XP or A64?

[WRXFanatic]

bout to build around christmas/new years

should i go w/ and xp2500+ and an NF7-S

or a A64 3000+

i want it to last around a year or more...should i wait on the A64 and just go w/ the 2500 oc'd to 3200?

i'm planning to play HL2 and the like....should i go for the processor and skimp out on vid. card?

 

[Jeff7181]

I'd wait until we see some A64 3000 benchmarks.

 

[MangoTBG]

The video card will contribute most to your gaming experiance. If you could manage to get the A64 and a 9600XT, then go for it. That's supposed to be one nice card for the price (also see the 5700).


Buy now / buy later? That's up to you. We can't really make the decision for you . Set a price that you want to spend on the computer and try to squeeze out the most for the money, and if you don't need the PC just yet, then hold off as the prices of parts continuously drop.

 

[Sid59]

id go with the Barton 2500+ and NF7-S

wait 6 months and see if the AMD 939 pins come out and see how they stack up.

 

[wacki]

Tough question.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Sid59
id go with the Barton 2500+ and NF7-S

wait 6 months and see if the AMD 939 pins come out and see how they stack up.

The FX will almost always be as expensive as the Opteron, so if you're like most AMD users and looking for a processor with a good price/performance ratio the FX is not for you.

 

[randumb]

The barton and a much better graphics card will perform better in games.

 

[Macro2]

Tough question. Can you put it off for a few months?

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: MangoTBG
The video card will contribute most to your gaming experiance. If you could manage to get the A64 and a 9600XT, then go for it. That's supposed to be one nice card for the price (also see the 5700).


Buy now / buy later? That's up to you. We can't really make the decision for you . Set a price that you want to spend on the computer and try to squeeze out the most for the money, and if you don't need the PC just yet, then hold off as the prices of parts continuously drop.

or you could get the 5900NU for the same price.

 

[WRXFanatic]

Originally posted by: Macro2
Tough question. Can you put it off for a few months?

well i'm selling my current rig (xp 2000+, 512 pc2100, ti4200) to my dad for xmas.....

want to upgrade then

 

[Corporate Thug]

A64 3000+ will be faster than 2500+ say @ 3200+ so i would pick the A64 3000+

 

[SuPrEIVIE]

Originally posted by: shady06
A64 3000+ will be faster than 2500+ say @ 3200+ so i would pick the A64 3000+

that is true but the question is do u need that extra power?when 64bit becomes widely used there will be better cpus for 64 later...save money and get the 2500+ its enough for a couple of years

 

[WRXFanatic]

Originally posted by: SuPrEIVIE

Originally posted by: shady06
A64 3000+ will be faster than 2500+ say @ 3200+ so i would pick the A64 3000+

that is true but the question is do u need that extra power?when 64bit becomes widely used there will be better cpus for 64 later...save money and get the 2500+ its enough for a couple of years

thanks...i think i'll take that advice

 

[Atlantean]

I would have to say get the xp 2500+ and get a better video card, right now its not worth it to get an amd64. Wait a year and then build another comp with amd64.

 

[BaboonGuy]

wait until they get mobos that have a locked pci/agp bus. then u oc the crap outta that A64

 

[Venomous]

AMD still has to refine their SOI process more before we see incredible overclocks on the HT bus. The FX model is unlocked so its quite easy to get it at 2600 mhz on air.

 

[corey76]

Considering the 64 3000 is much faster than any XP we can mention and it's only around $200 and current motherboards are pretty much top notch I don't see it as being much of a risk. It's what I'd recommend, I don't see you getting anymore performance for your dollar, unless your OCing. Which even if you were there's no telling how well the 3000 64 will OC. The only way I see you getting comparable performance for your dollar is going with a P4 and Ocing it, and then you lose future 64bit possibilities. Check Monarchcomputer.com, they got 64's with Motherboards for around $350, not bad at all really about the same as a good P4 setup. Yes and I know you can do an XP setup for half that, but in my opinion the 64 is worth it.

 

[lycurgus]

The main 'risk' with AMD's 64bit processors right now is that they'll changed the socket and you'll be left with no future upgrade path. A good socket A rig should last you at least 1 yr., but it won't be as much fun as the 64bit. So the question is, do you want something that just going to 'get you through' the next year or so, or do you want something really new and 'leading edge' (and are you willing to pay for it)?