Hows my rig?

Heres my gaming rig i just recently got 2 weeks ago.

Specs -

Motherboard: ASUS A8N-VM CSM
RAM: Kingston 1 Gig (2x512)
HDD: 40 Gig Internal and Maxtor External 120gig Firewire
GPU: WinFast PX7300 GS (GeForce 7300 GS) 512MB Turbo Cache Support (256MB Onboard)
Optical Drive: LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1633S Dual-Layer
PSU: Extreme Power 600w
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3200+
Case: Blackwidow Gaming Series Case

I've only had it for 2 weeks and i've already been searching for better parts, it'll be early 2007 before i get to upgrade but heres what i plan on.

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 FX-60/ 2.60GHz
HDD: Western Digital Raptor 150GB 10K RPM SATA-150 Hard Drive
GPU: eVGA 512-P2-N572-AR Geforce 7900GTX 512MB 256-bit GDDR3
RAM: CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200)

The only concerns i have with the new hardware i plan on buying, is if my mobo will support dual-core and if the vid card will fit on the mobo.

(Link to the mobo)
http://usa.asus.com/products4.aspx [...] =15&l3=210

Feedback greatly appreicated. Espically if i've overlooked a compatability issue in the new hardware i plan on getting.

Im not talking about compatability card will fit, i know it will fit because the card i got now is PCI-E x16. Im talking about the actual size of the card and as to your intel duo core 2 processor system. Im not a real big intel fan, i know the duo core are pushing some impressive performance but in my opinion so is AMD.

Edit: With the 7900 GTX im planning on getting, it is a very impressive card. Not as impressive as an SLI 7950 GX2. But i agree that ATI card is pushing out some impressive FPS. But as for the intel processor. Im planning on upgrading...not scrapping my entire system about it. Which is what i would have to do if i went the Intel route.

Btw that system is already bought, im looking to uprgade it. It's a tank compared to my old emachine pc. And as for the research, i've done it and from what i can tell the 3 top contending cards is that ATI, and those 2 GeForce cards i mentioned earlier. Trust me i done alot of research when it came to the upgrading process and bang for the buck. Personally i like the stats the 7900 GTX is pushing out. But i can't deny the ATI is putting out some impressive stats as well.

go with c2d, even the cheapest ones when oced will outperform fx60

your choice, but to me it looks like you have tons of $$$ and you just want to waste it.

i think what they are trying to say with the money ure goin to waste on the fx-60, u should scrap ure ideas and invest all dat cash on a descent mobo and one of the C2D even if its one of the lower echelon's. itll be worth it i think. if u dont wanna scrap amd then i suggest as u wait and collect 4 the fx pray that amd will come out wit a descent cpu by then.

7300GS and a 600w power supply. Boy what were you smoking when you ordered those parts......

IMO, you should upgrade the video card and HDD before anything else.

connect3D Radeon X1900GT: $175 after a $75 MIR:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814142075

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB SATA 3GB/s: $95:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148140

you are correct there and since you already have a mobo for amd
i would go with the x2 4800.

some people here are not actually intel fans.
they go for what is the best on the market at the time

intel has just regained the cpu crown about 6 months ago
amd had it for a couple of years. some people forget that
or didnt even know it.

amd will probably be the cpu king again and intel will come back
and so on.

If ur an huge AMD fan then u should better choose th 4800+ or the 5000+
cost less and performs almost the same. I dont think ur the kind of man
that has a problem with a 1-5 secons delay.

On the GPU part a 7900GT or a 7950GT would be better than a 7900GTX.
Or even better a ATi Radeon X1900XTX cost 350$ and is better that
both.

Yeah i want a 7950 GX2 and with the 48 pixelpipeline and 1 gig it's awesome. But thats too pricey right now, although by the time i get enough money for this upgrade it'll be down in price im sure. But to me it looks like the FX 60 is pushing a little better on the charts AMD wise than the regular x2 ones (Socket 939 wise). I might be wrong, just what it looks like to me. And as for the 7900GTX, it looks like a nice card and on the The Best Gaming Video Cards for the Money: October 2006 post it looks pretty good. However the ATI one looks really good, oh well, guess time will tell what i actually get. And again thanks for all your input guys.

I like AMD's too, they're reliable and they do what they're supposed to do. What more do you need? The X2 4800+ is pretty popular and good, go for it and be happy. Or, you could update to AM2, get a X2 4800+ or something less powerful temporarily and be ready for whatever AMD throws out next Either way, if you're happy, you're happy.

I would just get a 7900GT instead of a 7950GX2.

Instead of calling everyone a fan boy and making faces that intend to be posts you should back up your opinions with facts, reviews, benchmarks.
Maybe then youll earn some "re5pect".

hey man, Im just advicing you so people will take your arguments seriously and you look like an "ass".

I appreciate your input

ASSMAN

if the OP is looking for an AMD upgrade path, then why are so many people are recomending core 2 duo's? this whole thread shocked me. read the post before you try to flame someones computer please.

Whos computer have I flamed???

Yeah these guys are totaly over doing this core2 duo crap the cpu doesnt even do a WHOLE lot for the overall gaming experience. A solid 4000+ or fx55 with 1mb cache will do everything. AND HONESTLY there is no need for dual cores tell me one game that uses it? yeah thats right.

Just buy a flagship video card and you will be a happy camper for the average person.

Age of Empires III

Battlefield 2

Battlefield 2: Special Forces

Black & White 2

Call of Duty 2

City of Villains by NCSoft

Peter Jackson’s King Kong

Quake 4

Quake 5 (when released)

Serious Sam 2 by Croteam

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (on pre-order)

The Movies

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six 3

Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland

Vangauard Saga of Heros

World of Warcraft

(RichPLS©)

Yeah that's right

I wouldn't be so quick to tell everyone to back off.

First, I would like to remind you that this forum is mostly enthusiasts. Therefore, most of us have advanced computer systems, and to have mediocre (at best, by today's standards) systems immediately after purchasing them, to most of us is laughable. If you come here with a system, that you just bought, and it doesn't have the latest technology involved, you will get laughed at. It is to be expected.

That is like bringing a rusty Ford Pinto to a Ford Mustang Rally and then asking how good your car looks. Sure, that Pinto may be leaps and bounds ahead of that Chevette you just traded in for it, but it is still....a Pinto.

Second, the OP did not spend a TON of money on his recent purchases. Even at retail, most everything he has purchased is older technology, being at least 1 year on the market, and has long ago hit the price / performance market of even a budget purchaser. There was absolutely NOTHING in his purchase that was top of the line, or even close to that.

Even worse is the fact that what he will be upgrading to NEXT year, will be 1 1/2 - 3 years out of date when he buys it. Therefore, when he purchases it, most of the items he has and will be purchasing will be so obsolete that it will actually cost more to replace anything than it would be if he had gone with better items and newer technology to begin with. For example, to (even though I believe it is the best purchase he will be making) purchase Corsair DDR ram in 2007 for a S939 mobo is considered by many to be a serious waste of money, and a serious lack of futureproofing. That is like pouring money into a house that is dilapidated, and about to fall down.

Even though this sytem seems to be leaps and bounds ahead of his previous system, the OP has still purchased technology that is outdated already and has been for quite a while. The approximately $600-$800 that he just spent could have been spend in a much better fashion, to get much better technology and performance. Even worse is the fact that he is planning on upgrading and putting even more money on it, later. Had he researched better, he would have been able to get better parts, now, for the same, or possibly less money.

I am not surprised at all that he is getting all the retorts.

Agreed, but *sigh* that is the nature of the beast, and basically human nature.

Going to a biker rally with a rusty motorcycle, taking a economy car to a sports car event, or heaven forbid, taking a Pentium III computer to a lan party, will all get you ridiculed. It's the way we as humans think.

Okay, after reading everything (and getting a good chuckle), I'll offer some advice. You can take it or leave it.

I almost wish you would of written a thread about the components you planned on buying instead of wanting to upgrade a computer that's only 2 weeks old. Then again, an A64 3200+ socket 939 is actually over 2 years old. For a little bit more money, you could of gotten the 3700+ San Diego core which overclocks beyond the speed of an FX-55.

An FX-55 is approaching 2 years old. Here. In the computer world, you are talking about a dinosaur.

And the FX-60 dual core is $600. Now, hopefully when you want to upgrade this chip will only be $150. Because anything more would be a waste of money.

Grant it, these chips might be better than what you had but that's not the point. A lot of people are trying to help you make better value purchase in the future. If you want to spend more money on an AMD system that gives less performance than a current Intel system, that's your prerogative.

To answer your questions.

1. The mobo will support dual socket as the specification states it supports Athlon 64 X2. This is short for dual processor.

Here is a list of dual-core processors available at Newegg. Here for standard socket 939 CPU's and here for FX models.

2. The 7900GTX is a waste of money. See my price/perf analysis. Here. As of now, the X1900XT 256MB is the best bang for the buck. In the time you want to upgrade, this chart will completely change as DX10 will be here. And stating that your "gaming" rig has a 7300GS is like saying I just bought a Nintendo 64 and am planning on upgrading to a Gamecube just as the Wii is due out next month.

3. Go for the Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 Perpendicular Drive as mentioned. You can get the 250GB or 320GB version depending on what you need/want.

4. Get the cheapest DDR 400 Ram you can buy. Take a look here to see why. Some DDR 400 value memory can be better than performance memory.

If the FX-60 is still $600 then I would sell your components to recoup some of your cost and use the money to buy a current CPU. You might be able to get a lower model AMD K8L CPU for 2 or 3 hundred bucks, a new $100-$150 mobo and 2x1GB DDR2 800 memory for around $200.

This alone would cost as much as an FX-60 chip. And that's not accounting for selling your socket 939 for something.

People on this forum usually hate to see people wasting their money, which I hate to say it, you did. Grant it, it's your money, but nonetheless, people here have the experience and know what is a good VALUE which is the bottomline.

It needs more... cowbell.

I think youre doing just the right thing. Giving it more longevity to your system until Vista and the 65nm processors from AMD arrive.
My recommendations:

X2 4800+ if you arent going to overclock at all ($250 OEM newegg). If you are, get the 4200+ and enjoy!

The raptor X is the best SATA HDD out there but it comes to a great cost. If youve got the money and you care alot more for performance than capacity then get it. But remmber that you can get a Barracuda 7200.10 360GB for $95.

Again my recommendation goes for the X1900XT 256mb, youll find it cheaper if you do a quick search in froogle *hint*

***EDITED***

Dont believe all these C2D crap because its always been the same when a new architecture comes up. Itll all be replaced by K8L