Help me decide on a friends system please!

Mezzdat · Post by **Mezzdat** » March 17, 2005, 6:08 pm

I'm building a mid-range system for a friend, we have a $1100 max to spend.

Here is what I'm considering:
CPU
AMD A64 3.5 Newcastle
AMD A64 3.5 Winchester
AMD A64 3.5 Clawhammer
AMD A64 3.4 Newcastle
AMD A64 3.4 Clawhammer

HDD
Maxtor 250GB 7200 8mbCache

RAM
Corsair Value Select (Dual Pack) 184 Pin 512MBx2 DDR PC-3200

VC
PNY Nvidia 6800GT (AGP)
XFX Nvidia 6800GT PVT45GUD (PCIE)

MB
Asus A78 Deluxe (VIA)
Asus A8N-E (Nforce)
Asus A8v-E Deluxe (VIA)

Can someone help me decide on the ones that have multiple choices? Also, if you see something I missed or would change, please suggest. Thanks.

Sirensa · Post by **Sirensa** » March 17, 2005, 6:11 pm

Hi Mezzdat!!

Drolgin Steingrinder · Post by **Drolgin Steingrinder** » March 17, 2005, 7:02 pm

I'd consider getting an SLI board and grabbing two 6600GT cards over the 6800s.

Tenuvil · Post by **Tenuvil** » March 17, 2005, 8:00 pm

there are three different Athlon 64 cores? LOL Check the reviews on newegg and anandtech and get the best regarded core

I'd go with nforce chipset mobos over VIA but I'd consider EpOX mobos rather than Asus

and I'd go AGP over PCIE

edit: this should probably be moved to the Computers and Tech forum...

noel · Post by **noel** » March 17, 2005, 8:03 pm

Why the hell would you go AGP over PCI-E?

Adelrune Argenti · Post by **Adelrune Argenti** » March 17, 2005, 8:15 pm

noel wrote:Why the hell would you go AGP over PCI-E?

Because he is an idiot?

AGP is never an option anymore. Put in a 16X PCI-Express card and be ready for the future.

noel · Post by **noel** » March 17, 2005, 8:16 pm

He's not an idiot, but I don't think he understands the difference between PCI-E and AGP.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » March 17, 2005, 8:42 pm

I'd recommend the Belkin Pre-N Wireless Router to solve all of your problems. You may not even need a computer if you get that.

Mezzdat · Post by **Mezzdat** » March 17, 2005, 10:04 pm

I am considering AGP because of MB pricing. Winnow, you're sucking it up, HELP!

Mods, please move this to appropriate forum, THANKS!

Tenuvil · Post by **Tenuvil** » March 17, 2005, 10:31 pm

Price was determined to be an option. Maybe I'm wrong, but AGP based motherboards and video cards are significantly less expensive, with roughly the same performance as their PCIE counterparts, right now. Yes, down the road PCIE would certainly be the choice, but for a limited budget system the price/performance ratio is heavily in favor of AGP.

Drolgin Steingrinder · Post by **Drolgin Steingrinder** » March 18, 2005, 4:45 am

Actually, that depends on the type of cards. If you want a 6600GT vid card, you'll pay $30-40 less for a PCI-E than for AGP - and that neatly offsets the price difference in mobos. The manufacturers have a vested interest in making people make the switch to the new standard as soon as possible.

*~*stragi*~* · Post by ***~*stragi*~*** » March 18, 2005, 12:03 pm

k mezzfat, go with the nforce4 board, the 3.4 clawhammer, and then of course the pcie card, other crap is a-ok.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » March 18, 2005, 1:34 pm

Winchester core is on the new 90 nm process that is much better for heat loss. You definitely want one of those, not the older clawhammers.

Sylvos · Post by **Sylvos** » March 18, 2005, 1:36 pm

don't forget the flux capacitor

*~*stragi*~* · Post by ***~*stragi*~*** » March 18, 2005, 5:36 pm

claw hammer = cheaper = more money for something more awesomer

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » March 18, 2005, 6:12 pm

Get the PCIE video card and an NForce 4 MB (Asus would be my suggestion) . If you get an SLI then just get him 1 6600GT for now and buy more hard drives to create an SATA RAID set.

Marb

Ashur · Post by **Ashur** » March 18, 2005, 6:46 pm

Mac Mini and a big LCD

Spang · Post by **Spang** » March 19, 2005, 8:14 am

noel wrote:You could stop being an asshole and post in the right forum too. Asshole.

Atokal · Post by **Atokal** » March 21, 2005, 5:09 pm

Spang wrote:
noel wrote:You could stop being an asshole and post in the right forum too. Asshole.

Please allow Noel to make these determinations as you are obviously not qualified.

Lynks · Post by **Lynks** » March 21, 2005, 5:11 pm

Still have something up your ass I see.

VeeshanVault

Help me decide on a friends system please!

Help me decide on a friends system please!

Well..