Time for a new Rig! - Overclock.net

todd_beedy · 05-12-06

ok folks.. here goes.

Well after building a new rig for a friend.. I have decided that time has come for me to build a new one for myself.

Soo.. without further adiue... I bring you question question question guy!

1. Why would one validate the price of a dual core processor over a single core processor and how much of a difference does the dual core make when a. multitasking and b. gaming?

2. How much ram is truely enough? I would vote for 2gig but do I really need 4gig of ram? If so how much of a performance would one think I would get outta it.

3. As I am posting here in the AMD build forum, I Am more then likely going to build with an AMD 939 socket as everything I have read suggests to me that with my gaming background of EQ, WoW, DAoC, CoH/CoV, etc it just seems like the way to go. So bottom line is what processor do you think I should use and why? Please no flames or fanboy reasons. I would just like to hear why YOU chose what you have or what you build with and what you get for it. I am not a FINE LINE overclocker. I will bump FSB and MAYBE mess with some voltage.

3. I have 2x 80gig ide HD and a 160gig Sata HD. so I think that covers me.

4. If I plan on getting a 7600gt (I think this card is the best bang for the buck right now) and I PLAN on getting another down the road for SLI purposes, do you think its prudent to plan for SLI or just get a good vid card now?

5. Now with all this power at my fingertips... I need the power and cooling to make it happen and make it stable. What PS and Case do you think would get me the best value for my dollar?

I have been browsing newegg and pricewatch for the past 5 days so I have a good idea of what I want to get. I just wanted some of the more experienced people with the awsome fount of knowledge that we have here to toss me some of your thoughts and reasons.

I thank you in advance for your time spent with your answers and I will be back here in the AM to read them.

Malaziel · 05-12-06

First I will start with processor. I suggest you get a 3700+ San Diego. If most of things that you do with your computer are gaming then the price of a dual-core processor simply cannot be justified. If you look around you can find a 3700+ San Diego for $230. This processor is a very good overclocker which is also easy to overclock. With minimal effort and the right ram you could easily make it to 2.6 ghz which is equivalent to a FX-55 which is currently the 3rd best gaming processor on the planet behind only a FX-60 and FX-57. So spend $230 on the 3700+ and $50 on a big typhoon and you will easily get the performance of a $600-800 processor. If you want to push it you could probably get it up to or beyond an FX-57.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103539
3700+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835106061
Big Typhoon

Malaziel · 05-12-06

For ram I would suggest PC4000 G. Skill which is very good for the price. It will allow you to run a 250 or higher front side bus and maintain a 1:1 with your ram. For the price its performance as an overclocker and for its 2gb for gaming it can't be beat. It usually fluctuates between $150-180 so you probably want to wait for a sale.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231021
G. Skill PC4000 ram

**TheLegend** · 05-12-06

Good decision on the new build and the choice in AMD. To hopefully answer your questions in accordance here goes:

1. Dual core vs single depends on the amount of multitasking you intend to do. If you are mainly gaming I would defintiely say a single core, a 3700 in particular, otherwise a 4400 x2 for dual core. The 4400 x2 offers the best price/performance ratio IMO.

2. This a tough one. Currently XP systems will not recognize 4 gigs unless you are using 64bit version. On the other hand, Vista will eat up some hefty resources(according to the betas currently tested). AM2 will support ddr2, but Im guessing you don't want to wait that long. A nice 2gb set should suffice for now. Newer games like FEAR and BF2 will need the added ram.

3. I chose AMD over Intel because I game more and don't usually mess with editing or apps proven to run better with Intel. I've owned 3 AMD chips and have not been disappointed yet. Im not really a fanboy of either, but I guess I use the mentality: if it's not broke why fix it?

4. The 7600 is a great choice. It has an impressive price/performance ratio. I'd recommend going with evga when buying a card for several reasons. First, like some companies, the hardware is backed by a lifetime warranty. Second, they have great customer service IMO and are quite easy to deal with. Lastly, they have the step-up program. If you are unsatisfied with the card or something better comes out, simply pay the difference for the new card vs the old one. Can't beat that offer!

5. One of the best PSUs on the market is the Seasonic S12-600HT. It's a little pricy, but definitely worth it. If you are looking for something a little cheaper go with a Sunbeam NUUO. Both are excellent choices and won't disappoint. As far as a case goes, its simply for aesthetics and therefore usually last on my list. It really depends on how much you would like to spend. There are plenty of great cases, but if I had to recommend one I would go with the Thermaltake Armor. I've heard nothing but good things about it and leaves plenty of room for cooling upgrades.

Thats my .2 cents. Good luck on the new build and keep us posted!

Malaziel · 05-12-06

The two video cards that I would suggest are the 7600gt and 7900gt which are both excellent cards. Which to choose basically breaks down to budget and how much you really want to spend before DX10 comes out which could be quite a while before it is needed. Personally I would go with a 7900gt and do a volt mod if you feel comfortable doing something like that. I think that for the extra $100 the 7900gt actually offers more performance for the dollar.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130015
7900gt

ken225 · 05-12-06

Get the Pentium D 805, 1GB DDR800 RAM and a $200 WC. You should be set. Might able to get to 4.1 GHz or around there.

Malaziel · 05-12-06

Honestly you really shouldn't get 4gb of ram. It won't offer any noticeable performance increase over 2gb. It is diffucult to even get your system to recognize that much ram unless it is XP 64-bit which in my opinion is a poor operating system because it offer few benefits and has many compatability issues. So if you are looking for price to performance at all you can basically throw the idea of 4gb of ram out the window.

Malaziel · 05-12-06

For a case I would suggest the Coolmaster Centurion which is at a good price, offers very good ventilation, and it large size coupled with its solid design makes it an easy case to work in. It is the case that I am currently using and it gets my full recommendation especially in the price to performance category. It is actually on sale right now on Newegg for $43.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119068
Centurion Coolmaster

Malaziel · 05-12-06

I suggest a Sunbeam NUUO for your power supply they have an incredible reputation for reliability plus you will need the power if you plan to go SLI. This is by no means a cheap power supply but that is something you never want to skimp on. This powersupply offers excellent performance and few that can equal it in performance are anywhere near this price.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817709003
Sunbeam NUUO 550 Watt