Computer Upgrade
<div class="IPBDescription">Need some second opinions</div> I always want a second opinion before ordering computer parts, so here we go. All I'm doing is ordering a new case, mobo, and CPU.
My current rig:
P4 2.4ghz (400mhz FSB)
P4P800 Deluxe mobo
2 HDD's (80 and 200gig)
BFG 6800GT OC (AGP)
What I want:
<a href='http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103502' target='_blank'>AMD 64 3200+ (90nm)</a>
<a href='http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131510' target='_blank'>Asus A8V Deluxe</a>
<a href='http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144083' target='_blank'>Aspire Case</a>
Questions:
Are the new 90nm processors really worth the extra bucks compared to the .13?
Should I upgrade/downgrade from the 3200+?
Comments on mobo
How does the case look for cooling/overall?
My current rig:
P4 2.4ghz (400mhz FSB)
P4P800 Deluxe mobo
2 HDD's (80 and 200gig)
BFG 6800GT OC (AGP)
What I want:
<a href='http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103502' target='_blank'>AMD 64 3200+ (90nm)</a>
<a href='http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131510' target='_blank'>Asus A8V Deluxe</a>
<a href='http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144083' target='_blank'>Aspire Case</a>
Questions:
Are the new 90nm processors really worth the extra bucks compared to the .13?
Should I upgrade/downgrade from the 3200+?
Comments on mobo
How does the case look for cooling/overall?
Comments
I would, however, wait for the Rev. E AMD 64 S939 CPUs. They will support SSE3! (the one you are looking at is a Rev. D)
Nice mobo, although I notice that it doesn't support PCI-E. This I would say is a definite must if your going to upgrade. At first, I was thinking that you should just get rid of your old video card and get a nice fancy new PCI-E card. Then I noticed that you have a 6800 GT AGP card. Maybe you should consider a mobo that supports both AGP and PCI-E (I have heard of them).
As well, I also noticed that the particular mainboard you are intrested in only supports SATA 150, not the new SATA 300 drives coming out(some are already out from what I remember). I would definitly look at another mobo that supports this, I think it would take precedence over PCI-E, considering that the hard drive is the <b>bottleneck</b> of the a PC when it comes down to access times, bandwidth, and overall performance. If you have a chance to double your HD bandwidth, it would all the more worth while. Keep in mind that the SATA 300 controllers are backwards comapatible with SATA 150 drives.
You still may want to consider an SLI rig. The Asus Nforce 4 sli boards are nice, and the new premium version coming out uses an IC to select SLI modes instead of those cumbersome daughter cards. If your really into overclocking, you'll definitly want to consider the DFI boards. Very nice indeed <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Only problem with this particular route is you would have to sell off your AGP 6800 GT and buy a PCIe version. It would be expensive...
If you have less than a gig then upgrade to a gig. If you have a gig or more see what speed your ram is and how high ram frequency your mobo will support. If you want an immediate improvement while you wait for the newer 64's ram is the way to go.
Pretty, but not too obscene with the exterior appearance.
Ventilation seems decent. Wonder if the 450W PSU is ATX2.0 compliant!?
Probably not for that price.
If you have less than a gig then upgrade to a gig. If you have a gig or more see what speed your ram is and how high ram frequency your mobo will support. If you want an immediate improvement while you wait for the newer 64's ram is the way to go. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I currently have 2 sticks of Kingston PC3200 512mb. Thanks for the feedback guys <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
/edit - BTW when do those E64's come out?
But back on topic!
Tbh, I'd say the opposite. PCI-E has come way too early. We haven't even maxed out the bandwidth of AGP, why upgrade? Unless he wants a SLI rig, theres no point.
Tbh, I'd say the opposite. PCI-E has come way too early. We haven't even maxed out the bandwidth of AGP, why upgrade? Unless he wants a SLI rig, theres no point. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm talking more about upgrade paths my friend. Yes, I am aware that currently were not even touching the amount of bandwidth available from PCIe, but the point is there is quite a bit of bandwidth available, that this is the logical replacement for AGP. AGP is going the way of the dinosaurs unfortunately.
And yes mullet, you do have a very cool 6800 GT AGP card which i'm sure you dont want to give up, thats why I suggested you might want to look into a PCIe/AGP mobo, so if you ever want to upgrade to a newer video card in the future, your not going to be hindered by poor selection of AGP graphics cards.
I would definitly, definitly get S939. It hasn't been guarenteed yet, but essentially all S939 mobos will be compatible with the new dual-core AMD proc coming out this quarter. That and you not only can pop in standard AMD64 chips, but you can also pop in the more powerful FX chips as well. AMD is essentially discontinuing its S754 lineup anyway. Honestly, because of this, i'm sure you can get some very good pricing on S754 mobo's and CPUs right now anyway.
From what I remember, Rev. E amd64 chips are supposed to be out this quarter as well.
Don't forget about what I said about SATA 300 either <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
So currently I do not know of a similar solution for AMD mobos.
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As for your mainboard I suggest moving over to PCI-E soon, because we will start seeing manufacturers move away from AGP this year. Intel has already done so with their current mainboard selection, but that only means AGP based cards will receive a price cut.
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I would be extremely curious to see benchmarks that have a P4 beating an equivalently priced AMD in gaming (over several games, not just one). I've always seen A64s beating P4s in almost every benchmark I've ever seen.
The case is nice, pretty stylish, not aluminum, but looks like good cooling potential, and a nice big window <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
For the mobo, you can do better. You can cram more features onto a decent mobo for the same price, ive seen more loaded SLI mobos for just 20 bucks more than that one.... O and if you intend on getting PCIE in a few years when u upgrade ur graphics, get a cheaper solid mobo now, and get a nice one with PCIE later.
And consider ram, hdd and graphics wont really b a problem (unless u go PCIE) but having a nice complement of ram is always welcome. You can get some good latency Geil stuff on newegg, 512x2 for $120 PC3200 (its what im gonna get soon) and ram will increase the performance of almost any computer, noticably.
o and DONT go for 754, theres a reason y its cheaper lol...
the 90nm cores produce less heat, but because its not brand new technology, can reach simmilar speeds, the 754s operate at a slower bus, and have been pretty much discontinued, if you get a mobo that does 754, it may not do 939, which cuts off any upgrade route....
O yea, and the obligatory AMD PWNS J00!!!!!1!!!!!11!!!!!!!1`!~!!~1~!!~one!!
(less heat, less money, less power consumption, more performance per clock, general manlyness of the cpu, and green in the logo.)
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I would be extremely curious to see benchmarks that have a P4 beating an equivalently priced AMD in gaming (over several games, not just one). I've always seen A64s beating P4s in almost every benchmark I've ever seen. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Totally agree with clam man and dajmaster. I now tend to wonder if steam users have made some blood oath to intel (although a CPU with dual-cores, HTT, and 64-bit proc is quite enticing... though it doesnt exist yet <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> )
One thing else I remember in diff from S754 to S939 is the memory controller in the S754 chips were only Singel-Channel, whereas the S939 CPUs support dual-channel.
Honestly mullet, I would take this all with a grain of salt anyway, considing what you want to get now and what you have isnt all that big a difference. You seem like you upgrade more often then not.
See, I usually upgrade every 3-4 years, so when I do, I go all out and try to build the most upgrade system possible(for the minor upgrades with the aformentioned upgrade gap).