AMD x2 or Pentium D?

[djtech2k]

I am thinking of rebuilding my system. If I do, I am planning to do a dual-core system. I am leaning toward a Pentium D. What would you guys suggest, AMD x2, Pentium D, Pentium Extreme, or what? Price and performance is my main concern. I can get a Pentium D for about $300 now.

I am looking at the Asus P5WD2 or P5ND2 board for it. ANy opinions?

And RAM, I am looking at either 1GB of DDR2 800mhz or 2GB of DDR2 700mhz. Opinions?

-DJ

 

[jpeyton]

In your situation, you would be better off buying a X2 4200+ and a NF4 Ultra (or SLI) motherboard.

There is no point in pairing a cheap Pentium D 820 with a $200+ motherboard; the price/performance of a 4200+ and a $130 NF4 motherboard is better.

Now if you're thinking about waiting for a cheaper 945X-based motherboard, then a cheap Pentium D might be an option.

BTW, what are you looking to do with it? Games? Apps?

 

[n7]

I'm guessing 90% of the posters here are going to recommend the A64 X2, & i am one of them.

You can see a good review of the dual-core CPUs on this site.

If you really need the multitasking capability immediately & price is a huge concern, the Pentium D 820 would suit your needs.

However, i'd recommend waiting & saving a bit for the much better performing X2 4200+ if you can.

 

[djtech2k]

Well, I use my system to game, code, and everything else. I have a AMD64 3000+ now and am having temp problems with it.

The price diff for AMD is SO much that it seems difficult to believe that its worth it. Keep in mind that I have used almost 100% AMD for years, so I am not a hater.

I just want to buy something that has good performance and wont kill me in price. I hear that the nforce chipsets are the way top go. I will be using an Asus Nvidia 6800GT or ultra vid card and may be considering going SLI in the long run, but not initially. I would like to go with an Asus board unless something else is far superior.

Whats the price diff now on processors, AMD = ?550 and Intel = $300?

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

What kind of problems are you having with your 3000+? If they're not too severe, then maybe you could hold out a bit longer and wait for prices of the X2 to drop.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: djtech2k
Well, I use my system to game, code, and everything else. I have a AMD64 3000+ now and am having temp problems with it.

The price diff for AMD is SO much that it seems difficult to believe that its worth it. Keep in mind that I have used almost 100% AMD for years, so I am not a hater.

I just want to buy something that has good performance and wont kill me in price. I hear that the nforce chipsets are the way top go. I will be using an Asus Nvidia 6800GT or ultra vid card and may be considering going SLI in the long run, but not initially. I would like to go with an Asus board unless something else is far superior.

Whats the price diff now on processors, AMD = ?550 and Intel = $300?

Yes, just about that. My hang up is with your choice of motherboards. If you paired a cheap Pentium D with a cheap motherboard, great. But you're pairing a cheap Pentium D with a relatively expensive motherboard, reducing that price/performance ratio greatly.

 

[djtech2k]

SO you think the mb is too much to pay for the Pentium D processor? I was picking that one because it had SLI and nicely put specs.

 

[Markfw]

Yes, but the high motherboard cost and the heat and the extra electricity it takes to run the 820 .VS. MUCH more performance for make it the only way to go unless all you ever do is encode. And what temps is your 3000+ giving you with what HSF ? Mine run about 40c under load. Silen Boost K8 HSF.

 

[djtech2k]

My temps say about 55c idle and about 65c under load. I just installed a Silent Boost with estu 751 grease a few weeks ago because I was overheating with the stock cooler. And no, I am not OC'ing anything.

 

[theMan]

if your temps are like that with your 3000+ a pentium d will be up at above 80c.

 

[Markfw]

check it in bios. I don;t believe that OR you didn;t get it seated correctly.

 

[djtech2k]

I am checking my temps in the bios as well as in the utils from Abit. I never checked it until it started beeping at me about a month ago. I found that the heatsink was packed with dust and dirt. I cleaned it and also found that the thermal grease was so thick and hard that the cpu came out of the socket without releasing it. This bent a couple pins also. So, I fixed the pins, applied some grease I had laying around (white greae), and reinstalled it. I only ran it until I could get the silent boost and proper grease, estu 751. I installed all that and thats where I am now.

 

[Markfw]

Well, I don't know whats up with your temps, but I still say get the X2.

 

[Aenslead]

Yes; if you can cash out $100USD more, you will have a far better system, with the X2, of course.

 

[djtech2k]

Ok, well I have decided to go with the x2 for the long run. Now the question is what motherboards will work? Will any socket 939 work? If not, what will? I think I may look for Asus first. I want pcie 16x, and may consider a board that will do SLI...for later, now now.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: djtech2k
Ok, well I have decided to go with the x2 for the long run. Now the question is what motherboards will work? Will any socket 939 work? If not, what will? I think I may look for Asus first. I want pcie 16x, and may consider a board that will do SLI...for later, now now.

DFI, Asus, MSI, Abit, etc. should all work with a BIOS flash. DFI already has support with their last BIOS.

 

[Capt Caveman]

White grease? Thermal compound? Using some AS5 will lower your temps further and it's only a five dollar investment. In regards to Asus P5ND2, a number of folks have been having issues with his board, probably b/c it's Nvidia first chipset for Intel. Also, it will not support a D 820, you'd have to get a 830 at least.

Other's can speak more about it, but I do not believe that SLI makes a huge gaming difference. B/c of that, if you decided to go Intel, a 945x chipset mobo could be had for under $140. But if you can afford it, go X2. In regard to 939 boards, I've read that only Nvidia chipset mobo's will support X2.

 

[djtech2k]

I am planning to buy an Asus x2 supported board with nforce 4 chipset. I hope there is one that is x2 compliant by June 16!

 

[Griffinhart]

The Pentium D may be lower price for it's initial entry, but, considering it's single threaded performance is going to be slower than single core processors in the same price range, It's not even an option for me. I'm not going to take an overall downgrade in gaming performance for a cheaper dual core.

The only reason I'm going with the X2 4400+ is because it will give me dual core AND better single thread performance than my 3500+