Odd Question... Which CPU?

[Bigjohn_S]

My son has a computer running an AMD Athlon XP 3000+.
I want to build him a computer that is 2x as powerful. The computer will run Win2k Pro. And, of course, like all fathers, I'm cheep...

Thoughts and suggestions?

 

[TechnologyCoordinator]

Cheap... Fast... Hmmm...

Here's a good proc for AMD socket AM2 systems:

AMD Athlon X2 3800+ $148
Dual Core
2.0 ghz
512kb L2 x 2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103735



Or from the Intel side:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 - $184
Dual Core
1.86Ghz (but probably out performs above AMD proc)
2mb shared L2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005


Both use DDR2 and offer upgrade paths. Intel already has a proven upgrade path to Quad Core that will be less expensive in the future. AMD is rumored to have a native quad-core for AM2 in the works, but it's at least 6 months out.

Was this the range you were looking for? Because you could always go cheaper with single core processors as well as Semprons and Celerons.

 

[Bigjohn_S]

Yes, that's about the price range... I was wandering around pricewatch and saw this:
http://www.smksuperstore.com/catalog/viewitem.asp?ID=15095

Choice of 4 motherboards... Now, I've not used an INTEL chip since I upgraded from my Pentium II... so, I'm not sure at all about "intel" mobo's...

Hrmmm... am I going to end up building him something faster than my X2-4800+??

Oh, and off topic - any good resources as to how to best overclock an X2-4800 on an ASROCK mobo?

Gee, I just rememberd I have a functioning 386 motherboard in the basement... God, I feel old now.

 

[chaosgs]

my computer costed $500 cheap and powerful can play any game on max settings.

pentium D 805 $90-$100
ECS mobo $40 - $60
Geforce 7600 gt $120
Ram $90


plus case Hdd and everything else about $100

get a case off of ebay more choices lower prices

These are current prices not when i built my computer

 

[4745454b]

my computer costed $500 cheap and powerful can play any game on max settings.

pentium D 805 $90-$100
ECS mobo $40 - $60
Geforce 7600 gt $120
Ram $90

Any game at max setting??? LOL, maybe if the resolution is 800x600....

To the OP, are you looking to reuse any of the parts from the old build, or is this going to be a second computer? If you are reusing parts, which ones?

 

[dean7]

my computer costed $500 cheap and powerful can play any game on max settings.

pentium D 805 $90-$100
ECS mobo $40 - $60
Geforce 7600 gt $120
Ram $90

Any game at max setting??? LOL, maybe if the resolution is 800x600....
Haha that is one of those priceless posts that I just want to frame and look at whenever I am having a bad day. You might want to uninstall Pong and check out Oblivion. :lol:

 

[Bigjohn_S]

Reuse CASE and PSU, it's a mid-tower case with a 450w PS. possibly RAM - but that may not be an option... It has an Nvidia 6200OC card in it now, AGP8x, but again, that might not be an option...

I'll probably re-use HDD too.

 

[1KGH]

Don't skimp on the power supply. Your new computer can be transformed into worthless junk in a flash with a poor power supply. I've lost 2 hard drives & a DVD drive to a weak power supply. I got my money out of that service agreement but was without a computer for a week two times.

It is better to be frugal then cheap.

 

[Bigjohn_S]

Trust me, I know that. It's a good PSU - Antec or Ultra (I can't remember which one I chose back then...). And the computer sits on a AVR UPS.

 

[4745454b]

If this is going to be used for gaming, then I suggest moving to a S939 system. Depending on your ram, you can still use it. (DDR@400/PC3200 is good to go.) With the case and PSU being reused, along with the harddrive if you want, means your looking good. $500 to spend on a motherboard, CPU and video card is a lot of money. (unless your buying the highend.)

For example, check this out. For $145, you can get a 3500+ with a DFI Lanparty CF motherboard. If you're more of an Nvidia guy, you can get the SLI motherboard and CPU for $199. This will leave you with $300 for the video card, which in PCIe land will get you a powerful x1900/1950 card. (if you go that route, make sure you get the $145 CF motherboard.)

 

[Bigjohn_S]

Thanks for the thought... I think Fry's near my house has an ECS mobo with a x2-4200+ 939 for under 200 right now...

 

[SciPunk]

What do you mean 2X as powerful? Do you mean twice the frames per second on a given video game? Or compress a file in half the time?

An upgraded video card w/ a fairly inexpensive CPU can do wonders for games.

Be careful w/ re-using an old power supply. Most mother boards want the 20+4 connector, some old power supplies only have the 20 pin ATX connectors.
scroll down to see pics

What's w/ the Win2K Pro OS? Not that there's anything wrong with it... buy why?

 

[CompTIA_Rep]

sell his old computer and buy WindowsXP. No reason not to.

 

[4745454b]

I would take the DFI over an ECS, but you got the point....

 

[Bigjohn_S]

sell his old computer and buy WindowsXP. No reason not to.

Except for the fact that XP is just a hobbled win2k with DRM embedded into it, half the configuration capabilities hidden, and a dumbed down "home" version....

The only reason something won't run on Win2k is because microsoft said so...

John

 

[Bigjohn_S]

What do you mean 2X as powerful? Do you mean twice the frames per second on a given video game? Or compress a file in half the time?

An upgraded video card w/ a fairly inexpensive CPU can do wonders for games.

Be careful w/ re-using an old power supply. Most mother boards want the 20+4 connector, some old power supplies only have the 20 pin ATX connectors.
scroll down to see pics

What's w/ the Win2K Pro OS? Not that there's anything wrong with it... buy why?

The PSU and case are less than a year old - has the right connectors including the 4x 12v connector.

I'd like to be around 300$ for this project...

 

[bliq]

Here's what I built for my brother in law last weekend:

A64 3800+ and ECS K8M890 - $109 (Frys)
MiniATX case - $30 (AR) (Frys)
1GB RAM DDR2 667- $80 (AR) (Circuit City)
DVD-RW (Fry's) $40
80GB HDD (reused but they're cheap)
full ATX PSU (reused but also fairly cheap)
X1600pro - $80 (Ebay, using buy it now, including shipping)

about $340 plus a PSU and a HDD, but still well under $500. And it's going to be faster than the XP3000+.

 

[Heyyou27]

my computer costed $500 cheap and powerful can play any game on max settings.

pentium D 805 $90-$100
ECS mobo $40 - $60
Geforce 7600 gt $120
Ram $90

Any game at max setting??? LOL, maybe if the resolution is 800x600....And even then Oblivion would still run slow.. :lol:

 

[CompTIA_Rep]

But Morrowind should run like a dream.

 

[Bigjohn_S]

But back on topic...(and Oblivion is a pale shadow of what it could have been, had it not been "dumbed down" for console...)

 

[CompTIA_Rep]

Luckly, consols have progressivly lost more then %30 percent to the computer gamming market each quarter. by 2008, there will be no more consols... Great news.

 

[Bigjohn_S]

Luckly, consols have progressivly lost more then %30 percent to the computer gamming market each quarter. by 2008, there will be no more consols... Great news.

LOL.
Nice Wankle you got there.

Anyway, back to my OP...

 

[CompTIA_Rep]

you op is gone, face it. 😉

Joking. Thogh, im not helping am I?

 

[chaosgs]

my computer costed $500 cheap and powerful can play any game on max settings.

pentium D 805 $90-$100
ECS mobo $40 - $60
Geforce 7600 gt $120
Ram $90

Any game at max setting??? LOL, maybe if the resolution is 800x600....

To the OP, are you looking to reuse any of the parts from the old build, or is this going to be a second computer? If you are reusing parts, which ones?

1024x768 Actually, I dont see the need for some big ass screen, bigger the screen more money for a better graphics card. I know wtf itll play on what graphic settings. BF2 BF 2142 CD2 Wow. everything ive played max settings. Not all of us are stupid to buy some big ass screen just so we can buy 2 $500 cards. I have a 60' inch TV and i dont care for it i rather watch tv on my 20' inch.

So ya my system will work wanders for the average gamer (poor gamer to).

And another thing why do yall buy waste money on those geforce 8800 when DX10 isnt even out and you need vista plus a game that supports it to even get it to work? id never spend more than $200 for a graphics card exspeacialy when it will be about half a year to see its full potential?

 

[everett]

my computer costed $500 cheap and powerful can play any game on max settings.

pentium D 805 $90-$100
ECS mobo $40 - $60
Geforce 7600 gt $120
Ram $90

Any game at max setting??? LOL, maybe if the resolution is 800x600....
Haha that is one of those priceless posts that I just want to frame and look at whenever I am having a bad day. You might want to uninstall Pong and check out Oblivion. :lol:

LOL, you guy's are Brutal! :lol: