C&C my 2 builds?

[Highbuzz]

Hello, some of you might remember my topic asking about what CPU is currently better. Well my friend agreed with Intel after I showed him that topic at school, but since I saw (and others pointed out) that deal for 100 bucks on that AM2 processor, I couldn't resist making a build with that too.

I am pretty good at building systems (like making sure parts are compatible, but I am not perfect, hence this topic) and I picked out an Intel system and a AMD system. Both are similar in the price range. I would like criticism and maybe a few suggestions of your own to help make this the best build for the price. The range is about 600 USD and I would prefer (I think he would as well, donno) newegg as the site you pick your parts from, but others are OK.

AMD rig:
CPU: $100 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819103194
Mobo: $130 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131013
RAM (2 x 1GB): $50 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820146118
HDD (250GB): $65 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822148261
DVD Drive/Burner: $30 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827135148
VGU: $130 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130290
PSU: $60 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817189005
Case: $40 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811119047

Total w/o shipping: $605

Intel rig:
CPU: $170 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115030
Mobo: $105 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813130082
RAM (2 x 1GB): $50 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820146118
HDD (250GB): $65 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822148261
DVD Drive/Burner: $30 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827135148
VGU: $130 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130290
PSU: $60 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817189005
Case: $40 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811119047

Total w/o shipping: $650


Comments, point out of incompatibilities and possible problems with these builds are very welcomed!

 

[chinaman1472]

What exactly will the system be used for?

Plan on overclocking? They should reach 3.0GHz on stock cooling. Here's an alternative Intel build:
Intel E2180, E4500: $83, $145 on newegg.
Gigabyte P35-DS3L: $90 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...ption=P35-DS3L&x=0&y=0
G.Skill 2GB RAM: $50 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231121
Cooler Master Case: $20 AR http://www.microcenter.com/sin...tml?product_id=0265143
Antec PSU: $55 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817371006
HDD 500GB - $105 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822152052
Radeon 3850: $170 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814103049
Total w/o shipping: $603, $665 depending on the CPU

You could opt for an Arctic Freezer 7 Pro for $20 if you're uneasy about the overclocking on stock cooling. I also picked a stick of 2GB memory so you could expand to 4GB at a later time. The 8600GT is garbage.

 

[Roguestar]

Chinaman's selection is excellent. The graphics card he picked out is way better than the 8600GT, for example.

 

[Highbuzz]

Some gaming most likely, I don't all of what my friend does, but he wants a new computer to play Supreme Commander well and with that, some other games probably. I like your build. And I see you picked an ATi card, I thought nVidia had the upperhand in the DX10 battle, or did ATi's new core pull through? AS for over clocking, he might, but he is afraid of something going wrong and voiding the warranty.

Edit: Also why is 1x2GB better than 2x1GB? I used to have the impression dual-channel works a tad better.

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: Highbuzz
I see you picked an ATi card, I thought nVidia had the upperhand in the DX10 battle, or did ATi's new core pull through? AS for over clocking, he might, but he is afraid of something going wrong and voiding the warranty.

Edit: Also why is 1x2GB better than 2x1GB? I used to have the impression dual-channel works a tad better.

-ATI's card is the best at that price range. The 8800GT is indeed better but is more expensive.
- Overclocking does not void your warranty. It's so very easy, too. It has changed since years ago when it was hard and had little return.
- Dual channel does result in a small performance increase, but 1x2GB is better because he can then add another 2GB stick in a few months and still have DIMM slots left.

 

[chinaman1472]

At about $600, that system is about the best thing you can get.
Scrap up another $50 a month or two later and get another stick of 2GB. 4GB > 2GB Dual Channel.
Video cards get expensive really fast. 3850 is the best budget card you can get.
Overclocking is safe; just do it in small increments. Don't expect your first start up to be blasting at 3.0GHz when the initial clock is 2.0GHz.
Even then, the E4500 is a better deal than the AMD setup.

 

[Highbuzz]

Well my friend is convinced AMD rules, and for the price of this processor, could it be? http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819103191

All the benchmarks on Tom's Hardware, this thing wipes them off the map by a pretty good amount, and even if you could overclock it, you could overclock this AMD CPU too and it'd probably shine. For the 160 range like the above CPU is, is this AMD better than a C2D at the same price range?

I say this because, the one on my intel build I had picked out is nearly the same price, yet the charts on Tom's Hardware only go up to 6000+, while this CPU is a 6400+, and the 6000+ still kicked pretty good E6550 ass.

 

[chinaman1472]

It's not bad, but at $30 cheaper, an E4500 is recommended more often because that's $30 more you can spend on your video card that'll help gaming a lot more than a good CPU.

 

[Highbuzz]

Well he decided to go Intel, BUT we can now go 725ish. (Max probably 750ish)

He picked out this card and since I got the impression that VGU > CPU in a gaming rig, I supported. http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130082

200 for a card and it looks good, but now what? Should I go AMD and go cheaper or choose a cheaper Intel CPU? If you want to do a rig around this card or recommend a good rig for around 700 dollars, be my guest. He's kind of flacky on what he wants.

 

[Juno]

for dvd burner, go with sata for the same price.

i'm kinda skeptical about psu. you could just buy antec case/psu combo.

 

[Highbuzz]

Yea, I realized that now. And I was took, but it looked reliable. Just because it doesn't have a fancy LED light on it doesn't mean it's horrible.

But I don't know, should I lower that card? Or is it a good card? Should I go AMD or Intel? Just kind of at a crossroad...

 

[LOUISSSSS]

are you building it for him? or just selecting parts

 

[Highbuzz]

He can build it, but he's not very cordinate on what should take priority over what, and neither am I at this point. I am kind of guiding him along...

 

[chinaman1472]

Originally posted by: Highbuzz
Well he decided to go Intel, BUT we can now go 725ish. (Max probably 750ish)

He picked out this card and since I got the impression that VGU > CPU in a gaming rig, I supported. http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130082

Bad card for $200. Either pay the extra $30 for an 8800GT or get a Radeon 3870 for $200. That card is a generation old, and isn't as fast as the 8800GT or the Radeon 3870, and I think even the 3850 is faster than it...

I'd go with my above rig mentioned before with an E4500 and stick an 8800GT in there. Scrap up another 50 bucks in 2 months ($1 a day) and get another stick of 2GB memory. The Abit IP35 is on sale at newegg for $60 AR as well.

 

[Acanthus]

With your increased budget id strongly consider a Wolfdale based processor.

The E8400 will run substantially cooler and overclock substantially further on air.

Many people are hitting 3.6ghz+ on stock voltage and 4.0ghz+ with a small voltage bump.

 

[Highbuzz]

I decided to go with the higher GPU (The wolfdales look incredible though) and here's the build I got, feel free to criticze. (If he wants new ram, he can always add that on at a later time or decide to splurge 50 more)

CPU - 83 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819116052
OR
CPU - 170 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115030

VGU - 220AR - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150273
Mobo - 90 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...ption=P35-DS3L&x=0&y=0
RAM - 50 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231121
Case - 20AR - http://www.microcenter.com/sin...tml?product_id=0265143
PSU - 55 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817371006
HDD 500 GB - 105 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822152052

Since our budget was increased around the 700 area, the E6550 fits nice and snug.

 

[Roguestar]

Do you mean you've already bought that list or you're asking for final feedback? If the former, it's a bit late for criticism! Otherwise, you could consider getting an EVGA graphics card for the step-up program incase the 9800 series come out in the next three months.

 

[chinaman1472]

Seems okay. If you go w/ the cheaper processor, I suggest trying to overclock. It should hit some high speeds on stock cooling and voltage I believe.

 

[Highbuzz]

I think his parents want to buy as much computer stuff as they can at one time and just not do it again for a bit. I fear if he got a lower end card and he tried to step up for another one and ask for a 9800, his parents would just say, "I thought you got a new computer?".

And I think he's going to go E6550, and if he does, still recommend overclocking or should stock speeds be a-ok?

 

[imported_wired247]

Originally posted by: Highbuzz
Well my friend is convinced AMD rules, and for the price of this processor, could it be? http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819103191

All the benchmarks on Tom's Hardware, this thing wipes them off the map by a pretty good amount, and even if you could overclock it, you could overclock this AMD CPU too and it'd probably shine. For the 160 range like the above CPU is, is this AMD better than a C2D at the same price range?

I say this because, the one on my intel build I had picked out is nearly the same price, yet the charts on Tom's Hardware only go up to 6000+, while this CPU is a 6400+, and the 6000+ still kicked pretty good E6550 ass.

Man that CPU is a step back ... 90nm, high power consumption, I'm sure it can perform, and it has a great price, but as far as I'm concerned... DO NOT WANT

 

[Highbuzz]

If you read down though, you would of read that he went back to Intel.

 

[imported_wired247]

I did read that, my comment may have been slightly OT at the time I posted but oh well.