Wiredchild
In Runtime
- Messages
- 253
Hi. I'm new here. This seemed like a really good place to ask a great deal of questions as you all seem very clever with computers and i know relatively little i suppose. I'd be very appreciative if you could help.
My dilema is i want to build a 64-bit system. Frankly, i have a budget of about £500 but don't really want to spend much more than £400. I intend to use some RAM and a CD drive (To install the OS) out of this PC until i can afford some really fast RAM and to save £20 on a drive which could go to something more important at the moment. So, those componants are out of the picture for the moment.
I will use my PC obviously to surf the net through a wireless network (I already have a card), but more demandingly I intend to play a lot of games on it. Such as Doom3 and Half-Life 2, which this PC i'm on at the moment just isn't fast enough to run (AMD Althon XP 2600+...yuk). I also do a fair bit of CAD work from time to time.
So; there's my rules. My problem is i don't know what to get. I really like Asus motherboards, and want to get one for this system. I was considering an 'Asus A8N-SLI/Premium' however, have come to understand i will never have enough money to make use of the SLi system, therefore am I just wasting unessesary money? On this note, i was curious to know; does the Nforce4 SLi chipset have any advantages apart from the obvious multi-GPU feature when compared to a normal N-Force4 Ultra chipset? I.e, is it worth forking out for an 'Asus A8N-SLI/Premium' when I could have exactly the same, bar the SLi, in another board. How would something like the 'Asus A8N-E' handle? It's £50 cheaper which is good!
Next, Hard Drive. I'll go for SATA because it's faster and as good as the same money, no? But...What's all this SATA 150, SATA 2, whatever the numbers are...I don't understand. Can i benefit??? I'll get a 120GB as they're dirt cheap, from something like Western Digital. That's all the space i'll need for the moment. Then again, what's a Raptor 10,000RPM like? A little more expensive for a less space and more spin, does that improve something like videogame play. Especially with games like DOOM3 which have all the files compressed...I think?
While i'm on ports. There's talk of Dual Memory slots or something for RAM on a lot of these 939 motherboards. What does that mean?
Ok, what's the difference between a Venice and Winchester core for an Althon 64? I was considering an Athlon 64 3500+ instead of a 3200+ (both Venice) as it's only £20 more, £140 in the sale. Seems the money is worth it, what do you think, will i notice the difference or should i save £20 for a better GPU?
Cases, are hard. It's unreal how many nasty looking cases there are. I've sieved through the junk on sites and i quite like the 'Antec TX1050B', 'Antec Plus 660AMG', 'Antec TX640B' (yes, i know they're all the same, hehe), also the 'Asus Vento 3600'. I just want a quiet case, which can keep my computer very cool...I suppose we all do. But, i don't know if i need 2 or 3 fans, or whatever. Please suggest any cases you like which are nice and quiet. This PC will run through the night in my bedroom so i don't want it keeping me awake! I know the CPU fan will be noisy, and i will get a new one. Still, i'm not up for replacing a case.
Finally. GPU. I don't know how much money i'll have left. But, i know i'll need a good one, for things like Far Cry, Doom 3, Half Life 2...You know them all i'm sure. Still, i don't really have a clue what to go for as i'm not that educated. How comes some 256MB are cheaper then 128MB, is it really all down to memory speed? As i said, i don't now, and likely will never have enough money for an SLi system.
Ok...Well, if you had the stamina to read through all that, you know where i am. Please suggest anything you think would be useful.
Thanks.
My dilema is i want to build a 64-bit system. Frankly, i have a budget of about £500 but don't really want to spend much more than £400. I intend to use some RAM and a CD drive (To install the OS) out of this PC until i can afford some really fast RAM and to save £20 on a drive which could go to something more important at the moment. So, those componants are out of the picture for the moment.
I will use my PC obviously to surf the net through a wireless network (I already have a card), but more demandingly I intend to play a lot of games on it. Such as Doom3 and Half-Life 2, which this PC i'm on at the moment just isn't fast enough to run (AMD Althon XP 2600+...yuk). I also do a fair bit of CAD work from time to time.
So; there's my rules. My problem is i don't know what to get. I really like Asus motherboards, and want to get one for this system. I was considering an 'Asus A8N-SLI/Premium' however, have come to understand i will never have enough money to make use of the SLi system, therefore am I just wasting unessesary money? On this note, i was curious to know; does the Nforce4 SLi chipset have any advantages apart from the obvious multi-GPU feature when compared to a normal N-Force4 Ultra chipset? I.e, is it worth forking out for an 'Asus A8N-SLI/Premium' when I could have exactly the same, bar the SLi, in another board. How would something like the 'Asus A8N-E' handle? It's £50 cheaper which is good!
Next, Hard Drive. I'll go for SATA because it's faster and as good as the same money, no? But...What's all this SATA 150, SATA 2, whatever the numbers are...I don't understand. Can i benefit??? I'll get a 120GB as they're dirt cheap, from something like Western Digital. That's all the space i'll need for the moment. Then again, what's a Raptor 10,000RPM like? A little more expensive for a less space and more spin, does that improve something like videogame play. Especially with games like DOOM3 which have all the files compressed...I think?
While i'm on ports. There's talk of Dual Memory slots or something for RAM on a lot of these 939 motherboards. What does that mean?
Ok, what's the difference between a Venice and Winchester core for an Althon 64? I was considering an Athlon 64 3500+ instead of a 3200+ (both Venice) as it's only £20 more, £140 in the sale. Seems the money is worth it, what do you think, will i notice the difference or should i save £20 for a better GPU?
Cases, are hard. It's unreal how many nasty looking cases there are. I've sieved through the junk on sites and i quite like the 'Antec TX1050B', 'Antec Plus 660AMG', 'Antec TX640B' (yes, i know they're all the same, hehe), also the 'Asus Vento 3600'. I just want a quiet case, which can keep my computer very cool...I suppose we all do. But, i don't know if i need 2 or 3 fans, or whatever. Please suggest any cases you like which are nice and quiet. This PC will run through the night in my bedroom so i don't want it keeping me awake! I know the CPU fan will be noisy, and i will get a new one. Still, i'm not up for replacing a case.
Finally. GPU. I don't know how much money i'll have left. But, i know i'll need a good one, for things like Far Cry, Doom 3, Half Life 2...You know them all i'm sure. Still, i don't really have a clue what to go for as i'm not that educated. How comes some 256MB are cheaper then 128MB, is it really all down to memory speed? As i said, i don't now, and likely will never have enough money for an SLi system.
Ok...Well, if you had the stamina to read through all that, you know where i am. Please suggest anything you think would be useful.
Thanks.