trying to decide on upgrades

[relaxandreflect]

i want to upgrade my mobo, proc, and ram. i currently have a p3 700. my main concerns are cost and reliability. i want a good stable system capable of running multiple apps, but i don't want to spend more than about $200-300. i am currently happy with the rest of my components, and am running an ati radeon ve 7000 32mb ddr and a sound blaster audigy. these are my main questions:

-i am an intel fan, but should i go with a p4 or an athlon, and which mobo would be the best?

-should i go with ddr ram instead of rambus?

 

[Blain]

* How much memory do you want to run?
* How fast a CPU do you want?
* Are you going to OC?
* What kind of apps will you be using the machine for?
* Tight budgets call for compromises

 

[relaxandreflect]

memory, at least 512
cpu, at least 1.4 or so
no overclocking
mostly downloading, divx, burning, encoding, web surfing, and online classes

 

[bgeh]

since you are on such a tight budget, i recommend you getting a AMD system(even though you're an intel fan)
try getting one of the 2100+ T-Bred B chips or the 2000+, they cost $90-100 and $80-90 respectively
then get a Epox 8RDA+(Nforce 2 board)
they cost $99 at some place(i forgot already)
and since RAM prices are so low, i recommend you to get 512mb or 1gb PC2700 while they're cheap($65 or $130)
*prices are rough estimates only

 

[mboy]

yup, I just did a major overhaul myself.

Epox 8rda+, xp2100 and 256mb x2 of twinmos/winbond pc3200.

I am currently running at 2.3 Ghz on a 200fsb and the whole thing cost me less then 350.

If not oc'ing, I would go with lesser ram, save a few there and have a BADASS rig!

 

[Bonesdad]

agree with bgeh, don't think you will be able to upgrade for $200-300 real well if you want a new P4 processor. Seems to me the lowend P4 are over $100... the components he mentioned are excellent, but if you are into gaming you will definately need a new video card. Try to go with a bigger budget, another 100-200. You could save more $ by picking the Athlon 1700+ ($60 retail) an Epox 8RDA (not the +)($90), Crucial RAM (if you want, just get 256MB to start and another stick of 256 when u can afford it) ($40-45 bucks for 256MB PC2700), and a GF4 4200 (nice card for around $100 or so) or Radeon 9500 video card ($120-130). Total for this setup is $300...plus a little for shipping. Check prices at Pricewatch.com or just go to Newegg.com, since they will have some of the best prices anyway, Mwave.com and googlegear.com are also good sites.

If you get the EPoX mobo, you will be ready to upgrade to a faster processor when prices drop to a bearable level...it's even Barton ready. STick with DDR...

 

[relaxandreflect]

i've had bad experiences with amd in the past, but i think it was a crappy mobo. do they really run as good as the intel if done right?

 

[Viewsonicboi]

Get the barton xp2500 at www.newegg.com and ddr ram

 

[relaxandreflect]

with the amds, what is the difference between xp/mp, 2000+/2100+/2400+, thouroughbred/non-thoroughbred, etc?

 

[relaxandreflect]

ok, a few more questions.

memory-should i go with corsair, or would another brand do? i found 2700 512mb at nwegg for $70 shipped.

combo-i found a combo at bzboys for a epox 8rda and athlon 2200 with shim and fan for about $212 shipped. if i did this, should i have it pretested for $10 more, and would they leave it assembled you think?

 

[Soulkeeper]

if your overclocking I recommend corsair xms
if not then any of the other pc3200 or pc2700 stuff will prob work fine for you

that 2200+ is prob a T-bred A which won't overclock as well as a 2100+ T-bred B or even a 1700+ T-bred B

 

[afireinsideme]

Yeah soulkeeper you should tell him what voltages he should use, so i doesn't fry his CPU.... cough.... cough

haha.

 

[mboy]

go with the twinmos/winbond from memroyx.net
cheaper then corsair, more success on the 8rda+ with them. I am running them @ 200fsb @ 5-2-2-2 SUPER stable. a 256mb stick is $74

 

[Slickone]

Originally posted by: mboy
yup, I just did a major overhaul myself.

Epox 8rda+, xp2100 and 256mb x2 of twinmos/winbond pc3200.

I am currently running at 2.3 Ghz on a 200fsb and the whole thing cost me less then 350.

Got any scores on that rig? Wondering how close it would come to the speed of a P4 2.4B @ ~3Ghz? Close enough to not be worth the extra $70 or so for the P4 & 845PE mobo?

Slickone <--- trying to decide on a new rig to build.

 

[mboy]

What scores u want

Off top of my head, them mem benchies from Sandra are both slightly over the 3k mark.
3dmk2001se with the Abit Siluro 64mb otes Oc'ed to 290/580 is 14065.

Let me know what scores u like to see (SANDRA PRo2003) and I will run some when I get home in a couple of hours.