New PC - some advice please.

[Stefun]

Greetings!

I will be buying a new PC two-three weeks from now and I'm not very sure what to get.

1. CPU - I know that AMD's processors are way cheaper than intel's, but I think that the new E8200 is a killer...maybe the 8400, the price difference is not that great - about that 20 euros. What about the 6400+?

2. Graphics - HD3850 / 8600GT/GTS ?

3. Motherboard - Abit IP35 / MSI P35 Platinum ? (other?)

Thanks!

[impar]

Greetings!

[impar]

Greetings!

There is a 8800GS coming. Should position itself, peformance wise, above the 8600GTS and bellow the 8800GT.

[mydian]

Well, the 3850 is the fastest of the 3 cards.. if you play games that would be the one to get IMO. Although the 8800GS might be out by the time you buy everything and will probably be the better buy at that point. The CPU is up to you.. definately a Core 2 though.. As far as the mobo, I want an Asus Maximus Formula myself..

[Stefun]

Hmmm...

I'm not sure about the 8800GS, there aren't many reviews on the net and right now I can't find it anywhere here in Romania...but, I am buying the PC in a week or so, so maybe it emerges in some place.
--
What about the RAM? Do you think that the A-Data Vitesta Extreme is a good choice? It is very cheap for 2GB of ram...
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What do you guys think about the Samsung 226BW?
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The Asus Maximus Formula is too expensive for my budget, I think I will stick with the MSI P35 Platinum.

[mydian]

The Samsung 226BW is an awesome monitor.. my friend has one and I am very jealous.. The thing is huge and the picture is gorgeous. You'll want to have an 8800 or 3870 series card to keep up with that high res in newer games though.

[Stefun]

Do you happen to know what panel his monitor has? I see that there three different panels, S, A and C. S being the "good" one...

[mydian]

[Stefun]

Thanks!
It's not a cheap monitor, and I see that a lot of people are complaining about this panel thing...

[impar]

Greetings!

Regarding the 226BW:
Thus, the versions of SyncMaster 226BW with different matrixes only differ in the setup of gamma curves and color temperature. And these differences may be not related to the matrix manufacturer at all. They may be due to differences in the firmware profiles written into the monitors at a specific factory or on a specific production date. At least you have seen above that the model with a CMO matrix is better than the model with a Samsung matrix in terms of gamma curves setup but worse than it in its color temperature setup.

The rest of parameters – response time, contrast ratio, brightness, and backlight uniformity – are so similar between the matrixes that most users are unlikely to notice any difference.

So I think that differences between the versions of the 226BW model with different matrixes are greatly exaggerated in forum discussions. Each of the three matrixes delivers the specified parameters (particularly, each features Response Time Compensation) and the growth of interest to this issue must have been due to the indication of the matrix type on the label whereas the rest of the manufacturers often provide no opportunity to learn which matrix the monitor is based on unless you take its case apart with your screwdriver. So, the reason for the hot discussion is psychological rather than technical.