Is this a good computer system ?

[Scottie]

Just wondering how good you think this computer is.

CPU: Sempron 2800
MB : A7V8X-X VIA KT400
RAM: 256 MB PC3200 <- will this run at 400 Mhz even though the CPU runs at 333 Mhz FSB or will that slow everything down ?

[bazooka]

It is a good value-priced system

[888888]

256 MB memory is not enough.

[bazooka]

256 MB memory is not enough.

It depends on what you plan to do with it.

My dual boot system has 256MB and I mainly do dvd ripping and burning with it.

If you mainly surf and do word processing and burn dvd's then it is enough.

[888888]

256 MB memory is not enough.

It depends on what you plan to do with it.

My dual boot system has 256MB and I mainly do dvd ripping and burning with it.

If you mainly surf and do word processing and burn dvd's then it is enough.

My computer's performance felt like it benefited from from being upgraded to 1024 RAM. It seems like Windows responds faster. No proof though, I guess it could all be in my imagination.

[rallynavvie]

Memory will throttle down to whatever speed the board/CPU require of it, nothing more. Advantage is you can tighten your latency with faster RAM sometimes. I'd recommend 512MB of RAM, it's the minimum I usually push on folks running XP. With how cheap PC3200 is again it isn't much of a bump in price.

[bazooka]

He may not need 512.

It is a value system and will run fine on 256.

[Scottie]

I think later I will give her my 2 256 MB Stick of PC3200 and get myself 2 512 MB sticks so I can run in daul channel mode still but then I will have to sell her 256 MB stick becaus that MB can only have 2 sticks of PC3200 ram in at one time.

[Garibaldi]

It depends on what you plan to do with it.

My dual boot system has 256MB and I mainly do dvd ripping and burning with it.

If you mainly surf and do word processing and burn dvd's then it is enough.

Bazooka makes a good point. This is especially true in linux, where the amount of memory you need can vary depending on what window manager you use. XP's Luna tends to be more graphic heavy and therefore slows things down.

[Cobra]

If you can, go for a motherboard that supports DDR400. This will make a CPU upgrade or an overclock easier in the future.

If you are going to run dual-channel memory, don't forget to buy a proper matched pair of modules.

Asus is an excellent choice of motherboard.

Cobra

[Capmaster]

Ditto that. My Sony has an Asus MB. I have been a Tyan fan for years, but this P4 MB is impressive