Building Budget Gaming Rig -- AMD or Intel

[GamingDaemon]

Here's my situation. I am looking to build only my 2nd gaming rig. I'd like to spend < $300 on a CPU. Up till now, I have always gone the route of Intel. But everyone says AMD is the chip for gaming.

Add to this, I'd like to go dual core...I think. Remember, this is going to be a 100% gaming rig.

So, given my budget, and that I am looking to have this build be my gaming rig for the next 2 years plus, which way should I go; AMD or Intel?

And then, which processor? AMD X2 3800+? Pentium D 940?

Thank you!

 

[JPH1121]

If you're trying to go as cheap as possible and you want a dual core, get hte Intel. Otherwise, get the 3800+X2

 

[JSFLY]

Like I always say, get a Opteron 165

 

[Gamer X]

AMD X2 3800+

 

[jaythespacehound]

Rather than paying $300 for a dual core processor have you considered the Athlon 64 3700+?

Current gaming is not optimised for dual core setups and, even if you want this to be your gaming rig for the next 2 years or so, I'd wager to say the 3700+ will do better than the X2 3800+

See here

Even in games where dual core setups seem to make a fair bit of a difference the 3700+ outperforms the X2 3800+

eg Oblivion

In my book if you want a dual core, go for the 4400+ but that's in a different price range and still only just outperfoms the 3700+ in most areas.

Good luck!
Jay

 

[bunnyfubbles]

With the given information I'd also recommend the X2 3800+

Great performance even if you're not overclocking, then there is always the option to do it in the future to breathe some life back into an aging system (just don't skimp on your motherboard even if you're not planning to overclock in the immediate future).

If you're planning on overclocking right out of the gates, then maybe try to snag an Opteron 165.

It's gotta be either the 3800+ or the 165 if you want the best CPU for ~$300 that will last 2 years, I just can't imagine single core being able to do much high end stuff a year from now.

 

[Bobthelost]

Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles
With the given information I'd also recommend the X2 3800+

Great performance even if you're not overclocking, then there is always the option to do it in the future to breathe some life back into an aging system (just don't skimp on your motherboard even if you're not planning to overclock in the immediate future).

If you're planning on overclocking right out of the gates, then maybe try to snag an Opteron 165.

It's gotta be either the 3800+ or the 165 if you want the best CPU for ~$300 that will last 2 years, I just can't imagine single core being able to do much high end stuff a year from now.

We've been waiting on games that will use the second cores of our X2s for months now, oblivion was expected to be the first game that really took advantage of dual core, but when we fire it up it turns out to be a rather small increase, going from a 2.0Ghz single core CPU to a 2.0Ghz dual core only results in a 15% increase in performance, that's going from a 3200 to a 3800X2. That money spent on the graphics card will obliterate that difference.

Why should the trend change? Graphics cards are the limmiting factor, not the CPU.

Single core, save some money (or blow the extra on a better graphics card) and be happy.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Ok, so there seems to be some good debate as to whether I'd be better off with the X2 3800+ or the single core 3700+ over the next two years. I like the one comparison page on Tom's Hardware (thanks jaythespacehound!), but I'm still not sure what the clear winner is?

Also, any advice on the mobo's I am considering?
[*] Gigabyte GA-K8N Pro-SLI Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard
[*] MSI K8N SLI-F Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard

Thank you!

 

[GeeFizzleDizzle]

Some games actually have issues with trying to run them on a dual core sysytem. Go with the 3700+.

 

[stevty2889]

Originally posted by: GeeFizzleDizzle
Some games actually have issues with trying to run them on a dual core sysytem. Go with the 3700+.

That problem is pretty much resolved..I have 3 dual cores and not a single gaming problem..it's an old issue and there are fixes available.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: stevty2889

Originally posted by: GeeFizzleDizzle
Some games actually have issues with trying to run them on a dual core sysytem. Go with the 3700+.

That problem is pretty much resolved..I have 3 dual cores and not a single gaming problem..it's an old issue and there are fixes available.

The point is that you have to fix them. Single core, just install stuff and start gaming.

Originally posted by: GamingDaemon
I'd like to spend < $300 on a CPU.

I saw the title "Budget Gaming Rig" and thought SEMPRON or a really low end s939, but I guess other people's "budget" isn't the same as mine. I'm still just a po' starving college student at heart (though I'm a tad too overweight to be called starving).

 

[v8envy]

What's the timeframe for this? I managed to put together a $275 gaming box that pulled 6307 3dmark05s with no overclocking or tuning and did GREAT in Oblivion and CoH and other games I had. But it took me months (years?) of hot deal vulturing to do it.

If you aren't afraid to overclock and need a space heater, it's hard to beat the P4 805 for $130-ish or P4 930 for $215-ish. Yes, you won't have the e-peen that the guys with opty 165s and 3800 X2s have, since you'll get much higher benchmarks with an overclocked AMD. But current games don't need much more than a P4 3.2 / Sempron64 3400+ / amd64 3000+, so the dual core is just cheap future proofing insurance and cool toy to play with.

I'm still trying to find a cheap, stable motherboard to pair with a 930. But that's definitely how I'd go building a budget gaming rig buying at full e-tail prices today.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Ok, here is my final parts list using NewEgg (not including rebates):

[*] Lian Li PC-7B plus II Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $89
[*] MSI K8N SLI-F Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard $98
[*] eVGA 256-P2-N553-AX Geforce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card $179
[*] AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice 2000MHz HT Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3200BPBOX $154
[*] CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model Twinx2048-3200c2pt $189

Total: $710 - ($65 in rebates) ==> $645

And to reiterate, I am intending this to last me two years. I am using parts from a previous rig.

So what do you think?

 

[bdww00]

3800x2

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: bdww00
3800x2

That's too much for me right now...trying to keep the price low

 

[996GT2]

If 3800+ X2 is too much right now, you just might want to wait a few months for Conroe. A 2.13 GHz Conroe is slated to sell for $250, and that thing is a BEAST. Also, AMD's prices will probably drop by then, so you could probably get a 3800X2 for a lower price.

 

[TejTrescent]

If you're intending to have it last a few years, you might want to wait until at LEAST the retail debuts of AM2 and Conroe for price drops on the 3800X2 or Opty 165 or even a Conroe. Newegg'll surely still have stuff in stock.

I'd have a hard time recommending a 3200+ and a 7600GT to last a few years if many upcoming games run like Oblivion, where even FX60's with X1900XTX's Crossfired can be brought to their knees easily, unless you don't mind low-medium settings.

 

[n19htmare]

Well the Pentium M does quite well in gaming and the 730 is only $70 or so... (pair with a P4c and CT-479).. I built a gaming rig for my bro using the pM and it screams.

But if you're looking to spend $300 on just CPU then just get the opteron 165 from monarch. Current stepping will OC to 2.8 (CCBBE) and I dont think there is any game that will have trouble running on 2.8 not to mention its dual core for further need (if it comes up).

 

[Zebo]

X2 3800 and make into FX-60 easy with slight overclock .

 

[EffeX]

600mhz isnt a slight overclock......
Opty 165/170 FTW

 

[GamingDaemon]

Well, I'm too impatient to wait for AM2 or Conroe. I pulled the trigger and went wit hthe 3700+. I think I will do fine for a good long while.

And THANK YOU to everyone that helped out on this thread!

 

[inveterate]

WHATTTT????? why not Opteron 144,, CACJE almost guareenteed to go to 2.8+

 

[GamingDaemon]

Sorry, I'm still a newb. What's CACJE?

I have never overclocked before so I wanted somehting powerful, but with the ability to OC when I was brave enough. Won't a 3700+ last me longer than an Operon down the road? I know it is more expensive, but I think/hope the money was well spent.

 

[inveterate]

CACJE indicates part of the stepping of the processor. Different litters from the same motha. like certain batches might be better.

If you buy from Tankguys.biz, they'll tell you the stepping prior to ur purchase. So this way you're more than likely to get a processor that will Hit higher ghz.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: inveterate
CACJE indicates part of the stepping of the processor. Different litters from the same motha. like certain batches might be better.

If you buy from Tankguys.biz, they'll tell you the stepping prior to ur purchase. So this way you're more than likely to get a processor that will Hit higher ghz.

I went to TankGuys.biz. I tried to find my motherboard, but they don't sell it. I looked up another motherboard, and I checked out the processor I bought from NewEgg and wasn't able to find the information about stepping you mentioned.

What am I missing?