Ever since I started playing FFXI i've been out of the loop when it comes to PC hardware tech, so...

If I get Athlon 64, have I gotta get Windows XP 64bit edition or does it work just fine with Windows XP and all current software? I'm sure I heard the thing was completely backwards compatible but I wanna make sure...

Gonna replace my current CPU/MB setup since I have money lying around but it seems like the only step up from Athlon XP is Athlon 64.

Also, since when did they decide AGP was outdated? Half of the new motherboards don't have it and replaced it with PCI, wtf? Sorta limits what I can get cuz I already just shelled out a ton on a GeForce 6800GT which runs on AGP8x.

Oh and am I gonna need a new PSU over an ATX Antec Truepower 550W? Knowing my luck they changed the connector types or something.

last i checked AGP was replacing pci but they still have some motherboards that dont have AGP slots on them for some reason.

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I dunno, these are all the new really expensive boards, no AGP slot but have something called PCI-Express x16? I dunno, sounds like they invented something new but I didn't recall any Gfx cards using it yet.

i have quad 64 bit proccessors and they are amazing... i run both the 32 bit windows and 64 bit windows and they both are about the same IMO... i only notice a difference with the true 64 bit programs.... you can run the 32 bit windows but you wont be able to run any 64 bit programs till you get the 64 bit windows... the MB that dont have AGP or PCIe are really ment to be used as servers.... if you are looking to upgrade soon i would wait a few months because once they start making more PCIe mobos APG will be absolete... my PCIe gfx card has a bandwith 17.3 gig a sec.... the best AGP card has a max bandwith of like 2-3 gigs... so keep an eye on PCIe because its gona only get better and better

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71WHM - Ifrit
75NIN,75WAR - Remora
http://www.Valour-Ifrit.net

there is PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) and PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express)... make sure you dont confuse the 2 the PCIe is the new stuff and it gets me wet

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71WHM - Ifrit
75NIN,75WAR - Remora
http://www.Valour-Ifrit.net

I just spent a lot of money on that GF6800 just about a month ago, I'd rather it actually fit into my motherboard in 2-3 months time, lol.

I got a problem with my current setup which i could just replace (i think) the memory to fix but I figured I might as well upgrade, but I can't do it without taking a big jump up.

The AMD 64 bit processor will only work

1. with WinXP64
2. with 64bit app

you probably wont get a lot of different just running FFXI >_>
but, yes, you can run all the 32 bit app (technicially) using the AMD processor (until the Intel a long time ago)

yes PCI-e is the new graphic slot ... (there is also Mobo with 2 slots so you can use parallel cards for graphics) (there is also card that combine 2 cards too)

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I know all the 64-bit stuff will only work with a 64-bit OS, but I can still install a 32-bit OS (Windows XP) and it will still run, just not with 64-bit support, correct?

At the moment my processor is running at about 1700... by getting Athlon64 I can go all the way up to 3500+ -- It'll still run a little better. :P

correct.... the 64 bit cpu will load a driver from the 32 bit windows and it will act as a 32 bit cpu

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71WHM - Ifrit
75NIN,75WAR - Remora
http://www.Valour-Ifrit.net

Awesome, that's what I was mostly worried about.

My current setup has a bottleneck in the CPU. For some reason, when I run the CPU at it's real speed (at 266 FSB) my PC refuses to boot up, not even into something like Windows setup. I'm sure as hell it's not overheating.

If i put it at 200FSB, it runs fine. The memory and CPU run at the speeds I think they're supposed to, I've ran all sorts of programs to make sure for me, and the MB supports both fine... I dunno, i've messed around with it but I don't think it's worth replacing the bits one by one until I find which is the problem, I might end up replacing them all and being no better off really.

So I figured it was time to just upgrade. I have like 2-3 other PCs in the house I can move all the old bits into to upgrade them so I'm upgrading them all at once really.

could be your PSU can't supply enough power to the cpu at that voltage

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71WHM - Ifrit
75NIN,75WAR - Remora
http://www.Valour-Ifrit.net

Nah, I doubt it. I was pissed off with constantly buying crappy PSU's, blowing them up or having them reboot my PC all the time.

In the end I said screw it and paid like £75 ($150?) for a decent one. Antec Truepower 550W. Was the most expensive the site had to offer at the time.

It's only an Athlon XP2600 in there atm.

I would like to clear up that while PCI-express is faster in bandwidth.... they still haven't reached the maximum bandwidth for AGP8x. Getting an AGP slot wouldn't kill you. PCI-E is just looking into the future. If you just shelled out money for a 6800GT just go with a AGP board. I'm sure there are some of those around somewhere.

I went with an Athlon 64 3400+, 2 gigs PC3200 DDRAM400, and a Soltek board and it's solid. Only problem I had was that my Radeon 9700 Pro would lock up randomly in AGP 8X mode but that was only because the card was made when AGP 8X was just coming out and it wasn't tested enough. Once I bought my Radeon X850XTPE the problem disappeared and now I'm running at 8X with Fast Writes on. Check http://www.newegg.com for a Soltek SL-K8AN2E-GR board if you're going with an Athlon :P

http://www.newegg.com saves lives. I need to build a new computer in the near future, its been 2 years since my last build, so its time for a new one! also, i heard that they were going to change the form factor to btx or something, where they put the processor near the front intake fan, and other such airflow situations to help lower the amount of heat in the case so you can get quieter fans.
Most new graphics cards come in both AGP and PCI-E from what i see at best buy. How much did you spend on that GPU ket? if it was a fancy chunk of change, i would get an AGP mobo so you can use it (but you can always Ebay it^^)

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that GPU cost about £250 (like $400-$500?) back in March. :P (Don't forget everything is stupidly overpriced in England)

I can't just get from newegg because that means paying international rates/shipping. :P

And my place here doesn't seem to stock Soltek stuff any more. =/

PCI was used with older computers, AGPs used with newer ones, but yeah my friends new dell has PCI for some reason.

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Christ, when I build my new box I'm coming to you guys first, lol.

I wish I had PCI 16x Express, trust me, you'll want it down the road if you plan on seriously upgrading your PC. All the new graphics cards are going to phase out AGP down the road. All of nVidias new fangled SLI cards can only run on PCI Express.

http://www.newegg.com and http://www.tigerdirect.com are truly great. I built my custom machine mostly from scratch all from parts purchased at tigerdirect.com.

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Retired 8/21/06
Don't click this link.

if u want, gimme your credit card number, ill buy the parts you want, build it, and mail it all to ya free of charge. I love to build computers!!!!!!

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