How are these specs??

[berkoWitZ]

Hi, I have like 3 years I don´t buy a new PC, and to be honest I don´t know how good or bad a configuration is when I see it in paper!

So, I need to know how does this one sound for each number: bad, decent or excellent... because I´m going to buy a new one at any time and I need some guidelines, thanks!

1-AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ SKT AM2
2-MSI AM2 (K9N Neo-F) D2/S/GL/SATA2/RAID ATX
3-HDD Seagate 250GB SATA2 8MB 7200RPM
4-DVD Burner LiteON 18X Double Layer
5-NVidia XFX 7300GS PCI-E 256mb DDR2 support 512mb TV+DVI

[Jolly_Fat_Man]

Overall it's a good computer.
Mind you that I haven't looked at each parts tech info to know in detail.

It's no bomb, but it'll do very well for a person that isn't too into gaming.
For gaming it's not going to do very well considering all the parts aren't brand new and out of old lines.

RAM amount depends on what you do.
To start you need 512MB just for windows, but if you want to use lots of heavy programs at once, then you'll need more RAM as you go.
I'd aim to 1,5GB if you are planning on multitasking heavy programs or when you want Vista.

For the HDD, if you want to look into 16MB cache drives if you need the extra speed...
Try to make sure the GPU card has DDR3 and the memory is on the card; not getting it from RAM. That just slows the system down for no reason.

BTW AMD is lowering the prices on the processor line you're thinking of purchasing so wait until that happens to buy, unless you're in a hurry. :D

RAM speed just go with the max the board can handle, that being said you should know the AM2 line was created to support the new RAM speeds.
So I don't know how that will affect the processor.

Maybe someone else can elaborate on this one.

A much better; and much more expensive configuration would involve Intel Core 2 Duo...

[berkoWitZ]

Great info and explanations, thanks Jolly!! But I have a technical question, how is this processor I wrote compare to an Intel Core 2 Duo? Is it really much better?

I was aiming at 1GB of RAM but I used almost always at the same time After effects, PS, DW and flash...perhaps 1.5 GB then...

[Templarian]

Mabey look for other processors might find a nicer one that one you picked i believe is older.

2gig of ram should be good. I know i run out of ram with WoW and VS open all the time which causes a little lag. And get the 7600 video card they are quite inexpensive if you look around.

I'd recommend a raptor HD for gaming, but def not for major downloading or use only as an OS and gaming drive (they tend to create a lot of heat and burn out) if you have a good drive for storage get a nice 10k or up drive.

[berkoWitZ]

Thanks for the comments Templarian!

I asked for another configuration with a 7600 and better processor, this is what they offer me:

-TM AMD 940 ASROCK GF6100 DDR2 S/V/R sata
-CPU AMD 940 ATHLON XP K8 3200 64BITS
-DDR2 1024 MB Kingston
-HDD SATA 250 GB 7200 RPM
-DVD Burner LiteON 16X Double Layer
-T VIDEO PCI XPRESS 512 MB GFORCE NVIDIA 7600 GS

Should I ask if the GPU card has DDR3?

Also how does it sounds $750 for that?

[Templarian]

Theres no way you can do this:

1-AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ SKT AM2
2-MSI AM2 (K9N Neo-F) D2/S/GL/SATA2/RAID ATX
3-HDD Seagate 250GB SATA2 8MB 7200RPM
4-DVD Burner LiteON 18X Double Layer
4-T VIDEO PCI EXPRESS 512 MB GFORCE NVIDIA 7600 GS

[berkoWitZ]

Are you asking if I can ask for that configuration? Mmm I just notice the first processor is better or am i mistaken...

[Templarian]

you noticed correctly. My idea was mostly to improve the video card the 7300 i feel is weaker than the 7600 in real life gaming... probably cased to various shaders its missing or something.

Although if you need to save the money you probably wont notice a whole lot, i mean you should be able to play all games on High.

[Vexir]

Just make sure you get a video card that will run Crysis smoothly, for without that its not worth buying :beam:

[berkoWitZ]

:D crysis is one of my concerns.

Thanks for the info Templarian, I`m gonna ask for 2 more configurations, one with a Core 2 Duo and a more powerful AMD and post them...

Obviously I have my budget for this and I can`t ask for all I want, but I think is good for a very nice PC.

[hybrid101]

why not go for a core 2 duo?

system looks pretty good btw;)

[fattony]

ok what?? You want to run Crysis and only looking into a 7600, I have one and well lets face it you will need at least a geforce 10k for it and DirectX 11 for that game, Microsoft will not release the game until all computers have Vista I guarantee that.

Crysis requires a 7900+ and at minimum 2gigs of ram so good luck running the game in the first place, and yes the X2 is WAYYYYYYY better than the K8 XP first off X2 is dual core and the XP is 01 technology BTW.

I got my 4200+ X2 for 160 bucks from newegg have you checked out the egg yet? I rebuilt my AMD64, 1.5g ram, 250g hd, 6600 GT - for only 480$ to get my new AMDX2 4200, new motherboard, 7600 GT.

The core 2 duo systems will cost you at least three times as much as an X2 system, while it will be twice as fast I really don't see that investment really working out short term for yah, the X2 will last you at least 2 to 3 years and yes AMD is slashing prices again so this would be the best time to purchase your addons.

[berkoWitZ]

I was joking with the crysis thing...actually this PC is not going to be used to play games. I´m not one of those persons that loses sleep thinking if crysis is going to run or not.

I have yet to receive 2 more configurations, one with a Core 2 Duo E6400 and one with AMD 4200 X2

Which one is more powerful?

[Templarian]

ok what?? You want to run Crysis and only looking into a 7600, I have one and well lets face it you will need at least a geforce 10k for it and DirectX 11 for that game, Microsoft will not release the game until all computers have Vista I guarantee that.

Crysis requires a 7900+ and at minimum 2gigs of ram so good luck running the game in the first place, and yes the X2 is WAYYYYYYY better than the K8 XP first off X2 is dual core and the XP is 01 technology BTW.
Nice one, its a engine they are just showing off what the engine does ect. Think of it as a highly advanced UT engine (that many games are based off of). Actually it shouldn't take a whole lot to even run the game, a 7600 would do well on lowest settings and get minimal lag (i'll take the rest as sarcasim).

And you act as if its a microsoft game... Crytec is the dev of the crysis engine.