Building a new computer...

[johndoh453]

I'm looking to build a new computer that will be good for burning DVD's and also be fast enough to play online games.

What are the best barebone kits out there at an affordable price?

or, what combination of motherboard and processor should i get?

[NightTran]

I would love to see a bare bone sticky for new computer too

[Dan]

I would love to see a bare bone sticky for new computer too

Yes, that would be interesting. I would like to build another pc, just for my dvd ripping/burning/scanning addiction,lol.

[UncasMS]

wait until july, 24th if you can

intel will present their conroes which seem to be very powerful cpus on the 23rd

and amd will most likely reduce prices for their athlon64 x² by up to 50% and normal athlon64 by up to 30%

[Chewy]

http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?t=65681&highlight=core

intel may keep prices high

[Chewy]

prices have already dropped

http://www.chiefvalue.com/product/productdetails.aspx?submit=&item=19-103-633&ATT

[Dan]

I have been keeping a close eye on the AMD cpu's and prices. I see they have a few low priced dual core, but if I'm going to buy dual core I don't want something low grade.

(Chewy, you always find such good deals out there!)

[Chewy]

socket 939 opterons are hold their price, but the 940's must have been overproduced

low grade.

ouch!

[Dan]

socket 939 opterons are hold their price, but the 940's must have been overproduced



ouch!

Maybe I should just stay with low price, lol. If I buy a dual core I just don't want the cheapest one out there, not much point in getting one if that's all I can afford.
Single or dual I think it will be AMD again for me!

[Chewy]

I buy my cpu's at the "sweet spot", most bang for the buck. After learning how they are labeled you stand a good chance of getting a core that's actually much better than what you are paying for. The multiplier lock is not
applied until after the cores are tested, the highest end cpus in a line are really museum pieces that test great off the production line, you pay 2 or 3 times as much per Mghz for them. Not many are willing to pay 500-1000$ so
many of the cpu's are locked at lower speed than they test. My 1.8Ghz runs stable and cool at 2.5Ghz. A 2.5 Ghz cpu would have cost me an extra 3-400$.

[NightTran]

how do you test ?

[Chewy]

You have to have a motherboard with a full blown bios that allows overclocking, I raise my fsb up since I can't raise the multiplier. If you go too far the computer won't boot and you have to clear cmos, when you reach
a point that you feel is safe you start a heavy duty app like shrink in high priority mode with 70% compression and see if it locks.

[Dan]

I buy my cpu's at the "sweet spot", most bang for the buck.

That's exactly what I have in mind. I also have a 1.8 AMD and it has been great from day 1. That's why I am cautious about buying my next CPU, and finding the right CPU in that sweet spot.

Excellent info Chewy, thanks!

[Chewy]

here's the best buy I have seen, not for overclocking, and only if you buy the asus mobo for half price

cpu + mobo = 173$
deluxe mobo add ~85$ possible overclock

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103533

[Dan]

Nice price/combo indeed! I currently have an AMD with an ASUS mobo, but it's got to be at least 4 years old now.

Not sure if I would overclock or not. I have done it before,but it's been a cautious area for me. (and should be I guess,lol)