new computer time!(whats the best of the best)

[FooTemps]

EWWWWWW!


Id still go with an athalon.....

man, have you seen the numbers on the new intel procs? They kill ANYTHING by at least 15% or more.

[WickeDKlowN]

If you're going to build a computer, wait until atleast next month when the new Intel Core Duo 2 (conroe) chips come out.

But with that said, if I were going to build a new system right now, I would go with:

MSI K9N Platinum Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 Motherboard
AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Orleans Socket AM2 Processor
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
BFG Tech Geforce 7800GT 256MB Video Card
Total: $765.97 @ NewEgg.com

[robnix]

If you're going to build a computer, wait until atleast next month when the new Intel Core Duo 2 (conroe) chips come out.

But with that said, if I were going to build a new system right now, I would go with:

MSI K9N Platinum Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 Motherboard
AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Orleans Socket AM2 Processor
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
BFG Tech Geforce 7800GT 256MB Video Card
Total: $765.97 @ NewEgg.com

Agreed on the Intel. It'll be worth the wait, and I've been using nothing but AMD for about 7 years now. If you do go AMD though, Opteron 165's are the best deal. They cost the same as the X2 3800, have twice the cache, and are as overclockable as they get. I have mine running at 2.4 Ghz right now, which is the same as the X2 4800.

[FooTemps]

Agreed on the Intel. It'll be worth the wait, and I've been using nothing but AMD for about 7 years now. If you do go AMD though, Opteron 165's are the best deal. They cost the same as the X2 3800, have twice the cache, and are as overclockable as they get. I have mine running at 2.4 Ghz right now, which is the same as the X2 4800.

ditto on the opty. Single cores run for good prices now too. My x2 4400+ is running 2.5 on water. I'd up it more but I don't have voltage control on my system.

Wicked has a nice budget setup for good performance non-overclockers. If you don't have any experience overclocking, I'd suggest taking his setup over mine.

[kosmo]

Conroe kills everything by at least 15% when youre playing at low resolutions that arent gpu limited. As soon as the resolution goes up to 1280x1024 with decent settings and a load gets put on your gpu, that lead is dramatically reduced. That being said, they still are worlds better than anything out right now, and AMD is going to be waiting a while to release something competitive. Your best bet would be to get a conroe compatible 975 motherboard now, and overclock the 805 processor to 4 ghz. You dont even need decent cooling to do that, what it comes with stock should do well enough.

[tribalman]

first and fore most. WAIT!! the new AMD am series will be out in fall or sooner. they are the new dual chip processors that will be able to run ddr2! also, the whole amd vs. intel argument is pretty much over. they are so similar now a days that it's just preference. and seeing as how you said you wanted to run photoshop and mixing software, i say go with the new Pentium Conroe core processors. they will be out in fall also. check them out. keep in mind that with most of the new mobo's that if you run sli, you lose 1-2 of your pci slots, leaving you with just one, but a few mobo's do have 2 spaces you can use. make sure you check this out when buying the board. i'm letting you know so if you have to choose between your X-fi sound card or the new physics card, you can know what is better for you.

also, i find this site to be a good review site. check it out. http://www.bit-tech.net/

hope this helps you out. any questions, ask, i'll see if i can help you or direct you to helpful info.

[Hexis]

Whatever you do, never buy anything! See in a few months there will be something new, then a few months after that something else will be out that's way faster, a few months after that...

[kosmo]

Yeah, um, AM2 is already out. It has no actual performance benefits other than lower heat and energy consumption over the older athlon 64s.

[RapidTransit]

Your best bet, get a board from Tyan BUT not the K8WE, buy two Dual core Optys on the cheap at Monarch. Some ECC and Registered Ram.

I got my K8SE, 2x 246 AMDs, Server 2003 Ent 64bit for $500 at the AMD tech Tour and couldn't be happier, I got 4 1gig sticks and still have another 4 slots, a 7800gt card and the option for SLI when I want it. Still waiting on the Taro SAS cards though (I've got 3 15KRPM SAS drives with a ZCR card with 256MB cache and 600mhz proc waiting to be installed)

[kosmo]

Why on earth would he want to build a server?

[RapidTransit]

Why on earth would he want to build a server?

Because its fast as all hell, my load times are simply amzing in CS: S not to mention from now on, I'm buying a server OS for my desktop, in the default install there is not Direct X and quite a few settings and services for normal desktop enviroment are disabled but its as simple as clicking a check box to get them working. Plus a faster and more stable system and secure system. It's not overkill at all well maybe the cisco 3600 router I'm setting up is

[[HS]Div]

If i were you id check hardocp.com they have lots of info. newegg.com has a lot of great prices and reviews to match.