AMD 64 X2 or Intel Core 2 Duo

Lydesia

Hey guys & gals.
I have built quite a few PC's, and not to long ago i would have recommended a AMD 64 939 processor but i have little experience with the new dual core CPU's.
I'm currently looking into buying parts for a new PC, and need some advice from any new CPU owners. How does the X2 compare to Intel new chip?

The PC will have a budget of approx €800 - €1000 (but no moniter/screen is needed)

Can you recommend which CPU, mainboard & Graphics Card you would pick..?
This PC is for a gamer, so the GC is important also.

Thanks for your advice.

jesus_thats_gre

Core 2 Duo...

8T8

Core 2 Duo generally though the difference (vs the AMD X2) at the high end in gaming is marginal (if you play games at 1280x1024 or greater).

As for graphics card whatever you can get within your budget, if not after the uber parts but still in the high end check out the X1900XT 256MB edition or the 7950GT both are good buys at the moment for around €280.

Lydesia

Thanks for the reccomendations.
I wonder what ATI's current graphics driver is like. If they fixed their stability problems that card looks fantastic. Especially for the price..!

8T8

Usually reliable no more a trouble causer than NVIDIA's though the Catalyst control panel is still sluggish to load & use.

Still you can sidestep that and just use the standalone driver ATI offer on their site combined with ATI Tray Tools to act as the control panel :cool: .

BKtje

I;d have to say the core 2 duo with an ati gfx card.
From my recent ish research its the best bang for buck. That said it does ofc depend on what exact hardware you get.

Khannie

I'd base it on cost v's performance. If I think I could get equivalent performance for less money, I'd go with whoever was cheaper. It's clear at the moment that the core 2 duo has the performance crown at the upper end, but I'm not sure how they fare on a euro for euro basis at mid-range (I'd consider a 1K machine to be a mid-range gaming machine).

Definitely not socket 939 btw, socket AM2 if you're building a new rig (for potential upgrade path).

uberpixie

If you are going super budget, go AM2.

Thier motherboards are cheaper than the Intel stuff, and their is not too much difference in gaming at a resolution above 1074x768 when you put the detail settings up.

A cheap AM2 Rig example:

CPU:AM2 3800+ single core (€115)
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=320787&s=sc

Mobo: Abit KN9S generic Nforce 5 mobo (€92)
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=322044&view=detailed

Ram: Twinmos 667Mhz DDR 2 (€139) CL5
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=322818&s=sc

Case + CPU: Antec Sonata 2 with antec 450W PSU (€129)
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=311799&s=sc

Harddrive: Samsung Spinpoint Sata2 250gig (€79.94)
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=307913&s=sc

Soundcard: creative SB x-fi extreme music, Bulk PCI (€84)
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=324342&s=sc

Gfx card: Sapphire X1900XT 256MB (€282.99)
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=324857&s=sc
(replace with a GF 7900GT/7950GT if you prefer Nvidia, around the same price as the Radeon)

DVD Burner: generic NEC Dual layer burner (€37.50)
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=314091&s=sc
(TBH take you pick in the dvd burner section most em are around €40)

Total inc VAT ex Shipping: 959.44*

*All prices are from Komplett.ie as of 16/09/06.

This wouldn't be a bad gaming system on the cheap.

True it only has a single core CPU, but AM2 prices will prob come down very quick over the next while, and you can snag a cheap dual core chip when dual core becomes essential for gaming.

However if your mate does a lot of multimedia stuff, i.e. ripping dvds on a huge scale, then going for a core 2 duo would be a much better idea.

But purely for gaming, the above system would be very good bang for the buck.

But if you really want dual core, Intel would be a better idea, but the budget will go up a little as the Intel mobos are a wee bit more expensive and dual core cpus start at around the €200 mark in both Intel and AMD.

Mutant_Fruit

CPU:AM2 3800+ single core (€115)

Eugh! A single core? Why, why i ask! I upgraded my old system for €600 and i made sure to get an E6300 Core 2 Duo. Not getting a Dual core makes no sense nowadays... At the very least get an Socket AM2 3800+ X2 for about €145!

SickBoy

uberpixie wrote:

If you are going super budget, go AM2.

Thier motherboards are cheaper than the Intel stuff, and their is not too much difference in gaming at a resolution above 1074x768 when you put the detail settings up.

Mobo: Abit KN9S generic Nforce 5 mobo (€92)
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=322044&view=detailed

Motherboards are cheaper yeah?
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=324651 (€77)

awhir

SickBoy wrote:

Motherboards are cheaper yeah?
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=324651 (€77)

he ment good mobos

Gurgle

Mutant_Fruit wrote:

Eugh! A single core? Why, why i ask!

What common software or games make use of a dual core?

PogMoThoin

:rolleyes: Quake 4 does, more games will follow.

I can rip a dvd & play a game @ the same time

8T8

Single core is definitely on the way out in general on the PC and the PS3/Xbox 360 are multi core which will affect future games that appear on those platforms & the PC. (It already has see games like Oblivion)

I wouldn't skimp on that area by getting a single core CPU it is not worth it in the long run.

conzy

Well a X2 3800 AM2 rig works out a bit cheaper than a core 2 duo rig at the minute....

But as you can see the E6300 is equivelant to a X2 4200 or 4600 in most benchmarks so......



So if you can afford it, go core 2 duo, if you are overclocking, defienitely go core 2 duo

Oh, and Overclockers.co.uk have a X1800XT 256mb for €180 !!!

jesus_thats_gre

awhir wrote:

he ment good mobos

He might as well get a good processor if a good mobo is a priority so