AMD 64 comments please

[RVF500]

My mate has decided to replace his old desktop so I suggested he build one as he would probably end up with a better system that would last longer or at least would be more upgrade friendly.

So we browsed for parts and after looking at Intel found that everything has gone to socket 775. Not cheap! So lets have a look at some reviews. Hmmmm, makes gloomy reading. In fact the feeling I got from reading the reviews was 'wait and see how it developes'.

So that left us looking at AMD. Now I've always used Intel (for better or worse). But I thought that given cost and the not so feelgood factor we were getting from the new Intel, time to expand ones horizons.

After doing some comparison and working with my mate's budget we came up with a combination of AMD 64 3000+ on an Abit KV8 Max3 running 2x512 Mb OCZ DDR400 RAM topped off with a Radeon 9800 Pro 256 Mb. Drives can be cannibalised from his old unit so keep costs down and are perfectly good and don't need replacing just for the sake of it.

So, comments please. Has anyone got experiences, good or bad, with a similar rig?

[Hottentot]

Not much point in having 256mb of RAM on a 9800 pro so you could get a bog standard 128 mb one and save some dosh.

[Applecrusher]

If its going to run games at higher resolutions, a 256 MB one would be great.. and do a bios swap thingy and you may have a 9800 XT

[RVF500]

Both good points chaps. I like the idea of turning it into a 9800 XT, I have one of those on my machine but couldn't see one on overclock's website. Just the new X800 XTs. Not spending that much just yet. Unless I sell him my 9800XT and use the money to offset the cost of the new card. Worth it?....whadaya think?

[Hottentot]

Both good points chaps. I like the idea of turning it into a 9800 XT, I have one of those on my machine but couldn't see one on overclock's website. Just the new X800 XTs. Not spending that much just yet. Unless I sell him my 9800XT and use the money to offset the cost of the new card. Worth it?....whadaya think?

I would. X800s are a big improvement.

[Mblaster]

Looks like a good choice, I have the KV8 Pro in my bro's PC, works great. I would recommend selling him your 9800 XT and getting a 6800GT/Ultra (or an X800 Pro/XT if you like ATI ) Works out better for the both of you.

[BUFF]

The KV8 Pro is actually a better board than the KV8 Max3 despite being cheaper
- the Max doesn't have AGP/PCI locks.
If you get a KV8 Pro (& I'm happy with mine) make sure that you get a rev1.1.

[Zak33]

all of that is good advice. 256 mb on a Radeon 9800 Pro is probably last on the list tho. If you CAN sell him yours for sensible dough, do it as the guys say, X800 rocks. Dont get pulled into the X700 thing.

BUT one thing I would say.....how old IS the old system. A slow HDD is a waste. That 64bit chip and a meaty vid card are gonna be.....let down by a slow old HDD.

Game loading times, XP boot up, digital camera/film work, and the simple fact that HUGE HARD DRIVES ARE CHEAP means I'd be looking to do it all in one hit, get it right, first time, and then he's got a few years ahead.

NOTHING worse than having to do a full re format and install and start over cos the HDD aint good enough in a years time.

Good cpu, good mem, good vid card (which is the FIRST thing to be changed normally in a years time).....

oh...one more thing..

DITCH IT ALL FOR A GOOD POWER SUPPLY UNIT

[RVF500]

I asked him about his HDD. What he may do is have his operating system on the old one and then add a new drive for all his applications/games. I think he might go for the second hand 9800 XT. Especially when I show him how it works. Dunno what to ask for it though. Any second hand prices about?

[Zak33]

find cheapest new one, take off 25%....sell it at that.

Gotta say, unless you are on SCSI, having several HDD for OS /GAME etc is not the way forward

It works well with SCSI, but thats a whole different thing.

One new HDD, and use the old one for stuff like MP3, Photo's etc....

not games...leave those on the main hdd....the NEW one

Besides...wont it be SERIAL ATA ? on that new mobo

[megah0]

Got to agree with Zak, a high end system is only going to be as quick as the slowest component. A huge 7200rpm drive isn't going to cost your mate a lot of dosh.

And don't let him skimp on the PSU, its not worth the hassle if it gives out and takes everything else with it.

Get a nice SATA hdd and install his OS on there on a 15gb or so partition and use the rest for storage/games.