Upgrading - Questions about AMD

  • Thread starter Thread starter Peter Gibbons
  • Start date Start date
P

Peter Gibbons

I'm currently running an AMD XP 1800 w/256 and decided it's about time
to upgrade. I think I've decided to stick with AMD as opposed to
jumping over to Intel, if for nothing more than financial reasons and
I haven't had any problems with my current AMD system.

I'm not an overclocker, nor a hardware guru. The most
processor-intensive thing I do with my system is play LOMAC and FS9.
So I don't necessarily need the "power-user" hardware gadgets such as
RAID, etc.

But after reading the latest reviews and posts about AMD chips, I'm
just confused. For instance, are AMD's 3200 chips nothing more than
overclocked 2500s?

What about the AMD 64's? They don't seem that much more expensive,
but I'm wondering if the ability to run 64-bit software (that I don't
currently have and don't expect to have) is worth anything to me at
this point.

As far as motherboards go, I think I'm leaning towards ASUS, but even
after narrowing it down to a specific manufacturer, I can't
distinguish between all of the different models. A7V8X-X, A7V8X-SG,
A7V8X-S, A7V8X-MX, A7V8X-Deluxe, etc, etc. What the hell? And do all
motherboards come standard with built-in audio and ethernet cards
these days?

If you were me, and had a roughly $500-$600 budget to get a new case,
motherboard/cpu and memory, what would you get?
 
But after reading the latest reviews and posts about AMD chips, I'm
just confused. For instance, are AMD's 3200 chips nothing more than
overclocked 2500s?
Click to expand...
It more like the other way around AMD's 2500 are underclocked 3200's.
Given the right environment(Good cooling, good memory and motherboard
etc etc...) Barton core processor's can reach AMD's 3200 speeds.
What about the AMD 64's? They don't seem that much more expensive,
but I'm wondering if the ability to run 64-bit software (that I don't
currently have and don't expect to have) is worth anything to me at
this point.
Click to expand...
You could do the AMD 64 However depending on which one you pick your
going to need registered memory, the motherboard will most likely run
you $100 and the processor will run you around $400 so you will be on
the high side of $600.
What the hell? And do all
motherboards come standard with built-in audio and ethernet cards
these days?
Click to expand...
In short yes, There a few motherboards out there that do not have
built-in audio or ethernet card but they seem far and few between
If you were me, and had a roughly $500-$600 budget to get a new case,
motherboard/cpu and memory, what would you get?
Click to expand...
Well, I just put this one together. It's not the fastest but it was
inexpensive and has everything I need

SY-KT600 DRAGON PLUS v.1.0 Motherboard
AMD XP 2500+
Crucial 512MB PC3200

price was
$75 for the motherboard
$90 for the processor
$100 for the memory
 
Peter said:
I'm currently running an AMD XP 1800 w/256 and decided it's about time
to upgrade. I think I've decided to stick with AMD as opposed to
jumping over to Intel, if for nothing more than financial reasons and
I haven't had any problems with my current AMD system.

I'm not an overclocker, nor a hardware guru. The most
processor-intensive thing I do with my system is play LOMAC and FS9.
So I don't necessarily need the "power-user" hardware gadgets such as
RAID, etc.

But after reading the latest reviews and posts about AMD chips, I'm
just confused. For instance, are AMD's 3200 chips nothing more than
overclocked 2500s?

What about the AMD 64's? They don't seem that much more expensive,
but I'm wondering if the ability to run 64-bit software (that I don't
currently have and don't expect to have) is worth anything to me at
this point.

As far as motherboards go, I think I'm leaning towards ASUS, but even
after narrowing it down to a specific manufacturer, I can't
distinguish between all of the different models. A7V8X-X, A7V8X-SG,
A7V8X-S, A7V8X-MX, A7V8X-Deluxe, etc, etc. What the hell? And do all
motherboards come standard with built-in audio and ethernet cards
these days?

If you were me, and had a roughly $500-$600 budget to get a new case,
motherboard/cpu and memory, what would you get?
Click to expand...

I don't know about prices in your part of the world but this is what I would
get.

Motherboard: Soltek SL-75FRN2-L
CPU: AMD Barton 2500+
Memory: Two sticks of PC3200 256MB RAM
Case: Up to you, whatever you like the look of, just make sure it has a
decent power supply.

JMO.
 
As far as motherboards go, I think I'm leaning towards ASUS, but even
after narrowing it down to a specific manufacturer, I can't
distinguish between all of the different models. A7V8X-X, A7V8X-SG,
A7V8X-S, A7V8X-MX, A7V8X-Deluxe, etc, etc. What the hell? And do all
motherboards come standard with built-in audio and ethernet cards
these days?
Click to expand...
If you were me, and had a roughly $500-$600 budget to get a new case,
motherboard/cpu and memory, what would you get?
Click to expand...

A lot of do come with network cards and audio now. I dont think ALL do
but probably most do now.

The models you cite - I dont remember seeing them all at the ASUS
site. You are talking about the VIA based boards instead of the
NFORCE2 Nvidia boards.

The MX models have video built in. The Deluxe like my Nvdia a7n8x
Deluxe has an extra controller - SATA connections with RAID as well as
two network connectors and sound.

Look it up at their site and Newegg they list all the options.

I would get a basic board NForce2 probably , around $100 or less.
I wouldnt mind network card to save a slot , sound - I dont care.
Might as well I guess. But it wouldnt be a deal breaker. Could save
you $20-50 I guess on a card.

Other than that at least 3 memory slots of course and 5 PCI slots and
400 mhz DDR capability.

SATA - you might or might not want to go with an EXTRA IDE connection.
You will then have the regular IDE for 4 devices - hard disk etc.
And an extra sata for I think two devices. You need special SATA
devices - hard disks etc OR you need what Im using - an adaptor to use
the IDE hard disk on the sata connections.

I bought them from Monoprice.com on Ebay for I think it was $11 a
piece. Shipping was a flat $9 with $5 for each additional. The prices
I found locally was $29 a piece and at Newegg was $25 a piece plus $15
shipping. They look like something that would cost $1-2.


Barton retail 2500 comes with heatsink and fan $90 or so + shipping.
Easily OCes to 3200. I think Ive seen one or two people who couldnt
make it but I suspect they had really bad memory or a really bad
board.

If you get a 3200 (400) capable board and 3200 DDR then there should
be no reason you cant hit 3200.

I bought inexpensive mem - Kingston is having a rebate right now $63
or so (was $59 when I bought it last week) after rebate 512 megs.

Whats that $253 or so + plus shipping and tax? If you get around a
$100 board. If you need a case there are lots of them everywhere.
You can definitely get a decent case in the 70 range and maybe a
really good deal if you look around down to $50 but keep in mind some
really good deals have cheapo power supplies which can cause lockups
and reboots etc.

Hard disk - if you need one lots of rebate deals going on all the
time. You can get them as low as .50 a gig.

Sell you old stuff to offset the cost and you can do it for less out
of pocket.
 
Back
Top