Ok I Narrowed It Down

[trillscout]

My budget is $1100 cdn I've done research and this is what I've come up with.
I'm not buying online unless there's a REAL good deal.
I doubt I'm gonna overclock and I'm not getting 64 bit
All prices are cdn

opt#1

cpu:Amd 2800+ $172
mobo:asus A7N8X $119
mem:2xsamsung ddr 400 512mb pc3200 $119 each
hd:120gb 7200 8mb wdg ide $124
vidcard:ati radeon 9600XT 128mb $259

Total:$912 w/o taxes

opt#2

cpu:Amd 3000+ $209
mobo:asus A7N8X-E dlx $139
mem:Kingston 1gb ddr 400 pc3200 dual channel $299
hd:120gb 8mb SATA segate $135
vidcard:ati radeon 9600XT 128mb $259

Total:$1041 w/o taxes

I'm taking a 80hd+monitor from my old comp
and I have LG 4081b dvd burner already.

question#1: for opt#2 mobo do I need an sata hd or can I still use ide hds?

question#2: do I really need the deluxe version of that mobo?I don't see myself using the wifi option or raid and the giga Lan function I don't know how it would be useful if my isp doesn't use it.

What do you think?

[tesco]

go with teh standard mobo...although i think the deluze has the soundstorm audio chip built in (really good onboard sound).

i'd go with options #1, for an extra hundred bucks u won't see veru much difference...

if u, in the future, need a bit more power, u could oc it past 3000+ anyway...and both chips will probably have a very close top overclock...

but that is if u ever need that much more, probably not, it's more just so u can say u have that fasst a processor.

[Super Dude]

Trillscout,

It'd be a waste if you don't overclock.The Ram and Vga Card is good.I think you could do better with regards to the Processor and Motherboard.

Tell me what you think about this setup, Trillscout:

Processor: Amd Athlon Xp Barton 2500+ : $103 / Amd Athlon Xp Mobile 2500+ :$119
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-7N400-L :$97
Ram:2xSamsung ddr 400 512mb pc3200 $119
Vga Card: Sapphire Ati Radeon 9800 Pro 128mb 256 bit $300
Hard Disk: 120gb 8mb Sata Seagate $135
Case: Cooler Master Praetorian Black/Silver + 4 Case fans $140
Psu: Enermax 460W Power Supply +12V 1.1 and ATX 2.03 version $140

(Hardware Components are from NewEgg.I converted the US prices to Canadian.I think the prices should be around the ones above, when you do buy from a Canadian store, though.)

Total Price: An outstanding $1034 and $1050 if you choose the Amd Athlon Xp Mobile processor.

Add a few more Dollars from the balance above, which is $66, get a thermal paste and a good HSF for your Vga Card and Processor, which shouldn't be too expensive, and you're done.

Once again, it'd be a waste if you don't overclock.You could easily save more money, when you buy the 2500+, instead of getting a 2800+ or 3000+ Processor, when you can easily, and simply overclock the 2500+ to the same speeds as the 2800+ and 3000+, even higher.The Gigabyte Motherboard is cheap, but fairly good as well.It has the nForce Ultra 400 Chip, and supports Dual Channel Mode for the Ram.And yes, there's a 9800 Pro, 128 mb, 256 bit in the above setup.High-end Vga Card.Good investment for the long run.It's there, because of the cheaper processor and motherboard, but it won't be there, if you chose an Amd Athlon 3000+ processor, and an Asus A7N8X E-Deluxe motherboard.

Personally, I'd go for Seagate HDDs.They're silent, fast, and reliable.Western Digital is good, but they're also known to be noisy.As for the Case, I'm not sure if you'd like it, but I like it.Give it a look here.The Power Supply is also essential for a stable PC.I'd say, go for manufacturers such as Enermax, Antec, ThermalTake, Enlight, Fortron, etc, they are well-known for providing good, quality Power Supplies.

[trillscout]

Once again, it'd be a waste if you don't overclock.You could easily save more money, when you buy the 2500+, instead of getting a 2800+ or 3000+ Processor, when you can easily, and simply overclock the 2500+ to the same speeds as the 2800+ and 3000+, even higher.

I agree I could save money but if I did get 2500+ then I'd have to oc.
I have never oc'd before so I didn't want it to be mandatory esp with a brand new
comp.

if u, in the future, need a bit more power, u could oc it past 3000+ anyway...and both chips will probably have a very close top overclock...

btw if I get 3000+ wouldn't it be easier/safer to oc to 3200+ or even higher?

As for the Case, I'm not sure if you'd like it, but I like it.Give it a look here.The Power Supply is also essential for a stable PC.I'd say, go for manufacturers such as Enermax, Antec, ThermalTake, Enlight, Fortron, etc, they are well-known for providing good, quality Power Supplies.

I never thought about cases but after checking your link I think I want
a quieter case 'cause it will be on 24hrs and I need to be able to sleep.

[haha21]

where are you from canada?
maybe If your located in vancouver bc maybe i can help you find the best store in vancity.

or you can try pricenetwork.ca

[trillscout]

Originally posted by haha21@10 June 2004 - 06:17
where are you from canada?
maybe If your located in vancouver bc maybe i can help you find the best store in vancity.

or you can try pricenetwork.ca

nah T.dot, I might be the only one.

I check the site out but I don't want to order online, I'm trying
to save from S&H cost.

[johnboy27]

Originally posted by trillscout@10 June 2004 - 06:57

Once again, it'd be a waste if you don't overclock.You could easily save more money, when you buy the 2500+, instead of getting a 2800+ or 3000+ Processor, when you can easily, and simply overclock the 2500+ to the same speeds as the 2800+ and 3000+, even higher.

I agree I could save money but if I did get 2500+ then I'd have to oc.
I have never oc'd before so I didn't want it to be mandatory esp with a brand new
comp.

if u, in the future, need a bit more power, u could oc it past 3000+ anyway...and both chips will probably have a very close top overclock...

btw if I get 3000+ wouldn't it be easier/safer to oc to 3200+ or even higher?

As for the Case, I'm not sure if you'd like it, but I like it.Give it a look here.The Power Supply is also essential for a stable PC.I'd say, go for manufacturers such as Enermax, Antec, ThermalTake, Enlight, Fortron, etc, they are well-known for providing good, quality Power Supplies.

I never thought about cases but after checking your link I think I want
a quieter case 'cause it will be on 24hrs and I need to be able to sleep.

I don't think you will be unhappy with the performance of the 2500+. When I bought mine I was mainly concerned with OC'ing it but after getting it I realized I really didn't need to.It performed well enough without OC.

[bigdawgfoxx]

Yeah...you wont have to overclock the 2500 for sure.

I would get the 2500

[tesco]

i've heard that the 2500+ and 3200+ and some others are baciscally the same chip with a different multiplier or FSB, nothing special. This is why both chips could be OCed to about the same speed, and the 2500+ easily runs at 3200+

[trillscout]

I don't think you will be unhappy with the performance of the 2500+. When I bought mine I was mainly concerned with OC'ing it but after getting it I realized I really didn't need to.It performed well enough without OC.

i've heard that the 2500+ and 3200+ and some others are baciscally the same chip with a different multiplier or FSB, nothing special. This is why both chips could be OCed to about the same speed, and the 2500+ easily runs at 3200+

Right now I have p4 2.0aghz but my mobo only supports sdram. So it's slow.
If my p4 is equal to 2500+ all I need is a new mobo I'll save money.

But I'd rather switch to amd plus I want something faster 4 multitasking.

Question: how long will my comp last? the next logical step would be 64bit but it
will be a while b4 games start using it. As long as my vidcard is good I should be ok.