Building new PC, which setup is better?

[Dude1]

Hi,

Well it's time to buy a new machine. I don't want to spend too much on it and here is the setup I have from two different stores. Which setup do you think will work best. I know that Asus is generally regarded as the best MB but maybe the MSI will work better with the CPU?

Setup #1

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3000+ socket 939 $184.99
MOTHERBOARD: MSI K8T Neo2-FIR (939) $134.99
RAM: Kingston - KVR400X64C3/512 - 512MB DDR400 $69.99

Setup #2

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3000+ 939 Pin $194
MOTHERBOARD: ASUS A8V (939pin) $124.00
RAM: Crucial 512 184pin PC-3200 - CT6464Z40B $79


Also I am no expert on RAM, so if you have any better suggestions for that than please let me know, however it should be around the save budget.

Thanks.

[thegreatone]

I would personally reccomend setup 2, but, thats only because i am a bit of an Asus fan.

You've picked well with the RAM choices too, the DDR400 is the same as PC3200, but most people will agree that Crucial is a better brand than Kingston, even though it has to be said i have never really noticed the difference between the two in terms of performance.

The CPU's in both setups are exactly the same, apart from the one in #2 is more expensive for some reason, 939pin and socket 939 are exactly the same thing, just one refers to the motherboard and the other refers to the actual pins on the processor.

I would have to say CPU and Motherboard from #1 and RAM from #2

I hope this helps you.