Need Advice on my Upgrades

scott847

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Jun 18, 2005
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I was not exactly sure where to post this so forgive me if I am incorrect.

I am in need of a upgrade for my main computer. I mostly use that computer for gaming and graphic/web design. I have never used AMD so I am not sure if I want or can come up with a good system based off their CPU's. However, if someone can come up with some ideas for highend AMD system that will work with what I have in mind; I may take a look. I will list the parts I have come up with so far and I would love to hear any feedback. Also, I have a limit of about 2300 to spend.

CPU -

Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 3.73GHz Extreme Edition, 1066MHz FSB, Socket 775, 2MB Cache Retail

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80828&affiliate=cnet

1,040.00

Motherboard –

ASUS P5WD2 Premium Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 955X ATX Intel Motherboard – Retail

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131534

225.00

Graphics Card –

HIS Hightech PQ85XPENV-2I-ZAM Radeon X850XTPE 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO PCI-Express x16 Video Card – Retail

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814161126

557.00

OR

Sapphire Radeon X850 XT PE Blizzard PCI Express 256MB DDR3 Video Card w/HDTV-Out, Dual-DVI & VIVO Retail

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=326808

599.99

Memory –

CORSAIR XMS2 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Unbuffered DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit System Memory – Retail

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145566

221.00



Extra Upgrades –

5cc of Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound – OEM

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16835100008

16.99

AND

Intel LGA 775 Adapter with spacer (This is for Koolance CPU cooler)

http://www.koolance.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=25_35&products_id=162

13.99



Using above with –

New – Koolance PC3-725BK (Water Cooling System Integrated in Case)

http://www.koolance.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=28_43&products_id=179

AND

New – Koolance CPU-300-V10 (CPU Water Cooler)

http://www.koolance.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=29_44&products_id=115

AND

CREATIVE Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS Platinum

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102163

AND

DVD+/-RW NEC|ND-2500A/BLK w/o SW - OEM



The Power Supply Used –

Antec TRUE550 ATX 550W Power Supply - Retail

http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=20550
 
You're wanting to Game, so I'd suggest (like we always do here :lol: ) to get an AMD box.

An AMD64 to be precise, depending on your budget you could get a 3200+ / 3500+ / 4000+ or even (if you do a lot of multitasking with high CPU usage apps) a 4400 X2 / 4800 X2.

AMD chips run cooler, and in the majority of cases run faster than an equivilantly priced Intel chip.

______________
<font color=green>NED AND MOZZARTUSM - REAL (P)RESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES</font color=green>
 
Did you read my whole post? Can someone at least review what I do have. Also, if I was to switch to AMD how would the AMD Athlon 64 FX55 San Diego compair to the AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ Manchester? When I am gaming I have about 12 monitoring apps in the task bar, yet I am not running any super stressful apps in the backround.
 
One big cost advantage is that if you run the newer AMD chips, you won't need a water cooler.
Based on what you have so far, try going with (all from Monarch for simplicity)
X2 4800+ = $999
Asus A8N-SLI = $145 (or the A8N-SLI Deluxe if you want Raid 5 at $165)
Leadtek PX6800 Ultra TDH 256MB GDDR3/PCI-E/HDTV-Out/DVI (adding a second one if you can afford it) = $485 or $970
Better value would be 2 x Leadtek PX6600 GT TDH 128MB DDR3 PCI-E/HDTV-Out/DVI = $177 each or $354 total
I would also suggest 2 SATA II drives like the Samsung (HD160JJ) 160GB 7200RPM 8MB-Cache SATAII = $135 X 2 = $270
And for memory, 2GB kit OCZ EL DDR PC-3200/Platinum/Dual Channel = $299

BTW, yes the dual cores will help with background tasks even if they are not stressful...
I should also add that for ~$2100 you'll have one of the fastest systems on the planet for what you do...

OK...one last thing...while the CPU won't give you any heating problems, 2 high-speed GPUs just might. Make sure you have excellent airflow over the 2 video cards.

Cheers,
Charles<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by viditor on 06/18/05 11:13 AM.</EM></FONT></P>
 
Come on man read the FAQs and make your URLs into clickies that way you could get more help

<font color=blue>If everything seems to be going well, you obviously don't know what the hell is going on</font color=blue>
 
I wont have the biggest hardware suggestions but just a few things to have in mind:

You dont mention if you will be overclocking. If not watercooling might be overkill.

But watercooling might still be a good investment due to lower noise. If I were you I'd assemble my own watercooling and stick it on anything with fans (except the psu offcourse).

Last thing: You say you will be using the pc for gaming and graphical / webdesign.

For graphical / webdesign you'd want a nice big screen.

For gaming it might not be so good with eg: a big lcd screen.

Maybe your rig cant pull off the a high native resolution (im thinking larger than 1280x1024)
in near future games (allways a risk 🙁)

So my suggestion would be to get 2 displays of a bit lower resolution than one big screen.

That way you can get a large desktop size for your work and be pretty sure that when you game in the future it wont get resized on one screen...
 
those ASUS boards are only good for poor people like me
Actually, the high-end Asus boards have the highest quality components on them of any manufacturer (short of a server board), that's why they cost a little more. There WERE some Asus boards about a year back that were absolute cr*p, but they were made by PCChips for OEMs, and only had an Asus label slapped on them...
However, ASUS doesn't have the OCing extras on them that Abit and DFI do...

Cheers,
Charles
 
The A7N8X boards are the ones I was referring to...many were made by PCChips...

He didn't appear to be an overclocker, so the Asus is the best choice. For OC, I'd go with the DFI myself...

Cheers,
Charles
 
A good overclocking mobo equals better stability, simple logic I guess
Except in this case. The difference is that Asus simply doesn't install all of the tools that DFI does. They keep it simple and leave it that way...
If you look at the individual capacitors and voltage regulators, then look those parts up vis-a-vis cost and quality, I think you will find that the Asus boards contain a higher level of top quality parts.
Voltage regulators that can deliver more changes aren't necessarily going to last longer or be more accurate...

Cheers,
Charles
 
If I'm not mistaken, isn't it true that the A8N-SLI (deluxe or not) can't run in 1T or OC worth sh<b></b>it?

Maxtor disgraces the six letters that make Matrox.
 
Not to mention the CT-479 + P4C800E-d combos....DOTHAN POWA!

Maybe ASUS is racist? <pre>hey, that kinda rhymed</pre><p>Maxtor disgraces the six letters that make Matrox.