Besides the typical brands: Dell, Gateway, Alienware, etc.

Are there any other brands out there that are good, reasonably priced, and reliable? I'm looking for a new comp, but I don't want to spend a ton of cash.

have a look here

http://www.pricewatch.com/m/mn.aspx?i=347&f=1

Have the lambs stopped crying Clarice?

What you will use the PC for primarily is the key to what you get and where to get it from. BTW have you looked @ Cyberpower PC.

-- Always do what you are afraid to do --

Could you explain to me, what a 'Barebones System' is? I mean, does it have Windows? Is it ready to use out of the box? I'm not too familiar with the term.

barebones means essentially that you get a case with a motherboard and a powersupply occasionally they include ram and cpu also but that's about it hence the term "barebones"
they do not have windows installed
you cannot use them out of the box
they are just the few parts and usually the appeal of them is that they are small form-factors so many people use them as homeentertainment computers and put them in their living room by their tv

common sense isn't very common

if u dont want barebones then have a look here.

http://www.pricewatch.com/m/mn.aspx?i=43&f=1

Have the lambs stopped crying Clarice?

Who ever said Dell & Gateway were good? Might as well throw HP/Compaq into that group too...LOL! I guess they're OK systems for people who don't need or want great performance.

Alienware makes a nice looking rig & their specs are usually much better than any of the above, but they're expensive.

Cyberpower PC, as recommended by Sabertooth, has some interesting deals

Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @8x210mhz
512mb PC3200
Ti4200/8X 128mb
WDC 60GB

I never implied they were good, but whenever you ask someone about systems (typical users....not guru's) they talk about Gateway, Dell, and such and such.

I am looking for a gaming rig at a reasonable price. I do a lot of graphic design and I am starting to get into video editing. So I know I need something powerful.

Check out Falcon Northwest. They make some high-end PC's and the cases they paint are UNBELIEVABLE!!

"I do a lot of graphic design and I am starting to get into video editing. So I know I need something powerful."

"but I don't want to spend a ton of cash"

No offense but thats funny.

Have the lambs stopped crying Clarice?

That's a reasonable response...performance costs money.

An entry level system will look something like this:

http://www.pcclub.com/product_system_detail.cfm?itemno=EN-NI2

And, then you get to spemd more money on more memory, bigger drives, rw drives, better processors and video cards.

You can have cheap and you can have a machine that will do what you want...you can't have both.

Skip

if you like video editing, you will need some highend harddrives
western digital raptor 10,000rpm
get 2 and put em in raid 0 (striping)

I would urge you to build your own rig, but some people find that they dont feel comfortable doing this or they dont have the time and sometimes they find that they can get more of what they want (free software and warranties) buying an OEM, pre-built, rig, but you really should consider this option before you hand over your money to Dell or Gateway, lol
by building your own you will:
save money
control quality
get exactly what you want in the computer
and you will get all industry standard parts rather than the proprietary crap that Dell and other companies are building their machines with

plus their are several knowledgeable people on these forums who will gladly walk you through the building process

common sense isn't very common

"spemd"? How about "spend". I need a drink...

Skip

"you will need some highend harddrives"

wait, need, no I guess not
it's more like a nice luxury, I dont even have that
I use 1 western digital 80gig model#800JB
and 1 WD 120gig model#1200JB
both do just fine for my video editing but the raptors would be years better

and since you dont want to spend much money maybe the raptors arent for you
I got my 120gig hdd at circuit city for $40 after the mail in rebates I just finally got last week
and the 80gigger for $50 a long time ago at bestbuy

common sense isn't very common

Okay, lets do it like this.

I'm thinking of spending a maximum of $850. I haven't the knowledge to build my own. Would I do it with a walkthrough?? In a heartbeat, but yes, that does frighten me with my limited knowledge.

It sounds like a worthwhile idea, since the 'proprietary crap' is something that really bothers me when buying a PC from an OEM. I really just want a PC that runs and has Windows XP on it....nothing else. No Microsoft Works, AOL, Norton, or all the other crap they add on to it. Just scratch. I'll put what I need on it.

Is it possible to build a PC with the following specs (limited knowledge remeber) for $850?

*P4 3.0mHz or higher (or AMD if better?)
*1GB RAM (any brand suggestions?)
*80GB Hard Drive (I already have another 80GB I'd install on it)
*A High end video card (ATI 128 mb 9600XT or 9800?)
*A high end sound card (Audigy 2.0 or equivalent?)
*10/100 PCI Ethernet Card
*56K v.90 Modem
*52x32x52 CD-R/RW
*Windows XP Pro

That's about the extent of my knowledge. Does the FSB make a huge difference? Should I be getting an 800 or is a 533 okay? Any other tips?

Yes it can be done for that price!

I just went and priced those parts at pricewatch.com it came to like 843$

but remember you still need keyboard,mouse,speakers and a monitor unless you alredy have that stuff.

If you dont have those items your going to be looking at 1000$

Have the lambs stopped crying Clarice?

Once again check out Cyberpower PC or have a reputable computer shop within your locality put one together for you.

-- Always do what you are afraid to do --

What Sabertooth said...we just can't buy the parts if we want to include a monitor and os for that kind of money. A god local shop that builds upgradeable machines is the way to go.

Skip

Could someone please explain to me the difference between AMD processors and Pentium processors? Is one better for something than the other?

Also, I'm looking at this Cyberpower PC thing you talk about Sabertooth, nice prices....from what I see.

What is this RAID thing everyone is talking about? Is this something I would need? What are the benefits of having it?

How about the processor? Is there major difference between the 2.8gHz and 3.2gHz?? Does a motherboard make a difference?

I must thank you all for the help...it is most appreciated. As I tell people. I am computarded.

you are not computarded, obviously you already know more just by asking these questions than any "joe-emailer" or AOLuser
sorry im corning it up

RAID i think is Random Array of Inexpensive Discs
Random? that cant be right, anyway it's basically a way of using 2 or more harddrives as one using 1 of about 5 methods
raid0- 2+ hdds half data goes on one and half on the other benefits: very fast almost twice as fast but the risk of data lose by mechanical failure doubles
raid1 2+ hdds- your data is written to each drive, so you constantly have an identical harddrive

that's about all i know about that, if im wrong somewhere, someone please tell me

AMD vs Intel
somebody wanna take a stab at this one, i havent been keeping track of the newest procs

NO there is not a big differnce between 2.8 and 3.2ghz, that's 400mhz when you already have speeds in excess of 2ghz 400mhz is like around 15% gain over 2.8ghz
you wouldnt even notice it
besides if you get a overclocker friendly mobo and run your ram in dual channel mode, you can easily push a 2.8ghz chip around the 3ghz range

"It sounds like a worthwhile idea, since the 'proprietary crap' is something that really bothers me when buying a PC from an OEM. I really just want a PC that runs and has Windows XP on it....nothing else. No Microsoft Works, AOL, Norton, or all the other crap they add on to it. Just scratch. I'll put what I need on it."

THANK YOU! finally someone is on the same page as me

common sense isn't very common

giggles,

I think we've always been on the same page. Difference is that, retailers are offering systems that are now easy to customize on a large scale. You don't need XP???hell, just deduct 99 bucks, need more memory???add 99 bucks, order and configure online and pick it up at a local store???, that saves major shipping charges.

By picking a vendor who will build a system without upgrade hassles, half the battle is won at a price most of us working stiffs can afford.

There are other ways of coming up with a pretty slick system but not many as affordable as a builder who uses parts we can all deal with.

Remember Jimi? He built a bunch of Intel systems with Intel parts at a fair price but a few months ago the Nf7s/2500+ thing had to hurt him a lot.

We don't find that motherboard and processor for sale very often now...nor do we find the Abit or ASUS boards and the excellent P4 2.4C mentioned in many ads.

Times change and right now I see a basic A64 system for a few hundred dollars as a good buy. Naturally, we all have to do a little research on the best (or better) motherboards avaiable, make sure the machine is built with standard components, and select a rig that suits our needs.

Not everyone out there is Dell, Gateway or HP and I thnk you can depend on a good pc if you ask the right questions before you buy.

Skip

Stabgotham,

I don't have much to add here...you're getting some good advice.

Skip,

Just wanted to say hello. Haven't seen you're name around much lately...glad to see you're still with us :)

giggles,

"computarded"? "joe-emailer"? "AOLuser"? LOL! I'm glad I'm at work & not at home with a bong in front of me...I think I would have fallen outta my chair! ;)

Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @8x210mhz
512mb PC3200
Ti4200/8X 128mb
WDC 60GB

Okay, some of that went right over my head. I know I'm going to have to do some serious research. Does the type of motherboard you get, affect the speeds at which your processor or memory runs?

And I'm still trying to figure out the difference or the pro's and cons of a Pentium processor over an AMD or vice versa. From what I've hear, Pentiums are a bit faster, but AMD's are better for graphics and what not (i.e. Pentium for video editing and photo editing, and AMD for gaming and movies). Am i right on this?

Also, SkipCox, you said I don't need Windows XP? Well if I don't get Windows XP, what am I supposed to get? Many companies are no longer making products compatible for Win 98 (i.e. Adobe), and it appears Win2000 will be next on the chopping block.

One thing I just thought of something, reading posts around the site.

To run a system like I want, suggesting I build it myself, would I need some sort of amped up power supply?

1st thing you should do is decide on whether you wanna go with AMD or Intel, that'll help cut down on your research.

The motherboard's chipset is a significant factor in a system's performance. You should carefully match the CPU/motherboard/RAM combination, once you've done that, the rest is relatively easy.

Onboard sound has gotten much better, so you really don't HAVE to get a soundcard, that'll save you some money upfront. You can always add one later if the onboard isn't up to your liking.

Onboard video should be avoided, especially by gamers.

I think what Skip was trying to say about XP is that some vendors give you the option to take it or leave it. If you already have a copy of XP, why pay an extra $99? You can either hang on to the that $99, or invest in a different upgrade, such as RAM.

Skip also gave you a bit of a clue with this statement:

"Remember Jimi? He built a bunch of Intel systems with Intel parts at a fair price but a few months ago the Nf7s/2500+ thing had to hurt him a lot"

The Abit NF7-S motherboard/AMD 2500+ CPU combo was (& still is) a hot gaming setup. It's cheap, & in most cases, it'll easy overclock to 3200+ speed with just a few BIOS setting changes.

Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @8x210mhz
512mb PC3200
Ti4200/8X 128mb
WDC 60GB

I see you just posted a question about power supplies. It's just another component that has to be matched to your system. I wouldn't say that you need an "amped up" PSU...that makes it sound like it's something out of the ordinary. You just need a quality PSU with enough amperage to handle all your components.

Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @8x210mhz
512mb PC3200
Ti4200/8X 128mb
WDC 60GB

I'm going to look it up for myself, but in the event I can't find it...

Are there guides for helping you select the correct motherboard, RAM, and PSU for a specific processor? And on top of those things, will the type of Hard Drive I get need to be specific to work at it's best potential?

As far as overclocking, for instance the 2500 to 3200, what, if any, are the reliability and longevity issues in doing something like that? Will I require a different PSU or additional fans to overclock?

And lets say I go with the ATi 9800XT 128mb, is this card going to require any additional juice that PSU i bought in accordance to the processor and motherboard, will not be able to handle?

I'm noticing as I go through pricewatch.com, different socket numbers. For instance, I was looking at an AMD 3200+ with a 754 socket, and another with a 939 for more money. What are these and what's the difference?

As I'm reading through the forums, I'm thinking I will go with a Athlon 64 2800, 3000, or 3200. Which one would be better after overclocking? Any recommended mobo's/RAM?

"1st thing you should do is decide on whether you wanna go with AMD or Intel, that'll help cut down on your research."

ironically, you are going to have to do research to make that decision

"The Abit NF7-S motherboard/AMD 2500+ CPU combo was (& still is) a hot gaming setup. It's cheap, & in most cases, it'll easy overclock to 3200+ speed with just a few BIOS setting changes."
I have this exact setup. you should look into it before buying

"To run a system like I want, suggesting I build it myself, would I need some sort of amped up power supply?"

I like the way you put that. You will need a high quality powersupply with stable voltages and enough juice,that includes AMPS on the +12volt rail go for a trusted name-brand like Antec or Enermax and you wont be let down
you want at least 18amps and more depending on what cpu and videocard you go with
any powersupply that can be trusted will have a chart on it that gives all it's ratings, under +12v it will have the # of amps, for example my powersupply says 18a under +12v so i have 18amps on the +12 volt rail
if you buy an OEM computer, the powersupply it has will be enough, but in some cases just barely
I've read stories on these forums of people putting in a 2nd stick of ram in their compaq and the powersupply lit on fire
that may be an exageration or someone lying but it gives you an idea of OEM powersupplies anyway
"Are there guides for helping you select the correct motherboard, RAM, and PSU for a specific processor?"

yes! the great people here at computing.net

"And lets say I go with the ATi 9800XT 128mb, is this card going to require any additional juice that PSU i"
yes, that card actually needs a molex power connector to go to it because the agp slot on the moterboard cant supply it with enough power
the thing is that it all just adds up to more work your powersupply will have to do so you will need one with more "amped" up

socket 754 is the older athlon 64 socket, 939 is the newest model and so the newest processors are being made for the socket 939

so people are like "hey I wanna get 939 'cause it's the newest one so when all the latest processors come out, I can upgrade to them"
but who upgrades everytime a new processor comes out!

-------------
LOL jam!

common sense isn't very common

look here for your athlon 64 questions

common sense isn't very common

Okay, so in closing....and then I will stop bothering you.

You all have convinced me to go ahead and build my own. From what it sounds like, it's kinda like riding a bike. Hard the first time, but it after that, it's simple. What I'm looking at doing is getting either

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 2.0GHz 800 FSB
or a Pentium 4 3.2GHz 512MHz L2 Cache

Would a Prescott be beneficial? and....what exactly does it do??

1GB Ram, any suggestions would be appreciative.

A mobo suggestion would also be appreciated (notice the lingo....mobo....I'm catching on folks)

I'm thinking 2 HD's (80GB 10K RPM if they make em). Honestly...stripped RAID kinda scares me. In fact, RAID all together scares me. Lets say I go with RAID 0. Who's to say that if the first HD dies, it won't take the other with it. If I go RAID 1, then if one HD dies, I lose everything anyways. RAID 5, is just too damn expensive.

I'm thinking an X300 128mb ATi Radeon

As far as a power source....would a 500w cover everything, or would I also need a seperate power source for the video card (and yes I did read above, but I wasn't sure if 500w would cover everything).

From what I'm told, the integrated sound should suit me fine anyways. I'm also told that the mobo has an ethernet adapter built in....true? What about a 56K V.90 modem??

Lasstly, I guess, your standard ATX box ought to do it. Are there any parts I am missing?

How about setup? How do I know what settings the motherboard should be put at? I've never played with the BIOS before....any good guides to walk me through it and the setup of a Windows XP install? Any good wiring techniques?

I think I've hit everything....I'll keep you all posted on my progress as I'm sure I will need a ton of help.

I can't thank you all enough for the tips and education you've given me. I went to a local computer shop and just kinda picked the owners brain on stuff (although I must admit...he was slightly contradictory to what you guys have been saying). You guys ROCK! Thanks so much! I hope this goes smoothly for me....but don't forget to answer my questions (the ones above and the ones I'll post in the future).

Thanks again.

Also, are there any other tools I will need besides a screwdiver?? Please tell me I don't need a sodering iron or anything like that. I haven't taken electronics in 8 years. If it can't be built with a hammer, screwdriver and pliers....I probably shouldn't build it. LOL!

You are not bugging anyof us, i really enjoy talking about computers and answering questions

just the screwdriver will do it lol
Ive soldered before and ive never taken classes but that's beside the point

it's really late right now and im tired so ill just answer a few of your Q's
Prescott is a Pentium4 core just like my athlon xp 2500 has a barton core

I would say that that athlon 64 3200 would beat the Pentium4
but others may or may not dissagree

really, how often does one of your hdds fail? and when one does fail does it take out the others in your computer?
the risk is still small even when using raid0

still most people will have liek one 250gig harddrive as their main one for operating system(OS) and their main files and backups and just use the raid0 harddrives (hdds) for video storage during video editing or whatever
raid0 is all about speeed
but if you're concerned about data lose then you can just use raid1 where your data is put on 2 harddrives so if one does fail simply remove it from the computer and use the other one since it will have all of your stuff on it still

I keep forgetting to mention that oyu need either a raid pci card or a motherboard supporting raid 1 or 0 with SATA(serial ATA) connections on it

either you plug your ide harddrives into the pci card or you get 2 SATA hdds and put em in raid

integrated sound and ethernet are just fine
I use em all the time and they never let me down in fact the onboard sound is 200% better than the old ensoniq pci sound blaster i used to use
I really could tell the difference in the onboard sound being so much better and i am not even a real audiophile

you will need a modem though
i cant recommend one since i just use whatever i can get for the cheapest

you might need some cd or dvd drives and OS, unless you already have an xp cd

and about powersupplies read this and you will know what to look for
http://www.computing.net/gaming/wwwboard/forum/3132.html
never never never just look at the wattage rating

common sense isn't very common

Okay, but I've noticed that (some) Athlon 64's have a 512 L2 Cache and the P4 Prescott's have a 1MB cache. Excuse my ignorance, but isn't a 1MB cache better? Hell, would you mind explaining what an L2 cache does?

After more research, this is what I'm thinking.....

**Pentium 4 3GHz 800MHz Socket 478 1MB Cache Processor w/Fan and Heatsink Prescott 1MB L2 Cache 90 nm. SSE3. $196.00

--478 Socket? What happened to 754 and 939? Were those Athlon only sockets and P4's use 478....and if so, will this affect performance or anything? Upgrading issues perhaps? Does the CPU need to be ATX if the box and the mobo are? Does that matter? What is MATX?

**ASUS P4S800 SiS648FX $60.00-$70.00

--From what I'm reading, this looks as though it is compatible with the processor. However, I am not sure if it is SATA or RAID supporting.

Seriously, I need a guide to make sure I get compatible equipment...I did read the how to build a PC link located on this site. That was so informative and really built up my anticipation. I'm really looking forward to doing this myself, but I want to make sure I do it right the first time. No screw up's. Sorry for hitting you all up with so many questions. I've got so many, that you haven't been able to answer them all.

look at ibuypower.com

- aaron

Stabgotham,

Your bravado is highly endearing, add that to your quest for research, what you get is an expert or something along that line by the time this project is over. This is the type of attitude we need to stop....cough....discourage OEM's from churning out crappy boxes.

Now to the nitty gritty:

L1/Primary Cache: A small cache integrated in a processor that provides quick access to the most recently used data.

L2/Secondary Cache: A secondary cache bigger than the primary cache within the CPU chip that stands between it and main memory (RAM), it is faster than main memory, but slower than primary cache, much helpful in temporarily storing expected addresses, instructions and data, and ensuring the CPU has a steady supply of material to churn while memory plays catch up.

You are indeed correct by assuming the more L2 cache the better, but with CPU's as fast as the ones in comparison the P4's 1MB cache does not directly translate to more speed, the Athlon 64's ondie memory controller makes the 1MB cache on the P4 hardly an advantage, also as long as your application has most of its working set of instructions within 512 KB, 1024KB is but redundant.

These is my recommended hardware listing for you..(BTW it is not in any particular order)

Mobo: ASUS "A8V Deluxe" VIA K8T800Pro AMD Socket 939....NOT! ABIT "AV8" K8T800 Pro AMD Socket 939 or else you might have some issue unless you flash it's BIOS getting it working outta the box.

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3000+ 1.8GHz, 512KB L2 Cache 939-Pin.

Video Card: PowerColor Radeon 9800PRO w/ Hitman 128MB DDR, 256-bit (Newegg).

Optical Drive:LG 8X DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW DRIVE or PIONEER DVR-108 DUAL FORMAT 16X DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW DRIVE DUAL LAYER

Speakers: Probably already got some.
Mouse: As above.
Keyboard: As above.
NIC: Onboard.
Sound: Onboard.
Floppy: Generic.
Modem: Generic.

Memory: 2x512 Geil DC PC3200

PSU: ENERMAX 460W Whisper II

Hard Drive: 2 WD Raptor 74GB 10,000RPM SATA 150 8MB Cache or a WD 120GB 7200RPM ATA 100 8MB Special Editon

Case: I always recommend picking one up locally JIC you need to return it, but get one with accomodation for front intake and back exhaust fans.

Misc:
Round Cables for Hard Drive, Optical Drive & Floppy Drive.

Goodluck.

-- Always do what you are afraid to do --

I'm of a slightly different opinion, especially since this is your 1st build. I think you should keep it cheap & simple. I won't get quite real specific with brands, but here's my recommendation:

Mobo: ABIT NF7-S, ASUS A7N8X, ASUS A7N8X-X, ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe, DFI NFII 400-AL, Shuttle AN35N-Ultra (take your pick)

CPU: AMD Barton 2500+ ~ 3200+ (take your pick)

RAM: 512mb PC3200 (dual channel is unnecessary, but it doesn't hurt)

Video: 8X AGP, 128mb (minimum), 128-bit or 256-bit card that supports DX9

PSU: 400 watt (minimum) with at least 18A on the +12v rail

HDD: Western Digital, Maxtor, or Seagate 7200rpm w/8mb cache, ATA100 or ATA133

Optical: CD/DVD +/- burner

Case: as suggested above

The downside to the above is the socket A format has run it's course. There'll be no more major improvements & the CPU speed has maxxed out at 3200+ (unless you overclock). The upside is it's cheap, & still a decent performance setup.

Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @8x210mhz
512mb PC3200
Ti4200/8X 128mb
WDC 60GB

"quite real"? lol

Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @8x210mhz
512mb PC3200
Ti4200/8X 128mb
WDC 60GB

I was looking the AMD's over....

I found
AMD 3000 90nm 939pin

what's the 90nm??

Jam,

I believe you know my feelings on this. I sure as hell want it to be cheap and simple, but, I also want a machine that will not become obsolete in a year and a half. I'm looking to build something that will last a good while.

Also, how upgradeable are these things?

Looking at memory...

Do I want Non-ECC? Does the brand make a serious difference? What does dual channel do?

I found this:

Corsair Value Select 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200
Speed: DDR400(PC3200)
Type: 184 Pin DDR SDRAM
Error Checking: Non-ECC
Registered/Unbuffered: Unbuffered
Cas Latency: 2.5
Support Voltage: 2.5V
Bandwidth: 3.2GB/s
Organization: 64M x 64 -Bit
Warranty: Lifetime

Is this good?

Go with Non-ECC, it is the faster of the two, the memory you posted above should work just fine.

Picture dual channel configuration as knocking down the dividing wall between two rooms to make way for one bigger room, in otherwords running for example a pair of PC3200 sticks in dual channel is more like running one (PC6400?) chip.

-- Always do what you are afraid to do --

90nm means 90nanometer, it's a mreasurement of size, in other words that thing that is 90nm is really small!

478 is intel only, 754 939 and socket A are all AMD only
btw, socket A is for the athlon xp cpus jam suggested
the thing with those is that they wont be obsolete within a year, they just wont be the fastest thing ever
and dont get dual channel ram with socketA, the cpus dont have the ability to access the extra bandwidth youd get from 2 sticks of pc3200 run as one stick of pc6400
this would just waste bandwidth in an already congested situation

and about your L2 cache Q.
cpus crunch numbers and for them to be as effecient as possible, they need a constant stream of numbers to crunch
so the first place they look for numbers is the L1 cache
think of it as walking to your front doorstep to get your mail
but if there are no numbers there, the next place it looks is the L2 cache
that's like walking to the end of your driveway to get your mail
but if there is still no data there to be crunched then it looks to your ram
that is like walking to the end of your block to reach your mailbox

so you can denominate that having a larger cache will mean more numbers and data can be stored at one time, and your cpu will always have something to crunch without having to turn to your ram, therefor your cpui will be faster for having more cache
but... when you already have 512k L2 cache the margin of performance gain is smaller then say if you had 128k L2 cache
the apps you will be running dont neccesarily need more than 512k L2 cache to perform best and if they do, then that athlon64 processor still beats the intel one you descibed because of it's aformentioned ondie memory controller which intel processors dont have yet

common sense isn't very common

"I also want a machine that will not become obsolete in a year and a half. I'm looking to build something that will last a good while"

There is no such thing as "future-proof". The PC industry has to keep changing & improving things to keep us buying. Whatever you pay big bucks for today, will be commonplace in 6-12 months...maybe even obsolete! Ask anyone who ran out & bought a socket 423 Pentium 4 w/RDRAM if they made a wise investment. Or anyone that bought a Sony Betamax...lol!

Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @8x210mhz
512mb PC3200
Ti4200/8X 128mb
WDC 60GB

hey! beta was awesome just ask my dad
all those old beta tapes... Superbowl Raiders vs Redskins... ahh yeah 5 heads for recording
just too bad our machine broke and now we cant watch any of those tapes lol

and why? why did beta have to die? it was better than vhs

common sense isn't very common

"Picture dual channel configuration as knocking down the dividing wall between two rooms to make way for one bigger room, in otherwords running for example a pair of PC3200 sticks in dual channel is more like running one (PC6400?) chip"

Not really. Dual channel memory just allows both sticks of memory to be accessed at the same time which is why dual channel memory pairs so well with hyperthreading. There is NO speed increase directly on the memory. Just two instructions can be accessed in one cycle.

.... well theoretically, running DC config gives you @ max twice the transmission rate of each individual chip running single doesn't it, and knocking down the dividing wall more or less allows both rooms to be accessed at the same time......;~)

-- Always do what you are afraid to do --