Need a little help, final decision...

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Finally got last weeks salary from work, got about 340 bucks now. So I'm actually going to order my CPU tonight or tomorrow, after months of anticipation.

But I've done so much looking around. I have no idea what to get anymore. I'm wondering if I should cheap out on the CPU so I can get good RAM and a 6600GT later, or get a really good CPU and worry about the RAM/Video later...

So far, my main decision is to go with a Athlon 64 3500+, some MSI board I can't remember....

But then, my other decision is to get a Athlon 64 3200+ Venice (good overclocker, from what I've researched), and overclock it to what the 3500 would be or higher, and save 30 or 40 bucks in the process, use the same MSI board as above...

Or save even more money and get a Sempron 64 3300 on eBay for 60 bucks, some generic 939 motherboard, as long as it has overclocking features...

And then there's the really slim chance that I could get a Pentium 4 2.4C on eBay and overclock it to 3.2 GHz, since they're supposed to be one of the holy grails of overclocking CPU's. In that case, I could get a s478 motherboard for like 30 bucks...

Someone give me a push towards one of these. Or suggest something else, if you wanna' have some fun in confusing me even more.
 
Stick with AMD, and stick with socket 939, You'll be better off. I have made mistakes and bought things that i thought would be good now, but then got outdated fast. I say get this.

Athlon 64 3500+:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103533

for only $109, thtas a good deal for that cpu. I bought my 3000+, like 3 months ago for $130.

MSI K8N Neo4-F:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130491

I think this is the MSI mobo you were talking about, it's a good motherboard either way. It soudns liek you want to o/c too so MSI's are good for that.

XFX 6800XT:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150152

good deal on this videocard, and it is one of the best for under $100. It beats a 6600gt

That leaves you wiht aroudn $60 dollars left. You can buy 1 512stick of ram now just to get the comp up and then buy one later. In my opinion though, get the 3500+, its an awesome price on that cpu.
 
Yeah. I thought it over, did some more research. And I think I may go with a Sempron 64 3100+, and a ECS N-Force3-A board (Bundled, Both for 100 bucks, isn't that a steal?!), and overclock the **** out of it (I just discovered a nasty Zalman CLPU7000 mod :p).

I know it's not very upgradable. But it'll probably last me 'til the end of university anyway. By then I'll actually be able to afford computer upgrades. I just need something better than this Celeron.
 
to tell you the truth that Sempron isnt much better than a Celeron. This is my newer rig. I had a sempron 2800+, before. It was nice. but once i switched to this Athlon 64 3000+, its so muich better. That Sempron is alrite tho. Good deal with that mobo bundle even though ECS is just an ok brand. Sine your getting this cpu+mobo combo you'l have more to spend on a good videocard and some ram so thats a plus.
 
Yeah, that's the main reason I'm getting it. But I wouldn't be if it wasn't a 64 bit CPU.

I've also been reading up on some things, and apparently the Sempron 64 3100+ is very overclockable, and can actually be overclocked stable to 2.52 GHz in normal cases, beating an Athlon 64 3400+.


Edit: Actually, I just found an Athlon 64 3000+ bundle with the same motherboard, and it's only 25 bucks more. I'm gonna read up on it's overclockability...
 
If the Athlon bundle is only 25 dollars more than get that. No matter how much you overclock that sempron, you'll be able to o/c the Athlon too and the Athlon will always be better. If $25 is the difference then just get the Athlon I think you'll be happy you did.
 
I noticed you've got a GA-K8U... Is it any good for overclocking? I'm not getting the bundle anymore. Just getting the 3500+ and any motherboard that will overclock well... And the GA-K8U is one of the cheapest ones I can get, which I will, if it's any good for overclocking.
 
BiGyLiLuPdAmIdL said:
Stick with AMD, and stick with socket 939, You'll be better off. I have made mistakes and bought things that i thought would be good now, but then got outdated fast. I say get this.

Athlon 64 3500+:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103533

for only $109, thtas a good deal for that cpu. I bought my 3000+, like 3 months ago for $130.

MSI K8N Neo4-F:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130491

I think this is the MSI mobo you were talking about, it's a good motherboard either way. It soudns liek you want to o/c too so MSI's are good for that.

XFX 6800XT:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150152

good deal on this videocard, and it is one of the best for under $100. It beats a 6600gt

That leaves you wiht aroudn $60 dollars left. You can buy 1 512stick of ram now just to get the comp up and then buy one later. In my opinion though, get the 3500+, its an awesome price on that cpu.

i'd go with this idea.


i think the sempron you mentioned is socket 754, and the athlon64 is gonna be using the same mobo, then its also socket 754.. you're going back 2 generations now.. thats just too far back. stick with socket 939, that msi board with pci-express, and the 3500+. and you can still overclock that! you'll probably be able to get fx 55 performance. (minus the cache)
 
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