AMD 939 4400 or Core 2 Duo E6400??? please advise.

[JbIeNlGlLe725]

hey, i am new to this form. i need to build a new pc for school in fall, and my current budget is 800 USD for cpu, 1 g of mem, CD/DVD burner, motherboard, and case.( will upgrade mem, sound and video card later)
besides that, I have my lcd already, and for Hard drive, i ordered a 150gb WD raptor 10000 SATA from newegg 2 days ago.
Right now, i have 2 choices, either build an AMD dual core system or an Intel core duo 2 system.

For Amd,

cpu: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Toledo 2000MHz HT 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939 Dual Core Processor (232 USD)

mobo and case: AOpen XC CUBE EZ482 AMD Socket 939 AMD Athlon 64 FX/Athlon 64/Sempron ATI RS482 Barebone (200USD after 40 rebate)

memory: corsair XMS series 1 gb with 2-3-2-6 latency (113USD)
CD/DVD burner: sumsung (32USD)

total: 577 USD

For Intel,

cpu: core 2 duo E6400 (260 USD)

mobo: Intel BOXDP965LTCK Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard ( 120 USD) or ASUS P5B Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard (160 USD)

case: Antec PERFORMANCE TX640B Black Steel ATX Mini Tower Computer Case 400W Power Supply (100 usd)

memory: CORSAIR XMS2 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Unbuffered System Memory Model CM2X1024-6400PRO (145 USD)

CD/DVD burner: sumsung (32USD)

total: 657 - 697 USD

please give me some advices which system i should go for, thank you...

 

[hennethannun]

that depends on a lot of different things. the E6400 is a better processor, but it is still a bit hard to find and a bit overpriced. That isn't a real problem, but Core 2 Duo still has a very limited motherboard selection.

Also, you may also have some legacy parts like a s939 motherboard or DDR400 ram, which would make a difference. And what you intend to do with the system matters as well. if you will be gaming mostly, then X2 v. C2D is less important, because modern games are way more GPU limited than anything else, so a better processor won't be as much of an advantage. But if you are going to be doing lots of processor intensive things like video editing or compiling code etc, getting a C2D is probably the way to go.

I would say this. If you have old parts from a s939 system, get the 4400+, but if you are making an entirely new build, and if you can wait a few weeks (up to a month) for better motherboards for C2D OR if the Gigabyte DS3 already meets your needs, get the E6400.


EDIT: with an $800 budget, you can probably get more (and certainly will have more options to choose from) with an AMD system. I don't know off top of my head, but do either of those LGA775 motherboards have integrated video?

however, are you more concerned with low cost now, or with longevity, or with a small form-factor pc?

 

[myocardia]

I can tell you this much, if you go with AMD, you definitely don't want to buy Corsair XMS memory. Buy anything else, including Corsair value RAM.

 

[wilki24]

if you will be gaming mostly, then X2 v. C2D is less important, because modern games are way more GPU limited than anything else, so a better processor won't be as much of an advantage.

You know, that generally holds true for P4's vs. A64's, but strangely I didn't see very many people saying that at the time.

To the OP, go with the C2D if the little bit of extra cash isn't a difference.

 

[hennethannun]

don't get me wrong wilki, I am not saying that X2s are BETTER for gaming than C2D. (X2s ARE better than P4 or PD). Quite the opposite. Core 2 Duo processors are faster than X2 processors for gaming (and pretty much anything else) clock-for-clock. My point was that modern games are far more likely to max out the the performance of your video card than your processor. So if you have a limited amount of money to spend for a gaming PC, you should go with a slightly less expensive processor and a slightly more expensive GPU (any X2 or C2D processor is more than fast enough for most games these days).

So my recommendation was not 'get X2 if you want to game' or anything like that. It was 'if you are mostly concerned with gaming, focus more of your monetary resources on a GPU instead of the best CPU you can afford'. Right now, X2 processors are slightly cheaper than (and more available) than C2D's, but that should change over the next several weeks. so by september, there will probably be very little reason to buy AMD for an entirely new build...

 

[JbIeNlGlLe725]

I would say this. If you have old parts from a s939 system, get the 4400+, but if you are making an entirely new build, and if you can wait a few weeks (up to a month) for better motherboards for C2D OR if the Gigabyte DS3 already meets your needs, get the E6400.

thansk for your reply hennethannun. i don't have any old part from 939 system, actually i am making an entirely new system. i really want to wait if i can, i need to build this by september. Any good mobo and ram you would recommend for E6400? thanx.

by the way, mostly, i will use this system for movie, gaming, and sometimes compliling codes too, but i won't oc the cpu at least it becomes slower. so E6400 would be better for me right?

with an $800 budget, you can probably get more (and certainly will have more options to choose from) with an AMD system. I don't know off top of my head, but do either of those LGA775 motherboards have integrated video?

with 800, do you think getting ams or 4800 is better than 4400? those mobos don't have intergrated video.

 

[JbIeNlGlLe725]

I can tell you this much, if you go with AMD, you definitely don't want to buy Corsair XMS memory. Buy anything else, including Corsair value RAM.

hey myocardia, how come corsair xms is not the choice if i go for AMD??

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: JbIeNlGlLe725

I can tell you this much, if you go with AMD, you definitely don't want to buy Corsair XMS memory. Buy anything else, including Corsair value RAM.

hey myocardia, how come corsair xms is not the choice if i go for AMD??

No idea...I use it without a problem in a second computer.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: JbIeNlGlLe725

I can tell you this much, if you go with AMD, you definitely don't want to buy Corsair XMS memory. Buy anything else, including Corsair value RAM.

hey myocardia, how come corsair xms is not the choice if i go for AMD??

Because more than half of the motherboards out there won't even post with it installed. A few will, if you run it at 2.5-3-3-6or7, just like the Cosair value RAM. Asus's and Asrocks are one of the few boards that actually like it. Of course, that makes sense, since Corsair doesn't even test their memory on AMD motherboards, and Asus also targets Intel customers. But, hey, buy it if you want it, you just won't be happy with it.

edit: If you go C2D, definitely get the Corsair XMS2. It's by far the best memory for any Intel setup.

 

[Markfw]

Either choice is fine. Buy what you can find in-stock. And since the AMD setup is less, I would go that route. As said, hard to find good Conroe motherboards, especially that are stable and not buggy.

If you really want the performance difference (C2D is a little faster) and don't minds the possible setup problems, then C2D is fine.

 

[saymyname]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: JbIeNlGlLe725

I can tell you this much, if you go with AMD, you definitely don't want to buy Corsair XMS memory. Buy anything else, including Corsair value RAM.

hey myocardia, how come corsair xms is not the choice if i go for AMD??

No idea...I use it without a problem in a second computer.

I had nothing but problems with it in a DFI NF4 Ultra-D. I blame the motherboard though and not the memory.

 

[JbIeNlGlLe725]

core 2 duo is very tempted, but i think getting an AMD will be more stable and easier for me. by the way, is it a huge difference between 939 4400 and 4800 because of the 0.2gh? what kind of barebone might be better for AMD 939 sockets besides the aopen? also, what kind of ram will work good with my system. thanx for everyone's help.

 

[Furen]

I'd go for Core 2 if money is not a problem (you'll need to spend a bit more cash on it but it will perform quite a bit better). Dont sacrifice video for CPU, though. If 800 is your budged for just the CPU, mobo, DVD and case then I'd go for a 6600, 2GB of ram and a decent i965 motherboard.

 

[hennethannun]

If you are building a new system, with $800 for all around use, I would go E6400, Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3, 1 gigabyte of DDR2 667 or so (two would be good, but if you get 2GB, you will have trouble getting a decent video card and staying under $800), and some $200 video card (like a 7600 GT or better if you can afford it).

using rough numbers that looks like

CPU: $260
Motherboard: $150
Vdieo Card: $160
Ram: $140-220
Case: $80 or so
PSU: $40-80 (depending on what brand and wattage you get)

That is about $800-950 depending on the options you get (and how much price shopping you do) and it would be a pretty solid build for quite a while (especially if you get a better videocard and 2GB of RAM). The DS3 + E6400 combination has been reaching 3ghz with little problems for most people, so you have room to overclock down the road when your systems starts to get a bit long in the tooth.



As for AMD (which is still a great option, just not as great), no, the 4400+ and the 4800+ isn't a huge performance difference. at least, not worth $90 in my opinion.
OCZ ram should be fine with s939 boards. and as for the barebones system, I don't mean to say there is anything wrong with them, but the small form factor cases can severely limit your upgrading and overclocking potential. they are great for small, quiet pcs that run at stock settings and don't have lots of frills (like multiple optical drives or harddrives or pci cards). so you should keep that in mind before commiting to something like that as your main system.

 

[JbIeNlGlLe725]

thanks for your advice hennethannun,

I have decided to go for Intel Core 2 duo, and i think will order from zipxxxx instead of newxxx, because zip provides free shipping and cost less

some new ideas for the new system,

cpu: intel core 2 duo e6400: $247

mobo: asus p5b deluxe: $230

case: antec performance one p180B: $132

ram: corsair cm2x1024-6400 prob 1 gb: $141

video: XFX PVT42EUDE3 Geforce 6800 256mb GDDR3 Pci express * 16 $103 after $35 rebate

psu: antec smartpower 2.0 : $69


total : $ 922 after rebate

any comments or suggestion are always welcome. thanks.

 

[noushy]

No question, try the core2, it is cool running, fast, and very stable. 4400+ will get clobbered in some tests and hang in there in others but unless you do am2, you are going to be stuck with present tech, with no future upgrade available. I like amd, and have an fx-62, but that is another story all together. Oh and stay away from the 965 boards, no parallel ata for optical, and much less overclock capability. Not much cheaper than p5w dh. Buy the better board. I will help you with the settings and assembly, plus some simple upgrades to make it very stable.

Noushy

 

[Bobthelost]

Don't get the P5B deluxe, great board, but does it do anything that the Gigabyte P965 DS3 doesn't? Both OC well if you ever want to get round to that.

 

[anandtechrocks]

Originally posted by: JbIeNlGlLe725
thanks for your advice hennethannun,

I have decided to go for Intel Core 2 duo, and i think will order from zipxxxx instead of newxxx, because zip provides free shipping and cost less

some new ideas for the new system,

cpu: intel core 2 duo e6400: $247

mobo: asus p5b deluxe: $230

case: antec performance one p180B: $132

ram: corsair cm2x1024-6400 prob 1 gb: $141

video: XFX PVT42EUDE3 Geforce 6800 256mb GDDR3 Pci express * 16 $103 after $35 rebate

psu: antec smartpower 2.0 : $69


total : $ 922 after rebate

any comments or suggestion are always welcome. thanks.

Looks good to me, I just built a similar computer with the E6400 and an MSI P965 Neo motherboard and have had no stability or setup problems. Plus I got a ~500MHz (2.13GHz to 2.66GHz) overclock with stock volts and stock cooler. I would go further but this motherboard's FSB is limited to 333MHz exactly. (but it was only $99 shipped...)

 

[JbIeNlGlLe725]

Noushy, the reason i was thinking to get the p5b, it was because all the reviews i read from newexx. It is going to be the first system i build, so i don't really know what board is good for the cpu, and all i do just rely on the reviews. but thanks for your suggestion, i will try to get the better board.

 

[JbIeNlGlLe725]

bobthelost, i was thinking about the gigabyte too, but once again, i have no experience for building pc, so i kinda take those reviews seriously. but once again, thanks for your suggestion too, all comments are welcome. = )


anandtechrocks, money does matter. I always try to go for the cheaper board if they provide me a cool and stable system too. if you have more suggestion, please state it, thank you.

 

[JbIeNlGlLe725]

hey guys, asus p5b deluxe 209 plus shipping, should i grab it now?

 

[anandtechrocks]

I don't know JbIeNlglLe, that price seems high for a P965 motherboard. You can get an MSI or Foxconn with a X975 chipset (higher end) for less... (both cost ~$175) But, it is well known that Asus makes great Intel boards. Either choice you make, I'm sure you'll have a problem free experience. Plus, if you don't, we're always here to help

 

[JbIeNlGlLe725]

Does asus p5b same as p5w that needs BIO update too???