Opinion on Components

trvmcnevan · Aug 15, 2006, 02:38 AM

Next question (we're getting closer to the end...): Is the OEM version really picky about changing hardware? I read one review that said OEM will lock you out if you change your video card or something, and that'd be an issue for me cause I plan to add some extra hardware later on...

CDsDontBurn · Aug 15, 2006, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trvmcnevan

Next question (we're getting closer to the end...): Is the OEM version really picky about changing hardware? I read one review that said OEM will lock you out if you change your video card or something, and that'd be an issue for me cause I plan to add some extra hardware later on...

well, AFAIK, the only differences between both OEM and retail versions of winXP (both home and pro), is that in the retail version you get a pretty little box, a 100pg. instruction manual, and you pay about an extra $100 (USD).

H3X4D3C1M4L · Aug 15, 2006, 04:56 PM

It won't matter... all you need is the serial number really and then you can use whatever version of XP home/pro you want (SP1, SP2, etc)

trvmcnevan · Aug 16, 2006, 10:09 PM

okay, so I was waiting for my corsair memory to come in stock so I could buy everything all together, then the memory came and the conroe went out. It's annoying.
Edit: The conroe went "out of stock" for like an hour and then came back. Weird.

trvmcnevan · Aug 17, 2006, 08:32 PM

Another question for those who are not sick of me yet: From a experienced techie's point of view, which video card is better - Radeon or Geforce?

Edit: Also, is there any alternate place you'd suggest buying the conroe from? It's not supposed to come to newegg for about a month!

Iroth · Aug 19, 2006, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trvmcnevan

Another question for those who are not sick of me yet: From a experienced techie's point of view, which video card is better - Radeon or Geforce?

Edit: Also, is there any alternate place you'd suggest buying the conroe from? It's not supposed to come to newegg for about a month!

Dollar for dollar the ATI card is the better choice. And it's cheaper.

As far as the conroe chip goes, I think they're like that all over the place. I've heard good things about tigerdirect.com and have heard of zipzoomfly.com but I don't have any experience with either of them. Use the clicky below to ask for and find more information about them and possibly others

http://driverheaven.net/forumdisplay.php?f=121

The only piece of advice I can really give you at this point is use google and do research on each part you're looking to buy. There's plenty of opinions on what to get, but ultimately you're the one stuck with what you buy. Make sure you know what to expect and how to get around any problems that arise - because they always do.

CDsDontBurn · Aug 20, 2006, 04:03 AM

IMO, i'd get the nVidia card. mostly because of the CP layout....just as easy to use, and it doesn't take up half of your sytem's resources

.

trvmcnevan · Aug 24, 2006, 09:19 PM

Okay, so I've got all my parts except the processor now (it was out of stock earlier...). I went with the asus board by the way. It's down to the video cards now. I googled some stuff and came up with a hothardware comparison between the x1900 and the 7900, and ultimately found that, well the 7900 seems to perform a lot better. Question here is which company is more reliable in your opinion? MSI or BFG Tech

CDsDontBurn · Aug 24, 2006, 11:35 PM

BFG

MSI should stick to making MoBos......that's just my opinion though

however, just looking at the two links you've provided.......the MSI card shows better clock cycles over the BFG card. although, i know that BFG provides a lifetime warranty on their products, i'm not too sure about MSI.

Erusaro · Aug 25, 2006, 10:06 PM

AMD athlon 64 3500+ only 100 bucks on tigerdirect way awesome and if you dont wanna do alot of gaming they have good deals on like an nvidia 6700 gt 128 and you can always get a good gigabit mother board that will support sata drives and then get a couple of cheap western digital sata (the case really doesnt matter and the power supply as long as you got 350 watts your good)((though 500 is nice for a huge gaming pc or a server not really for you))

Aug 16, 2006, 10:09 PM	Thread Starter #34
trvmcnevan DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 14 Rep Power: 0	frustrated okay, so I was waiting for my corsair memory to come in stock so I could buy everything all together, then the memory came and the conroe went out. It's annoying. Edit: The conroe went "out of stock" for like an hour and then came back. Weird. Last edited by trvmcnevan; Aug 17, 2006 at 02:34 AM.

Aug 20, 2006, 04:03 AM	#37
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	IMO, i'd get the nVidia card. mostly because of the CP layout....just as easy to use, and it doesn't take up half of your sytem's resources . __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Aug 24, 2006, 11:35 PM	#39
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	BFG MSI should stick to making MoBos......that's just my opinion though however, just looking at the two links you've provided.......the MSI card shows better clock cycles over the BFG card. although, i know that BFG provides a lifetime warranty on their products, i'm not too sure about MSI. __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Aug 15, 2006, 02:38 AM	Thread Starter #31
trvmcnevan DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 14 Rep Power: 0	Next question (we're getting closer to the end...): Is the OEM version really picky about changing hardware? I read one review that said OEM will lock you out if you change your video card or something, and that'd be an issue for me cause I plan to add some extra hardware later on...

Aug 15, 2006, 04:56 PM	#33
H3X4D3C1M4L DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,794 Rep Power: 0	It won't matter... all you need is the serial number really and then you can use whatever version of XP home/pro you want (SP1, SP2, etc)

Aug 17, 2006, 08:32 PM	Thread Starter #35
trvmcnevan DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 14 Rep Power: 0	Another question for those who are not sick of me yet: From a experienced techie's point of view, which video card is better - Radeon or Geforce? Edit: Also, is there any alternate place you'd suggest buying the conroe from? It's not supposed to come to newegg for about a month!

Aug 24, 2006, 09:19 PM	Thread Starter #38
trvmcnevan DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 14 Rep Power: 0	Okay, so I've got all my parts except the processor now (it was out of stock earlier...). I went with the asus board by the way. It's down to the video cards now. I googled some stuff and came up with a hothardware comparison between the x1900 and the 7900, and ultimately found that, well the 7900 seems to perform a lot better. Question here is which company is more reliable in your opinion? MSI or BFG Tech

Aug 25, 2006, 10:06 PM	#40
Erusaro DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	AMD athlon 64 3500+ only 100 bucks on tigerdirect way awesome and if you dont wanna do alot of gaming they have good deals on like an nvidia 6700 gt 128 and you can always get a good gigabit mother board that will support sata drives and then get a couple of cheap western digital sata (the case really doesnt matter and the power supply as long as you got 350 watts your good)((though 500 is nice for a huge gaming pc or a server not really for you))