Help me build a gaming system

[Azriel]

I understand the argument for the ati card over a Gforce, however, for my particular game, I have heard nothing but bad about the ati cards. It would be nice to get a little more bang for the buck in other games, but for the mmo I play, I have to go with the Gforce.

I have ordered and recieved everything on my list cept the cpu and the video card. I'm looking at going with a A64 3700 939 $240 retail box, and a GF 6600 GT 256 PciX $199.

On the video card: I don't really know what the GT GE LE and ultra gives. Any advice? I could go with a 6800 256m for about the same price, but it would not be a GT. Would I be better off?

[leekirlew]

Ditch the 6600GT and get a X800GTO2, it'll beat the 6600GT standard and has something like a 99% chance of unlocking to X850XT, if had PCI-E, that's what I'd be getting. If your getting 3700, then I would opt for the San Diego core if you haven't already.

[Abdul]

The 6800 would be better then the 6600GT, BUT, the X800GTO2 is far superior for around the same price... and the Proccesors fine...though personally i'd opt for 3500 or 3200 and spend the money on some more RAM...

[leekirlew]

Yeah Abdul good point. However I think he's already got the ram If you haven't then I would get a venice 3200 and put the money towards some low latency high speed dual channel ram such as OCZ platinum or try and get some used from another forum if you can't get any here.

[leekirlew]

Hi, if you haven't already got the ram, get yourself a venice 3200 as I mentioned earlier and get the following ram, it's a bargain and only $100 more than what you would have paid for and its a 2GB kit:

http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=58555

P.S. I hope linking to other forums ain't breaking any rules

[skool h8r]

Yeah, the CPU is fine 3500 is cheaper and just about as good. Get a 3500 and go for a 6800 or if you can afford it, a 6800GT. I have a 6200A but it isn't all that great but it will run games like FarCry on medium and Halo at mostly high.

[cadaveca]

Sry guys, but i have to disagree on the 3500+ being a worthy alternative to a 3700+. I have both, and the 3700+ is by far a better cpu.

[Azriel]

Still haven't made up my mind. New delima. My board is dual core ready. I can get a retail boxed 3700/1M for $240, or spend another $82 and get a 3800 Dual core with 512/512 L2s. Is the dual core going to help me with programs not specifically written to take advantage of it? I really don't know much about the dual cores. I know dual processor machines were worthless with most software, and I'd hate to pay $82 more for a 100 on the PR scale. Just something to considder. Let me know what you think .

Also, off topic: If anyone who can change it happens to read this, I think the Contributor tag should be removed from my name, as I have not contributed in over 3 years.

[Abdul]

Originally Posted by cadaveca

Sry guys, but i have to disagree on the 3500+ being a worthy alternative to a 3700+. I have both, and the 3700+ is by far a better cpu.

I believe ya, ya usually have these things right!

But for the new dilema, if ya gonna go gaming, just get the single core and, again, put the money towards an awesome gfx card and better/more memory.

However, IMO, if ya gonna invest for the future and gaming aint of utmost importance then the Dual Core will be a worthy choice, the new 64bit architecture looks promising.

ASF

[cadaveca]

Azriel, it depends on which videocard you decide on, and how willing you are to take a chance that your cpu will not overclock far. Dualcores are still a bit of a mystery when it comes to overclocking..no definate good cpu to buy. SanDiego's on the otherhand, almost always seem to hit 2.6ghz, which when paired with the 1mb cacche, gives the performance of a 2.8ghz 512kcache cpu.

However, newest drivers from nVidia make this difference in cache almost non-existant...i get almost the same 3dmark scores @ 2.7ghz on a dualcore as a sandiego @ 2.92...which before this driver should have taken 3.1ghz on the dualcore to acheive.

So, it's about which you want, better possible overclocking, or better stock.

I will say, however, that my gaming pc is running the sandiego once again, as the heat output from the sandiego is far less than that of the dualcore.

[Azriel]

Ordered a GF6800/256 PciX

Down to the processor.

I do not intend to overclock this system, so any benefits of this or that core being a better OC are irrelevant. This system has to withstand 12 hour gamming sessions at times.

Here is what I have here or on the way with the dual core 3800 that I am one click from buying. Too late, I bought it.

GA-K8NF-9
PCI express
Onboard gigabit lan
Nforce4 4x
8-Channel Audio
$88 Shipped

A64 X2 3800+ 939 Dual Core
Retail Box
$322.00 Shipped

eVGA NVIDIA Geforce 6800
256MB DDR PCI-Express x16
$207.60 Shipped

Crucial PC3200 DDR400
CL=3 2.6v Unbuffered
512meg (x2) 1GB kit.
$131.95 Shipped

WD 36GB SATA-150 HDD
10,000 rpm 5.2ms
8meg cache
(Boot drive)
$105 Shipped

Hitachi 48x/24x/48x/16x CDRW/DVD
$34 Shipped

Sony 52x CD
$24.48 Shipped

Sony 1.44 Floppy
$8.50 Shipped

$921.53

[cadaveca]

yeah, I'd take the dual to go with a 6800.

[Azriel]

Yes, this rig will be folding.