New system in the works

[Bigedmond]

well i am going to do more gaming then anything else. Other then that, its web design, and since i do more of the code side of it, i dont need it to be super fast. other then that, i touch up pictures.

Since i was going to go with the amd 5200+ a 2.6 gig per core stock chip; is there really that much or a difference compared to the e6600 which is stock 2.4 gig per core.

I mean, honestly, once a game hits 60fps, there isnt really a difference in the way it looks compared to 180fps. This much i know from what i have done in past jobs.

[One4yu2c]

No - if your main task is gaming, your videocard choice will be the bigger decision.

[Quakindude]

Just remember that the E6600 easily overclocks to 3.0Ghz-3.4Ghz on air. The stock cooler that came withmine did very respectably up to 3.0Ghz.

Also, IMHO, the AM2 socket won't be around much longer. Your future upgrade path CPU wise will more than likely be limited. I'd like to see what others think about this though.

[One4yu2c]

It really depends on the platform and luck of the draw. With that CyberPower system I recently reviewed, it took a good bit of tweaking to get the E6600 to run stable at 3.0GHz on an Asus P5N-E (650i) motherboard and Corsair XMS DDR2-800 RAM, and that's where I hit an OC'ing wall. My feeling is that it was more of an issue with the mobo/RAM combination than the processor topping out, but the point I'm getting at is that overclocking results are never guaranteed.

As for socket AM2, he mentioned earlier that he wanted a system to last for two years with only videocard upgrades, and I don't see that being a problem, especially as multithreaded apps/games really start to crank out with clean code. I agree though that a Core 2 Duo foundation would provide a more desirable upgrade path, as current LGA775 boards can run quad-core processors and time will tell if AMD can as well (I'm looking beyond their current dual processor quad-core solution), but I wouldn't bet the mortgage on either socket sticking it out for the long haul. Even within same sockets, new chipsets can render a motherboard's upgrade path obsolete just as fast.

In any event, if it were me, I'd opt for a Core 2 Duo rig for a new build, but a solid AM2 foundation could work just as well for the needs described.

[Bigedmond]

well i think i am going to take the mobo back tomorrow, and pick up an intel mobo.

I really like my ati cards i have had, just to bad they dont make any directx 10 cards. Since i am changing to the intel chip, i am going to have to stay with the 8800 gts, since the gtx is out of reach. oh well. What water blocks work with the 8800gts. I am going with a dangerden rbx block for the cpu. still trying to work out a deal on an exos2.

[gvblake22]

Don't get your panties in a bunch over DX10 right now. There aren't even any DX10 games released yet, Vista is still way immature, and ATI's DX10 cards be out by spring. Plus DX9 cards are very able to run in Vista.

[Bigedmond]

Originally Posted by gvblake22

Don't get your panties in a bunch over DX10 right now. There aren't even any DX10 games released yet, Vista is still way immature, and ATI's DX10 cards be out by spring. Plus DX9 cards are very able to run in Vista.

Its not that i have my panties in a bunch. Its i dont want to buy 600 worth of dx9 cards then this summer have to buy all new cards because a game i want is being developed with dx10. I have alot of ties in the game industry still, and i know what some companies are planning on bringing out over the next 2 years.

[Quakindude]

Don't take Blakes "Panties in a bunch" comment as insulting. He just has this way of coming across like a smart-azz...sometimes...but he really isn't.

[Bigedmond]

thats easy to tell hes not trying to insult me. I just know that dx10 is coming, and i would rather plan for that. It costs me less in the long run

[Bigedmond]

well i exchanged my abit for for an evga board. Going toi order cp and water block for it tonight, and tomorrow im ordering my 8800 gts. The ram got here in the mail today. Then its a new hard drive, and power supply left to buy, oh and water additive.