Looking for a new MoBo/CPU, need suggestions

S

shock and awe

New Member
OK, this is my first post here, so please be gentle, lol.

I currently have an ASUS CUSL2 with a 933 P3 that I built about 3-4 years ago. Unfortunately, of course, my PC sucks. I had a guy recommend the mobo & cpu, as I really didn't/don't know anything about them, especially nowadays.

OK, here goes...
What is a good cpu in the 3.0+ range, and what mobo is compatible with it?

Also, what would be a good video card if I wanted to do some (very little) gaming, alot of DVD editing/burning, and I want to have the A/V in/out jacks? Do I need an All-In-Wonder type card?

Thanks,
~shock
 
Welcome:)

What is your price range and I assume what you said in the paragraph below is what you'll be doing with your machine. We really need to know how much money we're working with here.
 
ok, here goes...
what is a good CPU in the 3.0+ range, and what mobo is compatible with it?

also, what would be a good video card if i wanted to do some (very little) gaming, alot of DVD editing/burning, and i want to have the a/v in/out jacks? do i need an all-in-wonder type card?
Click to expand...
1. what's your budget?
2. are you willing to consider AMD CPUs?
3. read CPU 101.
4. Allinwonder cards have the neato thing of having a video accelerator + all that fancy tv stuff all in one card ... which sounds neat and all ... untill you do upgrades ... my suggestion would be to avoid the AIW and get the TV/AV stuff separately so you dont run into that problem down the road
 
Thanks guys. My budget for the mobo/cpu is around $500 tops, but I'm not looking for overkill just to use up my budget. AMD would be fine...I never had one before, but if that's the way to go, so be it. As for the video card, I'm looking for an under $300 card. I basically want to build a setup that will last a couple years. I'm also in the market for a new soundcard that will let me run from my PC to a stereo amplifier. This is the sound card I'm considering:
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS Platinum 70SB035000003 8 (7.1) Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Card

Thanks again,
~shock
 
Well if your not going to be doing much gaming and more video stuff, i would go with an Intel. For $500 you could get a Pentium D 2.8Ghz with a nice mobo if you want to go the dual-core route.
 
geoff5093 said:
Well if your not going to be doing much gaming and more video stuff, i would go with an Intel. For $500 you could get a Pentium D 2.8Ghz with a nice mobo if you want to go the dual-core route.
Click to expand...

Please forgive my ignorance, but I'm not sure what 'dual core' means. From the looks of things, alot has changed since I last dabbled with building. DDR was either just arriving or wasn't even around yet...see what I mean, lol?? Looking at the specs of stuff and reading most posts here are alot like opening up a Japanese text book...it's tough to understand. I'm just trying to avoid getting a BestBuy special because I want to be able to upgrade/improve the sound/video/drives, etc...
 
Simply put, a dual-core cpu is one processor with two cores. You can think of it as two processors built-into one. (i know thats not what it is exactly, but its an analogy).
 
OK, thanks for the explanation. Now for another 'newbie' question-How do I determine which MoBo is compatible with the Intel? I was checking HERE and found one at $245 shipped, but I was a bit confused when looking up a MoBo for it.
 
How do I determine which MoBo is compatible with the Intel
Click to expand...
You check:
1. That the cpu will physically fit (pin counts)
2. You check that the core is supported (prescott required i848 or i865 and better, dualcore requires i945 or better)

So any of the MoBos that you list would work with the AMD?
Click to expand...
I dont list random motherboards ;)
 
The 3200+ is just as fast as the 3500+ (same speed, diffrent cache
Click to expand...
They both have 512K cache, the 3200 runes 2.0Ghz, the 3500 runs 2.2Ghz, assuming of course we stay with S939 because it would be pointless to compare S939 and S754 :)
 
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