New PC: This vs. That?

[logical_psycho]

Hi all,

I am planning on buying a new pc within now and a month or two, since my current one is 3+ years old already and I need one that runs Civ4 (and other games) without stuttering. I have been looking at this website for different components and I'm seeing so many different things that I don't know which are best.


I am sure about a lot of things, but not about these 2 components. I'm still doubting between:

Processor:

Intel P4 650 3.4Ghz vs. AMD Athlon 64 3800+

Video Card:

MSI RX800XL VT2D 256MB PCIE vs. XFX Geforce 6800GT 256Mb PCIE


Both are comparable in price... so now my question is, which ones are the best? I know about people often having problems with ATI chipsets and I've only owned Pentium based PC's so far (counting out the 286 and 486 that I'm trying to forget).

 

[CruddyLeper]

Oh, there's lots more to it than that.

In general, ATI graphics cards work fine in motherboards with nVidia chipsets. It's when the motherboard has a VIA chipset they tend to have most problems.

For gaming, I'd go for the Athlon 3800+ on a motherboard with Nforce 4 chipset and an X800XL, which should just show the 6800GT a clean pair of heels. Not much in it though.

Alternatively, you could get an Nforce 4 SLI motherboard, put in one 6800GT, and add another 6800GT later. Would need a faster Athlon64 processor to get the best out of it though.

Or, go for a motherboard with an ATI Crossfire chipset, put in one Crossfire card now, and hope ATI get their act together producing master Crossfire cards.

Last option is most unpredictable though. You've got a much safer route with an Nforce 4 board (SLI or not) than the unproven ATI Crossfire system.

 

[Maniacal]

Gah, beaten.

 

[logical_psycho]

Thanks for your feedback people.



I personally was thinking most about getting the Athlon 3800 and the 6800GT one, in combination with this motherboard:

Asus A8N-E nForce4 Ultra S939

But the other options seemed good as well. I guess it'll be the Athlon and this motherboard, now I'm only still wondering about which videocard. Some people say ATI is better than Nvidia, which it was for a while, but now I'm not sure anymore. Especially looking at the complaints you see ATI owners have with a lot of different games. The problems with CivIV are solved but if you look at for example Q3 based games they gave you a free (not wanted) wallhack which got you kicked from many servers.