Some noob question...

C

chaabk

New Member
Hello everyone,
I am about to buy a desktop computer. I need more information about CPUs. Here are the questions :

-What does the bus speed change in performance if it's higher ( for ex: 2000Mhx instead of 800 Mhz )
-Is a 512 KB cache better then a 2 MB cache (L2)?
-If a 2 MB chache better, what does it improove in ?
-What should a motherboard have to be considered a good one ?

Thank You
 
Read CPU101, should answer every one of the CPU questions:

http://www.computerforum.com/showthread.php?t=13239

Motherboards should have a good chipset (nForce 4 Ultra or SLI for nVidia, ATI XPress 200 Crossfire) and nice features that will generally come on reputable brands of motherboards (Asus, MSI, DFI plus some others). Have you been looking at any one? What's your price range for the computer or jsut the motherboard?
 
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chaabk said:
Well, about 1800 $ CA
Click to expand...
for $1800 you can buy a very nice gaming computer. If this is for general purpose (internet, word, ect), then you can get a very nice one for around $800.
 
my suggestion: read every one of the 101s pertaining to essential parts (RAM, CPU, MoBo, and HDD) decide what you need things for (ex. good OCing CPU, timings on RAM, speed/size of HDD) then visit some of the bigger websites like newegg or tigerdirect, then post some of the things you may have been looking at. then somebody can go through and refine your list. my suggestion would be to go with an amd cpu, asus or dfi mobo, raptor hdd, and corsair or OCZ memory.

as for a good mobo, make sure there are plenty of expansion slots (something with pci-e) its atx compatible (duh) the type of ram it supports, how MUCH ram it supports, and the socket (939 is the first that comes to mind).
 
I live in Canada and the nearest store to me is Future Shop. I am interested in those two computers :
1. http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10070825&catid=
2. http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10070827&catid=

The first one :
-Intel Pentium D 920 With Viiv 2.8GHz
-2GB PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM
-250GB 7200RPM SATA
-800MHz Front Side
-Sound Card: Intel High Definition Audio, 7.1 Surround Sound Capable
-Graphics Card: NVIDIA FX6200SE Graphics Card With Up To 256MB
-Dual Layer 16X DVD+/-RW With Lightscribe
-DVD-ROM
-----------------1300 $ CA---------------------------

The second one :
-AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Dual Core 2.2GHz
-1GB PC3200 DDR SDRAM
-250GB 7200RPM SATA
- System Bus Up To 1066MHz
-Integrated Audio, 6 Speaker Conifgurable
-Graphics Card: ATI Radeon Xpress 200 Graphics With 128MB Shared Video Memory
-Dual Layer 16X DVD+/-RW With Lightscribe
-DVD-ROM
-----------------1100 $ CA---------------------------

I see very well that the first one is better, but i don't know if an Intel processor is good for gaming, especially this one.

I am planning also to get a BFG GeForce 7800 GT, from the store.
They are selling it at 600 $ CA, but I've found it at tigerdirect.ca at 472 $ CA.
The store has a politic of the lowest price guarantee, and they will refund 110 % of the difference. So I can get this video card for 460 $ CA.

The hp computers has a weakness in power supplies. I need to know if I can add a 500 watt power supply (x-connect, ect.). Does it fit in theese computers ?

One last thing, the store offers product service plans. If I want to buy the first PC ( the 1300 $ CA), they offer a 3 years product service plan for 240 $ CA. For the video card, for 3 years, it will cost 45 $ CA. Do you think I will really need to buy a service product plan for the video card, seing that this combo (system) is powerful and can play games for at least the next two years ?

Recap :
Intel PC:
Computer Price 1300 $ CA
Computer warranty 240 $ CA
Video Card Price 460 $ CA
Video Card warranty 45 $ CA
_____________________________
Total before Tax 2045 $ CA
_____________________________
Total after Tax 2341 $ CA

Amd PC:
Computer Price 1100 $ CA
Computer warranty 240 $ CA
Video Card Price 460 $ CA
Video Card warranty 45 $ CA
_____________________________
Total before Tax 1845 $ CA
_____________________________
Total after Tax 2112 $ CA

The reason I can pay this amout of money is because this store permit me to pay in 12 month (open and no monthly payments).

This is the situation. Thank You
 
I live in Canada and the nearest store to me is Future Shop.
Click to expand...
I live in Canada too. Hence I gave u links to Canada COmputers (which does online ordering)

I see very well that the first one is better, but i don't know if an Intel processor is good for gaming, especially this one.
Click to expand...
The second one is better and significantly so
 
Can you tell me which one will be better in my situation ?

I can't buy online, for personal reasons. Can you tell me which one will be better in my situation ?
 
As Praetor said, the second PC is MUCH better. The Pentium D 920 cannot compare with the X2 4200+.
 
wonder why... maybe because it wasn't that popular or great. nforce 4 should do fine, or nforce 4 SLI.
id say get a dual core athlon 64 X2...
and maybe a motherboard with SLI and SATAII...
and get a 7800gt...
and some high speed ram... or not lol, but get 2gb of it if you wanna do heavy gaming. that should last you a few years at least (i know my comp wont run quake 4 maxed because it takes like 1.7gb of ram or somethin like that)
 
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