View Full Version : Is it still worth it to go AMD right now?
awdrifter
10-21-2006, 09:01 AM
There's a sale at Fry's for a X2 4200 + ECS KN1 SLi mobo for only $189, I was originally going to save up for E6400 (or 6600), but if I go C2D I'll need to buy new ram, currently I have 2GB of Mushkin DDR400. I would save about $200 on ram and maybe another $80 on CPU. What's your opinions on this deal, should I wait (for a deal on C2D) or upgrade? I mostly use my comp for daily stuff and video editing, gaming is not a main concern. Thanks.
nn_step
10-21-2006, 09:11 AM
Actually yes it is. It just depends on what you do the most
cky2k6
10-21-2006, 09:18 AM
grab that deal! the 4200 alone costs that much on newegg. conroe will be faster, in some cases by a lot, but it will cost you 3x what you will pay to get the 4200+mobo. if you already have a s939 board, sell the new one, and it will be even cheaper.
I say as well you should go for this deal then.
video editing might be faster on C2D but its fast enough on X2 anyway (I'll do this as well on my X2 3800+ @2850MHZ)
Considering the money you save - would be a good choice to go with AMD another 6 months ;)
alucasa
10-21-2006, 10:38 AM
Go with the deal. You will save a fortune on RAMs. DDR2's price is on top, right now.
But, yes, conroe will be faster. But 4200x2 isn't slow, either.
It's all relative terms.
awdrifter
10-21-2006, 11:10 AM
Well, I know both of them will be a lot faster than my current CPU (Sempron3100@2.42ghz). And I would be saving over $200 if I go AMD. Is a 2.75ghz (250) relatively achievable with the 4200? Thanks for the replies so far.
Yes, 2.75 is within range of a 4200. Pushing it a bit and it would depend on your motherboard and memory and so on but definitely possible. I've seen a few maniac OCers reporting up to 2.9 on air with 4200s, but those guys don't get out much.
keiths
10-21-2006, 11:56 AM
You can get a Conroe without having to upgrade memory. There's Conroe boards that supports DDR1($50-60). With an e6300 it would be $230-250.
awdrifter
10-21-2006, 01:02 PM
Which board would support DDR1 with C2D? Thanks.
Frodin
10-21-2006, 01:20 PM
Which board would support DDR1 with C2D? Thanks.
There's a few boards from ASRock, one based on the 865 chipset (with AGP): http://www.asrock.com/product/ConRoe865PE.htm
And one based on the VIA PT880 Pro/Ultra chipset: http://www.asrock.com/product/775Dual-VSTA.htm
But I don't know if they're any good. Anandtech has a review of the VIA based one at least, not much for overclocking.
To build a good overclockable Conroe setup with 2GB of ram you need at least 500$ for the CPU, mobo, ram other wise it worth to go AMD mostly for price/performance and gaming
________
Dodge Lancer specifications (http://www.dodge-wiki.com/wiki/Dodge_Lancer)
DAK1640
10-21-2006, 01:58 PM
Based upon your exisiting H/W , I too would suggest AMD is BBFB:toast:
Grayfox84
10-21-2006, 02:40 PM
I 3ith say Go AMD...ITH!
Sailindawg
10-21-2006, 02:58 PM
It all depends on your wallet. If cost doesn't matter, then go for an Intel C2D. You seem to indicate that $$$ are an issue and the deal you cited is a very good deal. At the end of the day, will you have the fastest machine, no, but you built the best peforming machine for the $$$ spent. You will enjoy the performance increase. Will it be as fast as an Intel C2D rig, no, but you will never know the difference unless the rigs were side by side.
AMD is trying to get by right now by selling their cpu's at low prices to try to keep their market share. That's how they began competing with Intel and how they obtained their market share. Yes, they kicked Intel's butt for a while, but that's changed. Awesome news for us the comsumer, it means competition and some very good hardware eventually coming our way at attractive pricing.
arisythila
10-21-2006, 03:25 PM
I'd suggest AMD, just because im an "AMD Fanboi"
~Mike
awdrifter
10-21-2006, 05:09 PM
It seems like C2D has a pretty big advantage when it comes to video editing and encoding, so I think I'm just going to save up for another month or two and get C2D. Thanks for the replies.
Bazikstano
10-21-2006, 05:58 PM
could you give me the link of that nice offer?
awdrifter
10-21-2006, 09:23 PM
http://newspaperads.mercurynews.com/ROP/ads.aspx?adid=3646267&advid=32664&type=
johnanderson
10-21-2006, 10:06 PM
imo its not really worth upgrading to dual cores when quads are just around the corner. Go for the amd setup now and wait for quadcores to become cheaper next year.
L'enFer
10-21-2006, 10:30 PM
to become cheaper next year
do u really think quadcores will be cheap?
perkam
10-21-2006, 10:38 PM
There's a sale at Fry's for a X2 4200 + ECS KN1 SLi mobo for only $189, I was originally going to save up for E6400 (or 6600), but if I go C2D I'll need to buy new ram, currently I have 2GB of Mushkin DDR400. I would save about $200 on ram and maybe another $80 on CPU. What's your opinions on this deal, should I wait (for a deal on C2D) or upgrade? I mostly use my comp for daily stuff and video editing, gaming is not a main concern. Thanks.That deal + $199 x1950pro = ze bomb.
Perkam
L'enFer
10-21-2006, 10:50 PM
perkam, could u tell me please, where did u find x1950 pro for $199 (on newegg.com it coasts $299 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814195029), but everywhere in the reviews it's said that the price will be $199-245)?
perkam
10-21-2006, 10:57 PM
Wait for it come in stock:
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=326853
Perkam
L'enFer
10-21-2006, 11:30 PM
thanx, it's just unbelievable, i gave for my x800xl smthg about $300 (though it was 2 years ago, but nevertheless).
johnanderson
10-22-2006, 01:04 AM
do u really think quadcores will be cheap?
well, cheaper than they will be this year :D
L'enFer
10-22-2006, 01:21 AM
well, cheaper than they will be this year :D
excuse me, but cheaper than what?
perkam
10-22-2006, 06:26 AM
By 2008 we should have mainstream quad cores for sure...if not by mid 2008.
Perkam
L'enFer
10-22-2006, 08:22 AM
http://www.3dnews.ru/_imgdata/img/2006/06/26/20809.gif
(http://www.3dnews.ru/cpu/new_core_conroe/)
and what will Intel present by 2008?
[XC] Teroedni
10-22-2006, 10:54 AM
There's a sale at Fry's for a X2 4200 + ECS KN1 SLi mobo for only $189, I was originally going to save up for E6400 (or 6600), but if I go C2D I'll need to buy new ram, currently I have 2GB of Mushkin DDR400. I would save about $200 on ram and maybe another $80 on CPU. What's your opinions on this deal, should I wait (for a deal on C2D) or upgrade? I mostly use my comp for daily stuff and video editing, gaming is not a main concern. Thanks.
Well based on what you say i would go the Amd way since the memory would cost a lot, but it also depends on if you wanna overclock?.
And whatare you upgrading from??
Exedy
10-22-2006, 12:28 PM
if amd dont kill am2 until 2008 ...its worth :D
awdrifter
10-22-2006, 09:00 PM
My current system is
Sempron 3100+ (Paris) @2.42ghz
ECS nForce3-A
Zalman 7000 AlCu heatsink
Mushkin DDR400 2GB (1GB x 2)
PNY nVidia 5500 128MB AGP video card
Since the C2D will be a lot better at video encoding and stuff, I'm going to skip this deal. I don't want to have to upgrade in another 6 months. A C2D with oc will (hopefully) last me 2 years.