Advice needed for build.

Ok. So Instead of purchasing a new computer I've decided to build my own. I figured this would help me get more bang for my buck. Basically, I don't play many games and the ones i do play are rather old. I'm a command and conquer nutt and that's basically the extent of my gaming. I mainly listen to music, videos, surf. The basics. My needs aren't overwhelming but at the same time I'd like to get the best i can within reason. I've done some research on processors and have come up with a few options for myself.

Everything I've read has directed me towards Intel but I thought I'd ask before i buy.

My options are:

Pentium 4 531/541 or other
or
AMD Athlon64 3700+

I've also found some MoBo's to choose from and my list is rather short and only for the Athlon CPU.

MSI Neo-2 Platinum
DFI Lanparty UTNF3 Ultra
Biostarr T-Force 6100

I'm still reading into video cards but i Think my choice for AMD would be the GeForce 6100 or so.

I'm also looking to go with a 2 512mb ram combo.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated and I'll be awaiting your advice. I'm also going to scroll through the recent posts to see if any of that will help. Thanx in advance. -frank.

well, i am guessing the motherboard is some random company with via chipset, i personally recommand asus though, about $100 you can get some good mobo...
rams, good, well make sure ddr2? and the mobo matches... it really sucks if your mobo is ddr2, and you buy ddr ram..

geforce 6100? is it a cheap price video card? i hope it is less than $50, i don't fancy that particular one,,

its hard to tell you whats good and whats bad, when you don't write down the price, and the exact name model...

but i guess it looks okey,..

hmmm... these are basically what i found. Not sure of everything. Do you have suggestions for video cards and mobos?

If you aren't going to use it for much gaming, I would recomend getting an old machine. You can get a pentium 1 laptop for like 20 bucks. Itll probably be kind of annoying waiting for webpages to load and stuff, but its still what I would do.

a radeon x800 just incase you ever decide to play cs:s?

i do have an older machine and that is what i'm going to be building this computer in. It has a pentium 4 but i'm not sure of the model on it as it is very old. I'm still looking for speed and don't want to be annoyed by everyday application use. I do use it for gaming some times. I'm just looking for some direction as to which processor would be best for my needs so i don't build something and regret it later. I want something that can be built up from what i'm making now. So obviously it doesn't need to be a blazing angel but still worthy of personal use. I did create a small list of things and prices i found on newegg and tigerdirect.

Intel pentium 4 (775 socket) 800mhz 3.2ghz 94.99
or
AMD Athlon 64 (am2) 3200+ 2.0ghz 2000mhz 84.99
AMD Athlon 64 (am2) 3500+ 2.2ghz 2000mhz 84.99

the HD i've chosen is Seagate 7200.7 250GB 16mb cache 85.00

I just want some feed back. AMD or Intel for my needs? which board to go with it?

I'd like to build this for under 350$ since i already have a dvd-r to go with it along with floppy. I'll be using stock internals for power and cooling for now. The parts are coming from an outdated dell.

itzfrank said:

i do have an older machine and that is what i'm going to be building this computer in. It has a pentium 4 but i'm not sure of the model on it as it is very old. I'm still looking for speed and don't want to be annoyed by everyday application use. I do use it for gaming some times. I'm just looking for some direction as to which processor would be best for my needs so i don't build something and regret it later. I want something that can be built up from what i'm making now. So obviously it doesn't need to be a blazing angel but still worthy of personal use. I did create a small list of things and prices i found on newegg and tigerdirect.

Intel pentium 4 (775 socket) 800mhz 3.2ghz 94.99
or
AMD Athlon 64 (am2) 3200+ 2.0ghz 2000mhz 84.99
AMD Athlon 64 (am2) 3500+ 2.2ghz 2000mhz 84.99

the HD i've chosen is Seagate 7200.7 250GB 16mb cache 85.00

I just want some feed back. AMD or Intel for my needs? which board to go with it?

I'd like to build this for under 350$ since i already have a dvd-r to go with it along with floppy. I'll be using stock internals for power and cooling for now. The parts are coming from an outdated dell.

Click to expand...

For the prices of those procs..id go with a pentium d smithfield 820..its like 100 bux and 2.8 dual core.

Pay a bit more for a C2D
Since you're not doing anything intensive, either AMD or Intel is fine.
Out of those processors you chose, the 3500+ is definitely the best.

I would pay the extra since I've managed to get a Seagate ST336607LC 10K 37GB HD for free and don't have the expense of a HD now. But would the Intel pentium D Smithfield 820 suffice? My main problem would be running multiple applications at the same time and is really one of my only concerns. Also, wouldn't my process be limited to the quality of my MOBO? Super CPU + crappy Mobo = poor performance still? If i'm not right on this then i think i shall get the C2D processor but i'm still concerned. I need direction. I haven't decided between the AMD or Intel even though i've been reading the perks of both.

Since you got an extra like 80 bux by getting a free hd, def go with an e6300 c2d...im not too smart with mobos, so ill leave that to someone else.

get a 7600gs which is at a fair price...
that should last you for pretty much any game you want at medium - low settings, and the games you already play on highest settings.
anyways, as for the cpu if its an intel get 3ghz or more, any core 2 duo will be more than enough, or any athlon 64 will do... just dont get a lower grade sempron or celeron that would be a mistake.

c&c is SWEET dude lol...
and most games dont require a whole lot of processor power, mostly graphics card power.
if you give us a list of what youd like to get we can tell you if itll all work once its together.
personally i suggest an athlon 64 3500+ or so (939 or AM2)
1gb of memory
7600gs video card would be more than enough, at a fair price.
any motherboard as long as it has the same interface as the cpu, memory, and video card (socket 939 or socket AM2, 184-pin or 240-pin, and AGP or PCI-express)

motherboard (AM2 - pci-express - 3 pci slots - 4 sata ports - support RAID 0 - 4x240-pin ddr2 dimms) ($55)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813135028
cpu - athlon 64 3500+ 2.2ghz 512kb L2 cache ($89)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103034
video card - 7600gs (only $89)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814143054
ram - 1gb 1stick ddr2-667 wintec ampo ($88)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820161675
hard drive - 250gb western digital 16mb buffer sata2 supported (model SE16) ($77)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822144701

thats everything id get besides a burner, case, and other peripherals... and a 450watt psu or higher... but the higher its rated the less heat it'll put out, and the more stable the system will run... i suggest an antec psu and a thermaltake computer case.. ive always had good luck with those brands.

that list totals at $398... you could get integrated video - but it wont play ANY games that are out today. like seriously you'll get like 15fps at the lowest settings in any game besides C&C... i highly suggest the 7600gs, its a great card for $89

Wow that was actually much more of a response then i thought i'd be getting. I was actually leaning toward AMD because of the prices i've found for CPUs that have been suggested to me. But given that I have a HD to run for now until i get a backup, the 77$ for the HD could placed to get something else that i'll benefit from. Like i said that only thing that this computer will be doing is multitasking with the occasional game play. Still say i should go with AMD? If we're sold then so am I. I just want to make sure i'm better of going AMD 64 then getting the dual core or pentium. I'm lost. Oh yea. Forgot to mention I need tv-out since i plan on running this computer on my TV in my room. Whoops.