what kind of video card and CPU should i get?

BigCaulk69 · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2001 8:11 am Post subject:

im getting a new comp soon and i just wanted some recommendations for performance and value. i heard somewhere that AMD is better for gaming, but i have no clue if that was true or not.

btw i got a budget of $600-800 to get a whole new system excluding monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers if that helps any.
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BigCaulk69 aka Daddywarbucks69 aka 3===[JJJJ=====D~~~~~ aka any astros player aka whatever the hell i feel like putting

[ This Message was edited by: BigCaulk69 on 2001-12-27 08:13 ]

John Doe · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2001 8:25 am Post subject:

Im a big fan of the new AMD XP CPU's, get as fast of one as you can afford. Also, make sure you get a good motherboard. Skip the PC133 ram and go for DDR ram. As for the video card buy as good of one as you can afford. The new ATI radeon cards are impressing some people but I also understand that there are some driver issues with them.

So here is an example of a system I just built for myself:

ECS K7S5A Motherboard (Lower end budget board, but fine if your not planning on overclocking)
AMD Athelon XP 1800+
512mb Micron DDR Ram
Asus V7700 Gforce 2 TI 64mb card

Hope that helps, but if not visit some of the hardware sites out there and read their reviews. http://www.tomshardware.com, http://www.amdzone.com, http://www.amdmb.com

JD

OBTW, make sure you buy a good case, a extra case fan or 2 and a really good heatsink and fan.

[ This Message was edited by: JohnDoe on 2001-12-27 08:25 ]

stupid · Registered User Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 75

I built my system not to long ago. A good resource for price comparison is http://www.pricewatch.com , They dont always have the lowest price but it will tell you how realistic your budget is.
btw, I went with AMD and I am very happy with my Athlon

ROOFCUTTER · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2001 9:45 am Post subject:

Are you capable of putting together your own system?
If so do you have a OS already or are you going to have to buy it.
In your price range the OS will eat up a large chunk of your budget.
Asus and Abit are good Motherboards that have been around and support their products.
If you live close to a group of chain computer stores watch there ads and when a piece for your system goes on sale, get it.
If you have several months, this is the best way you can get a kick butt system for relatively cheap.

Most important whatever you buy look it up first and read the reviews on it.
Don't wait, go to the sites that JD posted and read them to get a feel for what is available and the price ranges.

Don't forget that a used computer might be an option. you can usually get the whole ball of wax for a cheap price. But be careful someone dosen't take advantage of you.
We sell our old systems and the people who get them get a good deal if not somewhat dated technology. But if the systems are only a year or so old your still in there.

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If you go in there Gordon, nothing will ever be the same again.

[ This Message was edited by: ROOFCUTTER on 2001-12-27 14:03 ]

ProudWhiteTrash · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2001 11:07 am Post subject:

When p4's were big money athlons looked sweet but now prices have come down tons and the faster bus speed is looking kinda nice.

Here's some tips from a hardware junkie.

Make sure your mobo is ata 100 7200 rpm

If your going with a Athlon make sure you get a good fan/heatsink combo. Some suggest the orb but imo is isnt very good cause you have to cut off some of the fins to get it to fit.

Also if you get a Athlon a 300watt power supply is a must.

Also make sure u get the 266 mhz front side bus mother board

ATI video card are deadly I run a cheapo 32 meg DDR radion VE duel display edition and it was only 100 bux.

<TVB>IdiotSavant · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2001 11:12 am Post subject:

Go for the geforce2 vid card. They usually have less of a driver issue when new patches and new games come out.

I run a radeon 32 meg ddr and it is fine, but i usually have 1 to 2 weeks after a patch where i am having to wait on an ATI patch or a valve patch for the ATI. =(

IdiotSavant

"Tag Lines, we don't need no stinking tag lines."

[ This Message was edited by: IdiotSavant on 2001-12-27 13:55 ]

BigCaulk69 · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2001 2:41 pm Post subject:

hey thanks for the suggestions/info and links. i've been looking up the stuff yall said. its amazing how much everything has dropped in price. i'll let yall know what i get tomorrow. it will be much nicer when i can play on theville and not have my comp screen turn into a slide show when i run into spam.

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BigCaulk69 · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2001 2:45 pm Post subject:

hey one other thing what importance is the 300 watt power supply? does that affect speed? also why do i need multiple or specialized fans? does the AMD run that hot? and also my roommate was telling me that the heat affects the speed, is that the reason why i need these fans?

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ROOFCUTTER · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2001 3:18 pm Post subject:

Maybe you should reserach a little more so you know what your buying before you runout and plunk your money down.
Mistakes are expensive and hard to fix and usually uncovered much to late so be careful.

ProudWhiteTrash · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2001 3:49 pm Post subject:

I ran a 250 watt supply and had a ton of problems. I researched a little and found out that the 300 was better for amd and my problems all disapeared. As for the special fan check out this link:

http://www6.tomshardware.com/cpu/01q3/010917/heatvideo-05.html#download_the_first_toms_hardware_test_lab_video

better safe than sorry with your cpu.
Roofcutter is right research your system before you buy your parts or you'll be sorry. If your going to build your own box this link might help:

http://www.hardwarecentral.com/hardwarecentral/tutorials/109/1

Kjeldorian Royal Guard 42 · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2001 4:17 pm Post subject:

I use the P-4 cpu but I have heard from many that AMD's are better. As or video cards, I like Vipers but they can set you back about $300 buckaroos.

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OSU Snipe Shocker · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2001 4:18 pm Post subject:

About the video card...

In the latest issue of Computer Gaming world they had a list of the top 10 gaming PC's on the market, and the number one pc (A VooDoo produced PC) had an ATI card, and it had the highest frame rate, and the highest benchmark tests, beating out the geForce cards in the other machines. I wish i had the exact card, but I am at work now, and don't have the magazine handy. I'll probably post it later tonight though.

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BigCaulk69 · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2001 4:58 pm Post subject:

well im not building the system or anything. i'm just basically trying to get others opinions on what products are good. I'm still debated on whether or not to get a new video card. I have a 32mbDiamond Viper V770 Ultra, its been good for me, but i got it awhile back so I figure it might be time to upgrade. Though it was close to top of the line when I got it.

Anyhow, I figure if I can study for most of a midterm in a night I can get some computer buying research in tonight.

Also, should I stick with Windows ME for now and wait for some of the bugs with XP to get fixed or should I just go ahead and get XP?

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MunkeyEye · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2001 5:04 pm Post subject:

I got a 64mb Voodoo 5500 a while back and was disappointed with the framerates during gameplay. I returned it, then ordered the new (then) 64mb Geforce2 Ultra, waited for the longest time for it, and never regretted the purchase since.

"YOU CAN'T PUT A PRICE ON ENTERTAINMENT!"

cstone · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2001 6:03 pm Post subject:

From the 2001 holiday edition of PC Gamer:

Entry Level System (roughly $999)
-Case: 300 watt ATX $100
-Processor: AMD Duron 1GHz $67
-Motherboard: Asus A7V-133 $76
-Memory: 256MB PC133 SDRAM $13 [cheap!]
-Video Card: GeForce2 Pro 64MB DDR $100
-Disk Drives, Monitor, Sound etc also listed - bringing the price up to 999

Mid-Range System (roughly $1800)
-Case: 300 watt ATX $100
-Processor: AMD Thunderbird 1.4GHz $100
-Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-7DX $93
-Memory: 256MB PC2100 DDR SDRAM $25
-Video Card: GeForce3 Ti 200 $186

Dream System ($3000 and above)
-Case: P4 ready 300 watt ATX $100
-Processor: Intel P4 2GHz $530 [ouch!]
-Motherboard: Intel 850 based chipset $138
-Memory: two sticks of 256MB PC800 RDRAM $138
-Video Card: GeForce3 Ti 500 $350

I highly reccomend PC Gamer if you are building a system. Check the Hard Stuff section towards the back.

Good info here as well:
http://www.tomshardware.com/ [very detailed hardware info]
http://www.pricewatch.com/ [directory of small independent e-stores selling hardware - great prices usually]
http://www.theregister.co.uk/ [occasionaly some hardware related news pops up here]

[ This Message was edited by: cstone on 2001-12-27 18:28 ]