Need some recommendations on a mid range PC i'm building

[kablam0r]

I got a decent deal on an ABIT KN8 v1.1. I've got a new case and a 600 watt ps to start with as well. Can someone point me in the right direction with CPU (looking at the 3800) and video cards? I'd like to keep the video card and cpu purchase under $500.
Thanks guys. It's been a while but it's good to be back. I'm trying to find my old anandtech login but it's buried under 5k+ emails in my old collage account!
thanks!
-bryan

 

[xanis]

Well I guess I'll be the first to say it..... wait for Conroe if you can. I was told the same thing by a bunch of people when I made a thread about building a new rig. However, if you're a die-hard AMD fan and you can't stand to wait, then go for an AM2 platform.

 

[kablam0r]

The thing is, I already bought a ABIT KN8 v1.1 which is a AMD board.

 

[kablam]

finally found my old login! wee!

 

[acegazda]

thats s939... right? I'd get a 3800+ a64 and a saphire x1900xt. ($130 for the 3800+ and $370 for the x1900xt) great combo, even if you don't oc. Welcome Back!

 

[kablam0r]

So I should hold out for a dual core when the price drops hit later this month?

 

[jackschmittusa]

What do you expect to do with the machine?

 

[kablam0r]

I'd like to catch up on some of the better games from the past year or so. (i.e. F.E.A.R and FarCry.) Outside of that, just the normal stuff like web crap, p0rn and forwarding annoying chainmail.
edit:
I'd also like to run a couple LCDs off the system is possible

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: kablam0r
I've got a new case and a 600 watt ps to start with as well.
-bryan

What case and PSU are we talking about here, and how much did you pay for it? Most PSU, case bundles are junk, and I don't know of any cases that come with a quality 600 watt PSU.

 

[kablam0r]

Thermaltake mambo case and a coolmaster 600w power supply
here is the PS:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817171008

 

[xanis]

Just my opinion, but you definitely don't need a 600W PSU. That one you listed is $90, right? You would probably be better off just getting a better brand PSU with a lower wattage rating, and I garuntee that the performance will be the same.

 

[kablam0r]

I got it for $30 after the rebate they were running at the time, so it wasn't too expensive

 

[Operandi]

I'm personally biased towards anything Thermaltake, and that PSU certainly isn't the best but it probably won't explode on you at least.

But you probably should have checked here first. If you are spending $500 on a video card/s you shouldn?t be cheaping out on the PSU.

 

[kablam0r]

So should I start over and try and craigslilst what I have so far or work with what I got?
i don't want to spend $500 on a video card. I want to spend $500 on a video card and cpu combined

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: kablam0r
So should I start over and try and craigslilst what I have so far or work with what I got?
i don't want to spend $500 on a video card. I want to spend $500 on a video card and cpu combined

Well that?s up to you, personally I wouldn?t use it.

 

[Howard]

He'd have to include the price of a motherboard, then.

 

[kablam0r]

I'm not asking for a killer gaming rig or anything. I just want an update from my current system and be able to play some later games at a decent frame rate. I guess I should have went with a prebuilt pc this time. Checking the hardware review sites is info overload these days. What happened to the good ole days when you could just go with suggestions from anandtech and/or tomshardare.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Howard
He'd have to include the price of a motherboard, then.

Why?, the Abit should be fine. Although it might be a good idea to replace the active cooling on the northbridge.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Operandi

Originally posted by: Howard
He'd have to include the price of a motherboard, then.

Why?, the Abit should be fine. Although it might be a good idea to replace the active cooling on the northbridge.

Oh, I thought you were advising him to go with Conroe or something.

 

[Bill Brasky]

Originally posted by: kablam0r
So I should hold out for a dual core when the price drops hit later this month?

I think you should definitely wait. If there isn't an issue with availability and you can work out a decently priced system, then go with Conroe. If the Conroes are nowhere to be found, grab a 3800+ for $200 and a x1900xt for about $350. IMO it would be pretty defeating to buy an AMD chip and watch the price of the X2's fall $100 twenty days later.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Zaitsev

Originally posted by: kablam0r
So I should hold out for a dual core when the price drops hit later this month?

I think you should definitely wait. If there isn't an issue with availability and you can work out a decently priced system, then go with Conroe. If the Conroes are nowhere to be found, grab a 3800+ for $200 and a x1900xt for about $350. IMO it would be pretty defeating to buy an AMD chip and watch the price of the X2's fall $100 twenty days later.

Thats good advice.

I personally think Core2 will be hard to come by but current Intel chips as well as AMD S939 and AM2 chips will be getting cuts as much as 50%.