Computer question-advice for mobo and pcu.

[zteknik]

Now for all the comuter geeks out there I have a question as to what AMD processor and motherboard combo to get.
My old rig finaly played its last game...
It was an older opteron 180 on a DFI Lanparty board.Its been so long since I speced anything out I don't know where to start.
I hear the Phenoms are good but which one to get and what board should I get? I liked the DFI board ,overclocks great and your able to fine tune it,but I think they stopped production of their gamer boards.
Personaly I would like to keep it AMD,not too big of a fan for Intel
Any input would be great

[cstone]

Primary uses and price range would help.

First place I check if I'm in a hurry is the Microcenter: http://www.microcenter.com/search/se...a-Micro-Center

[ZERO THEORY]

Personaly I would like to keep it AMD,not too big of a fan for Intel

Blasphemy. I read good things about the Bulldozer chip last winter. But the general consensus is that intel's micro-architecture is vastly superior. Kepler for Ivy Bridge, if I'm not mistaken.

[zteknik]

Ah,yes that would help my bad.
Looking for mostly a gaming setup.As far as price,well I don't know where there at now for a decent processor and a motherboard.
I would guess a high performance cpu would start around $200? And a motherboard with good features and plug ins would run around $300?
But it's been years since I even looked at what they go for.
I know I'm going to have to get the proper memory and a video card as well but that will be later on,I have to take small steps as not to deplete my shooting budget (or piss the wife off )

[zteknik]

Blasphemy. I read good things about the Bulldozer chip last winter. But the general consensus is that intel's micro-architecture is vastly superior. Kepler for Ivy Bridge, if I'm not mistaken.

I guess I'm stuck old school, and my experiences with the older Intels is that you realy couldn't get them to do too much without having them lock up.
I guess I could go Intel if they can be fine tuned.

[cstone]

I don't keep up with computers the way I used to, but I used to read this website pretty frequently to get ideas on what was available and read reviews:

http://www.tomshardware.com/

I still like Microcenter for basic systems. They often have mobo/CPU combo deals and they will install the CPU and run the burn-in for you for no extra charge.

$300 is about all I will spend on a desktop machine. You know 2 years after you buy it, the same system will cost $75.

[zteknik]

I don't keep up with computers the way I used to, but I used to read this website pretty frequently to get ideas on what was available and read reviews:

http://www.tomshardware.com/

I still like Microcenter for basic systems. They often have mobo/CPU combo deals and they will install the CPU and run the burn-in for you for no extra charge.

$300 is about all I will spend on a desktop machine. You know 2 years after you buy it, the same system will cost $75.

Cool,I have to check them out.
So true,I must have spent over $800 on mine when I built it minus the stuff I horse traded,and now it's scrap...But I did run it hard for over 6 years and it kept up pretty good.Just like cars they need maintenance.

[Rabid]

http://www.anandtech.com is another good review site. If it is anything like it used to be you can get a pretty good computer from micro center and upgrade the video card for a budget gaming computer.

[USAFGopherMike]

With the power newer mobo/CPU/Graphics cards suck, make sure you have a PSU that will support what you build. Might as well start with a newer case and go from there. That's what I did.

[zteknik]

Yea the last PSU I had wouldn't support all my crap I had to get the Antech 1000 watter.I'll probably go the water cooling route this time. All the fans I ran sounded like I was on the flight line..
If I had the space I would love to go a SLI rout but my desk will only hold one monitor.And dual graphic cards would be a waste.
Now that has me thinking ATI Or Nvidia? Last ATI card I had was junk,software sucked and lagged too much..Plus the drivers for it sucked,any updates for it and it crashed unless you manualy uninstall all the old drivers then install the new one.