Originally Posted by norman

Hello,
I want to build me a gaming computer that I should be set for couple of years before I have to do any upgrades. Here is a list I would like advice on:

1. Motherboard (AMD) (dual processor) ATX
2. Processor
3. Video Card
4. DDR 2 Memory
5. Sound Card (if the on board sound would be as good then I don't need SC..dunno)
6. Harddrive (don't have a monster size but what is the fast buffer..et)

My wife told I can start getting prices and quotes. I figure DVD/CD and things like that should cost that much so, I will look around for those.

With computers, in this day ad age, you can't have two in one. Its a technology thats rapidly making progress, even still having not reached its theoretical apex.
To last you a few years (hardly ever but at least 2) you need to upgrade and this will cost you bux. Go for a Socket AM2 motherboard which will be able to take the upcoming next generation Socket AM3 processors which support DDR3 RAM as well for future upgrade ease.

Socket AM2 was released in around May 06. AMD is a better overlocking and much better gamers platform although if its having trouble at the very top end, it might just blow rather than switch off as Intel does.

Its replaces the Athlon 64 Fx and Athlon 64 X2 socket; Socket 754, 939 and 940 but has the same 940pin technology. It supports the Athlon 64 FX and Athlon 64 X2 (dual core) processors, currently the most extreme n fastest.

What you want ideally is the AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ dual-core CPU

One with a L1 cache: 64 + 64 KiB (Data + Instructions), per core, 1024MB L2 cache per core and 110W power consumption @ 2400MHz. Why AMD has this PR rating label to 4800 is because it has the equivalent speed of 4.8GHz if it were an Intel Pentium. You can get different version in them too such as +3800, +4000, +4200, +4400 under different codenames which are slightly different. If you want to keep this comp for at least another 2 years well in the balance, I would say get the Athlon 64 X2 5200+: 2600 MHz "Windsor" processor.
It also provides bi-directional 1GHz Hyper Transport link. This gives an effective data bandwidth of 14.4GBps (8GBps x 1 HyperTransport link + 6.4GBps memory bandwidth) @ PC3200 Dual channel setup RAM.

Even better I'd suggest is

AMD Quad FX Platform
with Dual Socket Direct Connect Architecture

Features FX-70 FX-72 FX-74
Frequency 2.8GHz 2.6GHz 3.0GHz

Number of Cores Quad-core Platform(Dual socket, Dual-core)

Socket Socket AM2/Socket F (1207 FX) [4 cores]
Process Technology 90nm, DSL SOI
Number of Transistors 227M per processor 454M per platform
64-bit Instruction Set Support Yes AMD64 Technology
32-bit Instruction Set Support Yes, x86 ISA
HyperTransport™ Support 3 HyperTransport™ technology links per processor

Integrated DDR Memory Controller (MCT) Yes Dual-channel
Memory Type Unbuffered DDR2 memory PC2 6400, PC2 5300, PC2 4200 or PC2 3200

Total Processor-to-System Bandwidth:

HyperTransport: up to 8.0 GB/s @ 2.0GHz
Memory: up to 12.8 GB/s @ 800MHz per processor
up to 25.6 GB/s @ 800MHz per processor
Total: up to 33.6 GBs per platform

Integrated Northbridge Yes, 128-bit data path @ CPU core frequency
High-Performance, On-chip Cache L1: 512KB Total (256KB per processor) L2: 4MB Total (2MB per processor)

3D and Multimedia Instructions 3DNow!™ Professional technology, SSE/SSE2/SSE3

Here's more info: Socket AM2, Athlon 64 X2 and HERE

The mobo I recommend at the moment is: Asus A8N SLi Deluxe (although it doesn't support X2, FX is better for here)

CPU - Socket 939 for AMD Athlon 64FX / Athlon 64
- AMD64 architecture enables simultaneous 32- and 64-bit computing
- Supports AMD Cool 'n' Quiet Technology Chipset NVIDIA nForce®4 SLI™ Front Side Bus 2000 MT/s, 1600MT/s Memory - 4 x 184-pin DIMM Sockets support max. 4GB DDR400/DDR333/DDR266 ECC/ non-ECC un-buffered DDR SDRAM memory
- Dual Channel Memory Architecture Expansion Slots - 2 x PCI Express x16 slot
*SLI mode : x8 , x8
*Default(Single VGA) mode : x16, x1
- 2 x PCI Express x1
- 3 x PCI SLI - Under SLI mode : support two SLI-ready graphics cards*
- Under Default(Single VGA) mode: supports all PCI Express graphics cards
- ASUS EZ Plug
- ASUS SLI Warning LED
- ASUS EZ Selector
- ASUS two-slot thermal design
- ASUS PEG Link for dual PCIe graphic cards Storage/ RAID nForce4 Storage:
- 4 x SATA 3Gb/s
- 2 x UltraDMA 133/100/66/33
- NVRAID : RAID0, RAID1, RAID 0+1 and JBOD span cross SATA and PATA
Silicon Image 3114R RAID controller:
- 4 x Serial ATA with RAID0, 1, 0+1, 5 (RAID 5 software patch available, no WHQL) LAN nForce4 built-in Gbit MAC with external Marvell PHY :
- NV ActiveArmor
- NV Firewall
- AI NET2
MARVELL PCI Gbit LAN controller :
- AI NET2 Audio Realtek ALC850, 8-channel CODEC
Audio Sensing and Enumeration Technology
Coaxial/Optical S/PDIF out ports on back I/O IEEE 1394 TI 1394 controller supports 2 x 1394 ports USB Max. 10 USB2.0 ports ASUS AI Proactive Features AI NOS(Non-delay Overclocking System)
AI NET2 network diagnosis before entering OS Overclocking Features AI NOS? (Non-delay Overclocking System)
AI Overclocking (intelligent CPU frequency tuner)
ASUS PEG Link for single/dual graphics cards

Precision Tweaker:
- vDIMM: 9-step DRAM voltage control
- vCore: Adjustable CPU voltage at 0.0125 increment
- SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection): allowing FSB tuning from 200MHz up to 400MHz at 1MHz increment
- PCIe Frequency: allowing PCIe frequency from 100MHz up to 200MHz at 1MHz increment

Adjustable FSB/DDR ratio. Fixed PCIe/PCI/SATA frequencies.
ASUS PEG Link for single/dual graphics cards
ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall) ASUS Special Features Post Reporter
ASUS EZFlash
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2
ASUS Q-Fan
ASUS MyLogo2
ASUS Multilanguage BIOS
ASUS Instant Music
ASUS SLI warning LED
ASUS EZ Selector
ASUS EZ Plug BIOS 4 Mb Flash ROM, AWARD BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.3 Back Panel I/O Ports 1 x Optical + 1 x Coaxial S/PDIF Output
1 x PS/2 Keyboard
1 x PS/2 Mouse
1 x Parallel
2 x RJ45
1 x 1394
4 x USB 2.0/1.1
8-Channel Audio I/O Internal I/O Connectors - 1 x SLI selector card connector
- 3 x USB 2.0 connector supports additional 6 USB 2.0 ports
- 1 x IEEE1394 connectors
- 1 x Paraller connector
- 1 x COM connector
- 1 x GAME/MIDI connector
- CPU Fan / 2x Chassis Fan/ Power Fan/ Chipset Fan connectors
- Front panel audio connector
- Chassis Intrusion connector
- CD audio-in connector
- 24-pin ATX Power connector
- 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector Support CD Drivers
ASUS PC Probe - PC Health Monitoring Software
ASUS LiveUpdate Utility
ASUS AI Booster
ASUS Cool ' n' Quiet Utility
NVIDIA nTune Utility
Anti-virus software (OEM version) Accessories SLI connector
1 x 1-port IEEE1394 module
1 x SLI retention bracket
8 x Serial ATA cables
1 x SATA Extension module for external devices
4 x 2-port SATA power cable
1 x 2-port USB2.0 / Game module
1 x 2-port USB2.0 module
1 x COM Port module
1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable
1 x IDE cable
1 x FDD cable
1 x I/O Shield
User's manual
Setting Sticker
WinDVD Suite Form Factor ATX Form Factor, 12"x 9.6"(30.5cm x 24.5cm)

Originally Posted by DJNafey

Yet the Athlon FX and the Athlon X2 dual core processors also use both socket 939 and socket AM2.

Yes thats right, they do. Both processors can use both these sockets.

Originally Posted by norman

Here is some spec's on my MB

MB is by Gibabyte
Model K8T800-8237
Chip Set VIA K8HTB
Front Side Bus 2x800 (1600MHZ)
System BIOS 12/22/2003-K8T800-8237-6A7L0G01C-00 (I Think that is my verison of my BIOS) if that is true where to I find upgraded from my BIOS?

I don't understand our FSB rating. Thats too high by the sound of it. Its probably 800MHz.

One of your MAIN components is your PSU. Then I'd say RAM and then Graphics.

Go for the CoolerMaster i Green 600W PSU or the Antec 650W.
Take your pick from the nVidia 6600 to 7950 graphics cards I say.
RAM should be Corsair DDR500Mhz IMHO

After that, a few slap-s from the wifey, being homeless without a penny, you can just sit back and enjoy for at least a year if not more.

Originally Posted by norman

I am looking at my box that the MB came in and it is telling me, K8 Triton series, supports AMD Athlon 64 Processor by: Gigabyte Technology.

My bad. It is so then.

NP bud, I apperiate those that replied. That MB you posted above cost about?

Click on its link with all the info + prices.