AMD or Intel

[KikMyAssAgain]

Hi i'm a newbie and expect the usual treatment for being one. I've finally got the courage or rather money to try and build a new pc, mainly for games etc, i use my current system for the net and work stuff.

Most of the people i know aren't to clued up regards to pc's, and my dilemma at the moment is whether i should go down the road of AMD or Intel. Most of the systems i see are XP systems and considering i'm in the AMD forum, any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I'm working to a budget, and have some of the components already, ie case, psu, monitor, keyboard and mouse etc.

Basically i'm after a m/b, cpu, graphics card and RAM and soundcard, plus whatever else i'll need.

Thats it for the moment.

[ReSpAwN DeMoN]

Well the higher end p4 systems especially when the 3GHz come out with hyper threading are gonna be really killer. So in that sense Intel is leading. BUt AMD has always been the price. And the fact that your on a price budget like you said I would personally say AMD. But then this is my personal opinion as I am an AMD enthusiest. Unless AMD starts getting really suck-o and intel starts dropping there prices liek they did a while back. THen I might decide to switch.

[Ehhe Yebeb]

IMO intel appeals more to high budget users and no budget users. If you are looking for around the middle specs for most of your stuff, you will most likely get a better go from AMD

[Wiggo]

[KikMyAssAgain]

[Wiggo]

512MB is the sweet spot for XP and anymore doesn't speed things up (unless ya got a dozen or so apps open) and the PSU should be plenty. ;)

Also don't forget about a good sized hard drive (maybe even a WD JB series one, 8MB cache) and ya may want a DVD and a burner as well (maybe a new game or two also) but as I said, it's a point to start with and mold from there. :devil:
<center>:cheers:</center>

[KikMyAssAgain]

Thanks Wiggo.

I already have a dvd player and a dvd in my current pc. But the writer is a good idea. I also need a joystick, assuming i get UT. None of you seem to list these in your spec's lists, any :?:

All the games i've played to date use keyboard and mouse.

[Beefy]

you pretty much said it yourself. All games can be played with keyboard / mouse, so there isn't much use for a joystick. Some people like them better, some get them for flight sims, but it's much easier playing most games with kb / mouse.

[pga1234]

I got my specs in my sig :D. Of course it's off a bit. I'll update it when I build it.

Anyway the 512mb is th right amount for XP. And you may want to look into a Volcano 7+ if you have extra money (If you are going to buy the Volcano 7+ buy the proc OEM (save around $20).

[KikMyAssAgain]

Thanks Beefy, guess i did answer my own ? and i also don't really fancy flying planes so i may use the money elsewhere if not on a joystick, immediately that is.

I like your spec pga1234. I'll look into the Volcano. I also notice you list the Radeon 9700 Pro as your desired card. In a review of it i read that it blows the competition away, even the Ti4600, and it is supposedly the fastest , most feature complete 3d card currently out.

What i also read was that you will not be able to use all of the cards features due to lack of direct X 9.0 ??? and also to be advised that nVidia are putting final touches to their new card, code named NV30 which will compete with the 9700.
:bounce:

[pga1234]

The NV30 is supposed to have a jump on the Radeon. I am getting my 9700 on Monday :D. I personally rather hae an Radeon over a GeForce. Don't ask me why I just do :).

Here are the final specs:

AMD 2200+
Radeon 9700
512 pc-3200 CL2
Gigabyte GA-7VAXP
Western Digital 80GB 7200RPM 8MB Cache
Artec 56X
Lite-On 40x12x48
Sony 1.44MB (YEEEAAAH!)
Enermax 350W EG365P-VE

All of this is going in a shiny new Silver Chieftec Matrix Case.

[KikMyAssAgain]

Is that spec a spec of a system you intend to/or are building or is it what you have/or are upgraded your system too ?

Like i say i have a general pc, but fancied building one purely for gaming.

How much will your 9700 cost ?

[pga1234]

$318, but graphic cards where you are are more right?

Those specs are the system that I currently have the parts for. Tommorrow I get the rest of my parts :D.

[KikMyAssAgain]

As my header...give me a mo'

[KikMyAssAgain]