New System

[LeDgE]

Since I'm getting a job this year and parents are going to pay 50% of the computer.
What's a good system to buy under $2500 AUD?
Should I wait for that Windows Vista or stick with Windows Xp?
AMD or Intel? (64 Bit or Dual Core?)
Nvidia or ATi?
I heard Nvidia is better at handling texture hungry games (BF2/Quake 4)
I've been using ATi for the last few years.

Should I bother upgrading my pc?

AMD Athlon XP 2400+ (Stock 2000Mhz, OC'ed 2170Mhz)
Epox N2 Mobo
Mixed memory- 512 PC3200, 256 PC2700, 256 PC2100 (All running at the slowest speed, PC2100)
ATi Radeon 9600XT 128MB (Stock 500/300, OC'ed 540/320)
Some biege box case
400 Watt PSU

[Scinto]

Re: New System

uhm stick to XP afiak vista doesnt hav much compatability with games etc,,

upgrade your memory so their all the same type & speed,

[sackynut]

Re: New System

Personally I would wait for vista.. OR build a computer now that will be easily upgradable to Vista/DX10 type stuff. That doesnt just mean get good parts, it also means get good performing, yet cheap parts, so you have money left over for future upgrades, but since you are getting a job you might be able to blow the cash now and still have some for vista.
I would got AMD for gaming.
if you have enough money for a video card (550$) I would go with ATI's x1900xt, or xtx because it can render HDR and AA at the same time ingame. but the nvidia 7900gt and gtx are still very very good. Nvidia handles more newer games better for the most part. So it all depends, personally I would go nvidia because I have never had problems with them, but the x1900xtx has many many good points to it.

I would also get 2GB of ram.
new mobo, new pSU. As long as you keep the parts not TOO expensive you wont go over 2500 AUS. you can build a killer system for 2500 in the US.

[LoD]

Re: New System

I have no idea what AUD = in USD, but i would go dual core only if it fits your budget. Dual core is very sweet but not a requirement for gaming, especially if your on a tight budget.

Video card is the most important thing in gaming, then the amount of ram, then the CPU in my opinion. 1GB of ram is good for most games, except BF2, and 2GB is obviously the sweet spot right now for everything.

If your buying now, AMD is the only solution you should consider, if your waiting for 3-6 months, come back and reevaluate then, AMD and Intel will have new stuff out and its too early to speculate. That being said the general consensus is that Intel will be faster by end of summer.

As for Sacky's infatuation with DX10 and Vista. He is entitled to his opinion but i will have to disagree. I think Vista is a fine OS for certain people on the day of launch, but waiting specifically for the OS is retarted. Vista is nothing more than a streamlined/bloated (depending on interpretation) of XP with a DirectX 9 3d interface.

Vista will support DX9 and DX10, however it will be more tailored to supporting DX10 natively. There are no performance numbers yet, and at this point we are 6-9+ months from release we just dont know how it will perform. Its possible Vista will actually be slower in DX8/9 games like BF2, because of the software emulation/interpretation of non DX10 API's.

We just dont know and I wouldnt even consider waiting. Its going to be well into 2007 -2008 until we see games that make great use of DX10. DX10 is one boat i would let sail, then see where it is 6+ months after Vista is out.

[Laike]

Re: New System

If you followed the evolution of DX nine, it's going to be another year and a half after vistas release for games to be 100% DX10 only. It will take a while before that happens. By then, pop in a DX 10 video card and keep moving. I wouldn't expect to see pure DX10 only to happen until at least 2008, until then, save money for another upgrade.

ATI and Nvidia is personal preference. ATI is doing better at some things, vidia others, it depends what you want out of it, and your own personal bias.

AMD and intel, that would be AMD64 hands down. It's just generally noted that AMD64s perform better in gamign enviroments.

[kaheiyeh]

Re: New System

Use StaticIce if you're buying online. It's a search engine that will search online Australian PC Hardware/Gadgets stores. (Link: http://www.staticice.com.au)

As for the CPU, an AMD is a definate. You may want to wait on Socket AM2 for this though. If you want a decent price/performance video card while you wait for DX10, the 7600GT is the way to go. You'll also want 2GB of RAM if you're planning to play BF2 at all High settings.

[knghtwhosaysni]

Re: New System

I would suggest just getting a new computer and selling your current one. I'm sure you could get a fairly nice 7900gt and dual core setup with that budget.

And there's no need to wait for Vista, especially since it has been delayed until January 2007.

As far as waiting for AM2 or Conroe to come out, I don't think it really matters. The performance of games is much more determined by the GPU, not the CPU. Of course, that doesn't mean you should pair a high-end card with an AMD 3000+ :)

[kaheiyeh]

Re: New System

As far as waiting for AM2 or Conroe to come out, I don't think it really matters. The performance of games is much more determined by the GPU, not the CPU.

Actually, I was thinking that he could get DDR2 RAM with AM2 ... Not about the actual CPU, just the type of RAM supported.

[knghtwhosaysni]

Re: New System

Actually, I was thinking that he could get DDR2 RAM with AM2 ... Not about the actual CPU, just the type of RAM supported.

eh, from the one (perhaps flawed) benchmark that I've seen so far, it didn't give much of an improvement. In fact, it didn't give an improvement at all.

But the OP said that he was going to upgrade "sometime this year," and if he happens to be upgrading sometime in the summer, then I think he should go ahead and get AM2 if he wants to... I just don't think it's worth waiting for if he wants the computer now.

[Blak_Phoenix]

Re: New System

Yea, use Static Ice, its very useful and get the lowest prices on everything.

I would suggest something along the lines of...

AMD X2 4800+
7900GTX (May be able to get 2.. not sure on the prices)
AN8 SLI Premuim
500W+ PSU
2GB (2x 1GB) RAM
250GB+ HD (7,000RPM 16MB Cache is good) or you could get 1 or 2 raptors...

It will all come in under $2500 easy if you dont need a moniter.

[LeDgE]

Re: New System

If I upgrade my memory to 2X512 Corsair Dual Channel Ram, would I notice much difference. Since I'm going to PC3200 from PC2100? Is 1 Gig Dual Channel better than having 1.5 Gig running at PC3200? I feel like getting memory for my current pc and getting a computer in the upcoming months