need help deciding

twoodcc · Sep 28, 2005, 11:12 PM

i need to decide to upgrade my current system, or just start all over on a new one. here is my current setup:

Asus p4p800-deluxe motherboard
p4 2.4 ghz w/HT
2 gb pc2700 ram
80 gb SATA hd
160 gb IDE hd
ATI AIW 9800 pro 128

if i upgraded my system, i would consider upgrading to maybe a raptor hd, or even 2 raptors in a raid, or maybe upgrading to p4 3.4 ghz processor.

or should i just start all over? get the top-of-the-line motherboard, and go from there? if i did, i would want dual-core intel. but i don't have that much money.

what do you think?

thanks in advance

Lowfat · Sep 29, 2005, 02:00 AM

you could always upgrade to a Pentium M cpu

twoodcc · Sep 29, 2005, 05:30 PM

why would i want to do that?

twoodcc · Sep 30, 2005, 06:02 AM

is an upgrade from 2.4 ghz to 3.4 ghz with 1mb cache worth $280? big difference?

CDsDontBurn · Sep 30, 2005, 09:11 AM

hmm....TBH, w/all the new hardware out there today, it would be best to get all new IMO. 775 is in 478 is out. Pentium D is what's new and hot for intel. And intel has just barely figured out that clock speed isn't everything.

but if all you're doing is just replacing the chip, then yes, it's still worth it

twoodcc · Sep 30, 2005, 02:51 PM

thanks. yeah if i had the money, i would just build a new system with one of the new processors. but i can't afford it (college student - no income). so i guess i'll upgrade the processor.

CDsDontBurn · Sep 30, 2005, 04:16 PM

also, make sure that your MoBo has the newest available BIOS for it. if you got your MoBo when it first came out, then your MoBo probably doesn't support the prescott core if you haven't flashed the BIOS since you first got your rig.

twoodcc · Sep 30, 2005, 04:56 PM

thanks. i know i've upgraded the BIOS once (maybe even twice). i guess i should check for a new one also. i think my motherboard supports 3.4 EE 478. should i save some money and go for that? or just buy the regular 3.4?

CDsDontBurn · Sep 30, 2005, 07:27 PM

just get the 3.4e dude. the EE is overpriced for barely any performance difference.

Rasta Monsta · Sep 30, 2005, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDsDontBurn

just get the 3.4e dude. the EE is overpriced for barely any performance difference.

HAR, my purple Avi says different...

CDsDontBurn · Sep 30, 2005, 07:46 PM

lol....that's only cuz you didn't lose 1,500 '03 points

Rasta Monsta · Sep 30, 2005, 07:52 PM

Seriously though, I was considering the same stuff as you are not long ago. I decided to go balls to the wall with my i875e platform, and stop the upgrade madness for a while. The result was a blazing fast rig that I am very happy with.

For you, that could mean a RAID array, a new CPU & a better vid card, all worth it for preserving your very good quality mainboard. That sort of upgrade will definately tide you over for quite a while.

rasta

twoodcc · Oct 3, 2005, 02:07 AM

thanks for the input. i'm still thinking about what i'm going to do. yeah, the pentium ee is not an option. i might even sell my current system and start over. if i was going to do that, what's the best motherboard out right now?

CDsDontBurn · Oct 3, 2005, 04:07 AM

the first question if you were to start over, would you go with Intel or AMD? Once that is decided then you can look at options for DDR or DDR2 depending on which you decide going with. Video card would obviously have to be PCI-E format

twoodcc · Oct 3, 2005, 04:38 AM

well, what do you think i should do? i've never had an amd before though. so far, i've seen that amd doesnt't supprot DDR2, correct? so aren't they behind?

twoodcc · Oct 3, 2005, 05:45 PM

so basically what i'm asking is which is the best to buy right now? amd or intel? also, if i want to have an all-in-wonder card, do i have to go with intel?

CDsDontBurn · Oct 3, 2005, 06:03 PM

from what i understand, AMD will not go DDR 2. their processors perform better w/DDR than they would w/DDR2.

the only thing i can say as to guide you to making your purchase, is simply ask you what it is that you will be doing on the computer once it is up and running. based on that, we can only recommend what it is that you should buy (but you still have the choice of buying it or not).

now, that AIW card you want to have, do you already have it, or will you be buying a new one?

twoodcc · Oct 3, 2005, 06:05 PM

well i will be doing some video editing, but that's not all i will be doing. i'm not a big gamer, but i might play some games.

i would buy a new AIW pcie card with the new system.

basically i just want a very fast computer

CDsDontBurn · Oct 3, 2005, 06:07 PM

ok, what kind of video editing?

twoodcc · Oct 3, 2005, 06:32 PM

nothing too fancy. mainly recording and editing tv, (maybe eventually HDTV if possible), editing videos that i make with my camera (sony dvd handycam), etc. when i mean edit, i mean sometimes changing the format of the video, adding music to either the dvd menu or the actual movie itself, etc

i would also be burning dvds

twoodcc · Oct 3, 2005, 09:38 PM

did that help any?

CDsDontBurn · Oct 3, 2005, 11:21 PM

yes that does. if that is what you will be doing on your computer, then i would definatley recommend that you go w/intel. intel CPUs are better designed for that kind of work that you'll be doing on your computer.

twoodcc · Oct 4, 2005, 04:54 AM

ok, so in that case, what's the best intel motherboard out there? or should i wait awhile? but i don't want to wait forever

CDsDontBurn · Oct 4, 2005, 05:38 AM

for best, you gotta do research on that IMO. but my personal favorite is the MSI 945 chipset MoBo. The MSI P4N Intel SLI edition MoBo is also one of my favorite MoBos for intel.

For CPU, i'd get a minimum of the 650 (3.4Ghz 2Mb L2 cache, 800Mhz FSB) CPU, 2Gb of DDR667, and a 7800GTX gfx card is the way i'd build a p4 machine right now.

**dj_stick** · Oct 4, 2005, 05:51 AM

the gigabyte 945 based boards, like the 8i945p-pro are looking good aswell

twoodcc · Oct 4, 2005, 05:52 AM

so you don't think i should go for pentium D?

as far as the graphics card, should i go with AIW for tv capture, or hdtv wonder, or what?

twoodcc · Oct 4, 2005, 02:04 PM

any ideas? you said go for nvidia 7800GTX, but i have to capture video somehow.

CDsDontBurn · Oct 4, 2005, 05:19 PM

lol....i said the 7800GTX cuz i'm a gamer at heart

. i said that's how i would build a system for me right now. the 8x0 chips are nice chips don't get me wrong, but w/intel i feel that a chip that can do HT will perform similarly to one that has dual core. But i also haven't done enough research on that to prove or dis-prove my point on that.

twoodcc · Oct 4, 2005, 05:28 PM

ok, so if you needed to record tv, videor from camera or other video source, what would you get? would you just get an AIW, or would you have something like the 7800GTX and then a pci hdtv wonder, or pci tv wonder, etc?

also, what's a nice case and power supply that isn't too expensive?

also, am i really saving any money by building the computer myself?

CDsDontBurn · Oct 4, 2005, 05:34 PM

i wouldn't use my computer for recording tv

.

the OCZ PowerStream is an excellent PSU, and the Lian-Li PC65b is the case i would get.

you do save money only because you have the parts you want in your machine, not somebody else's parts. on top of that, you have all the software you want on your machine, not some stupid trial period stuff software by somebody else installed.

Sep 28, 2005, 11:12 PM	#1
twoodcc DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 143 Rep Power: 0	need help deciding i need to decide to upgrade my current system, or just start all over on a new one. here is my current setup: Asus p4p800-deluxe motherboard p4 2.4 ghz w/HT 2 gb pc2700 ram 80 gb SATA hd 160 gb IDE hd ATI AIW 9800 pro 128 if i upgraded my system, i would consider upgrading to maybe a raptor hd, or even 2 raptors in a raid, or maybe upgrading to p4 3.4 ghz processor. or should i just start all over? get the top-of-the-line motherboard, and go from there? if i did, i would want dual-core intel. but i don't have that much money. what do you think? thanks in advance

Sep 29, 2005, 02:00 AM	#2
Lowfat Xtreme Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can Posts: 4,254 Rep Power: 101	you could always upgrade to a Pentium M cpu __________________

Sep 30, 2005, 09:11 AM	#5
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	hmm....TBH, w/all the new hardware out there today, it would be best to get all new IMO. 775 is in 478 is out. Pentium D is what's new and hot for intel. And intel has just barely figured out that clock speed isn't everything. but if all you're doing is just replacing the chip, then yes, it's still worth it __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Sep 30, 2005, 04:16 PM	#7
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	also, make sure that your MoBo has the newest available BIOS for it. if you got your MoBo when it first came out, then your MoBo probably doesn't support the prescott core if you haven't flashed the BIOS since you first got your rig. __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Sep 30, 2005, 07:27 PM	#9
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	just get the 3.4e dude. the EE is overpriced for barely any performance difference. __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Sep 29, 2005, 05:30 PM	Thread Starter #3
twoodcc DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 143 Rep Power: 0	why would i want to do that?

Sep 30, 2005, 06:02 AM	Thread Starter #4
twoodcc DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 143 Rep Power: 0	is an upgrade from 2.4 ghz to 3.4 ghz with 1mb cache worth $280? big difference?

Sep 30, 2005, 02:51 PM	Thread Starter #6
twoodcc DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 143 Rep Power: 0	thanks. yeah if i had the money, i would just build a new system with one of the new processors. but i can't afford it (college student - no income). so i guess i'll upgrade the processor.

Sep 30, 2005, 04:56 PM	Thread Starter #8
twoodcc DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 143 Rep Power: 0	thanks. i know i've upgraded the BIOS once (maybe even twice). i guess i should check for a new one also. i think my motherboard supports 3.4 EE 478. should i save some money and go for that? or just buy the regular 3.4?

Sep 30, 2005, 07:46 PM	#11
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	lol....that's only cuz you didn't lose 1,500 '03 points __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Oct 3, 2005, 02:07 AM	Thread Starter #13
twoodcc DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 143 Rep Power: 0	thanks for the input. i'm still thinking about what i'm going to do. yeah, the pentium ee is not an option. i might even sell my current system and start over. if i was going to do that, what's the best motherboard out right now?

Oct 3, 2005, 04:07 AM	#14
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	the first question if you were to start over, would you go with Intel or AMD? Once that is decided then you can look at options for DDR or DDR2 depending on which you decide going with. Video card would obviously have to be PCI-E format __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Oct 3, 2005, 04:38 AM	Thread Starter #15
twoodcc DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 143 Rep Power: 0	well, what do you think i should do? i've never had an amd before though. so far, i've seen that amd doesnt't supprot DDR2, correct? so aren't they behind?

Oct 3, 2005, 05:45 PM	Thread Starter #16
twoodcc DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 143 Rep Power: 0	so basically what i'm asking is which is the best to buy right now? amd or intel? also, if i want to have an all-in-wonder card, do i have to go with intel?

Oct 3, 2005, 06:03 PM	#17
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	from what i understand, AMD will not go DDR 2. their processors perform better w/DDR than they would w/DDR2. the only thing i can say as to guide you to making your purchase, is simply ask you what it is that you will be doing on the computer once it is up and running. based on that, we can only recommend what it is that you should buy (but you still have the choice of buying it or not). now, that AIW card you want to have, do you already have it, or will you be buying a new one? __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Oct 3, 2005, 06:05 PM	Thread Starter #18
twoodcc DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 143 Rep Power: 0	well i will be doing some video editing, but that's not all i will be doing. i'm not a big gamer, but i might play some games. i would buy a new AIW pcie card with the new system. basically i just want a very fast computer

Oct 3, 2005, 06:07 PM	#19
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	ok, what kind of video editing? __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Oct 3, 2005, 06:32 PM	Thread Starter #20
twoodcc DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 143 Rep Power: 0	nothing too fancy. mainly recording and editing tv, (maybe eventually HDTV if possible), editing videos that i make with my camera (sony dvd handycam), etc. when i mean edit, i mean sometimes changing the format of the video, adding music to either the dvd menu or the actual movie itself, etc i would also be burning dvds

Oct 3, 2005, 09:38 PM	Thread Starter #21
twoodcc DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 143 Rep Power: 0	did that help any?

Oct 3, 2005, 11:21 PM	#22
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	yes that does. if that is what you will be doing on your computer, then i would definatley recommend that you go w/intel. intel CPUs are better designed for that kind of work that you'll be doing on your computer. __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Oct 4, 2005, 04:54 AM	Thread Starter #23
twoodcc DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 143 Rep Power: 0	ok, so in that case, what's the best intel motherboard out there? or should i wait awhile? but i don't want to wait forever

Oct 4, 2005, 05:38 AM	#24
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	for best, you gotta do research on that IMO. but my personal favorite is the MSI 945 chipset MoBo. The MSI P4N Intel SLI edition MoBo is also one of my favorite MoBos for intel. For CPU, i'd get a minimum of the 650 (3.4Ghz 2Mb L2 cache, 800Mhz FSB) CPU, 2Gb of DDR667, and a 7800GTX gfx card is the way i'd build a p4 machine right now. __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Oct 4, 2005, 05:52 AM	Thread Starter #26
twoodcc DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 143 Rep Power: 0	so you don't think i should go for pentium D? as far as the graphics card, should i go with AIW for tv capture, or hdtv wonder, or what?

Oct 4, 2005, 02:04 PM	Thread Starter #27
twoodcc DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 143 Rep Power: 0	any ideas? you said go for nvidia 7800GTX, but i have to capture video somehow.

Oct 4, 2005, 05:19 PM	#28
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	lol....i said the 7800GTX cuz i'm a gamer at heart . i said that's how i would build a system for me right now. the 8x0 chips are nice chips don't get me wrong, but w/intel i feel that a chip that can do HT will perform similarly to one that has dual core. But i also haven't done enough research on that to prove or dis-prove my point on that. __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Oct 4, 2005, 05:28 PM	Thread Starter #29
twoodcc DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 143 Rep Power: 0	ok, so if you needed to record tv, videor from camera or other video source, what would you get? would you just get an AIW, or would you have something like the 7800GTX and then a pci hdtv wonder, or pci tv wonder, etc? also, what's a nice case and power supply that isn't too expensive? also, am i really saving any money by building the computer myself?

Oct 4, 2005, 05:34 PM	#30
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	i wouldn't use my computer for recording tv . the OCZ PowerStream is an excellent PSU, and the Lian-Li PC65b is the case i would get. you do save money only because you have the parts you want in your machine, not somebody else's parts. on top of that, you have all the software you want on your machine, not some stupid trial period stuff software by somebody else installed. __________________ Her First Day \| A year later