Need help building a new computer

[Gfreeman]

I dont know what processor to get yet. I dont know if i should get the intel 920 d or the amd athlon 3700+ san diego. There around the same price. I'm going to use it for gaming and a little bit of dvd encoding but not much.

 

[luminaris]

I would get the AMD, why? Because even though the Intel is newer technology and unless your gonna OC it, the AMD will perform a little better in the gaming arena.

 

[Gfreeman]

How much is the difference performance wise between the intel 920 d and a athlon 64 3000+ venice. Im also trying to go kinda cheap with the processor so i can get a top end video card.

 

[brainysmurf]

Exactly. That's what I did.
I bought a 3000+ Winchester last March as an entry point into Socket 939.
Last weekend I bought an X2 3800+, so I finally retired the Winchester.
I used my motherboard's software to do a modest overclock to 2.2ghz.
I expect this to last me a year. But if the X2 4600+ or 4800+ (or the dual Opterons) drop in price after AMDs new Socket AM2 is released, I may pick one of those up next Christmas.
Going with AMDs Socket 939 now means you have a definite upgrade path for the next year to year and a half.
As for Intel -- who knows.
When AMD says new processors will work in older boards with a bios update, I believe it.
When Intel says it, I say "I'll believe it when I see it."

 

[brainysmurf]

Umm, OK let me clarify.

My point was that we're still a few months away from the introduction of the 940-pin Socket AM2 -- June, we're hearing -- and it will take several months to ramp up production to large numbers.
That means Socket 939 is going to be around for quite some time.

Production of lower-clocked single-core Socket 939 chips may be curtailed late this year, but Socket 939 X2 production should continue well into 2007.

Buying Socket 939 now means you can go cheap, with a slower single core chip, and be confident that you can plug in something faster later.

 

[jokersgrin]

I agree with brainy on this, go with a single core AMD 3200 would be my pick,
that way you could drop a little extra on the video card, a single 7800gt is a very good pick but in this case I would go for the XFX 6800gs xtreame which is a damn good card for little price. Just to give you a few ideas here but do the research first before you drop the bones.
things I wouldn't skimp on are the PSU, memory, case ( good air flow ), mobo
good brands are: PC power and cooling, OCZ, Antec, enermax, seasonic, fortron source for PSU!
Try if you can to set yourself up with good stuff that is upgradeable that way when you want too you can with little investment down the road.

good luck