I'm looking into purchasing a new computer.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2004-07-09 04:18am

There's always something to wait for around the corner. I think you should get some of the lower end 939 AMD-64s if you have money to blow (I wouldn't waste money on the FX or P4EE).

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2004-07-09 04:21am

P-V probably is referring to the desktop Pentium M, which probably won't be out for a long time.

Note that Kernel probably knows more, everything I'm saying is AMD fanboyism, and I have never used an AMD processor (since my current desktop is a Pentium II). The cheapest 939 is the 3500+, which is 500$- rather expensive. I've heard you can plug a 754 into a 939 socket though... is this true? Better value is probably cheaper processor and better graphics card.

All HAIL P6!!! (I'm using one- yes, the Pentium Pro, Pentium II, Pentium III, and maybe Pentium M should all be called the Sextium)

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-07-09 07:26am

Pu-239 wrote:Note that Kernel probably knows more, everything I'm saying is AMD fanboyism, and I have never used an AMD processor (since my current desktop is a Pentium II). The cheapest 939 is the 3500+, which is 500$- rather expensive. I've heard you can plug a 754 into a 939 socket though... is this true? Better value is probably cheaper processor and better graphics card.

Uh, no, 754 won't plug into 939.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2004-07-09 08:47am

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/sh ... =2065&p=14

754 vs 939- I retract my statement in favor of 939- get a 754- cheaper.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-07-09 11:00am

Unless you're a die-hard tech-head, don't bother getting the latest and greatest chipsets when they just come out. Instead try looking for something that's still relatively new but will have enough processing power to be viable for a couple of years down the road. The Athlon XP 3200+ are fairly cheap, and some pentium IVs aren't too shabby. It's best to avoid the hi-end stuff as to not get first generation glitches that will go overlooked until they re-release the chip with said glitches fixed.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2004-07-09 11:36am

Darth_Zod wrote:Unless you're a die-hard tech-head, don't bother getting the latest and greatest chipsets when they just come out. Instead try looking for something that's still relatively new but will have enough processing power to be viable for a couple of years down the road. The Athlon XP 3200+ are fairly cheap, and some pentium IVs aren't too shabby. It's best to avoid the hi-end stuff as to not get first generation glitches that will go overlooked until they re-release the chip with said glitches fixed.

Athlon XPs are now relegated to "budget" status, until Sempron is released. Where that puts Duron, ???. Athlon 64 have been out for awhile though, and is considered midrange, while the FX is considered high-end. An older Athlon 64 would probably be a better deal. Athlon XP 3200+ is 213$ while an Athlon 64 3200+ is 278$ -prices should be a bit higher, since it's on the AMD website for those buying in quantites of 1000...
I'm not sure about the price/performance ratio.

You should pay more attention to your graphics card. I'm not knowledgable about this though (all I know is that since I'm using Linux, I should go with some nVidia card, since ATI drivers suck.

The questions are: What is he using it for, and how much is he willing to pay?

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-07-09 11:39am

I wouldn't recommend a Duron at all. Their FSB and processing capabilities just can't hope to keep up with AMD's latest line. XP chips are relatively cheap, for anything under 3200, and shouldn't cost too terribly much. Plus they'll give you enough oomph for a multi-purpose rig for some time.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2004-07-09 12:04pm

Right around the corner(As in released a few weeks ago) PCI-XPress that new slot on motherboards

No more AGP or PCI or ISA(Yes they still make PIV motherboards with ISA slots, just incase)

It supposed to means all kind of wonderful things for computer users and it problably will a year from now when all the manfuacturs make cards that work with it

Till then get AMD second to latest(IE am for a CPU thats under 250$)

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-07-09 01:48pm

http://www.ibuypower.com has some killer systems for under $1500 that should meet most of what you're wanting. even has a system configurator to customize your PC piece by piece

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2004-07-09 03:35pm

Mr Bean wrote:Right around the corner(As in released a few weeks ago) PCI-XPress that new slot on motherboards

No more AGP or PCI or ISA(Yes they still make PIV motherboards with ISA slots, just incase)

AGP isn't going anywhere any time soon. PCIe will likely completely replace it within the next few years, but vendors will continue making AGP cards for a long while. Hell, they only totally stopped making PCI graphics cards a year or two back.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2004-07-09 03:40pm

AGP isn't going anywhere any time soon. PCIe will likely completely replace it within the next few years, but vendors will continue making AGP cards for a long while. Hell, they only totally stopped making PCI graphics cards a year or two back.

True but they already have PCI-Express Video cards aviable now as well as the Mother boards to support them which is a departure from the normal method of doing things(As happened with AGP, annouce it first video cards to support it came out four to eight months after)

And minor point Nvidia still makes PCI cards and still has them on the road-map for another year for business computers

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-07-09 05:08pm

Pu-239 wrote:Athlon XPs are now relegated to "budget" status, until Sempron is released. Where that puts Duron, ???.

Duron is dead.

Mr Bean wrote:Right around the corner(As in released a few weeks ago) PCI-XPress that new slot on motherboards

No more AGP or PCI or ISA(Yes they still make PIV motherboards with ISA slots, just incase)

Oh, there will probably continue to be ISA slots -- a bunch of companies still have old ISA boards that they simply cannot get rid of. The same will probably go for PCI (and its varients). And yes, I've seen those P4 boards with ISA on them, it looks wrong.

Meest · Post by **Meest** » 2004-07-09 06:04pm

I'd wait for a decent PCI express board and not bother wasting money on an AGP vidcard. It's kinda like buying an 8track when casettes are just about to come to market. I'm abit bias because I'm waiting for a good dual board to slap this baby in there http://www.3dlabs.com/products/product.asp?prod=293

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2004-07-09 06:26pm

Uh, GPUs don't even saturate AGP, so you don't need it. Also, aren't 3dlabs cards supposed to suck at DirectX, and have bad Linux support at the same time (drivers are still labeled from RH 7.3!) ?

nForce 4 is supposed to give AMD processors PCIe support.

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2004-07-09 11:03pm

Get a Mac. Those new dual 2.5 ghz machines with a 1.25 ghz bus speed should last you a while.

I'd suggest Athlon 64 if you want a PC.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-07-10 12:08am

Pu-239 wrote:Uh, GPUs don't even saturate AGP, so you don't need it. Also, aren't 3dlabs cards supposed to suck at DirectX, and have bad Linux support at the same time (drivers are still labeled from RH 7.3!) ?

3dlabs cards are typically optimized for CAD work; they don't do so well in gaming (either OpenGL or DirectX).

BabelHuber · Post by **BabelHuber** » 2004-07-10 05:03am

My objective is to make a gaming computer that will be able to handle Doom3, Half Life 2, Far Cry, etc. I'd prefer to keep the cost of it under $1500 though.

I've built a PC three months ago, and I'm quite happy with it:

- Athlon64 3000+@2.2GHz
- Shuttle AN50R Nforce3-150 mainboard (now I would go with the NForce3 250, as it has much improved GB Lan and P-ATA/S-ATA RAID functionality)
- 2xSeagate Barracuda 80GB S-ATA RAID0
- RADEON 9800PRO 128MB
- 2x512MB PC400 Corsair XMS LL @220-2393
- Audigy 2 ZS

Playing Far Cry with 1024X768, 4xAA 8xAF and all the eye candy turned on does not provide a smooth gameplay experience, though.

So you probably want to go with the newer RX800/ GF6800 line of graphic cards, if you have the money to spend.