G
Guest
Guest
I'm sure you guys (and gals) all heard this question hundreds and hundreds of times, but WHAT IS THE BEST MOTHERBOARD/CPU COMBO YOU CAN BY RIGHT NOW?
I'm in the process of building a new rig and I've been researching components for about 3 months now. I've never built my own system b4, but I do kinda know what's going on cause I've done many, many upgrades.
The system I'd like to build would be for all-round computer needs, meaning gaming/office apps/cd-burning/even audio/mp3 needs. This system will not be for graphic-arts stuff (not beyond intense 3d gaming).
Here are some thoughts/questions that I have for you to chew on:
1. CPU
From what I've read, anyone with any real sense and know the value of a dollar would go with an AMD Athlon. You can get a 1.4 GHz T-bird for under $200 and it whups the P4 in so many areas. The real question, for me, is whether to build a system with a 1.0 Ghz or a 1.4 Ghz T-bird. Also, is it worth waiting until the next AMD chip (Palomino or Mustang, or whatever) or Intel chip (Northwood?) come out? The only reason I'm considering Northwood is that it is supposed to start at 2.1 Ghz and build on the same socket up to 6 GHz. Don't know if this is true or not! I'm building this system to replace my 350mhz P2, just so you know where I'm coming from.
2. MOTHERBOARD
Here's the kicker: I'd like to get a mobo that is fast/stable/overclockable/tweakable and most of all.....will support the current AND the next line of AMD chips. First off, let me tell you that I'm realistic. I know you can never keep up with technology, but I'd like this system to last for more than 1 or 2 years (My P2 350 Mhz still hums along now and I bought it almost 4 years ago)! The upgradeability/stability is the most important thing for me; I don't know much about overclocking and I'm a little afraid to try, but who's to say that I wont do it in the future. Some good choices for a mobo I've come up with so far are the ASUS A7M266 and the Gigabyte GA-7DXR. From what I've read on the A7M266, here are the pro's and con's:
PROS: -fastest AMD mobo in almost all benchmarks
-pretty stable
CONS: -I hear you have to do some soldering to allow it to
adjust the CPU clock multipliers if you happen to
get an "un-locked CPU." No dipswitches!!
-Horror stories (alot on here) about bios revisions
gone awry.
-Only has 2 DIMM slots (I'd like 3)
From what I've read on the Gigabyte GA-7DXR:
PROS: -Almost as fast as the A7M266 in almost all
benchmarks
-On-board RAID/pretty good on-board sound (Creative
Labs)
-3 DIMM slots!
-Has dipswitches to make overclocking easy if I want
to!
CONS: -None that I know of! If anyone knows of any please
let me know
A few questions I have about each are:
1. Will both of these boards support not only current
Athlons, but the next line (Palomino's)?
2. Are both of these boards pretty stable?
3. Is it better to just wait until the next generations of
CPUS come out to see which mobo's will support them,or
strike now cause stuff is reasonably priced and the new
stuff won't be?
4. Scrapp both of these boards and possibly go with a dual
Athlon Mobo (I hear Tyan makes the best)? Only problem
is that thay are SOOOOOO expensive and possibly not
quite perfected yet.
5. Go with a different mobo entirely. I'm open to
suggestions. I'm not too fluent on chipset technology,
but I think AMD 761 chipsets are supposed to be the
best. From what I've read, I'd stay away from VIA and
Ali-Magik chipsets cause they're slower/less stable.
Sorry this was so long, but I wanted to post a message with just about every question I have. All of my opinions on here are just what I've heard/read.....so if I'm wrong about something please let me know. I want this system to kick some ass, not just now but for the next few years!!! Therefore, any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks
"If It Ain't Broke....Tweak It!!!"
I'm in the process of building a new rig and I've been researching components for about 3 months now. I've never built my own system b4, but I do kinda know what's going on cause I've done many, many upgrades.
The system I'd like to build would be for all-round computer needs, meaning gaming/office apps/cd-burning/even audio/mp3 needs. This system will not be for graphic-arts stuff (not beyond intense 3d gaming).
Here are some thoughts/questions that I have for you to chew on:
1. CPU
From what I've read, anyone with any real sense and know the value of a dollar would go with an AMD Athlon. You can get a 1.4 GHz T-bird for under $200 and it whups the P4 in so many areas. The real question, for me, is whether to build a system with a 1.0 Ghz or a 1.4 Ghz T-bird. Also, is it worth waiting until the next AMD chip (Palomino or Mustang, or whatever) or Intel chip (Northwood?) come out? The only reason I'm considering Northwood is that it is supposed to start at 2.1 Ghz and build on the same socket up to 6 GHz. Don't know if this is true or not! I'm building this system to replace my 350mhz P2, just so you know where I'm coming from.
2. MOTHERBOARD
Here's the kicker: I'd like to get a mobo that is fast/stable/overclockable/tweakable and most of all.....will support the current AND the next line of AMD chips. First off, let me tell you that I'm realistic. I know you can never keep up with technology, but I'd like this system to last for more than 1 or 2 years (My P2 350 Mhz still hums along now and I bought it almost 4 years ago)! The upgradeability/stability is the most important thing for me; I don't know much about overclocking and I'm a little afraid to try, but who's to say that I wont do it in the future. Some good choices for a mobo I've come up with so far are the ASUS A7M266 and the Gigabyte GA-7DXR. From what I've read on the A7M266, here are the pro's and con's:
PROS: -fastest AMD mobo in almost all benchmarks
-pretty stable
CONS: -I hear you have to do some soldering to allow it to
adjust the CPU clock multipliers if you happen to
get an "un-locked CPU." No dipswitches!!
-Horror stories (alot on here) about bios revisions
gone awry.
-Only has 2 DIMM slots (I'd like 3)
From what I've read on the Gigabyte GA-7DXR:
PROS: -Almost as fast as the A7M266 in almost all
benchmarks
-On-board RAID/pretty good on-board sound (Creative
Labs)
-3 DIMM slots!
-Has dipswitches to make overclocking easy if I want
to!
CONS: -None that I know of! If anyone knows of any please
let me know
A few questions I have about each are:
1. Will both of these boards support not only current
Athlons, but the next line (Palomino's)?
2. Are both of these boards pretty stable?
3. Is it better to just wait until the next generations of
CPUS come out to see which mobo's will support them,or
strike now cause stuff is reasonably priced and the new
stuff won't be?
4. Scrapp both of these boards and possibly go with a dual
Athlon Mobo (I hear Tyan makes the best)? Only problem
is that thay are SOOOOOO expensive and possibly not
quite perfected yet.
5. Go with a different mobo entirely. I'm open to
suggestions. I'm not too fluent on chipset technology,
but I think AMD 761 chipsets are supposed to be the
best. From what I've read, I'd stay away from VIA and
Ali-Magik chipsets cause they're slower/less stable.
Sorry this was so long, but I wanted to post a message with just about every question I have. All of my opinions on here are just what I've heard/read.....so if I'm wrong about something please let me know. I want this system to kick some ass, not just now but for the next few years!!! Therefore, any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks
"If It Ain't Broke....Tweak It!!!"