Cheapest, modern, budget, dual-core rig platform?

[mfenn]

http://www.ecsusa.com/ECSWebSite/Pr...oryID=1&DetailName=Feature&MenuID=103&LanID=0

It says "22nm support" for that mobo, and Newegg shows IB support in the RAM specs. However, for that specific G1610 CPU, the CPU support list for that board calls out a BIOS release from 2013, that isn't even on the download page. What's up with that?

The CPU is super new, so the BIOS page probably hasn't been updated yet. Anyway, just because an H61 can support a 22nm CPU doesn't mean that the BIOS you get in the box is new enough to support one. Hence the need for a spare (supported) CPU to do the flash with.

 

[VirtualLarry]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116889

So much for savings. Newegg wants $49.99 FS for them.

I guess I'll just stick to 2.5Ghz SB for the same price.

 

[mfenn]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116889

So much for savings. Newegg wants $49.99 FS for them.

I guess I'll just stick to 2.5Ghz SB for the same price.

Ah lame, typical Newegg overcharging.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

What about the AMD A68 APU I mentioned (integrated into a Biostar mobo for $86.97)? Obviously, it's basically comparable to an Atom, but still... dual core.

Or, the Asrock motherboard I recommended and Torn Mind's dual core Celeron (the G530, for $44.00 at Amazon)?

Your cheapest dual-core option in a currently-supported platform is likely to be the Ivy Bridge-based G1610 when it hits the channel in a few days. At $42 MSRP, it undercuts all the dual-core Sandy Bridge Celerons.

That G1610 sound like a very good deal. It'll certainly blow anything Brazos-based out of the water.

Brazos is competitive with "elite" Pentium 4s performance-wise. Even Llano blows it out of the water.

As a side note the G465 is equal with the P4EE 3.73GHz and the E350 has roughly half the performance of that... 😉