hi all,

It has been quite sometime I don't update myself on computer hardware. The last time I purchased a desktop was on 2003, it's Intel P4 1.6Ghz 256MB memory! Now, it's time for me to buy a new desktop but need advise/opinion on a few things,

1. Processor - I intended to try AMD product but not sure between AMD X2 or Phenom. Is it really worth to buy AMD phenom since not all software are utilizing multi core technology?

2. Mobo - need advise which Mobo brand for AMD that does not giving problems. Note: I intended to use my old IDE DVD-RW.

3. LCD - which brand is good?

thanks.

I did the same thing about six months ago. I bought a Gigabyte system board, model GA-M61SME-S2. I run Mandriva, everything worked out of the box.

Get as much speed and a 64 bit processor, as you can afford. I'm still running a 32 bit system, have not bothered with 64 bit stuff yet. More than fast enough for me.

'lspci' on my system reveals -

I like the built in Nvidia hardware, fast and well supported. If you play games in linux, you may want a better video card, but I have the 3d stuff working on what you see above.

They are all good these days. I bought an Acer, model AL1916. Only advice I can give here is have a look at the different brands, pick the one you like the best. I'm running 1280x1024x24. this is enough res for me. Some cards may offer more, if you think you need it.

I'm sure there will be other opinions....

The only advice I can offer is on two points:

1. Put money into RAM before putting it into the fastest processor. I would have 1GB MINIMUM.

2. On flat-panel monitors, pay attention to viewing angle and total area. Many of the cheaper ones have poor viewing angle performance and the smaller "wide-screens" are not (IMHO) a good choice.

agreed. I'm planning to have max RAM of 4GB. I've been told that bigger memory will solve most of the sluggish problem.

Phenoms are real power gluttons, unless you get one of the 65W versions, which are essentially just underclocked versions of the "real deal". If you are serious about going quad, it would be interesting to hold off a bit longer until deneb is released. Less power and yet better performance. The X3 offers a nice compromise: three cores, less power and yet a good price.
I don't think you can go wrong getting an X2 5600 or 6000, though. Coupled with 2GB of 800Mhz DDR2, those would still be a lot faster than what you have right now. In fact, if you don't use twenty applications at a time and you don't compile your own software or do heavy media editing, a quad would be overkill. Because they generally have lower clock speed, quad cores are also slower in many applications (unless you get one that has higher clock speed - but obviously those would be far more expensive version). The only quad I would consider over X2 6000 is AMD 9950 (which has a 140W TDP, I mean yikes) or intel 9550 (which is more than three times the price, yikes again).
In terms of raw performance, AMD really isn't a match for Intel. The mid-range e8400 is 30 to 40 % faster than the fastest AMD dual core (but then it's also nearly twice as expensive so AMD always makes sense from a price/performance point of view). Plus, although I'm using intel most of the time nowadays, I have to admit that intel cpus "feel" a bit clunky compared with AMD. As they use FSB rather than an on-die memory controller, the desktop simply doesn't feel as responsive. As I am getting into 3D development, I have been looking for a quad myself but I find that AMD doesn't deliver there and that Intel is way overpriced. Right now, I'm waiting for Intel to release their i7 series, which will have an on-die memory controller controller like AMD and which reintroduces hyperthreading. It looks like it's going to be a very expensive affair, though, so it might still be more interesting to get an intel penryn if their prices get cut or a deneb if those come out better than Phenom.

from tom's hardware, Intel seems to be more superior compared to AMD. Also, intel now is moving to 45nm technoly and AMD still struggling on 65nm. maybe i shall wait AMD deneb to be released

Expectations are that deneb is going to catch up with intel penryn but still won't be a match for the i7 series. Still, I have been looking into the prices and man, i7 is going to be very expensive. The CPUs themselves are affordable (starting at about $300) but the motherboards and the triple channel DDR3 are just madness at this time. That being said, CPUs today are already so fast that you won't even notice any difference unless you are into heavy computing, say multimedia processing, 3D, etc.

hmm maybe AMD X2 6000 and 4GB mem are enough for me.

honestly, what I do is pick a budget, go to dell.com, and buy the machine with the highest model number within my price range.