New computer.

[muert0]

I'm getting $5,000 so I'm planning on finally getting a new computer. It will be a great change over my crappy 400mhz p2 that I've had for years. Would this mobo make a good base for a gaming computer or is it mainly based towards being a server?
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1022162&CatId=177

[Akamas]

You should order parts from my brother, he can get you pieces from a huge supplier for good prices. Also, all the prices are Canadian.

[Lenny]

That motherboard is extremely excessive...(if you're planning to use it as a desktop)
And a year or two down the line, you'll just be stuck with an extremely overpriced heater....

I would recommend spending 1/4th the budget you have right now on computer, at most.....

Save the rest for the next time you need to buy a new PC.

[Meh]

A tip i read in a computer magazine is dont buy a computer that is less than around 1/2 of the fastest you can get, so get something over 2GHZ if you can.

[KrisL]

After using MSI boards in my previous comps, im not too impressed.  I just build 2 monster gaming comps earlier this month.  One running Intel and one using AMD.  Anyways, I chose ASUS for my mobo and I am very impressed.  Heres what I used.

ASUS® P5AD2 Premium - Intel 925X Motherboard  (Pentium)

ASUS® A8V Deluxe - VIA K8T800 Pro Motherboard  (AMD)

I'd recommend picking up an ASUS board, but like Lenny posted, I wouldnt spend all 4K on the comp right now (unless you are really set on making a monster comp)

Anyways, thats my recommendation.

[Meh]

The problem is is that new technology is out every few weeks. Get a motherboard that can take higher than the processor you get. For example im getting an AMD 2800+ XP processor with a motherboard that can handle 3200+.

[quasi-modo]

whats the deal with ddr2, I know kingston started making it, but does anyone really support it? I have not seen anyone supporting it yet.

What kind of video card you plan on running?

My strategy is just get hardware that is not quite the best and greatest for a particular time, but still quite good and near the top, and it will still be good for quite some time. I am using a ti4200 right now, and its still hangen in there. It is about time for a new video card. My processor is not the best but its doing the job, 2.6ghz p4 w/ 800mhz fsb and ht, northwood.

But I aggree with meh. I got this motherboard a little before prescott hit the scene, and it supports prescott. I do not use prescott, but if I wanted it I could always get it.

[Meh]

It all depends on your budget. Dont blow 5K on it though. Waste of time. Next upgrade should be first quater next year maybe. Though the only peace of new hardware I put in my PC in over a year was a video card so I could playe Spilter Cell PT

[Antichrist]

Would this mobo make a good base for a gaming computer or is it mainly based towards being a server?

Well, the card's title is: "An Excellent ATX Server System Infrastructure From MSI"
With that said, I suggest something different. I usually use: www.NewEgg.com for my computer parts.

[Meh]

I suggest http://ebuyer.com . I use it. British and American company.

[j0k3r]

Last summer I got a 2.4ghz/80gig/512DDR/Radeon9700, and so far the only thing I've noticed I *should* upgrade is my ram. If you're playing any sort of new game, get atleast 1gig.

[Meh]

If doom runs fine on my 384MB the only upgrade would be to 512mb.

[Antichrist]

Alright.. if you have $5g and you want a damn gaming machine, get:

Graphics: ATI's Radeon X800 XT Platinum Edition
RAM: 1gig
Hard drive: 200gig Maxor, or something like that
Sound card: something that gives good sound if you care about that
Obviously a cd reader. Get a cd/dvd reader/burner combo, theyve gotten cheap
motherboard: well, youll have to do some looking around.. ive done some looking myself, and after about 6 months, i still havent found one that i like..

[Edit] Damn, and my main point for this reply was the processor, and i forgot it.. lol

Definately go with an AMD 3.0++ if you really have the money, 3.6 would be the ticket

[Eli_1]

RAM: 1gign

Dual channel DDR.  I got two sticks of Corsair, and it seems pretty sexy.

Hard drive: 200gig Maxor, or something like that

200 gigs seems like a little over-kill, doesn't it?

Sound card: something that gives good sound if you care
about that

Soundblaster 5.1 Live!  It's not too expensive, and seems to work nice.

motherboard: well, youll have to do some looking around.. ive done some looking myself, and after about 6 months, i still havent found one that i like..

I recommend an ASUS board and an AMD CPU.

[Naem]

Ewwwwwwwwwwww don't get an SB live. Get at least an Audigy or an Audigy II.

SB Live is cheap buggy crap.