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Re: New Computer Research [message #203586 is a reply to message #203573] |
Mon, 12 June 2006 20:50 |
mision08
Messages: 525 Registered: May 2005 Location: Cattle Drive, Dallas to F...
Karma: 0
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Colonel |
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Congrats on your graduation!
I trust you have a 4.0 GPA to flaunt about.
My advise is to spend wisely, maybe even purchase some used hardware. Now would be a good time, with AMD releasing a new socket PGA earlier this month. I know for me, I can enjoy playing games with a $160.00 video card much more than with a $500.00 card. If I spend $500 on a video card I expect to get wet when I walk under the waterfall at Field.
P.S. Get a good PSU, especially if your build includes an SLI set up, OCZ XV series memory or a DFI motherboard. Insufficient power has caused numerous problems for people using the DFI boards.
Is this supposed to be a laptop?
True Greatness, and just a good human
The best finish, closest finish in the 50 year history of Winston Cup
Freddy Krueger music video
Harvester Of Sorrow, language of the mad
Johnny Cash & Bob Dylan A Thousand Miles Behind
Your own personal Jesus, someone to hear your prayers
Kyle's mom is a bitch
Johnny Cash Live @ San Quentin
Don't Y'all Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out Of Hand?
[Updated on: Tue, 13 June 2006 07:40] Report message to a moderator
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Re: New Computer Research [message #203747 is a reply to message #203573] |
Tue, 13 June 2006 16:28 |
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Renx
Messages: 2321 Registered: April 2003 Location: Canada
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General (2 Stars) Category Moderator |
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This is a really bad time to build a computer.
On July 23rd Intel is releasing it's new CPUs(Core 2 Duo), and the day after that AMD CPUs prices will be cut almost in half.
AMD will not have an attractive new CPU until early 2007, when K8L comes out. The only thing they will really have going for them after July 23rd is incredibly low prices. X2 3800s are expected to hit $160 USD or lower. Single core A64s will be well below $100. Any CPU you buy now will be completely devalued and outdated in just over a month.
DirectX 10 cards are coming out in the fall, most likely November. Any card you buy now will not run games on DX10, obviously. Trying to sell a DX9 card when DX10 is the new standard will not go over well with your wallet(assuming you'd decide to upgrade when DX10 comes out). If you must build now though, I'd go with a 7900GT(less than $300) or 7600GT(less than $200), they provide awesome performance for their cost.
Nforce5 mobos are only out for AM2 socket CPUs right now. I'm not sure if K8L will use AM2 or not though, they might use a different socket(AM3). If K8L will use AM2, this would be the best way to go. If not, you're just going to be building yourself a brickwall in terms of performce. Not to mention wasting your money.
Your best bet is to hold off building until at least august or september. That way you can go with eVGA and be within stepup reach of their DX10 nvidia cards(Step-Up is a program that lets you return your card to eVGA, and pay the difference between what you paid for it and what the new card you want costs. It must be within 3 months of purchase though). By then Core2 will also have been out for a bit and the prices will have dropped slightly(always costs more for the first few weeks after release).
If you absolutely must build now, make sure you choose very wisely. You may want to upgrade again this fall or next year, and you will want to replace the minimum amount of parts possible.
~Canucck
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Re: New Computer Research [message #203752 is a reply to message #203573] |
Tue, 13 June 2006 16:56 |
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rm5248
Messages: 1156 Registered: November 2003 Location: USA
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General (1 Star) |
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I'm looking to buy a new computer soon-- If you want a good processor, I've heard that AMD's Opterons are very good, because they have a large (2x 1MB) L2 cache, plus you can get them for normal socket 939 Motherboards. They also overclock better, so (if you really want to) you could probably get them to FX-60 speeds. They're also a lot cheaper (they start at $330 on Newegg). A good video card is the 7600GT. I belive that it's one of the best value cards under $200.
It really depends on what you're looking for. Perhaps you should ask at THG.
w00t?
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Re: New Computer Research [message #203760 is a reply to message #203573] |
Tue, 13 June 2006 18:49 |
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mrpirate
Messages: 1262 Registered: March 2003 Location: Ontario
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General (1 Star) |
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The problem with computers is that it's ALWAYS a bad time to build one, because new technology is ALWAYS just around the corner. Arguably, perhaps, right before the release of DirectX 10 is not the best time to upgrade, but, conversely, perhaps right afterwards isn't either. DirectX 9 and the GeForce FX 5800 anyone? The truth is that although I have upgraded my video card on a couple occasions over the past 3 years I haven't really done much with the rest of my computer and don't imagine I would with the new one when it's built. So although upgradability is an interesting idea, it may very likely be moot (assuming PCI Express x16 will suffice for the next couple years, which it obviously will). And although price-cuts are interesting, if I can currently get an Athlon 64 3800+ for $171 Canadian, I don't think I'll feel too bad.
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Re: New Computer Research [message #203787 is a reply to message #203783] |
Tue, 13 June 2006 23:20 |
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Alright, but you should wait for the price drops and get an Opteron processor if possible. Also get AM2 if you plan to get minor upgrades later (as in within a year or two) (a DirectX 10 is highly suggested due to the whole Vista thing, but it isn't necessary to run it).
FUCK
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Re: New Computer Research [message #203793 is a reply to message #203573] |
Wed, 14 June 2006 00:07 |
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Doitle
Messages: 1723 Registered: February 2003 Location: Chicago, IL
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General (1 Star) Moderator/Captain |
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Wow Exdeath thanks, now that's what I'm talking about. That looks like a good system to me. Plus that's only $1061 roughly without a case, keyboard, mouse, monitor, soundcard, or optical drives. Case I could add another maybe 70-100$, Mouse would just be a MS Intellimouse, Monitor should be cheap considering I want a CRT and they are practically giving those away... Keyboard would be a regular Microsoft Internet Keyboard, or Maybe a Saitek Eclipse if I want to get pinky-out fancy. Soundcard... I don't know exactly what I would get there, Are there any nice 5.1 Soundcards left or are they all like 128.50 cards now-a-days? Optical drives are no problemo... like 20$ each lol.
Also I can't really keep the money hanging around Exdeath or it will be gone... My mom will just keep it. She already appropriated 1600$ of money from a cd of mine I finally cashed in. No cars at college either, freshman and sophmores are not allowed to drive because they aren't allowed to leave campus.
[Updated on: Wed, 14 June 2006 00:09] Report message to a moderator
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Re: New Computer Research [message #203794 is a reply to message #203573] |
Wed, 14 June 2006 00:19 |
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Goztow
Messages: 9737 Registered: March 2005 Location: Belgium
Karma: 13
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General (5 Stars) Goztoe |
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There still are 5.1's, they cost around 5 £.
Buy yourself a decent new mobile with the remaining money? I mean: there must be a good way to spend the rest of the money (if not, you can always spend it on a nice woman).
You can find me in The KOSs2 (TK2) discord while I'm playing. Feel free to come and say hi! TK2 discord
[Updated on: Wed, 14 June 2006 00:20] Report message to a moderator
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