need some help please

[ssmith]

am buying an already built system specifically for gaming. would like suggestions, comments or anything else about the system listed:

Aluminum X-SuperAlien CASE 420W & Window
AMD Athlon XP 3200+ CPU
Thermaltake 480W power supply
Albatron Nforce2 Ultra DDR 400 Dual Channel MB
Corsair XMS Pro High Performance memory 1GB (512MBx2) PC3200 DDR400

Western Digital 120GB 7200RPM ATA 100 8MB Special Editon
ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 128MB
ARTEC 16X DVD ROM
ARTEC CD-RW 52X32X52
ViewSonic® VG810 18" LCD mainly for space reasons
Creative Labs SB AUDIGY 5.1 W/ 1394 IEEE
Logitech Z680 5.1 Dolby Digital Speakers
Logitech Cordless MX Duo mouse/keyboard
Windows XP Pro


<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by ssmith on 04/24/04 08:46 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[scottchen]

For gaming I highly recommend Athlon64 3200+ with depends whether you're overclocking or not, if overclocking then NForce3 250 or 150 will do, if not overclocking the VIA K8T800 or the SiS mobo built by ECS. If you're getting Athlon64, then you don't need the best memory, you can just use generic stuff, since the integrated memory controller doesn't take big performance hit with higher latency memory. I would also recommend waiting for 2 more weeks for video card because the X800Pro/6800Ultra/6800 are going to be released.

<A HREF="http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/myrig.php?do=view&id=17301" target="_new">My PC</A>

 

[ssmith]

amd athlon64 3200+ is what i meant... is the 3400 worth the extra $150 ?

 

[endyen]

The A64s wont work on an Nforce2 ( socket A) mobo.

 

[ssmith]

should i go with something like one of these?

1. ASUS K8V SE Deluxe VIA K8T800 Chipset 800FSB AGP8X

2. GigaByte GA-K8N Pro nForce3 Chipset 800FSB AGP8X

3. MSI K8T Neo FSR VIA K8T800 Chipset 800FSB AGP8X

 

[endyen]

If you want A64 you sure should.

 

[ssmith]

any one of the 3 better to use?

 

[endyen]

All have their good points. Are you in a rush? The Nforce3 250 chipset boards are soon to be released.

 

[ssmith]

i was ready to order the system tonight. will it be worth the wait?

 

[endyen]

Not really, maybe a % or more stability. Most people like the via boards, but I've been thinking about the Gigabyte K8N pro myself. Second choice would be the Asus board.

 

[Mr_Nuke]

1st choice: MSI (very stable and overclockable+surely no capacitor problems)

2nd choice: ASUS (most people say it's good and indeed it brings performance-not so overclockable as MSI)

3rd choice: Gigabyte (usually I never consider this option)

As an overclocking user (only when the system becomes slow) I always go for MSI. i don't have the link but with an MSI mobo they managed to overclock P4 2.4Ghz @ 3.6Ghz with stock HSF. And I managed to OC a GeForce2 MX-400 to match the specs of GEForce3 Ti-200. Such increases are not possible, or hardly achieveable(w/watercooling or compressor) with ASUS.

 

[Mr_Nuke]

XP 64-bit edition if u use a 64-bit CPU.
SATA 10.000rpm HDD 74.3GB (approx same price w/ 250 GB 7200rpm HDD)
Watercooling if u like OCing
6.1 (not 7.1) sound system
And if u like waiting:
S939 A64FX CPU (S775 will be up to 3700+ if I'm correct)
PCI-E video card w/NV40 or NV45 GPU(not sure if NV40 comes in PCI-E version)

 

[ssmith]

do i need a 6.1 sound card if using a 5.1 speaker system?

the video card i had in mind was the ATI 9800 Pro 128
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by ssmith on 04/26/04 09:08 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[ChipDeath]

a 6.1 Card could be configured for a 5.1 Setup.

It's 7.1 That's a pretty pointless standard.

---
Epox 8RDA+ rev1.1 w/ Custom NB HS
XP1700+ @205x11 (~2.26Ghz), 1.575Vcore
2x256Mb Corsair PC3200LL 2-2-2-4
Sapphire 9800Pro 420/744

 

[ssmith]

so, would i be just as well off with Creative Labs SB AUDIGY 5.1 as i would be with Creative Labs SB Audigy-2 6.1?

 

[ChipDeath]

Well the Audigy 2 <i>is</i> a better card - More powerful than the 5.1 - You'll take a bit less of a CPU hit with the audigy 2 compared to the Audigy1.

As to whether you'll actually notice any difference, that depends on how much of an AudioPhile you are .

Personally, I still just use 2 speakers, even though I have a surround-capable PC + AMP. I just can't be arsed to fall over the speakers constantly :lol: . (they are very good B&O speakers though)

---
Epox 8RDA+ rev1.1 w/ Custom NB HS
XP1700+ @205x11 (~2.26Ghz), 1.575Vcore
2x256Mb Corsair PC3200LL 2-2-2-4
Sapphire 9800Pro 420/744