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CookieCuttah

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Alright, I didn't buy a computer last time (Financial reasons) so I finally decided I want to buy it around this time of year.

First question, is now a good time?

Second question, I am looking at the basics a R520 Radeon card (The new one) a 4200+ Athlon. What would be a good mobo/power supply and about how much RAM?

My purpose is dual, I first of all want a capable gaming machine and second of all I want this for 3d modeling and high polygon counts while remaining fluid in the work. What else? I want a crap load of multi-tasking without lag.
Any suggestions? I myself don't plan on OCing far, maybe only slightly, and I have an idea how to put a computer together. (Ive tweaked my old one enough to know what goes where and how to screw stuff down)
So no computer building fears haha.
 
Well, with that kinda budget, you could get just about anything. Take the system in my sig, for example, it costs $1100. So, upgrade the CPU to a dualcore (+$200), and get a SLi MB (+$40) and another 7800GT (+$370).
 
Right now is a great time to buy since prices are very low for a powerful CPU, standard DDR memory and GFX cards should be dropping more with the new cards coming out so you will have choices.

Just be careful about standards for the future. PCI-Express would be good. Socket 939 for AMD and 775 for Intel. AMD's Dual core (X2) would be great for what you are looking to do. I would recommend getting 2GB of standard PC3200 memory (2 sticks of 1GB). A lot of newer games like more than 1GB of RAM and 3D modeling would too. Crucial, Corsair, Kingston, OCZ and Samsung are Memory brands to look for.
 
Dual core are all the ones above 3800+ correct? I remember the piece I want, the 4200+ has dual cores.
Yeah, and for RAM I am planning on getting a lot, it's a pain in the ass when there isn't enough, it just lags bad.
Thanks for the tips, everyone. About how much Power supply would I need, and what case would be good in price and provide installed fans? OR is it better to do it myself?
 
x2 3800+ is good enough if you know how to overclock. Make sure you dont get the single core 3800. Get an antec or something with 480w or more. With that kind of budget you could definitely get a cheap 7800gtx isntead of a gt, the extra 4 pipes are worth it.
 
Well I have little idea how to overclock, at least at extreme levels, and from what I understand, overclocking isn't as efficent as it used to be.
 
So. I am just about ready to purchase, what is the best card to buy right now, as it is? I should note, that I can buy a pretty high end card (if not the best), but I want it to be worth for how long it will function.
 
Personally I'd go with something like a 7800GT for <400$. BFG is probably one of the better companies to buy from. XFX has a good warrenty too although I havn't cared for some of their cards in the past.

(Workstation class) Opteron 2.2GHz dual core 2MB L2 cache@ $520
(Consumer class) Athlon 64 X2 2.2GHz 2MB L2 cache@ $497
Same performance, same thing except the Opteron is a different core. Opterons have a higher standard for quality for those, better chance to run cooler and should OC higher. :eek:

I'd stick with something with 2MB L2 cache (1MB per core).
If you go a step down to an Athlon 64 X2 4200+ it's 1MB cache.
Although you could step down to an Opteron 2.0GHz and still have 2MB cache.

Personally I would get an Asus motherboard because once they are setup and running they pretty much last for long time. nForce3/4 and VIA are both good chipsets for the Athlon64 although a lot more people perfer the nForce3 or 4. I just wouldn't recommend installing the Nvidia IDE driver or setting up it's firewall. Let windows use it's default driver.
 
So a X1800XL/Xt wouldn't be a good choice right now?

Thanks a lot ASUS by the way, that is exactly what I wanted.

Also, would it be better to buy a case with all the components preinstalled, or should do it myself? How many fans would I need, how much voltage and what kind of case would be best for me?

Edit: Would the price difference on a 7800GTX make the difference in performance?
 
Okay here's what I have on my list:

NEC Black IDE DVD Burner Model ND-3540A - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827152047

KINGWIN KT-424-BK-WM Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811170012

Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822144160

ABIT KN8 SLI Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813127225

XFX PVT70GUDF7 Geforce 7800GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814150108
SONY Studio Monitor MDR-V700DJ PlugStraight, Gold-plated, stereo UniMatch plug with fixed miniplug and detachable phone plug Connector DJ Headphones - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16826159215

CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model TWINX2048-3200 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145486

AMD Opteron 175 Denmark 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Dual Core Processor Model OSA175CDBOX - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103584

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 1a - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16837102141


Would all of these be suitable? The price with the shipping and all is about 1800. I am mostly concerned if the RAM is good for me and if the Voltage of the case and its air flow is good. Comments?

Edit: Also, what should I get a warranty for and for how long?
 
CookieCuttah said:
Okay here's what I have on my list:

NEC Black IDE DVD Burner Model ND-3540A - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827152047

KINGWIN KT-424-BK-WM Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811170012

Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822144160

ABIT KN8 SLI Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813127225

XFX PVT70GUDF7 Geforce 7800GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814150108
SONY Studio Monitor MDR-V700DJ PlugStraight, Gold-plated, stereo UniMatch plug with fixed miniplug and detachable phone plug Connector DJ Headphones - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16826159215

CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model TWINX2048-3200 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145486

AMD Opteron 175 Denmark 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Dual Core Processor Model OSA175CDBOX - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103584

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 1a - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16837102141


Would all of these be suitable? The price with the shipping and all is about 1800. I am mostly concerned if the RAM is good for me and if the Voltage of the case and its air flow is good. Comments?

Edit: Also, what should I get a warranty for and for how long?
Click to expand...
Good quality case. I had one similar and it worked very slick. It says it has 3 80mm fans although I only see the rear fan. I assume it has the other fans in the front which would be great for todays harddrives and graphics cards. Blows the air right on em.
Edit:Here are some better pictures of the inside.

I have the same harddrive and its quick. Abit is a good brand for a motherboard and it has the nForce4 chipset. Good brand of memory.

Got a good quality powersupply? Otherwise looks good to me.

If you got a warranty from newegg, the motherboard would be the one to get it on I'd think. Although I would look into exactly how their warranty works. It looks like it's just a replacement plan so that is a big plus. Just check up on what is actually covered.
 
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