Best CPU

dwchang · Post by **dwchang** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 3:00 pm

My opinion is obviously *very* biased since I work for AMD, but I will try my best to help you out.

If you want THE BEST out right now, go with the Athlon 64 FX. It's our first in the line of x86-64 and will allow you to migrate to 64-bit when you want. It's dual compatible (ie. 32 bit and 64). Unfortunately, not that much software out right now, but again it works fine for 32 and is really there to help bridge to 64 when you want to.

Now since I'm guessing price is obviously a big factor, I don't suggest Intel's offerings. I would say the same based on performance, but obviously the p4 and Athlon Xp are similar in performance. HOWEVER, the Athlon is *a lot* cheaper than a P4 at around the same performance.

I think your best bet is either getting an Athlon XP 2800+ or 3000+. It really depends on how hardware literate you are. An Xp 2800+ can be overclocked to a 3200+ very easily and thus give you the 400 Mhz FSB. If you're lazy and don't wanna do that and still want 400 Mhz FSB for a good price, go with the 3000+. It has the 400 Mhz FSB. BTW FSB is Front Side Bus and the diff. between 333 and 400 is pretty big. Obviously you could buy a 3200+ which has 400 Mhz FSB as well, but $ for $, the 3000+ and 2800+ are a much better value.

With that said, you could get a 3000+ or 2800+ for probably less than 200 bucks (a lot less than Intel) and a good nForce2 motherboard (which has Ethernet, sound, USB2, firewire, etc.) also for under 200 bucks. The rest like graphics, monitor, sound card, etc. is all up to you.

BTW I'm obviously suggesting an Athlon XP as opposed to an Athlon 64 which is state of the art, BUT I think an Athlon XP will be sufficient for your needs for the next few years. Sure it'll be slower in two or three years, but given your needs you mention, it should be sufficient and more importantly, save you 500 or 600 bucks.

Again, depends on how much you wanna spend. You could go all out or go cheap and still have a pretty good set-up.

Hope that helps!

anime-dragon · Post by **anime-dragon** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 3:12 pm

whoa man u work for AMD? that nice. but I think I will go with a P4, thanks for the help.

dwchang · Post by **dwchang** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 3:21 pm

anime-dragon wrote:whoa man u work for AMD? that nice. but I think I will go with a P4, thanks for the help.

Lame.

Have fun upgrading to another new motherboard and dealing with 100+ C temperatures

.

Nah, no problem...good luck!

Lyrs · Post by **Lyrs** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 3:28 pm

dwchang wrote:Have fun upgrading to another new motherboard and dealing with 100+ C temperatures .
Nah, no problem...good luck!

P4 Condition after initial Run:

anime-dragon · Post by **anime-dragon** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:15 pm

Lyrs wrote:
dwchang wrote:Have fun upgrading to another new motherboard and dealing with 100+ C temperatures .
Nah, no problem...good luck!
P4 Condition after initial Run:

what the hell is that? i dont the cpu heat that much that it melts the whole tower and keboards. lol

dwchang · Post by **dwchang** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:38 pm

anime-dragon wrote:
Lyrs wrote:
dwchang wrote:Have fun upgrading to another new motherboard and dealing with 100+ C temperatures .
Nah, no problem...good luck!
P4 Condition after initial Run:

what the hell is that? i dont the cpu heat that much that it melts the whole tower and keboards. lol

If the CPU overheats too much, fire...fire spreads...things melt in it's path...

Oh and that 100+ C wasn't a joke. The new prescott core AVERAGES 103 C and tops around 120 - 130. That's celsious not fahrenheit. Ours averages in the 60's and peak in the 80's.

Then again that's prescott and not the current northwood chips, but Prescott mauls northwood.

anime-dragon · Post by **anime-dragon** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 5:47 pm

I've heard of prescott but is it out yet? im dont want to go too advance, but here is list that i made so far, but these are in US dollars. anyway I still need a good sound card (2.1, 24-bit) can anyone help?

CPU
Pentium4 2.6C 512k 800FSB HT $222US

HDD
Seagate 120 GB 150/7200/8MB SATA $123US
WD 120.0GB U100 7200 8MB $120US

Memory
512MB PC3200 400MHz $95US

CD Burners
Lite-on 52x32x52 CDRW Kit $52US

DVD Burners
TDK AID+440 DVD +/- R/RW $213US
Pioneer DVR-A06 DVD+/-R/RW Writer $260US

Sound Card

Video Card
FIC ATI Radeon 9600 Pro 128MB VGA/DVI/TV $182

Floppy

Spekers

MotherBoard
Intel D865PERLK i865PE 800FSB S/L/SATA/U2 $155US
MSI 865PE Neo2-FIS2R i865PE 800FSB S/GBL/FW/SATA $155US

Tower Case
Antec Sonata ATX Piano Black 380W $109US

Power Supply

Cooling System

Keyboard

Dannywilson · Post by **Dannywilson** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 6:03 pm

The only thing I can disagree with in that listing is the motherboard, I'd rather use an Tyan or a MSI board.

anime-dragon · Post by **anime-dragon** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 6:09 pm

i've never heard of Tyan and btw i read somwhere that Intel mobos are good.

Mr Pilkington · Post by **Mr Pilkington** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 6:13 pm

Tyan and Soyo are byfar my faves.

Tyan = lord of the multiprocessor.