Which do you guys recommend as the best and for a first time computer build? Intel or AMD? ATI vs NVIDIA? MOBO brand? Case brand? Thanks in advance if you respond.

If you're capable of waiting until Q4, Conroe (Intel) is the way to go if it is what it is hyped up to be.

However, if you're talking about building right now the best way to go, IMHO, is AMD (AM2) and Nvidia (GeForce 7900 GT).

AMD has an excellent selection and with the recent price drop it is an even better deal. I highly recommend dual core, you may regret it if you go single.

Good Luck.

Q4??? Is that a MOBO?

Why AMD and not Intel? Is AMD a lot better? And is Nvidia a lot better?[/quote]

Thanks for the info. I have a Dell 4100 P3 800 Mhz with 32MB and then a Dell Laptop 2.4Ghz, maybe 32MB video card. The laptop had one of its sockets for RAM burn out. I am scared of using it to play games because if the other DIMM burns out, I am out of a computer I need for college abroad. Do you think I should knock out as much value out of this laptop by getting a better video card? Or will it probably bust if I use it too much.

As long as your laptop is well ventilated you can use it for just about anything. Make sure your laptop is on a flat and hard surface. If you use your laptop on, for example, a bed it will not ventilate properly and will be more prone to failure caused by heat.

So, to answer your question, I would avoid using it, but just make sure it has space to breathe and is not on a blanket or other soft surface.

In reply to your other questions:

Q4 (Quarter Four) refers to the last 3 months of the year, it is a financial term.

It is in my opinion that AMD has better current offerings with their Socket AM2 platform. However, in Q4 of this year Intel will most likely start shipping it's new Core 2 Duo (Conroe) processors that have been (arguably) tested to be much fast than any current offering from either Intel or even AMD.

I am still curious why you recommend AMD over Intel. I saw the speeds for the AMD and they were like 2.6 and 2.4. Intel had processors that were 3.0 and 3.2. All of them were dual core.

Do you have a good site where I can find out about only the best hardware?

Chip frequency does not equal performance

AMD currently outperforms Intel at lower clock speed because of their processor design. Intel's next generation processor (Conroe due in Q4) work at lower frequencies and achieves much better performance.

Take a look at Tom's Hardware CPU charts to see processor comparisons in different benchmarks, choose benchmarkes relevant to what you wish to do:

http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu.html

This si one of the oldest arguments there are. I think you should just go with whatever your gut thinks is best, and find the best parts for each.

i.e. right now

Pentium D 920, and 805 i heard is good

Amd 3800+ and 3800+x2

nvidia 7900gt

Ati x1800xt

Judging by what he's asked and the Q4 question I'm really not sure he's qualified to build one either. Not getting on his case but damn the Intel/ AMD speed thing is really old news and not to know that throws up some serious red flags.

I knew about the Q4 thing from before, but in the context that he used it, I thought he talked about some computer tech things.

1) Go for intel core2duo, and if you can't wait get a pentium D that way you upgarde with ease later forlittle extra cost!
2) For for a Nvidia 7 series (not 6 series, not piont buy old stuff) like a 7900 or 7800 as theyare able to reach those HD resolution unlike ATI

I would recomend AMD and Nvidia i think that they are the best compination and look for Falcon NorthWest and Ncidia 7900 GTX

geeze guys you are giving advice on what to buy and you don't even know what his budget is or what hes going to use the computer for.

One thing is safe to say and that is today is a bad day to price out a new PC. Motherboards and CPUs on the intel and AMD side are in major price and technology flux.

I was thinking about $1000 total. Something like the following:
$500 MOBO and CPU
$100 case
$150 hard drive
$50 DVD-R
$200 graphics card

The more I think about it, it seems that getting a XBox 360 or PS3 might be worth it. PS3's processor is like 3GHz. What do you guys think?