[Megadeth2]

I have an unlocked AMD Athlon XP 3000+ (Barton). I want to build a new system, but I don't want to spend much. Would it be more cheaper for me to to buy a better overclocking Socket A motherboard than to build a new system? Would it be more practical (I see no use for 64-Bit)?

[Nubius]

Well considering all you'd need is a decent OC'ing Socket A mobo which is approx 80 compared to the $100+ you'd spend on a Socket 939 board and $150 for a decent but cheap socket 939 CPU, then you're basically looking at $80 dollars vs $225+

It'll definitely hold you off for atleast a year which is basically what you need until they release a 64bit OS

[Megadeth2]

I'm thinking of getting a DFI Lanparty NFII Ultra-B. From what I understand, it is a good overclocker's board. I need good air cooling, any suggestions for that? I also need a cheap AGP 8x graphics card that will run every game I throw at it smoothly, SMOOTHLY, NOT THE BEST POSSIBLE, any suggestions?

[ChipX]

Originally posted by Megadeth2
I also need a cheap AGP 8x graphics card that will run every game I throw at it smoothly, SMOOTHLY, NOT THE BEST POSSIBLE, any suggestions?

ati radeon 9800 pro; 128 mb; 256-bit

[GageMW]

here's a great card for $213 if you can afford it

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?
description=14-130-220&depa=0

[Megadeth2]

link does not work...

[GageMW]

otherwise for almost half that:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...131-219&depa=0

[GageMW]

oh hehe sorry here: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...130-220&depa=0

[Megadeth2]

I like the 6600GT...much better than anything I see here...guys I want this rig to be AMD...I love Intel, but I don't have anything against AMD and you guys know that...they are both great companies, but there are so many options

[Nubius]

Yeah if you can afford the 6600GT then that'll offer you awesome gameplay. It'll actually be more than you need really and if you're really worried about PCI-E and all that (which really I think some people are jumping the gun on that) then just wait a year until you upgrade

I think AMD64, SLI, and PCI-E are overrated right now. Common case of 'OH NEW TECHNOLOGY GOTTA HAVE IT' when it's not even fully utilized or standardized yet and won't be for months to come.

A good OC'd socket A board with good memory, video card can definitely hold it's own to some AMD64 CPUs....about up to the 3500+ and after that, the GHz of the AMD64's will just outperform the GHz able to be achieved by the OC'd processor.

If you can get your CPU to 2.5-2.6 it will be more powerful than the lower AMD64 CPUs.

Also yeah I hear good things about DFI's overclockability although I haven't fully looked into it.

I think mainly it'll allows for a higher overal FSB, but if you're doing that, then you're OC'ing your memory as well which is more difficult than OC'ing the CPU IMO