Gaming Machine/first build----AMD 32 or 64?? Fairly limited budget...Advice?

[MarkAm_i]

Hello, I have been learning about how to build my own pc recently. I am very new so I don't know what I should do yet.
Is AMD 64 the best way to go? I'd like to build a machine as cheaply as possible while getting the most bang for my buck.

I am upgrading from a 2001 eMachine so it won't take a lot to blow me away. The main thing I guess is being able to play the newest games at decent graphics settings while maintaining good frames per secs.

I've been told that AMD 64 is much better and it doesn't seem a lot more expensive. I see the front side bus and memory used for AMD 64 mobos are better. And if I want to go PCI Express I think that's the only way. On the other hand I've read that very few programs are 64 bit and I wonder how many games are utilizing the 64 bit technology at the present? Or how much that effects speeds.

If I get a 64 bit system, I won't be able to afford anything other than Win XP Home. I'm not sure what that will mean. I'm hoping I can find one for around 60 bucks.
I'm going to be on a very limited budget for the foreseeable future. Though, I don't want to make a decision that I will regret later on either.
Of course it would be good not to have to upgrade in a year.

I've been trying to learn about AMD 64 technology and just how much better it is than 32.
The AMD 64 3000 is listed at 1.8 Ghz freq:
newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103537

While the AMD XP 3000+ is listed at 2.1 Ghz:
newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103394


I'm not sure what to make of it. Thanks for any help.



Mark

[DonVito]

AMD 64's just have the ability to run 64bit progams. They will run any program or game out today. To utilize the 64 bit ability you need a 64bit operating system(os), 64bit drivers for your hardware, and a 64 bit program/game. The only 64bit os avialable is xp-pro 64bit, but it is not practical to get this because 1)there are very few compatable drivers available for hardware, and 2) there are very few if any 64 bit games and programs. But yes, AMD's usually are preffered for gaming. When looking at AMD's you just can't judge by clock speed(# of ghz) there architecture and way of processing is different from intel. The 1.8ghz athlon 64 3000+ performs about the same as a 3.1ghz intel.

So in a nut shell, you can just get xp home with a Athlon 64 as it is 32bit also.

[Nav]

Welcome to Pc Mech! the difference between 32 and 64 is minimal with todays software. todays software is encoded with 32 bit. personally i can notice the difference between amd64 and intel's 32 bit. plus youre ready for future apps that can take advantage of 64 bit. if you do go 64, make sure the cpu and mobo are 939 pin. for games, it depends what resolution youre at. the higher the res, the lower the eye candy has to be in order to get playable framerate, as the eye candy is what strains the vid card. id recommend a 6600gt if its in your budget. to end off, id recommend saving up until christmas since thats when all the sales go on. good luck.

[Yuanji]

Originally Posted by Nav Welcome to Pc Mech! the difference between 32 and 64 is minimal with todays software. todays software is encoded with 32 bit. personally i can notice the difference between amd64 and intel's 32 bit. plus youre ready for future apps that can take advantage of 64 bit. if you do go 64, make sure the cpu and mobo are 939 pin. for games, it depends what resolution youre at. the higher the res, the lower the eye candy has to be in order to get playable framerate, as the eye candy is what strains the vid card. id recommend a 6600gt if its in your budget. to end off, id recommend saving up until christmas since thats when all the sales go on. good luck.

Uhh... not to bash you but the so called difference between AMD64 and Intel's 32 bit is just purely performance related. Let me make this clear. Things CANNOT run in 64bit unless they are coded that way. 64 bit has quite a few advantages for future games I think some of them being more efficient with the memory used and also Microsoft is working on optimizing gaming performance in Windows Vista. I have read a couple of reviews on how Farcry64 bit runs almost the exact same as it does in 32 bit, however 64 bit can run with more eyecandy on.

An A64 3000+ will ALWAYS run better then an AXP 3000+ because of the onboard mem controller and also because it is a more advanced architecture. AXP is quite outdated nowadays for new purchases.

[MarkAm_i]

I think I am clear on the system/processor differences. It seems that a low end 64 bit system is better by far.
Thanks for mentioning that Nav.
I'm not familiar with the marketplace around Christmas time. Is there anyone here who can tell me what to expect in the way of price differences on parts, and also, when around Christmas the sales begin?