P4 or Athlon XP

[dirkpitt1]

I need some input on what processor to use for my next system. Primary use is gaming, secondary being the usual internet crap and some OfficeXP usage. I currently have an AthlonXP 1900 system, and have some luck with overclocking it. I have done some research on the upcoming Granite Bay chipset and have looked at the Nforce2. What do you guys think? The i850 chipset is getting old and I'm not sure of the future of Rdram. In the reviews I have found, the dual channel E7205 Granite Bay looks good, but I am an impulse buyer by nature and am having trouble waiting! Any thoughts?

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: dirkpitt1
I need some input on what processor to use for my next system. Primary use is gaming, secondary being the usual internet crap and some OfficeXP usage. I currently have an AthlonXP 1900 system, and have some luck with overclocking it. I have done some research on the upcoming Granite Bay chipset and have looked at the Nforce2. What do you guys think? The i850 chipset is getting old and I'm not sure of the future of Rdram. In the reviews I have found, the dual channel E7205 Granite Bay looks good, but I am an impulse buyer by nature and am having trouble waiting! Any thoughts?

NF2 + Any current top line XP Vs HT enabled top line P4 on GB

=

Either will do you fine. Day to day, I challenge you to tell the difference.

 

[DX2Player]

Your computer is probably fine, what about it makes you want to upgrade?

 

[Soulkeeper]

If you do go the Athlon route i would make sure you get yurself a T-bred (preferably b revision 2400+ and up)
either the 2400+ 2600+ or 1800+

the 2400+ is much cheaper than the 26, 27, and 2800+, overclocks well, and can be ran on a 333mhz fsb
if you went with the lowerend 1800+ T-bred it would be a downgradde for ya unless you like overclocking then it would just be fun (they are getting around 2ghz for like 70 bucks)

yeah Nforce2 + 2400+ is a great combo

the 3ghz P4 with HT is just too expensive to even consider at this point and the Granite bay chipset is basically intel's attempt to bring the nforce to the P4 side. It wasn't as good as many had hoped.

 

[Soulkeeper]

yeah, i second the "why do you want to upgrade?" question

what chipset/motherboard do you have right now ??
why not just drop in a 2400+ and keep yur current motherboard
that would be a nice little upgrade if yur bored

 

[dirkpitt1]

My current config is an Athlonxp 1900, Msi Kt3 Ultra, 256mb generic(highly finicky with overclocking) ram, paltry 20gb Wd7200rpm hdd, Chaintech Gf3-200 video card. I plan on purchasing some of the new games such as Ut2003, Battlefield 1942, and Doom3 when it comes out. My best 3dmark scores are around 8000, and I currently get slowdowns in some games while playing. Besides, I get the upgrade bug every 6-8 months! I know that a nice Gf4 card would help considerably, as well as a Wd jb series hdd, and we wont even discuss the cheap-a$$ ram! I have been an AMD guy since the days of the k6, but the P4 seems to whip some but as of late. I also dont like some of the instability with the Via chipsets. If I go with the Nforce2, I can keep the 1900, and unlock it and overclock for now till the price of 2800's go down. For me right now, it's one component at a time. I have a nice case and Enermax p/s, what do you guys think?

 

[cnhoff]

Maybe you should try a cheap TI4200 for the moment and wait for the real system hogs like Doom 3 or Stalker to do a complete upgrade. Although i am as tempted as you to upgrade my system every 6 months, i don't see any need to buy anything else than a new video card. But that's NOT what you want to hear, i know

 

[touchmyichi]

Yeah drop a 2400+ in your system and a geforce 4 ti 4200. If I were you i wouldn't even think of upgrading yet. Wait for prices to come down and maybe pick up a radeon 9700 and a 2400+ when the price is right. Your current config is more than adequate to play any game that is currently out and will come out for the next few months. A 3dmark score of 8000 is good .