What is the best?

[Guest]

I am pretty green when it comes to hardware but I know my software. I want to put together a tower that is an ultimate scream machine that I can use for gaming and programming. right now I don't know what the hell a chipset is but with only a day of research I have came up with these periphs: Athlon DDR 1.4ghz processor; 1ghz pc2100 DDRAM; 60GB hard drive @7200rpm; SoundBlaster Live! Value card; 64MB DDR GeForce2ultra; a 16x dvd and a 24x10x40 cd-rw for $1000. I picked out an asus motherboard. Considering that I want a screaming game machine that i can also learn programming on my questions are....
Which motherboard is the best for what I want?
What hardrive should I use?
Is the 1G pc2100 DDRAM my best option?
What is the best audio card for gaming?
Besides the geforce3 is Geforce2 Ultra the best card?
If you think you could build the ultimate Machine please contact me with your detailed specs and some reasons why you think its the best.

 

[reversi]

well this would be the best system out about 3 weeks ago. BTW i dont want to build your computer, just want to give u some pointers. I would go for Athlon XP 1800. A geforce 3 Titanium 200(at least)And a better sound card. Maybe a santa cruz (by turtle beach) or Hercules Gametheatre XP. haven't had either of those, but i know fatburger has. talk to him

The only one with a true post count!

 

[Uncle_joe]

I don't know what the hell a chipset is

Chipset is set of two chips (only one on some mobos,
like SIS) that controls mobo (ie. data transfer among
components, such as CPU, memory, HDs etc.)
It is not always made by mobo manufacturer.
Right now, for AMD, VIA KT266A chipset is the best.
Check this link
<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.html?i=1547" target="_new">http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.html?i=1547</A>
You'll find review of current mobos using it.

Regarding memory, I would go with 256M or 512M of Crucial
PC2100. Later, you can go to their site
<A HREF="http://www.crucial.com" target="_new">http://www.crucial.com</A>
and buy more, if needed.

Regarding video card, wait 'till more manufacturers offer
gForce3 Ti200, check the reviews, and buy. gF3 Ti200
offers best performance/price ratio. Read Tom's article
in the graphics guide.

Regarding sound card, I have SoundBlaster Live! Value,
older one (~1 year), and it's exelent for gaming.

HD, hmmm....
IBM Deskstar, 7200rpm, 40G, ATA100 looks nice.
I still run my 'old' Seagate, 5400rpm, 20G.

For CPU, I wouldn't buy anything less than AthlonXP 1600.

That would be very good gaming rig. Also depending how
much $$$ you have to spend, specs can go higher
(AthlonXP 1800+, 1G DDR, gForce3 Ti500, Audigy Xgamer)

Basicly, for gaming, good video card is the most important,
than CPU and memory.




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