Need suggestion on new system

[hawkburn]

Howdy guys, it's been a while. :icon_thum

Anyway, so as of late my computer has been going through some odd errors. Windows will randomly restart when the CPU is at full load (playing SWG, while downloading at 5 kbit/sec on newsgroups, while in 2 internet browsers, while on AIM.)

I recently added another gig of RAM, but I tested it for errors and there were no problems. I also face random system haults that the system heals itself after freezing for about 20 seconds.


Anyway, I figured it was time to upgrade anyway.

My current system is:
Intel D875PBZLK Motherboard
Intel 875P Chipset
Intel Pentium IV 3.2 Ghz (Northwood Class)

2x 160 GB Seagate Serial ATA drives (in RAID 0 config)
1x 80 GB WD IDE hard drive (for storage)

4x 512 MB sticks of DDR 3200 (400mhz)

1x ATI Radeon 9800 XT 256mb video card

And assorted DVD burners, fans, etc.


I know that the new system will definately be based on AMD, and I wanted to use the ASUS A8N-SLI Premium socket 939 board.

I need a few suggestions on other things though. I am having a hard time deciding whether to go with the FX-57 (rather save $200 than getting the FX-60... or would it be worth it?) or the Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Toledo (dual core)

The rest of the system I already know what I want in there. I'd rather not spend the money if I didn't have to, but I want what's best for me and what will last the longest. I tend to play a few MMORPG's and many FPS (mostly battlefield 2 and CS)


Any information will be of great use. Thanks. :icon_salu

[SanDiegoKid]

Dude, I would only replace the video card. Even if you have AGP there are plenty of bad ass cards out there... Radeon X850, for example, handles all the games out there and will be fine for another year or more.

If you still think the RAM is your problem, try running on just 2 sticks and see what happens. If they're fine swap out one, etc. (you probably have all that covered already, huh)

[mountain_rage]

Ya your system should be more then capable of running what you are currently trying to pull off. Ive played doom3 while downloading off azureus. It didnt use up my ram when I only have 1 gig. My processor is no better then yours, amd 64bit 3000+.

Although if you are still serious about a new system then I would avoid asus but thats just my own personal opinion of them. Alot of people like asus but ive ran into quite a few problems with their motherboards so im never going back. Currently im using a gigabyte motherboard and im very happy with it. Ive never had problems with gigabyte so you should take a look at what they offer. Ive also heard good things about DFI's lanparty boards.

[pimpinaman]

if it was me....I'd go with the dual-core, with a dual SLI capable motherboard....maybe a 7800 or 6800gt video card...

[Mels_Smileys45]

If you can fix that PC there is zero reason to get another one unless miliseconds are noticable to you. The grafix card is the only thing you need to replace and like kleenr said, the 850 is a great card, thats what I have and it kicks any games butt wide open in my amd64 3000+ rig. Ive put my PC up against faster CPU based systems and I can't tell any difference. An extra 2 frames a second means fuck all. Dont fall victim to PC marketing people. There are no games out there that will benifit much from a faster than 3.2GHZ CPU. Get a new grafix card and since grafix cards need to be upgraded every year by silly gamers, it wont hurt you to wait another year to upgrade your mobo.

[hawkburn]

Well I got some diagnostic help from a friend in DC chat. The event viewer in Admin Tools shows many errors with iaStor (which are the drivers for my Intel RAID setup)

This system is around 2 years old if I remember correctly. I've been wanting to switch to AMD for a while anyway. I've been wanting to start fresh with a AMD/Nvidia system and tidy up a nice case with cable routing and the such. I suppose I could fix this system and use it as a backup (although thats what I currently use my laptop for.)

Anyway, thanks for the replies thus far. But I still have one main question: What would be better: the dual core or the FX-57? I not only do gaming, but some video editing for school projects and tons of multitasking.

[mountain_rage]

Well if you want the very best in computing the fx-60 would be your best bet since its dual core and has the power of the fx-core. If your already investing the amount of money that you are then I would go with the fx-60. You are getting a 2nd core for only 200$ more( im going by your estimate). Otherwise it sounds like the fx-57 and dual cores are comparable and performance only depends on what you are dooing with the machine. Amd is pushing the fx-57 for gamers and the dual cores to multitasking consumers. The fx-60 combines the best of both those words.

[SanDiegoKid]

Unless your video editing platform is multi-threaded, the dual core processor might be even slower than a single core at that task.
Single core processors are the best for gaming right now. As far as I know there aren't any multi-threaded games. Sort of like how there are never any games that fully use the latest video card to its fullest extent... the hardware is just so far ahead of the software right now.

However, I don't think you would lose an appreciable amount of frame rate by using a dual core for gaming. An added bonus to using the dual core would be the ability to render video (or some other intensive process) while playing a bad ass 3D game.

So, in essence:

If you have to have every last bit of 3D gaming frame rate: single core processor.

if you're willing to take a slight frame rate hit, and not expecting miracles with other apps quite yet: dual core. (plus the added bonus of great multitasking)

[CrashPeer44]

Dude, I would only replace the video card. Even if you have AGP there are plenty of bad ass cards out there... Radeon X850, for example, handles all the games out there and will be fine for another year or more.


get a really fast AMD64 Bit with either a X1800 or 2 Nvidia 7800 GTX