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[JJMitchell]

Well Oblivion has gotten me to thinking about saving up some cash to upgrade my PC.

I'm looking for any recommendations on motherboards and processors.  I'm not looking to buy retail since I'd rather save up more money and get more for my dollar.

I'm completely comfortable building my own PC but realized looking at parts that I'm behind the times by a good year or more.  I'm leaning more toward Intel this time since the last AMD processor I got wasn't that much cheaper and the performance wasn't great.

I'm also looking for any sites that have benchmarks, reviews, etc that you folks use.  I'm reading some online but wasn't sure if anyone had any recommendations.

Lets try and keep this thread on track and no arguing which product is better without solid facts (benchmarks etc) to back it up.

[I Am Not Amused]

Not the guy to be talking about benchmarks or anything like that, but I have built my own machine. I use newegg.com to buy parts. They're pretty reliable, put alot of info up on all the parts, have customer reviews and allow you to search very specifically for exactly the parts you want. I don't think they do much benchmarking (I don't think they overclock the video cards or anything like that) but if you find the parts you want independently, you can probably get them for a good price at newegg.

[Sideways]

Well, You didn't discuss what price-range you were looking at, but I can tell you what I'd get if I didn't have price-restrictions:

Case

Motherboard with 2GB DDR RAM, which allows dual-video-card setup

Processor

and finally:
Two of these badboy 512MB vidcards

You'd probably be spending upwards of $4000.00 (CDN) on a comp setup like this, after throwing in a nice SATA-compatible HD, a DVDRW/CDRW combo and such... but MAN would that be a smokin' computer!!

[Bastardous Bassist]

For reviews, I'd highly recommend Tom's Hardware.  You can google search it, but it might be www.tomshardware.com (it's been a while since I've looked).  I, too, will be building a computer before too long, but I won't have $4000, even if it is just that phony Canadian money.

[JJMitchell]

My budget is fairly limited guess I should have said that.
I'm guessing its going to be months before I can buy all my stuff which is one of the reasons I wanted to ask for review sites, etc.

[Sideways]

Well, for around $1,500.00 you could run what I'm running right now, which is a pretty sweet setup.

Asus K8N DualDDR400AGP8x AMD socket motherboard.
AMD Sempron 3000+ processor
Radeon 9800 Pro 256MB Video Card
120GB SATA HD
80GB external USB2.0 HD
Dual BenQ FP71V+ 17" (5ms response) LCD monitors
1024MB PC3200 DDR RAM

It could handle oblivion on max settings, I have no doubt.  It plays City of Villains on max settings, at 1280x1024 resolution... and that game is QUITE the graphics-hog.

[JJMitchell]

I'm probably going to upgrade my motherboard, processor, RAM and video card first.  Which of course makes me have to buy a new case but I'm keeping my HD and CD ROMs for now.  I might buy a DVD player for my PC since most newer games are coming out on DVD.

If I have to, I'll hold off on buying a new video card but only if I can find a motherboard that has an AGP slot and PCI express.  Doesn't look like that is going to happen.

So far some good recommendations thanks all, and keep them coming.

[SpacemanSpiff]

If you want that, look for motherboards with the ULi M1695, for example the Asrock 939DUAL-SATA2. That one has full speed PCI-Ex16 and an AGPx8 and it's decent, apparently. If you don't want SLI later on (which is gay anyway), this would be an interesting option.
CPU wise, I would definitely recommend an Athlon64, they run cooler and faster than their Intel counterparts.

[Sideways]

CPU wise, I would definitely recommend an Athlon64, they run cooler and faster than their Intel counterparts.

Agreed.  I used to run a P4 1.7Ghz processor... upgraded to the Athelon Sempron 3000+ which - in terms of Ghz (which isn't really a measurement in the AMD world) - isn't much faster than a 1.7Ghz.  Computer shows it running at 2.2Ghz processor speed... but I get faster processing response in high-end games and graphical applications than my friends with P4 2.6ghz machines.  They're basically designed to run graphical applications, so they're ideal for gamers.  

Any IT guy will tell you:  You want to run powerful databases and networking systems, go with Pentium.  You want to run graphical/animation programs or games; go with AMD.

[JJMitchell]

I've been reading that AMDs are better for gaming, etc.
Didn't realize they had jumped that much ahead of Intel on that part of it.  Good heads up.

edit: I'm an IT guy, just not PC hardware.  Application development (I wish) and support.

[Sideways]

Yeah, it's a big difference.  On the City of Villains boards, there are a number of screenshot threads... and people post their comp specs with their screenshots.

I've seen guys running the same video card as I do, with 1GB of RAM like I do, and a P4 3.4Ghz beast of a processor... and their screenshots are at lower resolution, because they have to turn their graphics down a smidgen.  My Sempron 3000+ processor (which isn't even that great of an AMD processor in the AMD world) runs the game with cranked settings and resolution, and gives me a steady 45FPS in large city-zones, and an INSANE 90+FPS in missions.  Since it's the same video card being used, and equivalent RAM, then the ONLY difference is the processor... and the AMDs outshine the Intels in a big way.

[JJMitchell]

I'm still dreaming here but so far this is the motherboard/procssor that has grabbed my attention.  It only has PCIe but I guess thats not such a huge deal for the performance I'll gain.

Clicky

Next, I'll be looking for the best video card I think I can afford. Eventually.

[elcapitan]

FWIW, I'm running a two-year old Gigabyte mainboard atm (with an AthlonXP 2500+) and it's holding together just fine. The chip is starting to run a little hot though, and as a result the fan noise is almost intolerable.

[JJMitchell]

I figure in two years it'll be about time to upgrade anyway.
Thats how old my PC is now.

Okay folks, now your mission is to start giving me recommendations on Video cards.  I've always been an ATI guy but that was from a bad experience with one nVidia card years ago.

GO!

[edscoble]

I was actually thinking the same, going for a Shuttle computer case, including motherboard.

highly recommended is to get a 64bits processor, thus your computer will be more future-proof for thing like Vista.

AMD 64bits is pretty cheap to get.

[JJMitchell]

Here is what I've looked at so far:
__________________________
B452-1124 :: Just4PC 747 ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with Front USB and 425Watt Power Supply - Black (19 lbs)
$39.99    
   
MBM-K8NE-3000 :: Gigabyte K8NE NVIDIA Socket 754 ATX Motherboard and an AMD Athlon 64 3000+ 2.0GHz Processor with Fan (4 lbs)
$199.99    
   
ULT31664 :: Ultra 1024MB PC3200 DDR 400MHz Memory (x2)
$179.98
   
TSD-160M R :: Maxtor / DiamondMax Plus 9 / 160GB / 7200 / 8MB / SATA-150 / OEM / Hard Drive (Refurbished) (3 lbs)
$54.99    
   
L12-1068 :: Lite-on SHW-1635S / 16x8x16x DVD+RW / 16x6x16x DVD-RW / 8x DVD+R DL / 4x DVD-R DL / 48x24x48x CD-RW / Black/Biege Faceplates / Internal / DVD Writer with Software (3 lbs)
$41.99
____________

The total is only 547.05 with shipping so far.
Of course the video card will probably be close to $200.

If I wanted I could save $96.98 by not buying the new HD and DVD player, which I may do and just order them a little bit after I get the PC.

[Unosuke]

I too am going to be working on renovating my rig (new mobo, new video card, new ram, new CPU). I'm just wondering if I should go ahead and get a 64-bit CPU.

[Sideways]

I figure in two years it'll be about time to upgrade anyway.
Thats how old my PC is now.

Okay folks, now your mission is to start giving me recommendations on Video cards.  I've always been an ATI guy but that was from a bad experience with one nVidia card years ago.

GO!

With PCIe you have a much faster bus than with AGP, and most video cards out these days are PCIe anyway.  That gives you a lot of options.

Personally, I'd go with the following three cards (depending on price range)

Smaller budget card:
Asus Extreme AX550 256MB 'gamer edition'
Currently retailing for $99.95 up here in Canuckville.  One of the cheapest cards on the market, with good benchmarks.  It should be able to handle virtually every game you throw at it for the next two years or so.

Medium budget card:
BFG GeForce 7600 GT 256MB card
Currently retailing for $279.99, which is a decent price considering the specs on this card.  A 580MhZ core clock speed, GDDR3 RAM (best RAM available right now) and it takes advantage of anything up to PCIex16. A VERY nice card that should do you well for the next 3 to 4 years.

High-budget card:
BFG GeForce 7800 GTX with Dual DVI connection
This is one of the nicest cards - arguably THE nicest card - available today.  it retails for around $559.00, but the higher sticker-price really does make a difference.  When you do spec comparison of this card vs. any other 256MB card on the market, you will find this one has better memory frequency, more rendering pipelines, higher capacity physics/geometry buffering, broader memory bandwidth and better soft-support (shader technology, different rendering protocols and it makes better use of DirectX than any other card).  This is the card that will allow you to crank graphical settings on any game you play and maintain a very solid FPS... not to mention it has been rated as the most stable card on the market (fewest crashes / read errors / compatibility problems).  If I had PCIe on my computer, I would be buying this card.

my two cents.

[JJMitchell]

Not that one game should influence my decision forever but Oblivion only supports these cards currently:
Supported Video Card Chipsets:

    * ATI X1900 series
    * ATI X1800 series
    * ATI X1600 series
    * ATI X1300 series
    * ATI X850 series
    * ATI x800 series
    * ATI x700 series
    * ATI x600 series
    * ATI Radeon 9800 series
    * ATI Radeon 9700 series
    * ATI Radeon 9600 series
    * ATI Radeon 9500 series
    * NVIDIA GeForce 7800 series
    * NVIDIA GeForce 6800 series
    * NVIDIA GeForce 6600 series
    * NVIDIA GeForce 6200 series
    * NVIDIA GeForce FX series

[mberan42]

I was actually thinking the same, going for a Shuttle computer case, including motherboard.

I built my current computer in December of '04, and bought a Shuttle mobo+case. Fantastic little creature - integrated sound (I don't need anything better), integrated wireless, tiny as hell, fun to look at; perfect for my needs.

If, however, you need an assload (read: more than one) of 5.25" slots, PCI slots (more than 1), etc, it's not for you.

The only two things that I *don't* like about it: I got a 220W power supply, and it's a non-standard size. I don't know if they make power supplies for my case that's over 220W. Secondly, it gets pretty damn hot when I'm running graphic-intense programs. I've had to take the case off on numerous occasions and stick it next to the window to cool it off.

Other than that, I love the thing. Very happy with my purchase.

[Sideways]

Even on those mini-cases you can buy fans... always ALWAYS have a fan mounted over the CPU (not the CPU fan, mind you, but an actual fan off the side of your tower with "plumbing" from your CPU).  Also, the power-supply fan should be a decent size, along with a rear case-fan, and - if you can make the space for it - a top-mounted fan as well.

My one friend has this case which has the side-mounted-CPU fan, the rear case-fan, and he custom-installed a top-fan.  The case actually has heat gauges on the front, and the interior runs VERY cool... usually around 10degrees celcius (50degrees farenheit).

[nihilist]

I have a Shuttle SN26P/AMD X2 3800+ (OC'd), 2GB RAM, two 7800GTX cards, and two 250GB Seagate HDs running in a RAID1 array.  It's pretty spiffy, and didn't cost $4000.

[SpacemanSpiff]

MBM-K8NE-3000 :: Gigabyte K8NE NVIDIA Socket 754 ATX Motherboard and an AMD Athlon 64 3000+ 2.0GHz Processor with Fan (4 lbs)
$199.99    
   

You should definitely get a Socket 939 board and CPU. They're slightly more expensive (in total maybe 20 bucks or something, at least that's how it is over here), but 754 will die soon, whereas 939 will live for at least 1 more year, which gives you the option of upgrading the CPU.

[JJMitchell]

Thanks.
I'll look for a 939 board.

[est]

also: even though it's not explicitly stated, the geforce 7600 should run Oblivion just fine, as it's more powerful than my card.  It's the "value" version of the 7900, which is basically just a 7800 with some tweaks.

[Symp]

Yeah, really need to go with 939, and you might want to look at A 3200+. A few more bucks for a even better chip, and I'vee heard they overclock fairly well.

If you don't need another hard drive and DVD drive, I suggest you wait and get them later, and put the money you saved on them towards the other parts.

I'd give you a good link to penny-aracde's forum topic on what to buy, but their forums are currently down....

[Psychotism]

FWIW, I'm running a two-year old Gigabyte mainboard atm (with an AthlonXP 2500+) and it's holding together just fine. The chip is starting to run a little hot though, and as a result the fan noise is almost intolerable.

I'm running a similar set-up, only with an AthlonXP 2400+ and I'm having a similar problem. It produces a lot of heat, but thankfully the fans inside are enough to keep it cool indefinitely... Damn thing's turned into a space heater... lol.

On the plus side I've never had a more reliable computer... seems to be much better than those which people have spent in excess of $2000 canadian... I've probably spent around $600 less than that...

[nihilist]

Hrm.  I've got a pretty even spread of CPUs in my machines: Celerons, P2s, P3s, P3-based Xeons, Athlon, Athlon MPs, P4s, AMD X2s...

The most solidly reliable?  Intel-based.  Not so much because of the CPU itself, but for the chipset.  My current nForce-4 based system took nearly four months of constant tweaking to finally find a stable setup.  That's just balls.