New PC for my son

[Keeper]

+1 on the hard to beat statement...it's really a good price, plus 2 year warranty, AND Software, AND you don't need to worry about putting all the stuff together....

as for moh vs Cod4?

Cod4 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> moh.

 

[Rouxenator]

Ja, AMD is the best for everything.

 

[Zenbaas]

Ja, AMD is the best for everything.

OMG RouX
I understand you love for AMD, but people who don't yet know your posting style may be swayed by your CRAZY fanboi'ism instead of actual facts. At least put a disclaimer when you post

 

[Nameite]

Ja, AMD is the best for everything.

Lol even good for your health and country?

Anyways you gotta see which of both the cpu + board is cheaper...and if u or ur sons gonna ever OC then get the E5200!

I just OCed all my family's pc and two had E5200 in them now at 3.33ghz...really low temps and better value for money.

Oh and about the HD3200...I'm sure most new cards, even the bottom range can play most games...but who could enjoy slide shows and pixelated graphics.

I mean you buying the game for the gameplay + storyline + graphics...without the last part you are really missing out on so many 3D designer's hardwork which you paid for (buying or downloading the game)

 

[BlackWasp]

OK.

Two possible machines. Quotations based on pcint website.

Machine #1

A78-VM ASUS AMD Socket AM3 motherboard (ATI Radeon HD3200 IGP)
AMD Athlon II X2 250, 6MB L2 Cache, AM3, 3Ghz CPU
2GB DDRII-800 (Kingston - KVR800D2N5/2G)
160GB-7200RPM 8MB Cache SATA II (Samsung)
DVD Writer 22/12x DL (SAMSUNG) SATA
Standard 104 Keyboard PS2 Black
3D Scroll Mouse Optical -USB
280W Speakers - Black
Midi Tower Case + 350W PSU Black 2x Front USB + Side Fan
R2890

Machine #2

P5KPL-AM SE ASUS Intel G31 motherboard
Pentium 2.5 Dual Core E5200 CPU
HD 3450 256MB DDR2 PCI-E VGA GPU
2GB DDRII-800 (Kingston - KVR800D2N5/2G)
160GB-7200RPM 8MB Cache SATA II (Samsung)
DVD Writer 22/12x DL (SAMSUNG) SATA
Standard 104 Keyboard PS2 Black
3D Scroll Mouse Optical -USB
280W Speakers - Black
Midi Tower Case + 350W PSU Black 2x Front USB + Side Fan
R2583

I believe the HD 3450 standalone should outperform the HD 3200 IGP? Although I believe the HD 3200 IGP should be sufficient for my current need.

I have requested formal quotes including shipping and assembly to pcint ,evetech, comx, sybaritic and ngr computers. Let's see how that goes.

Should another company be added to the list?

 

[Rouxenator]

Not only will the 3200 IGP be enough, if you actually buy a 3450 later and you add it to the 3200 IGP it will run in Hybrid Crossfire mode. Something you only get from AMD motherboards. Basically you then have the power of the 3450 combined with the 3200 (which you can always overclock with ease to a 3300).

So - to repeat my self - AMD.

 

[Nameite]

If I had to choose between the two...go to for the first machine.

The HD3450 isn't much better than the HD3200 and assuming you not gonna OC...the board + athlon will be a better performer.

Your son will be happy

And get a 2nd hand HD4850 later on...then they will be really happy

 

[BlackWasp]

If I had to choose between the two...go to for the first machine.

The HD3450 isn't much better than the HD3200 and assuming you not gonna OC...the board + athlon will be a better performer.

Your son will be happy

And get a 2nd hand HD4850 later on...then they will be really happy

Sounds like solid advise. Assuming you could teach me to overclock the e5200 as you mentioned before , will we have a decent competitor to the AMD machine (#1), considering it has a slighty more powerful GPU with the 3450?

I ask because the Intel machine should be around R400-R500 cheaper. Money I could use elsewhere right? If necessary, I could spend the money getting the E5300 iso E5200 if it will make a difference.

 

[BlackWasp]

Not only will the 3200 IGP be enough, if you actually buy a 3450 later and you add it to the 3200 IGP it will run in Hybrid Crossfire mode. Something you only get from AMD motherboards. Basically you then have the power of the 3450 combined with the 3200 (which you can always overclock with ease to a 3300).

So - to repeat my self - AMD.

Thanks, good to know.

 

[Rouxenator]

Just keep in mind that hybrid crossfire only works with AMD chipsets. So adding the 3450 to the AMD machine will give you a lot more performance than getting it on an intel platform because they do not support hybrid crossfire.

 

[Nameite]

Sounds like solid advise. Assuming you could teach me to overclock the e5200 as you mentioned before , will we have a decent competitor to the AMD machine (#1), considering it has a slighty more powerful GPU with the 3450?

I ask because the Intel machine should be around R400-R500 cheaper. Money I could use elsewhere right? If necessary, I could spend the money getting the E5300 iso E5200 if it will make a difference.

Well you can reach 3.33ghz with the E5200 easily, and OCing is just editing two values in the bios. And that will make the system better than (or the same as) the AMD. In the review the Athlons were higher clocked than the intel cpu compared so they're pretty even clock for clock in most cases...though thr larger cache of the athlons makes a difference in one or two cases.

But note the AMD's AM3 socket is new from AMD so it will be easier to upgrade in future to a 2nd quad core or something whilst the socket 775 from intel is basically being discontinued...so future upgrades can only be with 2nd hand quad (plenty of them!)

Personally...I would get the E5200 combination, OC to 3.33ghz (lowest temp highest freq on stock cooler)...save the couple hundred and buy a 2nd HD4850.

The HD3200 can play the newest games on the lowest setting...in 1 years time it wont...the hd4850 + E5200 at 3.33ghz can play most of the newest games at moderately high settings...in a years time it'll be med - high...in a 2 years time med - low...

Easy moderate OC guide: Go into bios upon start up, look for OC menu (CELL, M.I.T tweaker, something similar)
Set fsb from 200 to 266
Choose divider to make ram freq 800 or lower

Sorted...

 

[Rouxenator]

Some of the newer AMD platforms running on the 785 (HD 4200) chipset offers a whole range of automatic overclocking for memory, CPU, PCIe and even the IGP. The Asus board I have calls their IGP overclocking GPU NOS and it automatically overclocks the IGP when intense graphic processing is required.

Also keep in mind that all AMD CPUs have integrated memory controllers, something you only get on the latest intels (i7). This is a massive advantage and if you buy a socket AM2 board and processor you will be able to upgrade it so an AM3 processor if you want to in the future.

While the intel may be a little cheaper and have marginally better processing performance (when overclocking) you will get much better overall performance when going with an all out AMD solution. In the end they always win in the overall bang for your buck department and their offerings are the most scalable and upgrade friendly.

 

[cerebus]

I agree with nameite here. My opinion, it's better to get a usable IGP and leave the PCI-E slot open than getting a really low end gpu which isn't that much better than the IGP. if your son wants to get a gfx card let him save for it himself and give him a solid foundation.

 

[Chevron]

Do you guys realize the amd can be overclocked too. It'll probably go to 3.7Ghz.

 

[BlackWasp]

Message from NGR Computers:

TheAMD machine may be a problem though, AMD processors are extremely difficult tosource – nearly all SA suppliers have discontinued bringing them in, and thefew that do don’t have stock at present. They are expecting stock in about 2weeks time – at which stage we would be able to quote accordingly.

 

[shaddowdragon]

NGR

Message from NGR Computers:

NGR Computers probably has a huge intel stock. Even the new AMD 965 is available at digitalplanet.co.za and sybaritic.co.za have a whole selection. Use pricecheck.co.za to compare the online shops.

Personally i use Sybaritic for their consitency and pricing.

AMD is available.

 

[Nameite]

Do you guys realize the amd can be overclocked too. It'll probably go to 3.7Ghz.

And the E5200 can go to 4ghz...but the point is...the intel system is cheaper...allowing more money for a better gpu...

If you gonna be using a onboard gpu then might as well get a celeron/sempron CPU.