo as part of a much cheaper package deal. If the package deal included the mobo you'd chosen it would have been just as good, but that's just the cheaper combination I came across when looking.

SLI is a way of running 2 nVidia 6600 series or 6800 series graphics cards in parallel. It needs an expensive motherboard, two graphics cards and a big power supply. It's only relevant to the real enthusiast level at the moment. If you can stretch to a 6800GT you'll be happy with it. The plain 6800 and the 6600GT are also equally good value (similar price/performance ratio I'd say) so you won't go wrong, it's just the 6800GT is the best the three of them if you can afford it.
 
mulpsmebeauty said:
You've picked a fine mobo judging from the opinions of other people and reviewers (I've never owned one myself), it was just that you could get a different but equally good mobo as part of a much cheaper package deal. If the package deal included the mobo you'd chosen it would have been just as good, but that's just the cheaper combination I came across when looking.

SLI is a way of running 2 nVidia 6600 series or 6800 series graphics cards in parallel. It needs an expensive motherboard, two graphics cards and a big power supply. It's only relevant to the real enthusiast level at the moment. If you can stretch to a 6800GT you'll be happy with it. The plain 6800 and the 6600GT are also equally good value (similar price/performance ratio I'd say) so you won't go wrong, it's just the 6800GT is the best the three of them if you can afford it.
Click to expand...

That helps a lot! I appreciate the help and advice. I'm also sorry because I responded previously before even looking at that Tiger Direct link. That's actually not a bad deal at all. However I don't know what I'd do with an extra case and speakers. But I'm sure for that price tag I could find something for them :D and a spare keyboard could always come in handy.

One last question and then I'll stop asking (for a while). As far as processor cores go. Winchester, Newcastle, etc. Is there a major difference or a middle of the road? I noticed Newcastle was around 200 U.S. but also saw the Sledgehammer and Clawhammer to be way up there.

Edit: BTW, I think SLI from the way you described it is overkill for me at this time. However if I had the money to blow, well that's another story. Thanks for all your info.
 
PCI-E (PCI-Express) is the successor to AGP.

Winchesters are better overclockers, run faster clock-for-clock and run cooler than Newcastles, but cost more (you will want to get a Winchester).

I would absolutely recommend against ordering anything from TigerDirect... Almost everyone on this board can tell you a horror story about not allowing an RMA on a DOA product, rebates never coming, horrible customer service, etc etc...

NewEgg and ZipZoomfly are a couple good places to order from.
 
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