Help making a decision on AMD sollution vs Intel Sollution

[digitalhater]

Hello

I want to change my motherboard and the CPU and I don't know what to buy:

I'm currently looking at:

Mobo: M2N-SLI-DELUXE
http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=3&l2=101&l3=301&model=1160&model menu=1

with a AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core
http://www.amdcompare.com/us-en/desk...=ADA5200IAA6CS


OR

CPU: Intel® Core™2 Duo Desktop Processor E6550 http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLA9X

MOBO: ASUS P5KC
http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1...&mo delmenu=2

I currently have 2 GB RAM at 667 and Sapphire ATI 2900PRO 1GB with a Thermaltake PSU 600W

Could you please tell me what should I choose as the best option?

The difference here is arround 70 Euros between the two combinations, the AMD solution beeing cheaper.

Also other options would be valuable so feel free to post any other options you may have in mind but keep in mind the budget is limited:D

Thanks a lot!

[panchoman]

intel definently in this case. but i like gigabyte p35 boards better lol. the e5550 is g0 right?

[digitalhater]

intel definently in this case. but i like gigabyte p35 boards better lol. the e5550 is g0 right?

Haven't had a look at the p35 and what did you meant with "the e5550 is g0 right?"

[DrunkenMafia]

yeah I would be going with the intel setup too mate... do you have a budget????

While you are upgrading you might as well spend another $100 and get a decent set of DDR800/1066 ram. It will boost your performance and allow you a much higher oc on your new C2D chip... Which you will need to keep up with that 2900pro you have.

[digitalhater]

yeah I would be going with the intel setup too mate... do you have a budget????

While you are upgrading you might as well spend another $100 and get a decent set of DDR800/1066 ram. It will boost your performance and allow you a much higher oc on your new C2D chip... Which you will need to keep up with that 2900pro you have.

So, I will need to OC the "new" intel proc so I can keep up with the 2900pro ???

[HookeyStreet]

no contest, Intel all the way! ;)

[panchoman]

g0 is a stepping, im not sure if the 6550 is g0 stepping or not.. i know that 6750 and 6850 are..

[Wile E]

So, I will need to OC the "new" intel proc so I can keep up with the 2900pro ???Yep. You'll have to OC any AMD too. The 2900 is easily cpu bottlenecked.

[B1gg3stN00b]

I'd get the AMD, as it's generally more cost effective and really efficient.

I run an ASUS M2A MVP Crossfire Edition with an Athlon X2 6000+ and it smokes my brother's overclocked E6750!

That's just from personal experience though.

[theonetruewill]

I'd get the AMD, as it's generally more cost effective and really efficient.

I run an ASUS M2A MVP Crossfire Edition with an Athlon X2 6000+ and it smokes my brother's E6750!

I highly doubt that. Unless his is not overclocked and yours is at about 3.5GHz. I know only too well the weaknesses of the AMD current processor design. If you can I would stretch to the E6750- if you do, you'll be grateful; it's a brilliant overclocker and still a superb performer at stock speeds.

[B1gg3stN00b]

Is there a vast difference in preformance between Vista 32 bit and Vista 64 bit?

That's the only difference software wise between ours, and hardware wise we run similar clocked setups.

[DrunkenMafia]

So, I will need to OC the "new" intel proc so I can keep up with the 2900pro ???

Yeah a little, from what I have read around 3.4 on a c2d is getting fairly close. That is why I would go for the intel setup. You are guaranteed a decent oc with any c3d chip. The E6750 is a good choice. You should be able to get 3.4 out of it no probs with only a mild oc. From memory the E6750 has a 8 multi.... so 8 x 433 = 3.46gig. That should be do able. But with your fsb at 433 your ram will be running @ ~866. Even with ram dividers your 667 ram may not be able to handle that high. A good DDR800 kit will be fine.

[DrunkenMafia]

I'd get the AMD, as it's generally more cost effective and really efficient.

I run an ASUS M2A MVP Crossfire Edition with an Athlon X2 6000+ and it smokes my brother's overclocked E6750!

That's just from personal experience though.


What is his e6750 clocked at... From what I have seen even a stock e6750 is as good/faster than a 6000...

Have you got better ram/gfx as well???

[theonetruewill]

Yeah a little, from what I have read around 3.4 on a c2d is getting fairly close. That is why I would go for the intel setup. You are guaranteed a decent oc with any c3d chip. The E6750 is a good choice. You should be able to get 3.4 out of it no probs with only a mild oc. From memory the E6750 has a 8 multi.... so 8 x 433 = 3.46gig. That should be do able. But with your fsb at 433 your ram will be running @ ~866. Even with ram dividers your 667 ram may not be able to handle that high. A good DDR800 kit will be fine.

I agree with DrunkenMafia here. The faster RAM would enable a higher overclock as your dividers will probably not be able to cope well enough to bring down your RAM speed with such a high FSB

[DRDNA]

Intel ! And this coming from an AMD guy:o

[B1gg3stN00b]

What is his e6750 clocked at... From what I have seen even a stock e6750 is as good/faster than a 6000...

Have you got better ram/gfx as well???

My RAM is PC6400, not sure about his, I know he has the 320mb 8800 Nvidia and I have a Radeon 2600 OC'd a bit.

[Wile E]

I'd get the AMD, as it's generally more cost effective and really efficient.

I run an ASUS M2A MVP Crossfire Edition with an Athlon X2 6000+ and it smokes my brother's overclocked E6750!

That's just from personal experience though.I've had (and killed) both the 6000+ and an E6600. The E6600 @ 3GHz beat out my 6000+ @ 3.4Ghz.

How far is his OCed, and how far is yours OCed?

[digitalhater]

g0 is a stepping, im not sure if the 6550 is g0 stepping or not.. i know that 6750 and 6850 are..

I've looked on Inte's website and it says that it is g0... is this good or bad? :)

[Wile E]

My RAM is PC6400, not sure about his, I know he has the 320mb 8800 Nvidia and I have a Radeon 2600 OC'd a bit.There is no way you are beating him, unless he has 512MB of ram, and dying components.

[Wile E]

I've looked on Inte's website and it says that it is g0... is this good or bad? :)
Good. G0=better temps and OCs

[theonetruewill]

My RAM is PC6400, not sure about his, I know he has the 320mb 8800 Nvidia and I have a Radeon 2600 OC'd a bit.

His Graphics card "smokes" yours and unless your CPU is heavily overclocked, and his is at stock I can't see how your rig could be faster than his.:confused:
Also, Wile E is absolutely correct in his praise of the G0 stepping.

[B1gg3stN00b]

I've had (and killed) both the 6000+ and an E6600. The E6600 @ 3GHz beat out my 6000+ @ 3.4Ghz.

How far is his OCed, and how far is yours OCed?

I don't think his is OC'd, but I do know mine runs considerably smoother on games such as CS:S and World In Conflict.

Maybe something else is dragging his down?

[theonetruewill]

I don't think his is OC'd, but I do know mine runs considerably smoother on games such as CS:S and World In Conflict.

Maybe something else is dragging his down?

Possibly a driver issue. Let's put it this way, his should be beating yours thoroughly. Something is wrong if he's not.

[Wile E]

I don't think his is OC'd, but I do know mine runs considerably smoother on games such as CS:S and World In Conflict.

Maybe something else is dragging his down?Ahhh, there's the key, smoother, not faster. The 320MB 8800GTS has had a stuttering problem, that hasn't been addressed yet, but it's avg framerates are still much higher than yours.

And just so you know, a 2.6GHz c2d roughly equals a 3GHz A64 X2.

[B1gg3stN00b]

Eh, possibly.

However my PC rig only cost literally 850$ less than his...

So it's not really do bad of a deal either way.

But if what everyone else says is true, then definitely go Intel, the E6750 isn't too much more expensive and is a solid, reliable, and very cool running processor!

[theonetruewill]

Eh, possibly.

However my PC rig only cost literally 850$ less than his...

So it's not really do bad of a deal either way.

But if what everyone else says is true, then definitely go Intel, the E6750 isn't too much more expensive and is a solid, reliable, and very cool running processor!

No I agree with your point about cost in some ways (I had to go AMD for cost reasons 8 months ago)- the graphics card is letting you down though; but performance wise the Core 2's are imposingly good. However I would argue that you could definitely now build a cheaper Core 2 architecture system that is faster than any similarly priced Athlon rig.

[B1gg3stN00b]

I've really never had good luck with Intel over the years at all to be honest, from the earliest Pentium IIs through the dual core Pentium Ds.

No trouble from the Core 2 Duo yet though! It's pretty promising.

I'm thinking of running 2600s in Crossfire and overclocking both (right now I've got mine up pretty high), or just switching to a 2900 down the road, which would be a much longer wait.

[theonetruewill]

I've really never had good luck with Intel over the years at all to be honest, from the earliest Pentium IIs through the dual core Pentium Ds.

No trouble from the Core 2 Duo yet though! It's pretty promising.

I'm thinking of running 2600s in Crossfire and overclocking both (right now I've got mine up pretty high), or just switching to a 2900 down the road, which would be a much longer wait.

Sorry to go off topic- I strongly advise you not to go down the dual 2600Pro route. Instead invest in an 8800GTS 320MB, 8800GT(coming out soon), or 2900Pro if you can; and sell the 2600.

[B1gg3stN00b]

I have a 2600XT that I may flash up to an XTX.

I wouldn't go the Pro.

I'm thinking a 2900 though, down the road, if I don't go with crossfire.

[Wile E]

I have a 2600XT that I may flash up to an XTX.

I wouldn't go the Pro.

I'm thinking a 2900 though, down the road, if I don't go with crossfire.Stick with the 2900 idea. 1 2900 stomps on a 2600XT Crossfire setup. Maybe you can try to find a 2900Pro? They seem to be reasonably priced, and most flash to an XT.