Looking for recommendations on a new PC...

[Schism]

* Nevermind *

[EXEcution]

are you looking into biulding a 64-bit system or staying with the 32-bit procs?
PCI-X?
What do u want out of your system?
What do u use it mostly for?

[JIMINATOR]

eh, forget the questions. go for an athlon-64 90mn 3200+ cpu, board is less important. get some good ram (pc3500 or 3800). the cpu should be fairly overclockable, not that you would need to, but you should be able to with the memory. nvidia is bringing out a new athlon 64 chipset with pci express. i expect it will be a couple of months for that, but if agp is good for you, then you can jump on it now. the other stuff is less important. for graphics card, go for an x800 or geforce 6800 gt, they should last a while. raid is a joke, so do not bother with a raid system, the dual drives only run streaming apps faster, and things like game loads can actually run slower.

90mn athlon64 here-> http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv

they are up the street from me and apparently the only people that have the 90nm chips.

[JIMINATOR]

eh, ok $1300...
look at the numbers and start deleting....
amd-64 3200+ 90mn $230
amd-64 board $140
heatsink/fan/thermal $40
psu $70
case $60
drive $120
video card $440
memory (1gb hyperx 3700) $230 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-144-136&depa=1

or skip the video card and get a cheap one for now... a pos can handle most games, and they should be better and cheaper when you really need one.

[Oscar(WCFD)]

ENERMAX Black ATX Mid-Tower Case with 350W Power Supply Model "CS-5688FS-B"
RETAIL ....... $52

Model# CS-5688FS-B
Item # N82E16811124086

Specifications:
Case Type: ATX MID Tower Case
Color: Black
Material: SECC Steel (body), Aluminum (front panel)
Drive Bays: 5.25" x 4/0, 3.5" x 2/4 (external/internal)
Expansion Slots: 7
Front Ports: USB2.0, Audio in/out
Power Supply: Power Up 350watt
Cooling System: 2 X 80mm Fans
Motherboard Compatibility: Standerd P4 ATX / Micro ATX
Dimensions: 7.8" x 16.9" x 18.9" (WxHxD)
Special Features: Silver electroplated bordered 5.25 drive bays
================================================== =================================

AMD Athlon 64 3200+, 512k L2 Cache, The Only 64-bit Windows Compatible Processor
Retail......... $204

Model# ADA3200AXBOX
Item # N82E16819103483

Specification
Model: AMD Athlon 64 3200+
Core: Newcastle
Operating Frequency: 2.2GHz
FSB: Integrated int chip
Cache: L1/64K+64K; L2/512K
Voltage: 1.5V
Process: 0.13Micron
Socket: Socket 754
Multimedia Instruction: MMX, SSE, SSE2, 3DNOW!, 3DNOW!+
Warranty: 3-year MFG
Packaging: Retail Box (Heatsink and Fan included)
================================================== =================================

EPoX "EP-8KDA3J" nForce3-250Gb Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket 754 CPU
RETAIL ..........$73

Model# EP-8KDA3J
Item # N82E16813123219

Specifications:
Supported CPU: AMD Athlon64 Processors
Chipset: NVIDIA nForce3 250Gb
FSB: 800MHz (Hyper-Transport)
RAM: 3x DIMM for DDR400/333/266 Max 3GB
IDE: 2x ATA 133 up to 4 Devices
Slots: 1x AGP 8X/4X(1.5V), 6x PCI
Ports: 2xPS/2,1xLPT,1xCOM,SPDIF Out,1xLAN,8xUSB2.0(Rear 4),Audio Ports
Onboard Audio: Realtek ALC850 8-Channel Codec
Onboard LAN: Gigabit Ethernet
Onboard SATA: 2x Serial ATA 150
Form Factor: ATX
================================================== ==================================

Kingmax 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3500 - OEM
RETAIL ......$85 x2 = $170

Model# MPWC22D-38
Item # N82E16820156008
Specifications:
Manufacturer: Kingmax
Speed: DDR433(PC3500)
Type: 184 Pin DDR SDRAM
Error Checking: Non-ECC
Registered/Unbuffered: Unbuffered
Cas Latency: 2.5
Support Voltage: 2.5V-2.7V
Bandwidth: 3.5GB/s
Organization: 64M x 64 -Bit
Warranty: Lifetime
================================================== ==================================

Maxtor 120GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model 6Y120P0, OEM Drive Only
RETAIL .........$82.50

Model# 6Y120P0
Item # N82E16822144148

Specifications:
Capacity: 120GB
Average Seek Time: 9.3 ms
Buffer: 8MB
Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM
Interface: IDE ULTRA ATA133
Features: Maxtor Shock Protection and Data Protection Systems
Manufacturer Warranty: 1 year
Packaging: OEM Drive Only
================================================== ==================================

eVGA nVIDIA GeForce 6800 Video Card, 128MB GDDR, 256-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "128-A8-N343-

AX" -RETAIL .............$285

Model# 128-A8-N343-AX
Item # N82E16814130202

Specifications:
Chipset/Core Speed: nVIDIA GeForce 6800/325MHz
Memory/Effective Speed: 128MB DDR/700MHz
BUS: AGP 4X/8X
Ports: VGA Out(15 Pin D-Sub) + TV-Out(S-Video) + DVI
Support 3D API: DirectX 9.0c, OpenGL 1.5
Cable/Accessories: Manual, DVI to VGA Adapter, 6 CD, 2 Cables
Max Resolution@32bit Color: 2048X1536@85Hz
================================================== ==================================

Lite-On Black 52X32X52X16 Combo Drive, Model SOHC-5232K BLACK
Retail...............$44

Model# SOHC-5232K BLACK
Item # N82E16827106937

Specifications:
Write Speed: 52X CD-R, 32X CD-RW
Read Speed: 52X CD-ROM, 16X DVD-ROM
Interface: E-IDE / ATAPI
Buffer: 2MB
OS Support: Windows 95 / 98 / NT4.0 / ME / 2000 / XP
Features: SMART-BURN. SMART-X. VAS to reduce vibration & noise during recording & reading.
Packaging: Retail (w/ Nero and PowerDVD 5 software
================================================== ===================================
TOTAL = $910.50 All items found on NewEgg

This is as close to a $1,000 and still have a decent system that I could come up with.
Ya still have $89.50 to play with ;)

[JIMINATOR]

close, but that isn't the cpu/board combo I am talking about, that is the 754-pin 3200+, the 90nm process cpu is a 939 pin cpu, it has dual channel memory, the 754 pin cpus do not.

[Oscar(WCFD)]

close, but that isn't the cpu/board combo I am talking about, that is the 754-pin 3200+, the 90nm process cpu is a 939 pin cpu, it has dual channel memory, the 754 pin cpus do not.

I understand that, I was just trying to get a system that improved on what he had for the dollar limit that he placed on it, I couldn't keep it under that limit with the extra cost of the cpu, heatsink/fan, memory, and mobo.

My list was just a suggestion for a system based on the limits that he set. :o

[Slice]

I'm not really sure if going with a 64-bit CPU/MB is prudent right now. I may just duplicate my current system. Besides, wouldn't I have to go out and buy a 64-bit OS? Tax return time is not too far off and then I'll be in a position to build a killer system. By then PCI express MB and graphics cards will hopefully be out (and maybe have a few driver updates under their belts).


Thanks for the input everyone. The 64-bit systems are very temping.....must resist...for now.
Um PCI express motherboards and graphic cards have been out for a while now.

[JIMINATOR]

no pci express for amd 64 systems yet. and yes, the amd 64 works with the existing os and all apps, but the memory architecture is superior to other chips. when dedicated os/apps come out, that will be an additional boost for amd 64, but regardless i think it is the best cpu to have today

[Slice]

no pci express for amd 64 systems yet. and yes, the amd 64 works with the existing os and all apps, but the memory architecture is superior to other chips. when dedicated os/apps come out, that will be an additional boost for amd 64, but regardless i think it is the best cpu to have today
Like I said, pci express has been out for a while now. :P I think you would be foolish to jump in to a 64 bit system expecting anything 64bit to be the standard this soon. This is a major transition and just because it is out, doesn't mean you will benifit at all from it. Like I stated before today's 64 bit systems will be obsolite when 64 bit technology becomes mainstream. It simply isn't worth it. Even if all the software companies decided right now to make everything 64 bit in the future, they would have to make 2 versions of it one in 32 bit and one in 64 bit. The phase out will be at least a decade.

[ME BIGGD01]

i would hold off on the purchase just a few more weeks but if you want it now, you should go for the athlon 64 socket 939 3000-or higher and a socket 939 board that has a later revision to make sure you have the pci lock enabled and functioning on the board. avoid asus at all costs due to their always wanting to rush a new board out before it's finished. not a good company to buy a new designed board from but good for a late revision board.

if you have 1000 bucks to spend, you can definetly build yourself a pretty nice rig. you do not need a 450 dollar video card unless you can afford it. if you buy any intel product at this time, you are ripping yourself off considering future upgrades on this 1000 dollar investment.

[ME BIGGD01]

i am looking to ge this bad boy when available