Need mobo/cpu/gfx rec please!

[Fat Tone]

I recently upgraded the memory on a machine (Asus a7n8x-x, XP2500, XFX 5600) from 1*256 PC3200 to 2*256...long story short the mobo is now dead. I suspect the cause to be inadequate care when it was transported (came to me a couple of time for disinfection before the upgrade). The gfx fan needs replacing too, having been serviced by me once already it is getting very noisy again.

He has decided to take the opportunity to upgrade, subject to a total cost under £400, pref ~£330-350. It's mainly an office workhorse, but also used for homework and some gaming.

I'm thinking A64 socket 939 ~3200, and something like a 6800 PCI-E gfx card.

Recommendations for mobo, cpu and gfx gratefully received.

(Edit: I should add we are keeping the ram and pata hdd/dvd-rw. PSU is a fairly cheap 450W)

TIA

T.

[TnT]

I have a Gigabyte K8N-Ultra 9, 3000+ Venice and Gigabyte 6600.

I chose those models because of the fanlessness (no northbridge and gpu fans). Don't know if they make 6800s without fan though. The only problem I have is when I try to add RAM in more than two slots my computer becomes unstable, mostly memory errors when compiling (I run Gentoo Linux).

Other than that the computer with only 2 sticks of RAM is rock stable as I leave it on with all sorts of stuff running, compiling and such for weeks without problems. Not a FPS gamer anymore so I have no idea how it handles high end games.

[Whirl-Secret]

You seem to know this anyway, but: http://arstechnica.com/guides/buyer/...e-200601.ars/2

[Mehen]

Priced out originally from NCIX.com in CAD and converted to Pounds via XE.com

1)
A64 3200+ $200.14
ASUS A8N-E $134.55
EVGA 6600GT $171.62

total
$506.31 CAD
249.75 GBP

2)
X2 3800+ $385.02
ASUS A8N-E $134.55
EVGA 6600GT $171.62

total
$691.19 CAD
340.85 GBP

3)
A64 3200+ Venice $200.14
ASUS A8N-E $134.55
EVGA 7800GT CO SE 460/1100 $396.10

total
$730.79 CAD
360.34 GPB

4)
A64 3500+ Venice $264.80
ASUS A8N-E $134.55
EVGA 7800GT CO SE 460/1100 $396.10

total
$795.45 CAD
392.35 GBP

I recommend going with something along the lines of #2, but as you can see theres lots of mixing and matching that can be done. Personally, even if I didn't want to spend a lot, I wouldn't go as slow as a 3000 or 3200 unless I was going to overclock; 3500, 3700, or a x2 3800 would be a better bet.

[Wombat]

If you're an OCer at all, the Venice cores OC nicely. I wouldn't spend the money on an actual 3500.

[Mehen]

yeah just edited my above post^^ - if you are OC'ing 3200/3000 are great, otherwise they are starting to show their age - but on the other hand, if you go with something like a 3000+, you can sneak in a 7800GT which would absolutley destroy a 6600 or even 6800

[Marshmallowman]

939 opterons can be a nice alternative, and can sometimes be found for cheaper than the equivalent A64 and they OC very well.

Yeah and like Mehen said, 7800gt might be a good choice. I got mine for a couple more $ than a 6800gt/gs

[Dr Mordrid]

Major advantage ot the Opterons: overclockability as noted by MM plus they have a 1mb/core cache instead of the A64's 512k.

Dr. Mordrid

[Fat Tone]

Thanks Guys.

Not an o/c er (reliability is top requirement here) or technical user. Need to let him feel an appreciable difference in day-to-day usage, so I'll go for the A8N-e and a 6600 with the fastest CPU I can squeeze in the budget.

Cheers

[GNEP]

I did a Foxconn/Winfast small form factor mobo socket 939 nforce 4 PCIe with an Athlon64 3000+ and a passively cooled 6600GT (Asus iirc???). Cheap, cheerful, stable and fast enough for tasks mentioned. And it fitted in a smaller case. With nForce4 it can be worth either finding one with a passively cooled northbridge, or to replace the active cooling with a zalman doobry, as those little fans are noisy and annoying. To get one which you can replace the northbridge HSF, you must make sure that it won't get in the way of the PCIe 16x (graphics) slot, which a lot of them do. Can tell from piccies of the mobo easily enough though.

[Fat Tone]

Thanks. I could swap to the Gigabyte mobo TnT and remove a fan. Just I've always been an Asus fan. 'scuse the pun.
Current prices are A8N-E £68, Gigabyte GF 6600GT (silent heat pipe) £114, A64 3700+ San Diego Retail £160 - total £342.

Current stock would suggest the Gigabyte GA-K8N Pro-SLi at £77, still within budget

[Gurm]

You must send the "dead" hardware to me.

[Fat Tone]

hehe. The CPU is already earmarked, the mobo you'd be welcome too, unless I spot a dry joint when it comes out. the gfx card will probably get a new fan and be put to good use somewhere (the 8500 in my lad's pc is a little flaky...).

Of course, I might go sleep walking and accidentally swap all this for my A64 3400 system

[agallag]

If you go for the A8N-E, spend an extra $5-10 for the Zalman ZM-NB47J chipset heatsink. I picked it up for $8.50 canadian after the chipset fan started making loud noises. Fits perfectly, and pretty easy to install. It's much quieter now.

[Fat Tone]

Thanks, but I have ordered the Gigabyte.