Specing out a computer

M

majeskyb

New Member
From what I've seen searching for some info, this comes up a lot. I couldn't find what I needed, so, here I am. If there are treads that can answer my question, please, let me know! Thanks.

I'm going to be building a system when I get back to the states, and have a question about the processor. I'm debating between the
Tyan Thunder K7X Pro (S2469) mobo with two Athlon MP 2800's, or an Athlon 64 (probably a 3800). Price doesn't matter that much (can spend btw. $3k and $5k), but I don't really like to spend much.

[Updated]
Tyan Thunder K8W (S2885)
Dual Athlon Opteron 246
2GB ram (for now)
HITACHI 400GB 0A30228 UATA100 7200RPM 8MB (Bare drive)
256MB video card (probably the X700)
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum
450-550 watt psu
random case (wife is picking that out)
16x DVD-RW
and some other things. It may not look like I'm that serious, that's because we decided this about six hours ago, and I'm really torn with the processor. Any help would be greatly appreciated! :D I'll update it when I get more things cemented down.
 
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1. If you want SMP then get Opterons, MPs are outdated
2. Since the price tag from the A64-3800 isnt that much lower than that for the FX53 or FX55 (why? twice the cache and completely unlocked processor). If the unlocked-ness isnt a turn on, the A64-4000 is a compromise and comes with the 1MB cache but half-locked (then again with the price difference the FX53 is a sweet spot)
3. Please spec what the system will be used for
 
Like I said, I'm just now reading up on the new processors, so if I miss some things, please forgive me. The last time I looked into a new processor, I bought a t-bird 950, so I'm behind by a couple years. The system will mostly be used for inet, word processing, and occasional gaming, but I'll probably load Bryce and photoshop on it as well. A lot of media will be sitting on it also. Also as a bragging right against one of my friends (built one last year). I guess the reason I was looking into the MPs was because when I built my last computer, for my parents, the MPs were the best AMD put out. It was sort of my dream computer to build one with dual mps at the time.

Thanks for the tip on the 4000 though. I didn't see it, but it now replaces the 3800 (I like the extra cache). From what I'm seeing, the fx-53 is a little more than I want to spend. I think tops would be the athlon 64 4000. My real question i guess is how big of a performance difference is there btw dual mps and a 64 4000? I haven't been able to find any benchmarks comparing the two, so I don't know.
 
Like I said, I'm just now reading up on the new processors, so if I miss some things, please forgive me.
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No worries, thats what we're here for! :)

The system will mostly be used for inet, word processing, and occasional gaming, but I'll probably load Bryce and photoshop on it as well
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Might it be a waste of money for a 256MB video card?

I guess the reason I was looking into the MPs was because when I built my last computer, for my parents, the MPs were the best AMD put out. It was sort of my dream computer to build one with dual mps at the time.
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I here ya and doing Brycey stuff can benifit from it. Opterons might be a solution for you.

My real question I guess is how big of a performance difference is there btw dual mps and a 64 4000?
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Overall the A64 will win simply by brute force (especially so if you OC the piss out of it). Like i said earlier,, the MPs are kinda out of style.
 
Alrigh, thank you for that info, and a quick response. With the video card, I've always bought/had ones that were just "good enough". I want one that should be able to handle anything for a good two years. I'm not that into OCing the processor. If it were ever to get to the point that it isn't fast enough for me, I'll just get another one. Thank you again. I'm off to look into the opterons now
 
I can't believe I was so blind as to not look into the Opterons. That's exactly what I want. Thanks again for your help.
 
With the video card, I've always bought/had ones that were just "good enough". I want one that should be able to handle anything for a good two years
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Simply not going to happen. You might be able to get away with using a GeForce6800Ultra 512MB (which will be available in Jan I believe) but short of that not happening.

I'm not that into OCing the processor.
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Well then you might want to consider the FX53s ... you can fit that into a $3500 budget quite easily :)

I can't believe I was so blind as to not look into the Opterons. That's exactly what I want. Thanks again for your help.
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LOL well then :)
 
I guess you're right about the video card. I'm going to stick with either a 128 or 256 meg card, whichever I find first. I'm pretty sure I'm going to stay with the opterons though. I really like that mobo
 
Which mobo? The Tyan? Ive read/seen some oddities of that mobo (nothig bad just unexpected, cant remember ... i think it had to do with drivers or something silly like that ... ok now im ranting). If you're intending to play video games, an Opteron system isnt the way to go (although it would be a kickass dedicated server) ... and you can get much cheaper without going opty ... that said, if you're NOT getting into videogames, theres not much need for 128/256 MB hardcore videocards, grab the cheapest thing and save some money :)
 
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