to 64 or not to 64

[Milo]

I'm getting ready to build a new PC (early Nov).

The computer's budget is just shy of 4000. But i would like to keep it under 3k.

Anyway my question is should I build one using an Athlon 64 or do you think a regular old xp 3200 will suffice?

I only ask because of the comming pin count change for 64's and PCI-Express due out next year.

 

[Kennyscart]

With a budget like that I would go for the Athlon 64 FX-51. You can easily build one for under $3000.

PCI-Express doesnt really seem like a big deal to me. When it went from 4x to 8x AGP there was little increase in performance. What can Express bring if games even now aren't using cards to their limits?

 

[chu]

with a 3k budget, did you really need to ask?

I am curious as to what else you plan to include?

 

[Asus]

With a 3k$ budget...You can build a dual AMD64 machine (Opteron 2ghz) and the best hardware/gfx card with a 2k budget.
If you are worried about upgrading, wait til Q1 '04. Socket 939 Athlon 64 FX will be out. Prescott should be nearly hitting store shelves. You can see how everything performs then.

There is no reason to go with an Athlon XP 3200+ (445$ @ newegg).
Athlon 64 3200+ (404$ @ newegg) performs better and provides a lot of competition for P4 3.2ghz (601$ @ newegg).
Then you would have a lot of money left over that when PCI express/ddr2/BTX/dual cores or whatever the newest technology you are waiting for comes...you have money for a new system or upgrading if you wish.

 

[Milo]

@chu

Spending less is always better. just because there is that much there doesnt mean i want to spend that much. I was just curious if jumping on the 64 bandwagon was a bad idea now.

As for what else i plan to include
Xaser3 case
regular dvd-rom and CD-RW (I am not a fan of DVD-R/RW/bla)
120 GB SATA HD
1 GB Corsair XMS
Audigy 2 ZS and Logitech Z-680 5.1's
ATI 9800XT

 

[Asus]

Thought this was an interesting link .

 

[crabcakes66]

I would wait a while and see how things shake down. Wait for some new mobos ...new chipsets ect.......

I myself am not impressed with the current stuff.

 

[Andrmgic]

even though you have 3k, I'd wait until the FX moves to 939-pin and removes the registered ddr requirement before I went for that platform. You may want to consider a regular Athlon 64 3200+, as it costs half as much as the FX-51 and performs very favorably compared to other available cpus. Only negative is it doesnt support dual-channel ddr yet, but it seems to do quite well without it. If you're not interested in the regular A64, i'd get a 3200+ or whatever else you planned on getting to hold you over until the FX changes sockets