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by Anand Lal Shimpi on 10/15/2003 10:38 AM EST
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  • Anonymous - Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - link

    #10, you aren't a girl by any chance are you??? why do you want to know anand so close and personal? hehe... seems like someone has a crush on anand! by the way, not that im being nosy or anything, but are you married ANAND??
  • Jeff - Monday, October 20, 2003 - link

    Great site, except I can't find a link to reviews of displays...?
  • Anonymous - Sunday, October 19, 2003 - link

    Wow, The Matrix Online is going to cost you 50$ to buy and also they make you pay a monthly subscription fee.... So, I don't know about any of you, but paying 50$ for an online only game and then making me pay additionally monthly is gonna scratch that game off my list.

    The most obvious reason why is, when you have to pay for a game online and you don't manage to get enough time to play it monthly you lose your money basically. I mean it could be appealing for kids who don't have any responsiblities. But managing college and a job is not gonna let me play this much.

    Additional note this game has a revolutionary engine which adapts to your video card and future video cards.

    So anyone agree with me with this monthly pay thing? Which would make a 50$ game end up being thousands over years
  • Anonymous - Sunday, October 19, 2003 - link

    Good points, all I want in a video card is at least 128mb memory and 8 pipelines
  • GTaudiophile - Saturday, October 18, 2003 - link

    We'll find out more about the FX5950 and FX5700 this week. Anand already benched the 5950 in his Radeon 9800XT review, and the XT still comes out on top in most situations. I still argue that nVidia has issues with its PS2.0 shaders, and although the 52.XX drivers help, they are nothing but optimizations, a work around for their inferior hardware.

    The FX5700 may be a different story, though, as it's rumored to be a totally new core. It's possible the FX5700 will best the 9600XT unless ATi or their OEMs ship it with faster memory.
  • Anonymous - Saturday, October 18, 2003 - link

    Hmm, maybe I will consider the pro because its the only card with true 8x 8pipline rendering. What if the 5950 proves to be the best?
  • GTaudiophile - Saturday, October 18, 2003 - link

    I personally do not OC either, but it is not as difficult as it sounds. Actually, I do OC my videocard through PowerStrip.

    The 9800XT is not worth the price premium for like 1-5% improvement in performance. A PRO is fine.
  • Anonymous - Saturday, October 18, 2003 - link

    #21what about the 9800XT? And #20 i said I'm not an overclocker so whatever speed I get I stick with. Its too risky to overclock especially since I've never done it before. Too many problems I do not want to get into.
  • GTaudiophile - Saturday, October 18, 2003 - link

    Instead of spending the $200 difference on 200-400Mhz of CPU, you'd be much better off getting a Radeon 9800 PRO to replace the 9600 PRO I recommended.
  • Luagsch - Friday, October 17, 2003 - link

    #19: BTX won't be out for over a half a year or more. and when BTX is coming there will still be ATX around (the transition will take some time). also lots of mobos for the p4c will support prescotts (check them out).
    ...and o/c that p4c 2,6...
  • Anonymous - Friday, October 17, 2003 - link

    ok well maybe max spendature is 1000$, uh I don't think 2.6c is going to last long, so I was thinking more across the lines of 2.8-3.0, that should last at least 4 years of good gaming. Monitors - Orion 19" is only 165$ with .25mm and 1600x1200 max res, but see, What if I want to get a prescott later on, if I dont have a BTX Ill need to buy a new case
  • GTaudiophile - Friday, October 17, 2003 - link

    #17: BTX case? The case I recommended is an ATX case. The motherboard I recommended is an ATX motherboard. That combo is fine.

    The Pentium4 2.6C is the best-value Intel CPU you can get with Hyper Threading and 800Mhz support. You can get a 3.2Ghz CPU, but it costs like 3x as much!

    Monitors: I can't say much there. I've used Sony monitors for years and like them. Never had one break. LCDs are popular, but some still don't like them for gaming. Look at both 19" CRTs and LCDs, but I hope you're not trying to build a new system AND a new monitor for under $800!
  • Anonymous - Friday, October 17, 2003 - link

    Hey this is number 9, thanks for the feed back 12 and 13, but you forgot what monitor :). I must add I have become a member and posted this question but no one ever answered. I posted in several forums. So, I guess I should ask this question to you guys.

    I am not an overclocker, I need a processor that will run games in the years to come farely well, I don't know about getting a BTX case because it probably wont fit p4 motherboards. I am only interested in P4 processors. With that could you give me some more insight?
  • aNom - Friday, October 17, 2003 - link

    My question is are the rumors true about a respin for the shipping version with much faster ram making the card you tested the 9600XT and the new version the 9600XT Pro?
  • Anonymous - Friday, October 17, 2003 - link

    number nine..number nine...number nine....

    it's like that beatles' song!
  • Morten - Friday, October 17, 2003 - link

    GTaudiophile: nice. Maybe this will shut up #9.
  • GTaudiophile - Thursday, October 16, 2003 - link

    #9: If I were to build a very decent gaming system for ~$800, this is what I'd build. Keep in mind, that I am personally bias towards Intel chipsets and ATi videocards.

    All products/prices from Newegg.com:

    Case: Antec Solution Series w/ Antec 300W power supply (SLK1600AMB): $52.00
    Motherboad: MSI NEO2-LS retail i865PE 800Mhz FSB: $96.50
    CPU: Intel Pentium4C 2.6Ghz retail: $211
    RAM: OCZ DDR PC-3200 Performance Series 256MB retail: need to buy two for a total of $118
    Video: ATi Radeon 9600 PRO retail: $173
    Sound: Motherboard includes AC97 Audio
    NIC: Motherboard includes Ethernet
    Harddrive: Maxtor 80GB 7200rpm SATA 8MB cache OEM: $89.00
    Optical Drive: Lite-On LTC-48161H Black DVD/CD/CDRW combo drive retail: $54.99
    Floppy Drive: Mitsumi Black OEM: $8.00

    Total: $802.49 (excluding S&H)

    I would personally add one more thing to this system: Creative SoundBlaster Audigy2 OEM soundcard for $72.

    Of course, if you currently have a decent floppy drive, DVD-reader, and CD-RW writer, you may not need those items. I just assumed you were building from sratch.

    Again, if you need additional help or want to build an AMD/nVidia-based system, please become an AT Forum member, and post your questions there. Anand is too busy to answer such questions here, and it would probably get him in trouble if he started endorsing specific brands.

    Good luck!
  • GTaudiophile - Thursday, October 16, 2003 - link

    #9: Why only the top 3? I mean, for gaming, I'd say 1) CPU, 2) Videocard, 3) RAM+motherboard FSB speed. Of course, if you have a crappy power supply, what good is all that if you don't have the power to support it? If you like to overclock and have a small case, you may run into heat issues.

    It's easy to get an upgradeable case, more or less. You can get one of decent size that allows for the addition of components. But even size can be useless when, for example, Intel announces a new form factor for their Prescott processor. You can't have an upgradeable CPU. A CPU is a CPU. You can overclock it, though. Motherboards are upgradeable within reason. I have an Intel-based i845D motherboard. It doesn't support 533 or 800Mhz FSB, so I cannot upgrade to to a Pentium4B oc C processor, even though the motherboard is "only" 22 months old. If I had waited and bought a i845E motherboard, I could have at least run at 533Mhz FSB.

    Computer hardware is constantly evolving. Like cars and depreciation, any new system becomes obsolete as soon as you order the parts. Depending on your budget, you need to buy new hardware on some sort of cycle. Some upgrade every six months, some every 5+ years. As for me, I do minor upgrades every 18 months by adding more RAM and a new mid-level videocard, for example. I do major upgrades, make a completely new, top-of-the-line system every 36 months.

    Lastly, Anand is too busy to answer such questions personally. If you aren't already, it's best to become an Anandtech Forum member. There are thousands of people in the forums to answer your questions. You'll even make new friends!
  • UlricT - Thursday, October 16, 2003 - link

    OMG... #9 is getting really annoying!

    #10, interesting questions. I hope Anand answers! We really would like to know Anand: The Man.
  • Anonymous - Thursday, October 16, 2003 - link

    Hexus.net used NV36 in their 9600XT benches. They used the 52.16 drivers too (WHQL?). NV36 wins most but not all benches. Can you confirm or deny that NV36 will sell for $299 and not $199? Care to comment on the Hexus.net review?

    All that aside...since I doubt you'll respond to any of those questions, here are some fun questions for you:

    1) Favorite car of all time?
    2) Best handling car you've driven?
    3) Favorite movie (comedy/drama/action)?
    4) Favorite food? (I love Indian food!)
    5) Besides cars and computers, any other hobbies?
    6) What do you think of techno music?

    Lastly, IF you do indeed own a Ferrari, I think you should sell it and buy every AT staff member, including yourself, a 2004 Lotus Elise. I'm sure you subscribe to Road & Track; read the November issue!
  • Anonymous - Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - link

    Mr. Lai Shimpi,

    Could you please tell me the three most important hardware components to consider when purchasing a new computer gaming system part by part?

    In my opinion it would be an upgradable motherboard, the processor and upgradable case?

    My max to spend is around 800$ but I want this system to be really fast. So the graphics card ram and the rest I can wait till I find a good deal. Thanks
  • Ryan - Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - link

    Is anyone (besides me:) interested in an analysis of transmeta's new processor?
  • hohoh0 - Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - link

    Next up, CPU Scaling for vid cards :D???
    Kill Bill was fun, although I thought there were some slow parts. I still think Pulp Fiction was his best work though :D
  • Bay - Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - link

    Fantastic review Anand! I'm happy to see that some of the suggestions given in one of your previous posts were taken into consideration. :)

    I'm sure that quite a few 9700 Pro owners will be relieved that their cards are still a tad more powerful than the 9600 XTs.
  • Anonymous - Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - link

    You say "one of these days we'll get around to doing a CPU review", what CPUs? Do you mean that CPU scaling review using your latest test suite that you've been talking about? Or are you talking about a new CPU (Prescott)?

    I ask cause I'm planning to upgrade after Oct 26th (Intel price cuts), but if a new and possibly better CPU is going to be out shortly after that date, I'd like to know so I can wait.
  • UlricT - Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - link

    I had a serious question Anand. Since you were obviously trying to test the cards on the highest performing platform available today, why did you not use the GigaByte K8NNXP-940? Wesley's tests seem to show it to be a much better platform for the AthlonFX. Was it just a question of availability? Or is the Asus board you used comparable in performance?
  • UlricT - Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - link

    "Anand, did you have random red dots flashing on the screen through out 'Kill Bill'?"

    I'm sure the fanATIcs and Nvidiots will blame it on the hardware used... :)
  • Anonymous - Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - link

    I'm wondering the same thing.
  • Illuminati - Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - link

    Anand, did you have random red dots flashing on the screen through out 'Kill Bill'?

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