help a first time builder sort out AMD cpus

Look at this page, maybe change the third dropdown list (the type of benchmark). It all depends on how much you can spend on the CPU.

http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=914&model2=919&chart=428

As you may notice, the first 12 places are taken by Intel. Are you sure you want an AMD solution?

Since AMD has a better bang for the buck and the OP doesn't need absolute bleeding edge gaming performance and can wait those miserable 30 extra seconds for mpeg2 encoding to finish (nice benchmark you picked out lol), I think AMD would be the right choice.

Maybe a 3600+ or 3800+ would do it since they are very affordable dual core processors. Windsor is based on "older" 90nm technology while the Brisbane core is based on new 65nm tech which uses less power and runs a little cooler.

Thanks for the replies.

I'll spend some time on the page you linked tomorrow, and thanks for the suggestions.

Well, I did tell him to change the benchmark type.  

My suggestion is to go with the AMD 4000+ Brisbane, which is $70, with free shipping from newegg, then go with the GIGABYTE GA-MA69GM-S2H or GIGABYTE GA-MA69GM-S3H, which are both great budget boards. The only difference between them is the S2H is microATX and the S3H is ATX, and both have ATI Radeon Xpress 1250 integrated graphics, which according to reviews and ATi's site will run Vista.

Here's some info that may help you out:

http://www.amd.com/gb-uk/Processors/ProductInformation/... 041%5E13076,00.html

http://www.amdzone.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Ne ws&file=article&sid=8206

i completely agree with this coment, intel is the better option esp considering when K10 comes out you'll have a last gen chip.

Yeah I'm a diehard AMD fan.....With an intel quad core running in my PC  .

/mourn AMD.

Fry's has the new amd 2300 45w with ecs board for only $88 this weekend. Or you can go with the other extreme: the q6600 with board for $298.

shut up, are you arware of how bad the 2300 is

He's looking for value. The 2300 isn't that bad.

yeah, the 45w 2300 w/ board isnt bad at all then, especially considering what his intents are, and smaller OCs are always an option to boost the performance some at no cost, so the voltage core wont need to be increased at all either, resulting in no heat increase really. and as was suggested, if he wants anything more powerful than that really, to just go with the $298 quad w/ board, theres not a whole lot really worth the price inbetween, imo (just go with the most affordable option you can for the most part)... cuz anything below that and youre still in dual core territory, and they are 'all' very easily outperformed by a quad once you get into true smp aware apps [that can scale accordingly]. (how many people do you see recommending single cores over dual cores anymore?, its more of less the same situation again, as dual cores overall can more closely be considered the single cores of last year, in a sense, as apps become more and more smp aware)

Well I have ordered this board:
http://www.foxconnchannel.com/EN-US/product/Motherboard... x?ID=en-gb0000205

$50 after rebate was too good to pass up, but apparently does not support Brisbane.
http://www.foxconnchannel.com/EN-US/Upload/Compatibilit... 585877MCP55PM2A01%20CPU%20040607.htm

I guess I am mostly concerned with getting too carried away, buying more than I need, and the price just keeps going up. Already sprung for 2 gig of ddr2 800, which was probably over-kill, and concerned about doing the same with the CPU.

A 3800 windsor is going for around $65.

Thanks again for any suggestions

the links above didnt work, but

the X2 3800+ is pretty decent (its the same one i have, aside from the sockets supported, s939 compared to sAM2), ddr2-800 is the slowest youre going to want to go with sAM2, as less than that, and youll end up hindering your cpu, particularly if you intend to OC by much (it may be a tad overkill at stock speeds though), but, that cpu is decent for your intents...

personally, its performance is holding me over till quad cores are more affordable, between $100-200, or less, but thats probably doubtful anytime soon... the reason for longevity though is because anytime i need more performance, i just OC it to how much is needed.