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i'm looking to "upgrade" my pc (really a new computer but i'm just buying the essentials) and i'm wondering what people's opinions were on a board, processor, hard drive, and video card.





Processor: I really like the idea behind the P4 hyper-threading. the benchmarks of it look very impressive so i think i want to go with that. I probably want to get the p4 3.0ghz w/hyper-threading. i haven't looked into AMD's version of the hyperthreading technology. it looks like their 64-bit chips, "AMD Athlon™ 64 FX" and the "AMD Opteron", have this. does it perform as well? are the cost savings that high? i've been a long time AMD user (both my PCs right now are AMDs), but I think wanna go intel this time.

Board: ABIT IC7-MAX3 (http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NTA5) -- this looks like one of the best performing boards right now for use with the p4 HT



Supports Intel Pentium 4 Socket 478 processors with 800/533MHz FSB

Supports Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Supports 4 DIMM Dual DDR 400 memory.(Max. 4GB)

Accelerated Graphics Port connector supports AGP PRO 8X/4X (0.8V/1.5V)

2 x Ultra DMA 33/66/100 Connectors

4 x SATA 150 Connectors



Hard-Drive: i'm thinking the "Maxtor 120GB (6Y120M0) 7200RPM 8MB Buffer Serial ATA Hard Drive" ... the only real question on that is which brand --maxtor, seagate, or WD?

Video: I've always been a fan of nVidia, but i've been hearing a lot of good reviews about the RADEON line. the 9800 is way too high for my blood but it's a toss up i think between the "ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 128MB DDR 8x AGP with TV-Out /DVI" or an "nVidia GeForce FX 5600". is there a major performance jump between the regular "ATI RADEON 9600 Pro" and the "ATI RADEON ALL in wonder 9600 Pro"?





thanks,

syn

the intel chips are getting a pirce drop tommorrow actually. The new amd chips are gonna cost oyu more then a P4C CHIP C=800MHZ FSB all c chips have HT





That is a nice motherboard but also a very pricy one do you really need all that SATA plugs? the ASUS P4P800-Dlx is a very nice board also and very fast. But i guess i am a little bias all my mobo are ASUS



That 9600pro is a nice card the aill in wonder just has a few more add-ons i couldn't tell ya for sure right off hand what htey are but if you can afford it and like games i'd get it. ;)



As far as HDD go if this is a gaming machine I'd look more into the WD raptor drive 36.8GB But if you just want a large HDD get a seaget with the 8mb cache. They are the most silent ones out there. I currently have a 120gb seagate drive and love it. had no problems and its almost silent

That is a nice motherboard but also a very pricy one do you really need all that SATA plugs? the ASUS P4P800-Dlx is a very nice board also and very fast. But i guess i am a little bias all my mobo are ASUS



no i don't need all of them at all, but i think the motherboard should be the best performing part of the computer since it is after all, the mother of all boards. if the board has a lack of performance somewhere, the whole computer suffers from it. i found it for $209.89.



looks like the Asus P4P800 Deluxe goes for about $125 and the benchmarks are pretty comparable to the ABIT IC7. i'll keep this board on my list, thanks. my two PCs now are ASUS boards. i like ASUS as well.

well if your looking for top of the line mobo try the P4C800-e Dlx is a VERy nice board and its around $200 most everywhere

hrmm...



i coulda swore i posted a reply in here... did i not press reply or did it get deleted :P

Go AMD anyway ;)

Seagate HDD

9800 Pro for right now...I just bought myself a 5900, but thats only because I dont play games all that often.

Brunt why ya gotta be like me

To confuse and cause board wide panic



plus I like the avatar ;)

here is what i went with. sitcking with my old video card and hard drive for now. will upgrade later when i get more $$. gonna buy a case from the local computer store.





Intel Pentium 4 2.8CGHZ 800FSB Socket 478 512K - CPU Retail with Heatsink and Fan

--> $ 220.89

Asus P4P800 Deluxe intel865PE Sk478 800FSB, Dual DDR400, 2 x Serial ATA / ATA133 , 6CH Audio/Gigabit

--> $ 128

Kingston 512MB PC3200 - DDR400 3-3-3 CL3 - Retail

--> $ 99.89





Subtotal: $ 448.78

Shipping. $ 9.00

Total. $ 457.78

After Christmas I'm going to have about $500 to spend on computer stuff. I dont need a new case, but I want to get a new mobo, Video card, and probably another 60 gig hd.



I would like some suggestions on a good SaTa mobo.



Prefer AMD, I have been using ECS for years, but they're losing steam and not keeping mainstream. I have been looking at Asus, but I have had problems with Asus cooking chips in the past, I dont know if they fixed that problem or not?