What should I get?

[eagles20015]

I need a computer that will probably last for about a year abnd a half. I wanna be able to play hl2 and all other games with most settings turned up. I am buying a cheap case and I am modding it to fit 6 120mm fans in there and get good hsf's so I will get a good overclock.
So should I get a 1800+ thoroughbred or a 2500+ barton. I am on a very tight budget too.

[Twigs]

go for the 2500+ if you wanna play hl2 with max settings

[c627627]

It's the other components that will make the difference. Yes go with $83 Barton. But if that means you can't get a Thermalright SK7 heatsink, then go with guaranteed T-Bred B for $49 and get the SK7.

It's better to Spend $49 on B and then get this:
twinmos/ch-5 winbond pc3200
http://www.memoryx.net/gn256pc3200.html

then to go with Barton and some other kind of memory.
Get an Nforce2 and a good video card.

Be sure power supply is name brand -- again, a component where $30 can be more wisely spent then on 2500+....

[zachj]

I think an area where you can cut costs is on 6 120MM fans . . . You don't need that many . . . I guess I can be wrong about this, but I think adding more fans suffers from exponential decay, in that the more you add, the less benefit is realized from each addition in comparison with the benefit gained by the addition of the previous fan. Besides, you'll likely end up with a very screwed up flow in the case. Personally, I run a TBredA 1700+ at 1666MHz with only one case fan in the mid thirties at full load. Sure, if you're going to be hitting well over 2GHz, you'll need more, but I can nearly promise you that you won't need 6 120MMs . . .

Anyway, in regards to processors:

The Barton is more spendy than the TBredB.
The Barton runs at a higher clock speed than most 'Bs, so you start out in a better situation.
The 'Bs probably have more "potential", in percentage of overclock, compared to Barton.
The Barton has twice the cache, though the benefit of that is not as great as clock speed.

I think the best way to spend your money would be to buy an NForce2 motherboard, two 256MB DIMMS of PC3200 RAM for dual channel, a higher-end video card (9600 Pro, since PCI Express will come out sooner or later, so no matter what you buy, you're buying yourself into obsolescence), a Fortron/Sparkle PSU, SK7 or SLK-800, and either a TT Smart Fan II (no arguments about the fan/HS combo) or a Vantec Tornado and fan controller, and a Barton 2500+. This will offer you probably the best performance over the long haul, unless the 90nm version of the XP comes out and works in existing motherboards . . .

Total cost depends greatly on which brands you buy. It would help a lot if you indicated how much you wanted to spend, though.

Z

[eagles20015]

Keep in mind that I only need this computer for a year and a half so I think I'll just get the 1800+, a 9600pro, 450watt allied power supply, 512mb of geil pc3200, epox 8rda, and 6 92mm fans.

[eagles20015]

Some of the 120mm fans have twice the air flow then the 92mm ones and are only like $1 cheaper. I dont see how the 120mm ones could be bad.

[zachj]

I'm not saying that 120MM fans are bad, I'm saying you don't need six fans.

If it were me, I'd get at most:

4 80 (or 92) mm fans OR
2 120mm fans

The 8RDA, RAM, and video are good choices. I know nothing about Allied, so all I'll say is that Fortron is good and cheap and leave it at that. If it were me, I'd get the 2500+, but I wasn't the one that started the thread, so good luck with the 1800+. As long as you get a 'B, you'll be fine. If you get an 'A, you might be in for some unpleasantness.

Z

[eagles20015]

How do I know I'm getting a B then?

[c627627]

CODES! That's how.
http://forum.oc-forums.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=222237

http://www.gameve.com/store/gameve_viewitem.asp?idproduct=267

[zachj]

While codes are how you can "tell" when you actually get the chips, most places aren't going to tell you the steppings (codes) on the chips before they sell them to you unless you pay a 10 dollar (or more, for higher end chips) premium over other places. For instance, all 1700+s from Newegg are 'As at the moment (or at least mine was, and people are saying it). So look at the reviews of the chip you're getting. On Newegg, just look at the most recent reviews of 1800+s to see if people are getting 'As or 'Bs . . . If it's not Newegg, I don't know how you can tell, other than to see if any forum members are shopping at the same place and getting the same chip. The 2100+ from Newegg is a guaranteed 'B, but for the price, you might as well get a Barton, which is "basically" a 'B, though it runs at a higher voltage, so it runs a little hotter (though the die has a greater surface area, so it's better disipated, so whatever . . .) and doesn't clock as high sometimes . . .

Z

[c627627]

It's gambling unless it's in writing guaranteed. One day is A, the next B. As far as Thoroughbreds are concerned, we know of two options only:

1. $49 gameve.com 1700+ guaranteed B

2. $64 newegg 2100+ guaranteed B [It says "Type: 2100 XP Thoroughbred (revision B)"]

which is cheaper than other places which guarantee 1700+s and 1800+s for more $ than 2100+ costs at newegg, which is why there are only two options.