CPU/Mobo Help

[imported_Xavier]

Right now my specs are:

AMD Athlon XP 2500 "Barton" at 2.0Ghz
ATI AIW X800 XT 256mb AGP
Maxtor 40GB 7200 RPM HDD
Asus A7N8X Deluxe with Soundstorm enabled (no sound card)


Obviously, the motherboard and CPU are the things lacking here, and that is what Im looking to update but will also have to upgrade my motherboard.

I am looking into getting the motherboard that recently came out that has an AGP and PCI-e slot(Can't remember name) because I dont want to get rid of my card just to buy a PCI-e one yet. But my main question is what CPU would you guys recommend? Its mostly a gaming computer, but I dont want to get something ridiculously priced - I am in college.

On the whole thing I am looking around to spend around $200 for the motherboard and CPU, with HDD soon to follow the upgrade sometime down the road.

So, do you think the motherboard that supports AGP/PCI-e is a very good one; also what CPU would you all recommend? I was thinking the AMD 64 3500+

Any help is appreciated, please.

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: Xavier
Right now my specs are:

AMD Athlon XP 2500 "Barton" at 2.0Ghz
ATI AIW X800 XT 256mb AGP
Maxtor 40GB 7200 RPM HDD
Asus A7N8X Deluxe with Soundstorm enabled (no sound card)


Obviously, the motherboard and CPU are the things lacking here, and that is what Im looking to update but will also have to upgrade my motherboard.

I am looking into getting the motherboard that recently came out that has an AGP and PCI-e slot(Can't remember name) because I dont want to get rid of my card just to buy a PCI-e one yet. But my main question is what CPU would you guys recommend? Its mostly a gaming computer, but I dont want to get something ridiculously priced - I am in college.

On the whole thing I am looking around to spend around $200 for the motherboard and CPU, with HDD soon to follow the upgrade sometime down the road.

So, do you think the motherboard that supports AGP/PCI-e is a very good one; also what CPU would you all recommend? I was thinking the AMD 64 3500+

Any help is appreciated, please.

The motherboard you are thinking of is the ASRock, reviewed here by AT.

and no i would not recommend it.

 

[imported_Xavier]

What did you not like about it?

From what I have read it has done good.

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: Xavier
What did you not like about it?

From what I have read it has done good.

its only what i have heard about the overclockability, poor results and pretty poor BIOS support for OCing on this particular board .. although that might not be your thing ..

i would just recommend a good AGP board for now, like the MSI K8N Neo - F, which is an excellent board like mine but with a few less features (firewire basically) and is cheapish, then just upgrade the mobo to a PCI-e variant when your looking to purchase a new PCI-e GFX card.

 

[imported_Xavier]

Well I recently bought my video card a few months back and will not be upgrading it for a long while and dont want to have to re-buy the stuff when I want to upgrade it again is the only bad part.

Im not really worried about overclocking anymore. I originally bought my 2500 Barton to overclock and did a little bit, but I just rather not mess with OCing anymore since Im not as into PCs as I used to be with college and all that.

Other than OCing, do you think it would be a pretty good/stable board?

 

[Topweasel]

Originally posted by: Xavier
Well I recently bought my video card a few months back and will not be upgrading it for a long while and dont want to have to re-buy the stuff when I want to upgrade it again is the only bad part.

Im not really worried about overclocking anymore. I originally bought my 2500 Barton to overclock and did a little bit, but I just rather not mess with OCing anymore since Im not as into PCs as I used to be with college and all that.

Other than OCing, do you think it would be a pretty good/stable board?

ASRock is a Division of Asus, so the boards are top notch. since they are oddity and inexpensive boards they don't put many if any overclocking options. Other then that they are good boards that will do what you want them to.

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: Xavier
Well I recently bought my video card a few months back and will not be upgrading it for a long while and dont want to have to re-buy the stuff when I want to upgrade it again is the only bad part.

Im not really worried about overclocking anymore. I originally bought my 2500 Barton to overclock and did a little bit, but I just rather not mess with OCing anymore since Im not as into PCs as I used to be with college and all that.

Other than OCing, do you think it would be a pretty good/stable board?

if you want to just run it stock, then yes this board is perfectly suited for you.. sorry i just assume that everyone wants to overclock all of the time .. i just cant see a reason not to ..

 

[imported_Xavier]

Well I might end up OCing it a little bit, but nothing of "push to the limits" type deal. After reading the review it seems it didn't to do bad in the OCing department if not pushed to far, and that is probably more along my lines of thinking as well.

What CPU do you think I should put with this mobo that will be good for a good while?

I was thinking the AMD Athlon 64 3500+.

Im really only wanting to spend around 200 for the mobo and CPU.


Thanks for the comments all.

 

[imported_Xavier]

Any advice on a CPU please?

 

[Markfw]

Yup, the best you can get for your budget. If you can get a 3500+ and that mobo, do it !

 

[imported_Xavier]

Well a 3500 I would spend the money on, but I was just wondering if there is another CPU out there that is a little more expensive but would be a clear advantage over the 64 3500+

Also is there a certain core I should look for even though Im not really concerned with OCing?

 

[imported_Xavier]

Originally posted by: Xavier
Well a 3500 I would spend the money on, but I was just wondering if there is another CPU out there that is a little more expensive but would be a clear advantage over the 64 3500+

Also is there a certain core I should look for even though Im not really concerned with OCing?