I'm currently looking at the best way to get a new PC - build or buy retail? I was hooked on build but recently found what looks like a good retail offer - I'm a bit wary though.
The unit is a Celeron 2.6, 512 RAM (don't know speed or make), and a firewire capable motherboard also featuring built in video and sound. Don't know the make of the board either, and couldn't tell from looking at it.
The thing is, I don't whether that Celeron will be everything its numbers make it out to be, and I'm also wondering about that motherboard. The unit itself is an emachines piece - C2865 if I remeber rightly. Annoyingly, their website covers many models, but not that one.
So what's the story? Can anyone advise?
If I go back to my build, I may have to change my mobo. I was looking at the MSI K7N2 Delta-L, however, it turns out I may well need firewire - so then can anyone suggest a comparable board that is firewire capable?
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
G.


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Just covering themselves I'd say. Since RAM got to PC3200 before it was JEDEC added to which it soon ramped up to PC4000 (again without JEDEC) it's only natural for mobo makers to be a little apprehensive about guaranteeing all RAM with our mobos. Esp so since most stuff > PC3200 is little more than overvolted PC3200. If you overvolt something it tends to improve the electrical signal strength allowing for higher lcock speeds. So basically don't worry about it, esp if you stick to decent branded PC3200 which is all SktA (AMD) needs and for that matter all non-o/c'ed P4's need too.
As for the rest it has been covered so I'll just reiterate. Big companies like PC World use really crap parts and are an awful waste of money. Celerons based on the P4 (like all current ones) are abysmal full stop. A Celeron o/c'ed to 3ghz is still beaten virtually ALL the time by an AthlonXP2000+ (1.67ghz) AND P4 2.0ghz. Onboard sound is now decent enough and in the case of nForce2 with MCP-T or Soundstorm it's top notch. Onboard gfx are totally crap though, fine for 2D but awful for any 3D. Even the cheapest AGP slot solutions own onboard desktop crap.
Build it yourself or get a friend to. What you should look to is an AMD system as that's the best 'perf per pound' by far. A lot depends upon whether you want some o/c'ing either now or in the near future. It's well worth it as so long as you're sensible you can safely get an XP1700+ to XP2700+ or XP2500+ to XP3200+ and sometimes beyond. If you check other posts on what to buy and 'this is my proposed spec' you'll find wealths of info on the rest of your system.


they could probably dish up a 2.6ghz celeron system for not much more than 2-300 quid - yet with its supposed high specifications, and broadband readyness (a whole usb port
), but for all named RAM (Mushkin, OCZ, Geil, and even A-Data) - the chips that are used are certified to their rated speed, and not overvolted.
