Support NeoGAF

[SonnyBoy]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...p?EdpNo=1487649&sku=C460-1022 Q&CMP=ILC-FPM08

Im thinking about putting my 900mhz persario out to pasture. The link above is the bare bones kit Im considering.

1. Is the a system that will allow me to significantly upgrade over time?

Are the 64 bit chipsets the way to go?
Should I go with PCI Express?

Im not a heavy PC gamer, actually I dont play any games on the PC. I want a decent box that will allow me to grow into it overtime. I wouldn't mind playin BF:2 that way it should be played and making it into a media center.

All opinons, links and suggestions are GREATLY appreciated.

 

[wobedraggled]

AMD64 is a must, performance is stunning.

pci-e is the furute so unless you don't wanna upgrade the video at all, stick with pci-e.

Install xp64bit over the standard 32bit if you can, there are still a few missing drivers but performace is great.

 

[DonasaurusRex]

You dont want that system, even though it would own your current system handily it doesnt have many upgrade options.

You want these basic things just to be safe, A 64bit enabled cpu like A64 or Intel EMT64 chip *psst go amd*, a motherboard with pci express, one for graphic card reasons, and secondly your entire southbridge uses that pci express bus which is point to point instead of shared. This is much quicker examples of things that use the southbridge to communicate with the cpu are, the hdd controllers, any dvd rom drives, usb ports, network cards all use that bus you want pci express to have more bandwidth for all these things. And you wanna get a serial ata hdd controller, dont worry most boards have them standard.

You really should have those 3 things , pci express, 64bit enabled cpu, and a sata hdd controller. Also check and make sure the the system you get is atleast socket 939 if you go amd that should have quite a few upgrade options for a while. The lowest i would go as far as cpu's go is an amd643000 its a great chip and is cheap sub 200 dollars so a system with it shouldnt be too expensive. Intel chips i believe you want the socket 775. good luck.

 

[teh_pwn]

If you're not playing games and encoding or anything else intensive, that system will do what you want it to.

However, I don't know how well Battlefield 2 will run on integrated video.

In terms of upgrading, you can get more RAM, and about a 6600 GT would be the fastest video card you could get without the CPU being a bottleneck. You can't really upgrade the CPU, as it's taking a AMD XP 3000+ Barton. The fastest one is the 3200+ Barton, and it's like 1-2% faster.

When could you see it running too slow? Maybe with Windows Vista if you plan on getting it. But even for general purpose usage, I'd think it would run fine.



People may tell you that you "need" a 64-bit chip, but that's nonsense. You don't need it. There's really no such thing as long term expandibility. A new chipset will come out, or a new core type that your mobo can't support...meaning your CPU/RAM is maxed. A new video card interface or interface version will come out, making your video static. Etc.

You don't need to sink hundreds on a system with 64-bit dual core CPUs, SATA, and all that stuff they're talking about. you're browing the internet. You don't need that shit.

 

[DonasaurusRex]

he said he wanted to grow into the system i was assuming he would like it to be upgradeable. The things listed are not expensive they are mainstream. Why WOULNDT he get a 64bit enabled chip he can get one that doesnt cost much and is on a good socket and is upgradeable its basically STANDARD. If i wouldve bought a 939 chip when it came out I could go from the 280064 all the way to a 400064 or even a dual core chip, eventually those chips will be in his pricerange so whats the problem with him getting a system with the base platform.

 

[SonnyBoy]

Guys, I thank all of you for your input.

teh, you're absolutely right in that I dont need the things that they're speaking of. I mostly only surf the net.

However, the information they provided me is exactly what I need. Im not looking to blow $1500 on a system right. Im looking for a barebones system that will give me the expandability I need to eventually get my system to that point.

If its not too much trouble could you guys link me to some systems, preferably barebones that will allow me to do the things you have listeD?

 

[teh_pwn]

he said he wanted to grow into the system i was assuming he would like it to be upgradeable. The things listed are not expensive they are mainstream. Why WOULNDT he get a 64bit enabled chip he can get one that doesnt cost much and is on a good socket and is upgradeable its basically STANDARD.

Because it'll cost more money. He isn't going to even push the Barton processor.

A socket 939 processor would cost nearly as much as the original system you posted.

 

[DonasaurusRex]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16883102643
]
its not sub 300 bucks but it its a great system for what you wanna do , and when you WISH to upgrade you will have alot of affordable options comes with everything I suggested you have good luck.

 

[SonnyBoy]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16883102643
]
its not sub 300 bucks but it its a great system for what you wanna do , and when you WISH to upgrade you will have alot of affordable options comes with everything I suggested you have good luck.

Thanks a lot!! This is definately right up my alley. How hard would it be to swap this into a clear case? Im not all too familiar with the hardware side of things as you can see.

 

[DonasaurusRex]

Shouldnt be too hard if you look around the edges of the motherboard there are screws just unscrew the motherboard , unplug all the cd drives hdd's etc, then put the motherboard in first in the clear case, after that its just plug and play.