284351

considering an upgrade, looking for opinions

December 28th, 2000 09:58 AM

Hey there, I'm looking to possibly upgrade my CPU/Mobo and my sound card. While browsing Pricewatch I noticed that AMD 1 ghz chips are just as cheap as P3 800's. So I'm wondering if the Athlon chip is the way to go. Also, I'm looking to step up from my SBlive value to a professional sound editing card that is made for recording music through direct inputs etc. So, if anybody can help me I'd appreciate it.
BTW - right now I'm runnin a bitchin P3 450 on an Asus P3B-F mobo. Thanks

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http://www.joeballz.com
mp3's and mayhem

284352

December 28th, 2000 03:16 PM

You can't go wrong with either a P3 or an Athlon. I personally prefer Intel, but Athlon is a great CPU.

If you want to get into multitrack recording, you need something like this: http://www.lexicon.com/Core2/index.html

I setup a multitrack recording system for a friend of mine a year ago.

You'll also need some decent multi-track software. I personally like Sonic Foundry's Vegas.


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The Flying Penguin
http://TheFlyingPenguin.com

284353

December 28th, 2000 08:03 PM

Can I ask you a Question Pengy...

How come you prefer the Intel and not the AMD?


I'm curious.




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MAKING HEAD SHOTS WITH MY M4.
>

284354

December 30th, 2000 02:37 PM

AMD Athlon is the way to go, price and peformance wise. For a sound card I use the Sound Blaster Live 5.1 Platinum with Live Drive II. This card is 200 bucks and comes with four games, mp3 software and other computer music/sound related software. It also has an external panel for the front of your tower, it also includes a remote control! If you don't want to pay 200 for a sound card go with the Sound Blaster X Gamer 5.1, it includes four games as well and is only 100 bucks so it pays for itself. The games by the way are Thief 2: The Metal Age, Unreal Tournament, Deus Ex, and MDK2.

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Pharcyde
Pharcyde@postmark.net

[This message has been edited by [Pharcyde] (edited 12-30-2000).]

284355

Demarzio B

January 12th, 2001 11:00 PM

Most people perfer Intel because (Prior to the PIIII) you ten to have less compatibility issues. Why? Because Intel has used its' influence over the years toget card makes and other to make their firmware, drivers, etc. more compatible with their products. <<...Paging Bill Gates!...>>

:-)

284356

January 13th, 2001 08:12 AM

Intel and Microsoft have been in bed with each other for years. There's more built-in Intel compatibily in Windows than for AMD (the reason why AMD mobos require so many drivers compared to Intel boards).

I just like sticking with the standard, and the price difference never seemed that big a deal to me.

You can't go wrong with either CPU brand nowadays though. AMD is now finally a mainstream CPU brand (unlike, say, Cyrix, which should die an ugly death).

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The Flying Penguin
http://TheFlyingPenguin.com