Is this combo deal hot or not?
Retail (w/stock fan) Newcastle 3200+ 2.2Ghz + ECS 775-A2 for $249 in-store only at limited Fry stores:
Newspaper ad reprint:
http://www.netaffilia.com/images/2004/10/08/5177699.gif
I'm trying to build a new rig and I compare this $249 to the $350 cost (at best) for the combo if I went Asus KN8 939/A64 3200+ 90nm at the end of the week if the mark down reports are true: Asus is most stable from what I read but it is $135. $208 will be the new cost for 3200+, (but is that with retail fan?)
The somewhat costly Asus board for the 939 is proven the most solid and stable board (important to me), but this 754 combo deal is being sold with the lesser known ECS 755-A2. Here's the pros and cons of each choice:
754 mobo ECS 755-A2 setup
Pros
- Save $100+ (to go toward a vid card?)!
- Get it cheap now instead of costlier comparable setup later
- Three reviews from X-Bit, Anandtech, t-break, and OCW all say the ECS 755-A2 is rock solid with comparable benchmarks to prove it
- owner threads and New Egg reviews are complimentary
- It's all retail so I get the well-reviewed stock AMD fan with it
Cons
- Limited to 754 ceiling in the future
- Very limited on OC'ing
- Lesser brands have a gambling aura about them
- I bought the 2x512MB Corsair Value RAM already ($120), but 754 is single channel
- Local tax, no shipping
939 mobo Asus K8N setup
Pros
- Near guaranteed stability
- Dual channel RAM ability, and one extra DIMM than ECS (3 to 2)
- Plenty of room to upgrade processor
- Better OC'ing ability
- 90 nm technology benefits
Cons
- More expensive setup
- No guarantee processor prices (retail) will hit $178 for +3200
- Shipping cost, but no tax
So, here's what I'm up against... game performance will be good on either one if not overclocked, regardless. Anandtech went up another .2Ghz more on air with the ECS, but the other two sites have reservations. I bought Corsair 2x512MB Value PC3200+ RAM anyway (2.5 CAS $120), so I'd be limited on how much I could adjust either mobo and really never thought I'd be into OC'ing anyway.
I'll need to decide quick to take advantage of the special. The 3200+ for sure is coming down in price everywhere this week it seems, but combined I'll pay $350 this weekend for 939 combo compared to $249 right now for 754. I can use that for partial vid card purchase later on.
If I want stability with cheap but good parts now, I can always consider selling the ECS combo later on andsplurge for a dual SLI setup once that becomes feasible. Selling the 754/3200+ combo for $100-$120 down the line ensures I'll get good value overall with this strategy, right?
What do you guys think? If the 939 A64 3200+ 90nm only gives +5% performance at stock speeds compared to a 754 A64 3200+ 130 nm Newcastle, I think the savings for a non-OC'er might be worth it.
(conclusion review pages)
http://www.tbreak.com/reviews/...=303&pagenumber=10
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl...splay/ecs-755a2_7.html
http://www.ocworkbench.com/2004/ecs/755a2/755a2-8.htm
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/sh...c.aspx?i=1952&p=11
Retail (w/stock fan) Newcastle 3200+ 2.2Ghz + ECS 775-A2 for $249 in-store only at limited Fry stores:
Newspaper ad reprint:
http://www.netaffilia.com/images/2004/10/08/5177699.gif
I'm trying to build a new rig and I compare this $249 to the $350 cost (at best) for the combo if I went Asus KN8 939/A64 3200+ 90nm at the end of the week if the mark down reports are true: Asus is most stable from what I read but it is $135. $208 will be the new cost for 3200+, (but is that with retail fan?)
The somewhat costly Asus board for the 939 is proven the most solid and stable board (important to me), but this 754 combo deal is being sold with the lesser known ECS 755-A2. Here's the pros and cons of each choice:
754 mobo ECS 755-A2 setup
Pros
- Save $100+ (to go toward a vid card?)!
- Get it cheap now instead of costlier comparable setup later
- Three reviews from X-Bit, Anandtech, t-break, and OCW all say the ECS 755-A2 is rock solid with comparable benchmarks to prove it
- owner threads and New Egg reviews are complimentary
- It's all retail so I get the well-reviewed stock AMD fan with it
Cons
- Limited to 754 ceiling in the future
- Very limited on OC'ing
- Lesser brands have a gambling aura about them
- I bought the 2x512MB Corsair Value RAM already ($120), but 754 is single channel
- Local tax, no shipping
939 mobo Asus K8N setup
Pros
- Near guaranteed stability
- Dual channel RAM ability, and one extra DIMM than ECS (3 to 2)
- Plenty of room to upgrade processor
- Better OC'ing ability
- 90 nm technology benefits
Cons
- More expensive setup
- No guarantee processor prices (retail) will hit $178 for +3200
- Shipping cost, but no tax
So, here's what I'm up against... game performance will be good on either one if not overclocked, regardless. Anandtech went up another .2Ghz more on air with the ECS, but the other two sites have reservations. I bought Corsair 2x512MB Value PC3200+ RAM anyway (2.5 CAS $120), so I'd be limited on how much I could adjust either mobo and really never thought I'd be into OC'ing anyway.
I'll need to decide quick to take advantage of the special. The 3200+ for sure is coming down in price everywhere this week it seems, but combined I'll pay $350 this weekend for 939 combo compared to $249 right now for 754. I can use that for partial vid card purchase later on.
If I want stability with cheap but good parts now, I can always consider selling the ECS combo later on andsplurge for a dual SLI setup once that becomes feasible. Selling the 754/3200+ combo for $100-$120 down the line ensures I'll get good value overall with this strategy, right?
What do you guys think? If the 939 A64 3200+ 90nm only gives +5% performance at stock speeds compared to a 754 A64 3200+ 130 nm Newcastle, I think the savings for a non-OC'er might be worth it.
(conclusion review pages)
http://www.tbreak.com/reviews/...=303&pagenumber=10
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl...splay/ecs-755a2_7.html
http://www.ocworkbench.com/2004/ecs/755a2/755a2-8.htm
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/sh...c.aspx?i=1952&p=11