AMD Components Compatability Question

[SlowwHand]

I'm about ready to order this from
http://secure.newegg.com .
Any thoughts?

GIGABYTE GA-M55plus-S3G Socket AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #: GA-M55plus-S3G
Item #: N82E16813128010
$89.99

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Windsor 2.2GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADA4200CUBOX - Retail
Model #: ADA4200CUBOX
Item #: N82E16819103747
$169.00

Kingston HyperX 512MB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory Model KHX6400D2LL/512 - Retail
Model #: KHX6400D2LL/512
Item #: N82E16820134063
$65.99 x 2 $131.98

EVGA 256-A8-N313-LX GeForce FX5500 256MB DDR AGP 8X Video Card - Retail
Model #: 256-A8-N313-LX
Item #: N82E16814130197
$49.99

ViewSonic VA1912wb Black 19" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
Model #: VA1912wb
Item #: N82E16824116373
$218.99

SENNHEISER PX100 3.5mm Connector Supra-aural OpenAir Dynamic stereo mini Headphone - Retail
Model #: PX100
Item #: N82E16826106333
$49.99

Logitech Z-2300 200 watts RMS 2.1 Speaker System - Retail
Model #: 970118-0403
Item #: N82E16836121122
$105.99

[Asher]

Why would you buy AMD right now?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Maybe cost?

[Asher]

Is it really that much cheaper?

For the same price he can get a Core 2 Duo @ 1.8GHz which uses considerably less power/throws off less heat and is generally faster in benchmarks: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/core2duo-e4300_6.html
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005

The Core 2 Duo also supports newer instructions which are going to be increasingly important, especially for dual-core applications.

[Jon Miller]

AMD was the best (And cheaper) for a while, I think that currently Intel is better (And cheaper).

JM

[Tattila the Hun]

I'd imagine the difference isn't currently that great. And AMD has served me well these years, I'd see no reason to chance.

[SlowwHand]

This AMD processor is 2.2 gb. Enough for me, at least for now. No one can tell me if what I've listed will work together? I don't know about this stuff.

[Aeson]

Asher is right, if you're going for a dual core, there's not much reason to buy AMD. Compared to a X2 4200+ a E6300 has better performance (generally), similar cost, runs cooler, and consumes less power.

Though there's not a whole lot of point to buying a low end core duo right now either. In a month the low end core duo's will be getting an upgrade, the E6300 and E6400 will get double the L2 cache (2 to 4MB) and the price should stay the same. So if you can wait, buy one in a month.

AGP card will limit your options in the future. PCI-express is the way to go. Especially as the MB (GA-M55plus-S3G) you listed doesn't have an AGP slot, it's a PCI-e board. (Emphasis added just because whatever else you do... don't get the AGP card with this motherboard! You'll be using the onboard graphics.)

In any case, GeForce 5xxx series cards weren't even any good when they were new a few years ago. You can get a much better PCI-e card (or AGP if you realy insist) for a similar price. The cheapest cards listed at Newegg (6200LE) are better than a 5500FX, and only ~$35. A 7300GS or X1300 look like your best bets at ~$50. Under $100 I'd go with a X1600 PRO.

[LordShiva]

Yeah, go for Intel.

And at least a 6xxx graphics card if you're doing nVidia.

[Aeson]

I haven't looked much at widescreen LCDs, but it looks like the Viewsonic VG1930wm is a slightly better (mostly the stand, height adjustment) version of your Viewsonic VA1912wb you listed. The price at Newegg is the same, but the VG1930wm has free shipping, so will save you a few bucks. Though it doesn't come with a DVI cable, while the VA1912wb does... so if you buy the VG1930wm and want a DVI cable, make sure to buy it (~$10 with shipping (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?N=2010010001+1177516898&Submit=ENE&SubCategory=1), male to male connection).

You'll end up paying about the same price overall, and have a slightly better stand. The look is a bit different too. There could be other differences with the actual panel... no idea.

[SlowwHand]

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10442_7-6389077-9.html?tag=lnav

It wasn't even close.

After reading the round-by-round account of our dual-core desktop CPU prizefight, it should come as no shock that AMD's Athlon 64 X2 chips are the runaway victors here, laying out the Intel Pentium D and Pentium Extreme Edition 840 chips pins up. If we had to call out one chip, AMD's Athlon 64 X2 4400+ is an outstanding bargain given the competition, but as our results show, any AMD dual-core CPU will serve you better than its similarly priced Intel equivalent.

If you're wondering why there's such a striking performance difference between the two companies' processors, it likely has something to do with the memory controller. Among the technological differences between the two, AMD's memory controller--the component that sends information back and forth between your system's CPU and the memory--is an integrated part of the Athlon 64 X2's chip architecture. Intel's memory controller, however, exists as a separate piece of silicon on the motherboard. The additional distance between the CPU and the memory controller adds to the processing lag time and likely plays a part in Intel's lower scores.

Whatever Intel's strategy, it doesn't seem to have held up. We're very interested to see what happens when the next generation of chips and chipsets hits the market starting in January. But until then, AMD's Athlon 64 X2 should be your dual-core processor of choice.

Find out more about how we test desktop systems.

Intel test bed
Asus P5N32-SLI Deluxe motherboard; Nvidia Nforce 4 SLI chipset; Crucial 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 7800GTX (PCIe); WDC WD740GD-00FLA2 74GB 10,000rpm SATA; Windows XP Professional SP2; Antec 550w power supply

AMD test bed
Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe motherboard; Nvidia Nforce 4 SLI chipset; Crucial 1,024MB DDR SDRAM 400MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 7800GTX (PCIe); WDC WD740GD-00FLA2 74GB 10,000rpm SATA; Windows XP Professional SP2; Antec 550w power supply

CNET Labs project leader David Gussman constructed the test beds and performed all testing.

I'll ask the compatability question of people less violently opposed to AMD. :p

However, here's a different monitor.

"Hanns·G JW-199DPB Black 19" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 700:1 Built in Speakers - Retail
Maximize your Windows Vista view."

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16824254001

[chequita guevara]

You know that article was posted in Nov. 2005.

Intel is top dog again.

[Asher]

Originally posted by SlowwHand

I'll ask the compatability question of people less violently opposed to AMD. :p

:confused:

I'm still running an Athlon 64, and I've built about 4 Athlon 64 computers for friends...

I've no AMD/Intel loyalty. Fact is, Intel's Core 2 Duo is the best chip categorically right now.

Kiss my ass, old man.

[SlowwHand]

Speaking of next generation, quad core? I don't need that much horse power.

This is mostly going to be music related. Playing some Civ 4 finally is about the only game of note.

[Asher]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Speaking of next generation, quad core? I don't need that much horse power.

This is mostly going to be music related. Playing some Civ 4 finally is about the only game of note.
Then you shouldn't even be buying a dualcore if you're on a budget. Higher clocked single-core chips will be better for Civ4.

[SlowwHand]

You're not making this much easier, Asher. I just want you to know that fact. :mad:

[SlowwHand]

Originally posted by LordShiva
Yeah, go for Intel.

And at least a 6xxx graphics card if you're doing nVidia.

256MB DDR AGP 8X Video Card

[Asher]

Originally posted by SlowwHand


256MB DDR AGP 8X Video Card


AGP.........................?

[SlowwHand]

Thanks, Asher. Your help and support is appreciated to no end.

[SlowwHand]

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814130197

EVGA 256-A8-N313-LX GeForce FX5500 256MB 128-bit DDR AGP 8X Video Card

Blazing along the 3D graphics highway at a core speed of 270 MHz , the e-Geforce FX 5500 graphics board based on the GeForce 5500 chipset from NVIDIA provides you enough power to manage intense graphics and visual effects in real-time. Based Four pixel pipelines easily render high-quality 3D animation and graphics at an unprecedented level. Most memory intensive applications and games, are easily managed by the onboard 128-bit, 256 MB of GDDR RAM.

The core GPU supports decoding DirectX 9.0 and OpenGL 1.4 APIs natively, thereby executing heavy graphics data with speed and brilliant visual effects. The 350 MHz RAMDAC provides analog and digital display modes supporting resolutions as high as 2048 x 1536 at a refresh rate of 60 Hz. Advanced graphics technologies like the CineFX 3.0 engine, UltraShadow II, and PureVideo Technology create amazingly breathtaking graphics.

The PCI-Express interface card is NVIDIA SLi-ready for parallel processing of next generation 3D graphics and animation. The package includes a DVI to VGA connector, the built-in DVI, VGA connector, and analog port provide output to multiple devices

[Asher]

AGP...........................?

HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT HINT

[Asher]

Not only that, but stay the hell away from the 5xxx series. They're hot, slow, and spotty support-wise from nvidia.

[SlowwHand]

Crapski. Ok. I need a suggestion then, from newegg, because I'm trying to stay organized with a Wish List, for a video card.

What was finally decided on wide screen vs. not?
The one I CURRENTLY have shuffled to is wide.

"Hanns·G JW-199DPB Black 19" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 700:1 Built in Speakers - Retail
Maximize your Windows Vista view."

http://www.newegg.com/product/produ...N82E16824254001

[LordShiva]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814143084

[Asher]

That's a goodunn, LS.

[chequita guevara]

Why don't you tell us what your budget is, and some nice person here will design a system for you.

Not me. I haven't looked at computer parts in three years. I haven't a clue what I'd get for a new system.

One of my buddies just bought a quad core Mac. Right now he can run Mac OX and Vista at the same time. If he tosses in some more RAM, he will be able to add LINUX at the same time also. He's got three monitor hooked up to it. It's really pretty. I have to say, I was really impressed with Mac OS. Vista was kinda cool, but Mac was drool worthy.

[SlowwHand]

Ok, got that saved. Thanks.

[Imran Siddiqui]

That's why you come to Poly with your computing needs :b: :D

Unfortunately I won't be able to get a dual core Intel anytime soon. I got my AMD dual core before Cure 2 Duo came out. I don't want (ie, don't have the cash really and/or don't want to put in a new mobo/chipset) to immediately switch again.

[SlowwHand]

I really have no preference on the AMD vs. Intel issue.
It's that Geordie friend of mine. He's the one pushed me at this motherboard. It's only out of respect for his opinion, just like here, that I went that way.

I can tell you how to plan your manufacturing and make sure you can do it, but on computers, I'll defer to those that know.

[notyoueither]

Missed Asher answering you.

[SlowwHand]

Damnit. This sucks donkeydick trying to figure out.

[LordShiva]

What's your budget? We can spec something out for you.

[SlowwHand]

I want to spend as little as possible. "Never pay retail." What I always remember from my dad.
Again, and Shiva, I know you know what I mean.
This is mostly a juke box. I get tired of converting bitrates dragging me to a stop.
The only "high tech" gaming I'll be doing is Civ 4, assuming I can get this figured out before everyone goes on to Civ 5.
700 dollars is roughly what is on my Wish List now, including the monitor. I took off the speakers for now.


Update GIGABYTE GA-M55plus-S3G Socket AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #: GA-M55plus-S3G
Item #: N82E16813128010

Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Out Of Stock
Auto-Notify $89.99 $89.99

Update BFG Tech BFGW6600GTOCX GeForce 6600GT 128MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - OEM
Model #: BFGW6600GTOCX
Item #: N82E16814143084

Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

In Stock $88.99 $88.99

Update AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Windsor 2.2GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADA4200CUBOX - Retail
Model #: ADA4200CUBOX
Item #: N82E16819103747

Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy

In Stock $169.00 $169.00

Update Kingston HyperX 512MB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory Model KHX6400D2LL/512 - Retail
Model #: KHX6400D2LL/512
Item #: N82E16820134063

Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

In Stock $65.99 $131.98

Update Hanns·G JW-199DPB Black 19" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
Model #: JW-199DPB
Item #: N82E16824254001

Return Policy: [LCD] Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy

In Stock $199.99 -$20.00 Instant $179.99

Update SENNHEISER PX100 3.5mm Connector Supra-aural OpenAir Dynamic stereo mini Headphone - Retail
Model #: PX100
Item #: N82E16826106333

Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy

In Stock $49.99 $49.99

[LordShiva]

What about power supply, hard drives, optical drives, etc.?

[Asher]

.

[SlowwHand]

Hard drives, CD and DVD drives I'll cannibalize. They're fine. Replaced them already.

Power supply and optical drive? Can I use old too?
I'm going to bed. Worn me out.

[Imran Siddiqui]

You got someone to put it together for you, Sloww?

[Aeson]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Power supply and optical drive? Can I use old too?

What type of power supply do you have?

A decent 350W to 400W PS would be about what you're looking for with that video card and CPU. You'll need a 24pin or 20+4pin connection too.

Generally speaking, the PS is the last thing you want to skimp on. When any other component fails in a computer, it's very likely that it will just fail... a PS can fry anything that's hooked up to it... (I just ordered a new MB and CPU, and gave away a spare video card because my brother's PS failed and it was frying just about anything hooked up to it.)

This is mostly a juke box. I get tired of converting bitrates dragging me to a stop.
The only "high tech" gaming I'll be doing is Civ 4, assuming I can get this figured out before everyone goes on to Civ 5.
700 dollars is roughly what is on my Wish List now, including the monitor. I took off the speakers for now.

For that purpose, I'd skimp on the CPU/MB, and then spend some extra to get a better graphics card. In CIV, and in your pricerange, the video card will be the bottleneck on performance. I'd go with a 7600GS or 7600GT.

You definitely don't need a dual core CPU, so ditch the AM2, and go with a low end AMD 64 or Sempron.

Here's what I'd recommend for your purposes, on your budget:

CPU:

AMD Sempron 64 2800+ (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819104245) Palermo 1.6GHz 256KB L2 Cache Socket 754 Processor - OEM
$31.99
Free 3 Business Day Shipping

CPU Heatsink/Fan:

Sunbeam CR-SW-K8 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835207002) CPU Cooling Fan/Heatsink - Retail
$18.99
3 Business Day Shipping $5.64

Thermal compound:

OCZ Ultra 5+ OCZU5STP (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835126003) Silver Thermal Compound
$4.49
3 Business Day Shipping $4.99

---------------------------

Motherboard:

(no firewire)
ECS NFORCE4-A754 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813135190) Socket 754 NVIDIA nForce4 4X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
$45.99
3 Business Day Shipping $5.64

---------------------------

RAM:

CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145440) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
$74.99
3 Business Day Shipping $4.99

-or if you want 2GB-

G.SKILL Value 2GB (2 x 1GB) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231039) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail
$149.99
3 Business Day Shipping $4.99

---------------------------

Graphics Card:

GIGABYTE GV-NX76T256D-RH (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814125025) GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Silent Pipe II, Lead Free Video Card - Retail
$149.99
($119.99 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate)
3 Business Day Shipping $6.13

---------------------------

Power Supply:

FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX450-PN (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104954), 12cm FAN, version 2.2, 2 SATA, PCI Express, 450W Power Supply - Retail
$53.99
3 Business Day Shipping $7.64

---------------------------

Monitor: (I wouldn't recommend widescreen for CIV, but otherwise your choice looks good.)

Hanns·G JW-199DPB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824254001) Black 19" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 700:1 Built in Speakers - Retail
$179.99
Free 3 Business Day Shipping

---------------------------

Headphones: (your choice looks good)

SENNHEISER PX100 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826106333) 3.5mm Connector Supra-aural OpenAir Dynamic stereo mini Headphone - Retail
$49.99
3 Business Day Shipping $5.64

---------------------------

Case Fans: (because having noisy fans makes having quiet PS, CPU, and GPU cooling useless. On the lowest setting, these are almost dead silent, and move enough air to do the job. Get 3 of these if your case has room for them. With that passively cooled GPU, you're going to want good airflow. (2 blowing in, 1 out if possible). I love these fans... have one on each of my current CPU heatsinks, 2 in each case, and had one on my graphics card for quite a while too.)

ARCTIC COOLING Arctic Fan Pro2L (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835186109) 80mm Blue LED Case Fan - Retail ARCTIC COOLING Arctic Fan Pro2L 80mm Blue LED Case Fan - Retail
$3.49
3 Business Day Shipping $4.99

---------------------------

$612.88 (with 1GB DDR)
-$30.00 mail in rebate
+$55.64 S&H
----------
$638.52

If you don't care about system noise, you could cut out the fans (-$25.44) and use what you have. You could also get the retail Sempron 2800+ (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819104245), dropping the CPU Heatsink/Cooler and thermal compound and just going with the stock cooler (-$31.60). Dropping to a 7600GS (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130075) (-$40) is another good option. The 7600GS will still be quite a bit better than the 6600GT, so given that it's available for the same price (after rebate), should be the minimum you consider.

[LordShiva]

Teh BUILD SLOWW A NEW COMPUTER GAME!

Here is what you need:

E6300 Core 2 Duo for $187 shipped from Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005&ATT=19-115-005&CMP=OTC-Froogle)

Mobo

Gigabyte DS3 for $130 from Chief Value aka Newegg (http://www.chiefvalue.com/product/productdetails.aspx?linkid=111&item=13-128-012)


Overclocking Article on the the duo (http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles/view.php?id=2025&cid=6&pg=2)

Excerpt:
For our overclocking tests on the GA-965P-DS3, we used the infamous Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 processor, reduced the multiplier to 6x and set the memory divider at its lowest before we tried to ramp up the motherboard FSB. Using stock Intel CPU cooling and just a slight voltage bump to the MCH, the GA-965P-DS3 effortlessly clocks right up to 480MHz FSB or a whopping 1920MHz quad pumped PSB. Using a 7x CPU multiplier (highest possible), our little Core 2 Duo E6300 was running at 3.36GHz, 1.5GHz above stock and already exceeding the current retail clocks of the Core 2 Extreme X6800.

For RAM:

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 - $180 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145590)

or a little lighter on the wallet

CORSAIR XMS2 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 $110 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145566)


Get a $5 40mm fan to mount on the North Bridge (the big heatsink) on this system to cool it off (if you're going for a heavy OC - I see no reason not to). eBay and www.svc.com have good stock of these.

Here is a selection of 40x40x20 fans from SVC($4.99), First class shipping is $1.25 (http://svcompucycle.stores.yahoo.net/40x20fans.html)


This is a little more expensive than the system you or Aeson built, but worth it, IMO. I'd sacrifice a restaurant dinner for it.

[Asher]

I second that.

[Krill]

Slow, I wouldn't play CIV on anything lower than a 6600 if you want half decent graphics...

and 7600GT :b: I've got one clocked at 590MHz, and it runs CIV flawlessly. I might get a second and another moniter if needed to play Supreme Commander when that comes out in a few weeks.

[Aeson]

You must eat expensive dinners LS! ;)

If he's ok with spending ~$850 and overclocking, a E6300 (or E4200) would be the way to go of course. It's what I'm building for my brother in fact. (Again though, probably best to wait a month on the E6300 and get that extra 2MB of L2 cache in any case.) But as he's asking us for advice, I'd assume OC'ing is out of the question, which drops the value of the E6300 (or E4200) option quite a bit for his purposes. He could get by with less expensive MB and RAM in that case.

Sloww may be able to reuse his DDR with my recommendation if he has PC3200. If his PS is up to snuff too, and he goes for the cheaper/noisier options it'd widen the gap considerably. It's $640 vs $850 at the high end, $400 vs $750 at the low end. (And if you look at it sans monitor/headphones which are givens, it's $170 vs $520.)

[SlowwHand]

I'm saving the thread. Thanks for the help.

Imran, my hope is that Playful can put it together. If not, I have a fallback plan.