Need help buying new computer...

**darkghoul** · December 19, 2006, 09:09 AM

Hi guys, i dont know that much about computers and im buying a new one soon since my current one is super old. I was thinking of this and want to know if it's any good or if i need to find something else, thanks in advance guys.

Processor: AMD Athlon™ 64 X2-processor 5200+
Memory: 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM
Graphic: ATI RADEON X1600 XT 512, with Avivo (VGA/DVI-port, TV-out)
Sound: High Definition Audio 7.13 soundports on front, 6 analog soundports on back
Harddrive: 640 GB SATA-harddrive (7200 rpm) (2x 320GB) + 160GB extern harddrive
Optical unit: DVD-burner DVD RAM och ±R/ ±RW with double layer up to 16x/8x and support for LightScribe
Operativsystem: Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 with Update Rollup 2

**Lord Boris** · December 19, 2006, 09:47 AM

You could probably get an Intel E6600 duel core conroe processor for less and from what everyone says and it's probably a better performer.

Also, all those hard drives seem like a bit of overkill, a single 320 gig drive would probably be enough.

Other than that I'd go for one of the 256ddr3 XT1950XT as you'll get a lot more performance out of that than from an X1600XT. You could put the money saved from only getting a single hard drive towards the better video card. When the games are flowing at high fps you wont regret it!

**Maical** · December 19, 2006, 11:19 AM

cpu too expensive performance/cost compared to video card (no signifiant performance boost from havin 512mb on 1600xt)
hell, ati x1950pro (the HIS product with 512 ddr4 preferably) if not xt or xtx
i hope the ddr2 ram is dual channel and pc6400
otherwise, that cpu is like a stranger in moscow

**belson** · December 19, 2006, 11:37 AM

These guys are right, the Intel E6600 is a better buy. Then your computer will be faster and you'll have a little extra money to get yourself a better graphics card (which is maybe the most important for gaming, and you've got an old one there.)

A couple really big holes in that build is there is no motherboard, power supply, or case listed. Did you have a case or power supply that you were gonna try to reuse? I'm sure the folks in the basement would be happy to help you set up a build, what are your budget requirements or other constraints?

Also, he doesn't need pc6400 ram unless he is overclocking. The defualt speed of the fsb on the E6600 is only 266mhz, and that means that without ocing the fastest the ram can run is ddr533. Are you overclocking darkghoul?

**Maical** · December 19, 2006, 12:13 PM

the price difference between pc6400 and pc4300 is like 10$, why not get pc6400 ? maybe ull overclock 1 day

**belson** · December 19, 2006, 12:31 PM

That is very true while the pc6400 is on sale (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16820231098), but you also have to remember that the pc6400 has higher timings, which won't be brought down along with the transfer speed. Meaning that the pc4200 ram will actually run faster than the automatically downclocked pc6400. But in all reality, it depends on his situation.

**darkghoul** · December 20, 2006, 08:10 AM

I have about 1400$ to spend, im not good on what to get so i would be happy to see what you guys think i should get. Im not overclocking but i might look into it.

**Maical** · December 20, 2006, 12:29 PM

europe or usa ?

**Freddie** · December 20, 2006, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by darkghoul

Hi guys, i dont know that much about computers and im buying a new one soon since my current one is super old. I was thinking of this and want to know if it's any good or if i need to find something else, thanks in advance guys.

Processor: AMD Athlon™ 64 X2-processor 5200+
Memory: 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM
Graphic: ATI RADEON X1600 XT 512, with Avivo (VGA/DVI-port, TV-out)
Sound: High Definition Audio 7.13 soundports on front, 6 analog soundports on back
Harddrive: 640 GB SATA-harddrive (7200 rpm) (2x 320GB) + 160GB extern harddrive
Optical unit: DVD-burner DVD RAM och ±R/ ±RW with double layer up to 16x/8x and support for LightScribe
Operativsystem: Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 with Update Rollup 2

I wish people would put there details on there profile.

For a start what are you going to use this computer for? If it's meant for gaming then frankly it's going to suck.

What's your budget (how much are you going to spend)?

The new Athlon X2's are only a paper launch so you might have to weight a while to get one. Just drifting of topic a bit I want to say AMD have had a few paper launches recently, Toms hardware for example reviewed the Athlon EE (ultra efficient processors) a couple of months ago and I can’t find them anywhere!

The first item on your new build should read something like

Intel Core 2 Duo EXXXX

**Maical** · December 20, 2006, 02:13 PM

id say
intel core 2 duo e6300
Gigabyte - GA-965P-DS4 or DS6
2 gigs DDR2 pc6400 (cheaper to get 4x512 geil pc6400 in dual channel)
ATI x1950pro (performances vary on producer, preferably the HIS one with 512 ddr4)
2 X 160gb Hitachi SATA-II on raid 0 / or something like 36 gb raptor for windows + 300gb Seagate or Hitachi

case/psu / optical unit and other stuff at ur choosin i suppose
note : this rig is designed for overcloking / an e6300 OCed @ 3,36 ghz will have better performances then a x6800 wich is ... well so many times more expensive

**Incinerate_IV** · December 20, 2006, 08:46 PM

This thread is your friend.
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=52737

For $1400, you can build a beast of a PC. If you are planning on using it for gaming I suggest you just get a decent E6300 or E6400 and then get a nice graphics card.