A little help

[Beetle Bailey]

Now that my wifes computer is just about done. It's time to get started on mine. I'll be using this processor.
eWiz.com AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor 4200+* (2.2GHz) AM2, Retail
I'm kind of torn between these MOBO's.
eWiz.com ECS KN3 SLI2 Socket AM2/ nForce 590 SLI/ DDR2/ SATA2/ A&2GbE/ ATX Motherboard
eWiz.com MSI K9N Diamond Socket AM2/ nForce 590 SLI/ DDR2/ A&2GbE/ ATX Motherboard
eWiz.com Asus M2N-SLI Deluxe Socket AM2/ nForce 570 SLI/ DDR2-800/ eSATA/ A&2GbE/ ATX Motherboard
I will be using OCZ 2x 1G memory. I'm also going to be looking at video cards. I would like any suggestions. I already have the processor and the memory. I will also be getting my hard drive in about a week. It's a WD 250 SATA. I will be using the Antec 900 for my case. I would also like some help with a PSU. It will need to be around 500 watts. I would like to stay as cheap as possible please. Thanks, Bailey.

P.S. The computer will be used mainly for surfing and some mild gaming.

[screwballl]

the MSI 590 seems to have the newest setup so will likely have more of the newer technologies but the Asus 570 is a bit more stable since it has been out longer and has had more time to mature.

For mild gaming, I suggest the X1950GT like what is in my sig. It is cheaper than the Pro and you will only see a 3-5fps hit on most games (but at 80-100 fps, whos gonna notice?

[Yellowhello]

PSU: Thermaltake toughpower series.

As for mobo, I'll have to go will the ASUS.

[Quakindude]

Are you buying that processor or do you already have it? If you're buying, why not go with the much better C2D line?

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by Quakindude

Are you buying that processor or do you already have it? If you're buying, why not go with the much better C2D line?

Because the e6300 is still 40 bucks more expensive than a 4200+ X2? :P He said stay cheap, going C2D is not necessarily cheap there.

MSI K9N Diamond would be my choice.
As for the power supply, you might want to look at Antec NeoHE offerings. Those 500W are going for pretty cheap.
The X1950 Pro is a good bang for the buck card if you don't really have the money to get a 8800GTS.

[Quakindude]

Originally Posted by polobunny

Because the e6300 is still 40 bucks more expensive than a 4200+ X2? :P He said stay cheap, going C2D is not necessarily cheap there.

MSI K9N Diamond would be my choice.
As for the power supply, you might want to look at Antec NeoHE offerings. Those 500W are going for pretty cheap.
The X1950 Pro is a good bang for the buck card if you don't really have the money to get a 8800GTS.

Some people don't realize the performance advantages of the C2D line of processors. If all he does is mild gaming and Internet surfing like he says, then by all means, save $40 and go with a processor line that will have little to no future upgradability once the AM2 line dies out. AMD has stated they will continue to support the AM2 line for awhile yet, but I just don't see that happening.

If he does any video encoding, copies movies, MP3 conversion, etc, the C2D would be worth the $40 invested now. The C2D line and the 775 socket provides a much better upgrade path to quad cores.

Hopefully, he's balancing the initial build cost vs. future upgrades. Unless there's news out there I haven't read or heard, the AM2 line is never going to be Quad core capable.

[robodude666]

Originally Posted by Quakindude

Hopefully, he's balancing the initial build cost vs. future upgrades. Unless there's news out there I haven't read or heard, the AM2 line is never going to be Quad core capable.

Your right, but the AM2 processor will work in the AM2+ socket which will support AMD's first quad core. If you don't want to pump out a whole load of money on a new AM2+ processor and wait for it to go down, you could grab an AM2+ motherboard with an windsor X2 until the AM2+ CPU prices drop down a bit.

For video cards, the Sapphire x1950GT sells for about $150 and the HIS x1950PRO sells for about $200.
The GT is almost the same, but as mentioned it gets a few FPS less. Also, according to reviews, the card is very stiff and will hardly overclock.

You could go mid-end and get the x1650XT for $130. But the x1950PRO at $200 is the best bang for the buck card you could get. You can get very nice FPS rates on it, and it won't dent your wallet... much.

As for the CPU.. the X2 will be fine for "surfing and some mild gaming." Not worth the extra $40 to get the C2D. I would personally suggest the x2 3800 for about $100. Its a great processor and can be easily overclocked to 2.2GHz (stock speed for 4200+). If you don't feel comfortable with overclocking, then feel free to get the 4200+ It is still a great processor!

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by robodude666

Your right, but the AM2 processor will work in the AM2+ socket which will support AMD's first quad core. If you don't want to pump out a whole load of money on a new AM2+ processor and wait for it to go down, you could grab an AM2+ motherboard with an windsor X2 until the AM2+ CPU prices drop down a bit.

For video cards, the Sapphire x1950GT sells for about $150 and the HIS x1950PRO sells for about $200.
The GT is almost the same, but as mentioned it gets a few FPS less. Also, according to reviews, the card is very stiff and will hardly overclock.

You could go mid-end and get the x1650XT for $130. But the x1950PRO at $200 is the best bang for the buck card you could get. You can get very nice FPS rates on it, and it won't dent your wallet... much.

As for the CPU.. the X2 will be fine for "surfing and some mild gaming." Not worth the extra $40 to get the C2D. I would personally suggest the x2 3800 for about $100. Its a great processor and can be easily overclocked to 2.2GHz (stock speed for 4200+). If you don't feel comfortable with overclocking, then feel free to get the 4200+ It is still a great processor!

Very good advice there. However, I think you can grab a Sapphire X1950Pro for $150 those day. :)

[robodude666]

Originally Posted by polobunny

Very good advice there. However, I think you can grab a Sapphire X1950Pro for $150 those day. :)

Its $165 last time I checked. But its got the 1 slot design compared to HIS' two slot design. Because of this added cooling, the HIS card has higher default clocks. It also has a nice heatsink cover. Plus, I just don't like Sapphire in general... I don't know why. Its a great card, don't get me wrong.. but I just don't like the company for some reason

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by robodude666

Its $165 last time I checked. But its got the 1 slot design compared to HIS' two slot design. Because of this added cooling, the HIS card has higher default clocks. It also has a nice heatsink cover. Plus, I just don't like Sapphire in general... I don't know why. Its a great card, don't get me wrong.. but I just don't like the company for some reason

Yeah it's alright, I used to feel that way about Sapphire myself before but so far so good with all my Sapphire cards. A brand I trully dislike though is PowerColor.
The HIS dual slot cooler is a nice addition as you said, and it's not very noisy too. Since it's higher clocked out of the box than other X1950 Pro you get a few more frames (the X1950 Pro from HIS comes dangerously close to a X1900XT!)