intel 6600 core 2 duo or AMD 6000+

[daebis]

Hi,
am still using asus P4T Mobo, with the first P4 chip 1.2 Ghz with a 256 mb agp card. Saving grace was i have 512mb x 4 RD ram
so any upgrade will be good,

My budget for
1. processor
2.graphic card
3.mother board
is 700$s

cant decide between..

1. core 2 duo 6600 and the amd 6000+ ( or even the 5600+)

2. Asus P5N32-E SLI or Asus P5B deluxe (wifi)

3. SAFFIRE radeon x1950 pro and the 8600gt


Last but not the least.
i have been adviced to look at the nForce 680i sli (775) motherboards too they saythey are far better than the asus...

And the geforce 7950 GT over the 2 cards mentioned above..


Please advice...

 

[Mandrake_]

I'd go for the E4300 C2D personally. You can overclock it like crazy. It's also a lot cheaper than the E6600 or 6000+.

Won't you need ram too?

Something like

-E4300 CPU
-ASUS P5B-E motherboard (The gigabyte P965 boards are excellent as well)
-2GB DDR2-800 memory (No need for anything fancy, just make sure it's from a reputable brand name)

What I suggested above with SUPER TALENT 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) came out to $339. That leaves you plenty of money for a nice video card, among other things. If you're into gaming it's well worth it to spend ~$290 on the 8800 GTS 320. Otherwise just go with a cheap entry level card.

 

[realzeus]

The 6600 is better than the 6000+ and much more overclockeable. If you can go for it and should you feel like it, you can clock it much higher than a 4300. Otherwise go for the 4300 and you would still be happy.

 

[tdank]

<<<Former AMD fanboi here.

Switched to an e6600 about a month ago. Wish I had done it sooner. Much sooner.

 

[Daredevil_8]

Mandrakes build looks good for the price

My only other suggestion is to get a P35 board for future upgradeability, like this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128048

 

[Daredevil_8]

double post.

 

[halbhh]

It would be smart to take advantage of the July 22nd price cuts for cpus.

One possible strategy if you like to build now, would be to actually re-use an old processor in a new board temporarily (if you have a compatible old processor). This would be kinda a neat trick, imo.

Also, for low cost building, you gotta go below that $200 cpu price, and save $$, and put more into the graphics card for gaming.

Any low cost dual core will game well with a better graphics card.

 

[mrquin27]

the e6600 is better don't be a fan boy buy what ever is the best at the time.

Mr. Quin's CPU timeline

2001 - P4 2.4ghz cpu
2005? - AMD 64 3500+
Present - E6600

 

[halbhh]

I'd say don't be a fan when you're on a budget, buy the best bargain, and if the budget is only a small $700 (did you see that??), then the best bargain is a lower cost cpu!

Because then you can get a better graphics card and more ram, etc., and make a better gaming computer.

Like a cpu at or under $100.

The AM2 x2 3800 65watt is a very good bargain, and with a high end gaming card will deliver nicely, as Tom's Hardware Guide recently proved to those who read. By the same logic the $115 X2 4600 is a bargin also.

 

[senor_bob]

1. core 2 duo 6600 and the amd 6000+ ( or even the 5600+)

2. Asus P5N32-E SLI or Asus P5B deluxe (wifi)

3. SAFFIRE radeon x1950 pro and the 8600gt

The E6600 is about the same speed as the 6000+ unless you overclock it. Then it annihilates the AMD. On your budget, I'd get a lower CPU like an X2 3600+ or an E4300 and overclock it if necessary to leave more $ for graphics. If this is a gaming machine, you need graphics power more than CPU power.

Those motherboards you listed are both for Intel. You do know you need a different motherboard if you decide to go AMD, right?

I wouldn't get an 8600GT under any circumstances. The X1950Pro is better than the 8600GT, similar to the performance of the 7950GT depending on what you're doing (the ATI will crush a 7xxx series nVidia in Oblivion for example). I would save on the CPU and get an 8800GTS instead of either the X1950Pro or the 7950GT.

Don't forget you need RAM and a power supply. There's no way you can expect the PSU from a P4 Willamette to power a modern system, aside from the lack of enough power it won't even have the right connectors. And you'll need some DDR2 RAM.

You're the only person I've ever heard refer to RDRAM as a 'saving grace'.

 

[daebis]

wow
thanks that was great...

1. i have ram i got a good "deal" on kingston 2 gb pc2 5300 for 80$s.. so thats over.

2. but i also bought a card but ... i can return it ... so its not a big deal, got the e-geforce 8600 GTS for 190$s... if you think its not that great i will return it and get somehting better,,.

I am not a heavy gamer, but i do game and from what i have on my current machine i would definately like to upgrade,

i also have a very goof power supply a 750 w cost me a bomb on the machine..


i know with the amd i was planning to get the P5B deluxe wifi.

But kind of settled on the 6600 core 2 duo, just seeing where i can get it cheapest..

With that said, there is another mobo the asus P5K deluxe, which have been told is awesome..

So which one should i get keeping in mind future upgrades etc, the
asus P5K deluxe
Asus P5N32-E sli
Asus P5B deluxe wifi.

Thanks

 

[daebis]

also to the list of
asus P5K deluxe
Asus P5N32-E sli
Asus P5B deluxe wifi.

The GIGABYTE GA-P35C-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard looks great too...how much better or worse would it be comparred to the asus listed above.. Daredevil_8



Also if i do go for say the 6300 or lower and get a better graphix card than the 8600 gts eould that be a better thing to do...

thanks