I need a new PC

Ok, I need to upgrade my PC - it's currently a P4 @ 800MHz (I think).

How's this sound?

• AMD Althlon 3800+ 64bit X2 dual core running @ 2GHz
• ASUS A8N SLI
  • Supports Raid 0/1
  • Onboard nVidia nForce 4 SLI graphics
• 2 x 1GB DDR 400
• 2 x 160GB Western Digital SATA @ 7200RPM
• Aluminum case  

What do you think?  Should I get the AMD 64 dual core, or the new Pentium dual core?  Other suggestions?

I've priced this at ~$1200 CAD.

I heard the Intel Dual Core processors had some bugs in it. So I would go with AMD.

Onboard SLI graphics???

IMO don't touch Intel stuff for at least another 6 months.

Onboard SLI no good?

I don't do any gaming at all, just development work, listen to music, web, etc...  I didn't price in a video card because I wanted to save some cash.

Everything else you don't see there (monitor, DVD, etc..), I'm just going to harvest from my old PC.

andokai wrote:

Onboard SLI graphics???

IMO don't touch Intel stuff for at least another 6 months.

I'm pretty sure the A8N SLI supports SLI graphics, it doesn't actually have graphic cards on the mobo.

And, upon further review of the board... I do need a graphics card.  Well, tack on another couple hundred.

armbrat wrote:

And, upon further review of the board... I do need a graphics card.  Well, tack on another couple hundred.

If you don't do any gaming, you can skip the SLI and just go with the standard A8N motherboard. 

armbrat wrote:

And, upon further review of the board... I do need a graphics card.  Well, tack on another couple hundred.

GeForce 6600GT and 6800GT for great justice!

W3bbo wrote:

armbrat wrote: And, upon further review of the board... I do need a graphics card.  Well, tack on another couple hundred.

GeForce 6600GT and 6800GT for great justice!

Definitely.  If you DO game, you can start out with these and upgrage for quite some time in the future.

SLI motherboards don't require that you have 2 video cards either.  You can pick, up 1 now and a second one in a few months when you have more money (and it's cheaper).

Ok, Asus A8N VM or CSM is what I shall choose (has GeForce 6100, 6150 respecively) onboard video...

armbrat wrote:

Ok, Asus A8N VM or CSM is what I shall choose (has GeForce 6100, 6150 respecively) onboard video...

Ack!

Whilst you may not be a gamer in need of a Ferrari of dual SLI 6800 Ultra-OC 512s, you do NOT want a 6100.

If you're really budget concious, just get a 6200, they're about £30 and are as powerful as a GeForce 4800 but with Dx9 support.

This is what I'm building:

* ASUS A8N-SLI NVIDIA Socket 939
* AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ /2MB Cache /2000MHz FSB /Socket 939 /Dual Core
* 2x 1024MB OCZ EL PC3200 DDR 400MHz Titanium Memory
* 2x XFX GeForce 7800 GT Overclocked / 256MB DDR3 / PCI Express / SLI / Dual DVI / VIVO / Video Card
* Thermaltake Silver Armor Aluminum Full-Tower ATX Case
* Coolmax / CX1-600B / 600-Watt / ATX / 120mm Fan / SATA-Ready / SLI-Ready / 20/24-Pin / Power Supply
* 1x Western Digital / Raptor / 74GB / 10K / 8MB / SATA-150 / OEM / Hard Drive (Vista64 on this baby!)
* 3x Western Digital / Caviar SE 16 / 400GB / 7200 / 16MB / SATA-150 / OEM / Hard Drive (RAID 0)
* 2x Plextor PX-716SA / 16x8x16x DVD+RW / 16x4x16x DVD-RW / 48x24x48x CD-RW / Internal Dual Layer Serial ATA DVD Writer

Later when TV Tuner cards are available, then I'll add those too

W3bbo wrote:

Ack!

Whilst you may not be a gamer in need of a Ferrari of dual SLI 6800 Ultra-OC 512s, you do NOT want a 6100.

If you're really budget concious, just get a 6200, they're about £30 and are as powerful as a GeForce 4800 but with Dx9 support.

It's not buggy or anything, is it?  I mean, I could live with it until I scrounge up some more $$$...  (Which may be possible, as I JUST walked out of a meeting and got a promotion to Team Lead!)

armbrat wrote:

It's not buggy or anything, is it?

They're all stable, rock-solid cards (although it helps to buy from a reputable card MFG, and NEVER use the drivers they give you, always download from nVidia.com)

armbrat wrote:

I mean, I could live with it until I scrounge up some more $$$...

...No, but the 6600GT/6800GT both provide the highest bang:buck ratio.

armbrat wrote:

(Which may be possible, as I JUST walked out of a meeting and got a promotion to Team Lead!)

Doesn't that mean you'll be spending more time at work and unable to enjoy your beautiful money?

W3bbo wrote:

Doesn't that mean you'll be spending more time at work and unable to enjoy your beautiful money?

Damn you... not if I can afford faster DSL at home now!