Request advice on new system

[Mark]

I am thinking of buying a new system, and I would like to hear your
opinions, please. I am thinking between two options:

-----------------------
Asus P5AD2-E DeLuxe, D-DDR2, PCI-E, Soc775
Intel P4 (550J) 3,40 GHz 800fsb 1MB BOX -Soc775-
CPU cooler Zalman CNPS7700-Cu
2x 1024mb Kingston DDR2-533 p/n KVR533D2N4/1G
Antec SONATA Black (with 480W NeoPower PSU)
Asus Extreme N7800 GTX/2DHTV 256mb PCI-E
Soundcard Creative Audigy2 -ZS
Logitech Z-5500 Digital 500W THX 5.1 spks
Floppy drive SONY 1,44MB 3,5inch
1 Maxtor 250GB SATA 7200rpm 16mb p/n 6L250R0

Advantage: newest technology, using PCI-E, and a heck of a video card.
Disadvantage: Intel CPU, which is significantly slower than its rival, the
AMD 64.
-----------------------

Or this sytem:

-----------------------
Asus A8V Deluxe DDR400, Soc939 V2.0 Soc939
AMD64 4000+ (2,4G) 1024kb Box
CPU cooler Zalman CNPS7700-Cu
2 1024mb Kingston DDR2-533 p/n KVR533D2N4/1G
Antec SONATA Black (with 480W NeoPower PSU)
Logitech Z-5500 Digital 500W THX 5.1 spks
Asus GF V9999-Ultra 256mb AGP D/T (3jr)
Maxtor 250GB SATA 7200rpm 16mb p/n 6L250R0
Soundcard Creative Audigy2 -ZS

Advantage: very stable motherboard, and exceedingly fast AMD 64
Disadvantage: AGP is rapidly on its way out; and the Asus GF V9999-Ultra
(based on the 6800 Ultra), though a pretty decent card, doesn't hold a
candle to the N7800 GTX, of course.

-----------------------

I gadly hear your advice,

Thanks,

- Mark

 

[dave_bonnell]

Basically, everything you've listed is the same with the exception of
the mobo, cpu, and vid.

I'm voting AMD. But......

If you are concerned about PCI-E, why not get an Athlon64 mobo that
supports it? (Asus A8N-E, etc.)

Is cost an issue? If so, I'd drop down from the 4000+ to something
along the lines of a 3400. I don't think the performance difference
will be a major issue....and you can use the extra $$ to get the N7800.
Not to mention you can upgrade to a dual-core in 6 months without
paying the "new technology" tax...and sell the 3400 to people currently
running on the Athlon64 2800's and 3000's.

Of course, if cost isn't an issue, why not go SLI and grab two N7800's
??!?

As for the case, might as well upgrade to the Antec Sonata II (which
comes with a 450W power supply). The price of the new case is on par
with the "old" version, and supposedly they've worked out some of the
bugs.

I read a review recently, and it looks like top AGP cards are still
outperforming their PCI-E counterparts. Can't remember where I saw
this, though (anandtech or tom's hardware). I'm sure this will change
soon, but it's something to consider.

 

[Mark]

Thank you for your reply (more below).

If you are concerned about PCI-E, why not get an Athlon64 mobo that
supports it? (Asus A8N-E, etc.)

I am not so much concerned about PCI-E, as I am about the AMD motherboards
coming out with that archetecture. Basically, I have not been able to find
a single, stable PCI-E board for the AMD! There are severe issues with the
Asus A8N-E; USB 2.0 reportedly does not work properly; and it has an
extremely loud northbridge fan. Same for the A8V-E: very noisy, and poor
quality northbridge fan; and the VIA KT890 has several outstanding issues
as well. I also looked at the MSI K8N Neo4. But it has memory issues
(cannot properly run DDR400 at 400Mhz).

In short, I can, for the life of me, not find a good PCI-E board for AMD
(non SLI).

Is cost an issue? If so, I'd drop down from the 4000+ to something
along the lines of a 3400. I don't think the performance difference
will be a major issue....and you can use the extra $$ to get the N7800.

I would, instantly, if I found a reliable PCI-E board for AMD.

Of course, if cost isn't an issue, why not go SLI and grab two N7800's
??!?

Because that is twice the noise.

I *did* look at the ASUS A8N-SLI Premium; in fact, it was my first choice.
But there are so increbly much issues with this board, then I do not even
know where to begin. PATA bugs causes corruption of hard disks; SATA bugs
causing you to lose your array; a whole string of infamous boot-errors
(system will start, but not enter post; or just beep slowly). And,
overall, very buggy BIOS.

That is why, for my second option, I chose the A8V DeLuxe, as there are
literally *no* known issues with that board.

Thanks,

- Mark

 

[Jamie]

2 things stay away from ASUS videocards, bad news from my experience. Also
don't go with a PSU that came with a case, companies pack cheap PSU's with
cases even if it is a Antec. Spring for a good PSU Antec NeoPower or OCZ
Powerstream or Modstream, Stay away from Ultra's X-Connect they are horrible
and not as stable as they claim, also if you are wanting Gaming go for the
AMD the Heat dissapation of a AMD vs. an Intel is huge aslo. Judging by your
videocard you will be doing some gaming. Cheers

 

[Mark]

2 things stay away from ASUS videocards, bad news from my experience.

Thanks for your reply and advice, Jamie.

So, no ASUS N7800 GTX then, eh? Seemed like a pretty good card to me. But
then again, N7800 cards are so new, I can hardly find good reviews. Do
you, or anyone else, know of a good N7800 based card?

Also, don't go with a PSU that came with a case, companies pack cheap
PSU's with cases even if it is a Antec. Spring for a good PSU
Antec NeoPower

I did. I will go for the Antec NeoPower, 480 Watt.

... you are wanting Gaming go for the
AMD the Heat dissapation of a AMD vs. an Intel is huge aslo. Judging by
your videocard you will be doing some gaming.

I'll definitely be doing some gaming. Although, foremost, I'd like a
stable system.

Thanks,

- Mark

 

[jmonahan]

What are the issues with the MSI K8N Neo4 not being able to run
properly DDR 400 at 400mhz memory>? I recently bought one of these
mobo's but have not received it yet. Is this a bios issue or some
basic design issue?