Need a bit of Help

stiffdogg06

stiffdogg06

New Member
Ok well I have been looking around, researching and everything but things just keep confusing me. I will ask all my questions in one post to make everyone happy :) DONT TELL ME TO GO INTEL NEITHER :) Because I already have my AM2 Socket mobo.

- X2 3800+ OR X2 4200+? Is there that big of a difference to spend the extra 30-40 dollars?

- I am not that big of a gamer NOW because of my limited computer power. But I only really play CS, CS:S, nothing much yet till i get a better computer. What i am confused about is 32bit and 64bit OS. Can I buy this OS system and still run my 3800+ or 4200+ fine with no installation problems AND can I still play those games. Because I dunno if this is right or not, but some games need a dual core patch?? I dont want to buy this processor if the games I play wont function on them right.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832116169

I will play quake, battlefield once i get my new computer and $$.

- I plan on running my memory in Dual Channel with Cosair XMS2 1GB 2x512mb setup. Will I notice any difference from 1GB to 2GB's? I will not be doing any music editting, video rendering or any of that - I got school for that. I will most likely use this computer for A LOT of games and gaming on it. ALSO, will the cosair XMS2 that is advertised 1.9v on newegg work fine in my gigabyte mobo that says it support 1.8v?

- If anyone can recommend me a video card that is PCI-E in the $140-$180 dollar range. Maybe $200 if its worth it and will notice a big difference from spending 150 to 200. IS THE VIDEO CARD IN MY SIG GOOD ENOUGH FOR MY NEEDS?

THANK YOU GUYS SOO MUCH!!:D
 
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i built my computer last week only for games like you and i used an X2 3800+ like you are going to. it turned out excellent!! i run BF2142 maxed out and it looks like a PS3+ and i run FSX medium-high to high. I highly recommend all the parts in my sig, its the best price to performance ratio and the entire tower shipped with everything cost 950. I highly recommend 2GB or RAM and G.Skill makes 2 GB DDR2 800 dual channel for 210. The XFX 7900GS Extreme is awesome too, it runs all the latest games perfectly. And last, if you havent got your mobo yet, which i think you said you have, then id definately go for the Biostar TForce 550. I have my X2 3800+ OCed to 2.5 on stock. Its really a great board. Just PM me if you have any questions, because we seem to have very similar builds.
 
I always seem to notice the difference between a single core 2ghz cpu and the 2.2ghz single core model used here on a Socket 939 Asus board. The edge you will see with either model you go with of course will be from both being dual core as well as on a newer board running faster memory. If you are not planning to oc at all you can save by choosing from some better brands of value ram and the 3800+ X2 model.
 
Everyones open to their opinion and I appreciate them all. Please answer the questions I posted and dont just say I should get better stuff. Suggest stuff, links or something.
 
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The one thing you failed to provide was the 2x512mb memory you are talking about. Is it DDR2 533, 667, or 800? One memory with 1.9v in the specifications is the DDR2 800 xms series memory seen at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145566

The memory there will depend on the board's own specifications. The Qualified memory list recommended for that model board can be seen at http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/FileList/MemorySupport/motherboard_memory_ga-m61pm-s2.pdf The other Corsair memory seen at newegg runs at 2.1v. The specifications on that model board can be reviewed at http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products...rboard&ProductID=2373&ProductName=GA-M61PM-S2

For video under $200 you can find several pages full of them that will run just about every current release. For a higher end model it will depend if you are simply limited to NVidia. By the process of breaking those down to the top selling models according to newegg that breaks down to one page seen at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...017+1068309611+4802&Submit=ENE&SubCategory=48
 
Thank you PC :) I appreciate ur help sir.:cool: I just need to know if i HAVE to have 1.8v memory or if I can use 1.9, 2.1, ETC.
 
The memory you saw on the ad runs at the lower 1.9v voltage normally placing that as being more compatible with that model board. You can always raise the voltage setting a notch to bring it slightly if needed in the bios. But if there is any doubt go to the qulified memory list provided by Gigabyte and go by the actual model number when ordering. The .1v difference will probably turn out to be very minor at most since voltages fluxuate anyways.
 
ok thank u PC once again. I am going with the Cosair XMS2 as my final choose. Thank you for ur recommendations and ur help!:) NOW the question is, Will i notice a big increase from 1gb to 2gb on a 90% gaming computer? 10% internet browsing, nothing major.
 
If you are not planning to oc the memory the increase in ram will often smooth things out. Some of the more recent games are a little "memory bungry" at times. On the last build here I went from 1gb of Corsair xms series DDR 400 ram to 2gb of Knigston DDR400 Value Ram and notice an improvement overall.

With the same 2gb of Kingston memory in use now when replacing the old Asus Socket A board with a newer Socket 939 model the thing most noticable was the great reduction game crashes with the same games and otherwise improved overall system performance. Yet it was 2gb of value not performance memory. I still run PREY, FEAR, Half Life 2, and a few others while wishing I had gone with a better video card here at times.
 
This is just a summary of my first post. I need to know if the 4200+ is worth the 30-40 dollars over the 3800+... Also I need to know if I buy this dual core CPU, will my Counter Strike games run fine on it? Because I HEARD there is a DUAL CORE PATCH you need to get....? Also, since i mainly game on my computer will I notice a noticeably BIG gain from 1GB VS. 2GB dual channel ddr2 800mhz memory?

Thank you guys!
 
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The AMD64 4200+ X2 for Socket 939 boards is an easier model to oc then trying it on the 3800+ model. While that is mentioned in the gaming build part of one sticky here at CF that's rather outdated with the newer lineup of AM2 models and Core 2s as well. Personally I would be going with a 4200+ for the little extra there due to being a faster model for a stock setup alone. You can easily compare the various AMD models at http://www.amdcompare.com/us-en/desktop/Default.aspx

As far as going from 1gb to 2gb I found gaming actually proved to see far less problems especially with the more demanding memory hungry type games while not seeing a big jump running other apps. The change from 1gb of performance dimms for the 2gb of value ram now used saw a more stable game session with far less crashes on older games to note.
 
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