I swear one of these days we'll get around to doing a CPU review :) We've got stuff planned but this month is turning out to be very GPU intensive.
We tried to incorporate as many of your requests as possible, I hope you enjoy the review.
I saw Kill Bill btw; I liked the movie, it was very gory and it made me want to watch something funny or happy afterwards, but I still thought it was a good movie. Be warned if you can't stomach blood though, it's not too realistic but there's a lot of it :)
Take care.
We tried to incorporate as many of your requests as possible, I hope you enjoy the review.
I saw Kill Bill btw; I liked the movie, it was very gory and it made me want to watch something funny or happy afterwards, but I still thought it was a good movie. Be warned if you can't stomach blood though, it's not too realistic but there's a lot of it :)
Take care.
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Anonymous - Friday, October 17, 2003 - link
ok well maybe max spendature is 1000$, uh I don't think 2.6c is going to last long, so I was thinking more across the lines of 2.8-3.0, that should last at least 4 years of good gaming. Monitors - Orion 19" is only 165$ with .25mm and 1600x1200 max res, but see, What if I want to get a prescott later on, if I dont have a BTX Ill need to buy a new caseGTaudiophile - Friday, October 17, 2003 - link
#17: BTX case? The case I recommended is an ATX case. The motherboard I recommended is an ATX motherboard. That combo is fine.The Pentium4 2.6C is the best-value Intel CPU you can get with Hyper Threading and 800Mhz support. You can get a 3.2Ghz CPU, but it costs like 3x as much!
Monitors: I can't say much there. I've used Sony monitors for years and like them. Never had one break. LCDs are popular, but some still don't like them for gaming. Look at both 19" CRTs and LCDs, but I hope you're not trying to build a new system AND a new monitor for under $800!
Anonymous - Friday, October 17, 2003 - link
Hey this is number 9, thanks for the feed back 12 and 13, but you forgot what monitor :). I must add I have become a member and posted this question but no one ever answered. I posted in several forums. So, I guess I should ask this question to you guys.I am not an overclocker, I need a processor that will run games in the years to come farely well, I don't know about getting a BTX case because it probably wont fit p4 motherboards. I am only interested in P4 processors. With that could you give me some more insight?
aNom - Friday, October 17, 2003 - link
My question is are the rumors true about a respin for the shipping version with much faster ram making the card you tested the 9600XT and the new version the 9600XT Pro?Anonymous - Friday, October 17, 2003 - link
number nine..number nine...number nine....it's like that beatles' song!
Morten - Friday, October 17, 2003 - link
GTaudiophile: nice. Maybe this will shut up #9.GTaudiophile - Thursday, October 16, 2003 - link
#9: If I were to build a very decent gaming system for ~$800, this is what I'd build. Keep in mind, that I am personally bias towards Intel chipsets and ATi videocards.All products/prices from Newegg.com:
Case: Antec Solution Series w/ Antec 300W power supply (SLK1600AMB): $52.00
Motherboad: MSI NEO2-LS retail i865PE 800Mhz FSB: $96.50
CPU: Intel Pentium4C 2.6Ghz retail: $211
RAM: OCZ DDR PC-3200 Performance Series 256MB retail: need to buy two for a total of $118
Video: ATi Radeon 9600 PRO retail: $173
Sound: Motherboard includes AC97 Audio
NIC: Motherboard includes Ethernet
Harddrive: Maxtor 80GB 7200rpm SATA 8MB cache OEM: $89.00
Optical Drive: Lite-On LTC-48161H Black DVD/CD/CDRW combo drive retail: $54.99
Floppy Drive: Mitsumi Black OEM: $8.00
Total: $802.49 (excluding S&H)
I would personally add one more thing to this system: Creative SoundBlaster Audigy2 OEM soundcard for $72.
Of course, if you currently have a decent floppy drive, DVD-reader, and CD-RW writer, you may not need those items. I just assumed you were building from sratch.
Again, if you need additional help or want to build an AMD/nVidia-based system, please become an AT Forum member, and post your questions there. Anand is too busy to answer such questions here, and it would probably get him in trouble if he started endorsing specific brands.
Good luck!
GTaudiophile - Thursday, October 16, 2003 - link
#9: Why only the top 3? I mean, for gaming, I'd say 1) CPU, 2) Videocard, 3) RAM+motherboard FSB speed. Of course, if you have a crappy power supply, what good is all that if you don't have the power to support it? If you like to overclock and have a small case, you may run into heat issues.It's easy to get an upgradeable case, more or less. You can get one of decent size that allows for the addition of components. But even size can be useless when, for example, Intel announces a new form factor for their Prescott processor. You can't have an upgradeable CPU. A CPU is a CPU. You can overclock it, though. Motherboards are upgradeable within reason. I have an Intel-based i845D motherboard. It doesn't support 533 or 800Mhz FSB, so I cannot upgrade to to a Pentium4B oc C processor, even though the motherboard is "only" 22 months old. If I had waited and bought a i845E motherboard, I could have at least run at 533Mhz FSB.
Computer hardware is constantly evolving. Like cars and depreciation, any new system becomes obsolete as soon as you order the parts. Depending on your budget, you need to buy new hardware on some sort of cycle. Some upgrade every six months, some every 5+ years. As for me, I do minor upgrades every 18 months by adding more RAM and a new mid-level videocard, for example. I do major upgrades, make a completely new, top-of-the-line system every 36 months.
Lastly, Anand is too busy to answer such questions personally. If you aren't already, it's best to become an Anandtech Forum member. There are thousands of people in the forums to answer your questions. You'll even make new friends!
UlricT - Thursday, October 16, 2003 - link
OMG... #9 is getting really annoying!#10, interesting questions. I hope Anand answers! We really would like to know Anand: The Man.
Anonymous - Thursday, October 16, 2003 - link
Hexus.net used NV36 in their 9600XT benches. They used the 52.16 drivers too (WHQL?). NV36 wins most but not all benches. Can you confirm or deny that NV36 will sell for $299 and not $199? Care to comment on the Hexus.net review?All that aside...since I doubt you'll respond to any of those questions, here are some fun questions for you:
1) Favorite car of all time?
2) Best handling car you've driven?
3) Favorite movie (comedy/drama/action)?
4) Favorite food? (I love Indian food!)
5) Besides cars and computers, any other hobbies?
6) What do you think of techno music?
Lastly, IF you do indeed own a Ferrari, I think you should sell it and buy every AT staff member, including yourself, a 2004 Lotus Elise. I'm sure you subscribe to Road & Track; read the November issue!