super_si

Being out the loop for a while now.

Whats best, really! Intel vs. AMD?
Nvidia vs ATi?

Which socket cpu too?
Is sata worth using?
dvd writers?

thanks

Si

jpor

iTrader: (1)

Well first off check out this site: www.tomshardware.com
This guy gets the latest stuff from Intel, AMD, Nvidia & ATI etc.. and gives his verdict on each. At the moment in the CPU stakes it's AMD thats kicking Intels behind with it's AMD x 2 Processor (2 CPUS in one). And for Video cards it keeps changing from Nvidia to ATi and back again.

_Meridian_

iTrader: (1)

If money is no object then it's AMDs socket 939 64-bit CPUs. As jpor says, the dual-core version is the new best thing: not much support currently (although a few apps can use it properly), but expect game support by the end of the year. Until then they will run all software normally. One catch: most motherboards will need a BIOS flash before they will work with one, which may mean borrowing a single core CPU long enough to flash the BIOS. If that puts you off, go with the single core socket 939.


M

jpor

iTrader: (1)

Also AMD are planning another socket Motherbaord called the M2 for this year, which replaces the 939 socket, so it maybe worth holding out for that which will support the new x2 CPU.

DrEvil

Just so you know, I'm an AMD fan, but...

AMD have the fastest chip at the moment - FX57, ideal for gaming - but way too expensive really.

What do you want to do with the PC primarily?

As JPOR says, AMD's M2 is due out at some point, but this could be well into Q2 2006, so not much good if you want a PC now.

Whats your budget?

DrEvil

Bored at work, so thought I'd add... If I was building a PC right and had a reasonable amount to chuck at it, I would use:

AMD Athlon64 3500+/4000+ or dual core AMD X2 4400+
A8N SLI premuim
6600GT (low) or 6800GT (mid) or 7800GTX (high)
1Gb Corsair TwinX XM3200C2PT (2x512) or 2Gb Corsair TwinX XMS3200C2PT (2x1Gb)
Enermax Noisetaker 600W SLI
Audigy 2 ZS or Audigy 4 pro
NEC 3540 DVDRW (or newer version of the same)
Floppy drive (for bios updates)
Akasa Eclipse 62 case + 2x 120mm fans + window panel

Hope that helps.

RB5108

Bored at work? not answering your phone either and I can't be arsed to walk over to your building!

super_si

how much we talking for that?

Si

GaryScoobNCBR

go with the AMD VENICE 3000 and overclock it slightly, great value and great performance.

Also 6800gt are now good value for money 7800 too expensive

DrEvil

Si,

Depends which bits you go for!

Although I agree the 3000+ is good if you plan to overclock, if like me you're not interested in overclocking, get the 939pin AMD64 3500+(£170) or 4000+ (£300).

AMD64 3500+ circa £170
1Gb Corsair TwinX XMS3200C2PT circa £150
A8N-SLI Premium circa £130
Audigy 2 ZS OEM circa £50
Leadtek or XFX 6800GT 256Mb PCI-E circa £210
Enermax 600W SLI PSU circa £90
NEC 3540 DVDRW drive circa £35
Floppy drive circa £5
Nice metal case, like the Akasa will cost you about £70-£100, depends what you like, but look for at least a rear 120mm case fan, if not front n rear 120mm.

That will set you back about £900-940 depending where you get the bits.

I tend to buy all the internals from one supplier - makes sending stuff back/identify fault easier - they can't say it was X-suppliers PSU that broke it etc... but I'm just cynical!

Then you need keyboard+mouse, monitor and speakers.

If you aren't bothered about the case and monitor, keyboard etc ... to be honest, you can get some blinding deals on pre-builds at the moment, from the likes of Mesh Computers etc...

But, also, if you shop around, you can get the above components cheaper - just make sure you don't end up spending the savings on P&P!

BTW, I've got the A8N SLI premium - its got passive cooling on the NForce4 chipset, so no whiny 8000rpm fan to contend with...

And yes, the 7800GTX is expensive - but it is almost twice as powerful as 6800GT @ 405/1120 - whether this currently means anything in the real world (games) is another matter.... but I bought one anyway and it rocks

Hope that helps.

My current set-up is:

AMD FX53
A8N SLI premium
XFX 7800GTX extreme gamer edition (490/1300)
2Gb (2x1Gb) Corsair TwinX XMS3200C2PT (2-3-3-6@DDR400)
Audigy 2 ZS OEM
NEC 3520 DVDRW

3Dmark05 = 8430

DrEvil

PS, a dual core AMD X2 (which will run on the A8N) cost around:

X2 3800 £270
X2 4200 £370
X2 4400 £410

Also, you may want to look at the AMD64 3700 (939pin) .. or not of course.. can't remember the price of that.

super_si

£225 with 1mb cache i saw

si

DrEvil

Cool - thats a damn good chip too, if its only 50 quid over the 3500, I'd personally get the 3700 then.

Good luck, which ever way you decide to go.

DrEvil

Just realised , I forgot the harddisks...

for speed (not cheap thou) 74Gb Western Digital Raptors SATA (10Krpm).
Or for value for money and decent performance Seagate or WD 'normal' SATA drives.

DrEvil

PPS. you could save money by looking at Geil or Corsair value ranges - but just make they are listed on the QVL for the mobo to be sure of compatibility.

LEUVEN

7 posts later... hehehe , Busy day then

..anyway just wanted to add that I'm going AMD (probably 3500+) when funds permit, and just wandered how good the 7800GTX really is (extreme Edition is the one i want too )

...Are you gonna try em in SLi DrEvil? :

DrEvil

LOL Believe it or not, I was busy, but just nothing of interest

Well, to be honest its not worth it, I can't justify a 20"+ TFT, so no real point running 2 in SLI at present, as it really only comes into its own when running 1600x1200 with high AA and AF.. even BF2 runs at 60+ fps on my current rig at 1280x1024 (frig'd the shortcut icon to get this res) with everything on high!

Check out the anandtech.com BF2 GPU round up and you'll see what I mean.

As for the XFX 7800 GTX EGE, well, no compaints here, but I don't know 'how much better' it is over the stock 7800GTX, but a mate is getting the BFG version which has a lower overclock out of the box, so might get some BF2 stats for you later this week, as we are both running nearly identical systems (FX53, A8N SLI premium, 2Gb Twinx).

Must find that BF2 benchmark tool I saw the other day....

super_si

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...roductID=71473

right ram?

si

DrEvil

Yeah - damn thats cheap for a 2x512 TwinX kit

DrEvil

sorry - I'd misquoted the 1Gb ption earlier - its circa £100, but £92 is a good price.
But remember P&P from different companies can soon add up!

super_si

see the 4000 chip for £250 too

DrEvil

And the Hitachi drives are good speed wise + quiet.

Well, if you can get the 4000 for 250 and its in budget, nice. It is basically a FX53 with the higher range of multipliers locked (used for overclocking).