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.

Hi Norman,

That's a pretty big list of things that you need advice on - basically, ALL of the main components that can vary in price a lot! I think that we're going to need to know your budget for those parts.

A DVD-ReWriter is around $40-$50 and a system case with a good power supply is $75 upwards depending on how flashy you want it to be.

1. Motherboard - any particular reason why you want an AMD? Do you really mean dual processor or do you mean dual core? Do you understand the difference? Get a motherboard that supports the latest processor type/socket and a high speed rating. This will make it easier to find an upgrade processor that is compatible with that board in the future. Having to change the motherboard later on is the biggest headache of any upgrade so, if you're expecting to want to upgrade this system later on, invest now in a better board.

2. Processor. If it's AMD, then I can't advise as I don't know. For Intel processors, definitely a Core 2 Duo.

3. Graphics - At least 128MB for a games PC. 256MB cards are now really good value. 512MB cards are not even especially expensive if you don't need lots of 'bells and whistles' on it. PCI-Express 16-speed slots (PCI-Ex16) are the new standard for high-performance graphics cards and offer much faster data transfer rates than standard PCI-E or older AGP slots. Therefore, make sure that your motherboard has a PCI-Ex16 slot (on-board graphics will be no good for you).

4. DDR2 memory - at least 1GB.

5. Sound card - On-board audio has improved a lot over the past year or so. Some on-board sound chips even have Dolby Digital 7.1 surround sound capabilities! If you choose a motherboard with on-board sound, then make do with that for a while and see if it's good enough for you. When you decide that you want more drama in your gaming, consider upgrading to a separate sound card like a Creative Labs Audigy. The speakers are MUCH more significant that the sound card. Having said that, even a $30 set might surprise you. The key here is that it MUST have a subwoofer if you want to be really drawn into the game.

6. Hard drive. You should only consider SATA2 drives in a 'new build' games PC. These have a data transfer rate of 300Mbps, twice as fast as the original SATA standard and nearly 3 times as fast as conventional IDE drives. Get one with a 7200rpm spin speed and at least an 8MB cache for the best performance. I've always liked Maxtor drives as they seem to be very easy to set up, with less compatibility issues and tantrums over jumper settings (although this is a bit of a non-issue these days as SATA drives don't have cabling / jumper position problems at all). If your budget allows for a Western Digital drive with a 16MB cache, then I'd recommend one - they are top notch and have come down in price over the last 12 months, making them good value for what you get.

Hope that helps

With regard to the graphics card, check up on this debate over whether ATi or nVidia make better graphics chips!

http://www.d-a-l.com/help/showthread.php?t=47959


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As far as MB goes I was under the inflence that a AMD MB is better for gaming then Intel. I don't know that much about either but, I have always had my cpu's built with AMD.

Yea, I mean duo core. I think duo processors are for high end computers like severs.

My computer now is only 2 years old. Here is the spec's

AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3000+
2.0 GHZ (scoket 754)
1GHZ of memory (2 sticks of 512)
NVIDIA GForce FX 5600XT 256MB
Creative Soundblaster Audigy LS


Would be it be less expensive if I just buy a faster processor (754 socket),Add 2 sticks for 1GHZ (max is 2Ghz) and upgrade to a faster video card?

Yes, that would definitely be cheaper than starting from scratch. Otherwise, you'll end up buying those same components plus all of the other parts for a new build such as the motherboard, case, etc. I don't think that the benefit of a dual-core processor would warrant the extra expensive of a dual-core processor plus a different motherboard to support it. This is assuming, of course, that your current motherboard can support a sufficiently faster processor.

You might need to update the BIOS, which is basically the hardware detection module built into the motherboard. If it wasn't told how to look for an Athlon 64 4000+ processor, for example, then you might find that it cannot run the processor that you want to buy even if it fits the same processor socket on the motherboard. BIOS updates can often be downloaded to update what it can detect.

Update: I've just had a look at www.insight.com for AMD Athlon 64 processors (I don't know much about AMD these days). They say that the Athlon 64 3000+ was rated at 1.8GHz and used socket 939. Athlon 64 processors go up to 3800+, which is actually 2.4GHz, on socket 939 for around $150. The faster models are also available in socket AM2 format. Yet the Athlon FX and the Athlon X2 dual core processors also use both socket 939 and socket AM2. I have to admit to being a little confused.

AMD Athlon 64s on Insight US web site: http://www.insight.com/site/search/i...d_Drop_Element


AMD Sempron processors use socket 754. Are you sure it's not one of those that you've got? If it is, then ignore what I've already said as these are AMD's value processors, much like Intel's cheaper Celeron range. They won't give you top gaming performance and you might, therefore, want to consider changing the motherboard and getting an Athlon FX or Athlon X2 instead in that case.

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?

If want to upgrade my Processor don't I need to use only the 754 socket processors? If I want to lets say...2.4 ghz processor would I see the difference?

My biggest upgrades would be MB/Processor/Memory right? I don't how trustworthly Ebay is but, I see a lot of good deals there.

I can't find that motherboard model on either the UK or the US Gigabyte web sites. However, on the assumption that it's similar to the K8VM800M, then that is socket 754 as you said and it would support up to an Athlon 64 3700+ processor. You would notice the difference with that fitted.

If you don't already have the Gigabyte EasyTune utility installed, try downloading it from here: http://www.gigabyte.us/Support/Mothe...lity&FileID=62

... and then install it to see if it tells you the maximum processor speed that your motherboard can support.

BIOS updates are available from Gigabyte's web site at http://www.gigabyte.us. "Flashing" (or upgrading) a BIOS has historically been a risky and fairly awkward task involving creating boot disks and running commands from the Command Prompt. However, Gigabyte have a Windows utility for upgrading the BIOS called @BIOS which you can also download from their web site.

Ebay is a good source for parts as long as the seller is highly rated. There are two ratings - the first is the number of feedback comments and the second is the satisfaction percentage. For example, I have a feedback rating of around 150 feedback comments with a 100% overall rating, which means that all of my comments were positive rather than negative. Someone who had half of their feedback as negative comments from disappointed customers would have an overall rating of 50%, which would mean that you would steer clear of them! Even on the Internet, people don't give sellers negative feedback as quickly as they give them positive feedback so I would say that buying from anyone with less than 90% ratings is risky. Also bear in mind that sellers get feedback for items that they sell as well as those that they buy. It's all bundled together into the same rating so beware of the guy that has loads of ratings just because he buys porn DVDs and copied software all the time and has now bought 20 dodgy AMD motherboards from a guy in the pub and wants to shift them in a hurry! Give extra credit to sellers that are clearly trading as an established business rather than as private individuals.

Are you sure its Gigabyte and not QDI?

Is it not this one: http://ocworkbench.com/ocwbcgi/newsp...65020525,22436,

It seem so.

I DL that Gibaybte tool how do I use it? Where does it tell me what is my max speed?

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.