CPU Bang for the Buck -- 2600+ or 2.66

Ajaykay

Member
Jan 25, 2000
66
0
0
It's not my intention to re-re-re-kindle an AMD/Intel flame war but just an honest question on my part. Which processor gives me more bang for the buck -- AMD XP 2600+ or the P4 2.66? They're priced the same so I guess what I'm saying is which one gives me more 'bang?'

New Christmas system build. Already purchased components include:

Antec 1080AMG w/430w PS
2 sticks of Corsair CMX512 3200C2
ATI Radeon 9700
2 WD 80G SE's

Motherboard will depend on the processor naturally. AMD route -- Epox 8RDA+ or ASUS A7N8X. Intel -- one of the 845 PE boards.

Money is burning holes in my pockets. Christmas is coming! Please help!!!!
 

ChampionAtTufshop

Platinum Member
Nov 15, 2002
2,667
0
0
i would get xp2600+ and a7n8x

one reason, unlimited manipulation of mults resulting in higher bus (usually) making better use of the ram's max bandwidth

do you even plan to overclock?
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
1
0
Cool, either way that will be a great system, considering the parts you have already :D

Seems to me like the high-quality onboard audio of the MCP-T-equipped nForce2 boards would be a plus in that department. They support AGP 8x too, for whatever that's worth. You can pick a board with FireWire from either camp, I think, and both offer USB 2.0. There appears to be a future for both types of CPU sockets, with 400MHz Bartons expected and faster Intel CPUs planned for S478.
 

Lizardman

Golden Member
Jul 23, 2001
1,990
0
0
Both processors would be good in my opinion. Just look for the motherboard with the features you want and base your decision on that.
 

Ketchup

Elite Member
Sep 1, 2002
14,559
248
106
Just echoing what has already been said, you will be happy either way. Just a couple things you may want to take note of:

1. If you are going retail, the fan that comes with the P4 is quieter than the one that comes with the AMD.

2. If you like to overclock, the P4 system will probably make you happier than the AMD one will.

3. If you go with AMD, make sure you get the one with the 166-MHz bus. (as opposed to the 133 MHz bus.) You will get better performance running your memory in sync than out of sync at DDR 333.

Have fun making a choice.
 

tbates757

Golden Member
Oct 5, 2002
1,235
0
0
if you do decide AMD, make sure to get the 333fsb 2600+ coupled with an nForce2 board, that pair is deadly =D
 

DivideBYZero

Lifer
May 18, 2001
24,117
2
0
Originally posted by: tbates757
if you do decide AMD, make sure to get the 333fsb 2600+ coupled with an nForce2 board, that pair is deadly =D

Also ensure you get TWO sticks of RAM for Dual DDR

EDIT You have, oops, my bad..!
 

JBT

Lifer
Nov 28, 2001
12,094
1
81
I'd go for the AMD for the benchies I've seen it is faster. Check Anada's P4 3.06 review out it has a bunch of them shows the 2600 beating the p4 2.8 in a few of them.
 

FriedRiceBob

Senior member
Jan 21, 2001
361
0
0
if you plan to overclock, the p4's ability to lock down pci/agp and change the ram divider might be just what the doctor ordered.
 

mamisano

Platinum Member
Mar 12, 2000
2,045
0
76
Originally posted by: FriedRiceBob
if you plan to overclock, the p4's ability to lock down pci/agp and change the ram divider might be just what the doctor ordered.

I believe the new Nforce2 based boards do the same thing.
 

Duvie

Elite Member
Feb 5, 2001
16,215
0
71
Contrary to the guy above who obviously just read one review the p4 speed versus an amd pr rated speed are about equal...meaning 2800+ is right there with p4 2.8...The p4 3.06ghz with HT on or off is the performance king...The fact remains 2800+ will be tough to impossible to find as a chip to buy alone. A 2600+ will be about equal to p4 2.66ghz (533) chip. There are no clear winnners as each do certain things better then others. Look at reviews and see what apps each processor does better in and base your decision on that...Avoid a bunch of the synthetic crap and look at actual programs...ie mpeg2,3,&4 encoding, games, video editing, CADD, etc...

You will be happy with either. The fact is the GB DCDDR mobos of Intel are starting to f^cking piss me off with their tardiness (like old amd days for me). The fact they are not out in numbers and affordable makes me think a nforce2 mobo is the best route. I don't recommend much of the i845pe mobos especially if ocing any....

You could take a 2600+ and rop multipliet and run fsb up to 200fsb and run your corsair pc3200 at its max capabilities....
 

Soulkeeper

Diamond Member
Nov 23, 2001
6,736
156
106
if you wanna save a bit you could pick up a 2400+ and drop the mult and up the fsb
that would be a great price/performance choice
otherwise i would recommend the 2600+
 

Ajaykay

Member
Jan 25, 2000
66
0
0
Thanks for the input -- for the most part it reinforces my inclination to ride the Nforce2 wave that seems to be cresting.

Lots of good suggestions -- the 2400+ was/is a contender for the price performance value but oc'ing is not my primary aim here and I'd just as soon spend the extra C-note for the 333 FSB chip (2600+) and ramp it up to the specs of my Corsair memory.

If GB gets here before I pull the trigger and it offers more value (speed) for my dollar, I may still get the Intel chip but the latest reports do not look promising. And who knows what the price will be when it finally does arrive. Hell, I can pick up the Epox 8RDA+ for $108 shipped at TCWO right now -- GB will be twice that if and when it does get here. I have to build the rig by this Christmas and I've been collecting these assorted components since August so you can imagine how itchy I am to get this party started.

Again.....thank you all for your well thought out replies. :D
 

DivideBYZero

Lifer
May 18, 2001
24,117
2
0
Originally posted by: Ajaykay
Thanks for the input -- for the most part it reinforces my inclination to ride the Nforce2 wave that seems to be cresting.

Lots of good suggestions -- the 2400+ was/is a contender for the price performance value but oc'ing is not my primary aim here and I'd just as soon spend the extra C-note for the 333 FSB chip (2600+) and ramp it up to the specs of my Corsair memory.

If GB gets here before I pull the trigger and it offers more value (speed) for my dollar, I may still get the Intel chip but the latest reports do not look promising. And who knows what the price will be when it finally does arrive. Hell, I can pick up the Epox 8RDA+ for $108 shipped at TCWO right now -- GB will be twice that if and when it does get here. I have to build the rig by this Christmas and I've been collecting these assorted components since August so you can imagine how itchy I am to get this party started.

Again.....thank you all for your well thought out replies. :D

So? Come on, tell us what you got!!
 

BigJ

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
21,330
1
81
Originally posted by: Duvie
Contrary to the guy above who obviously just read one review the p4 speed versus an amd pr rated speed are about equal...meaning 2800+ is right there with p4 2.8...The p4 3.06ghz with HT on or off is the performance king...The fact remains 2800+ will be tough to impossible to find as a chip to buy alone. A 2600+ will be about equal to p4 2.66ghz (533) chip. There are no clear winnners as each do certain things better then others. Look at reviews and see what apps each processor does better in and base your decision on that...Avoid a bunch of the synthetic crap and look at actual programs...ie mpeg2,3,&4 encoding, games, video editing, CADD, etc...

You will be happy with either. The fact is the GB DCDDR mobos of Intel are starting to f^cking piss me off with their tardiness (like old amd days for me). The fact they are not out in numbers and affordable makes me think a nforce2 mobo is the best route. I don't recommend much of the i845pe mobos especially if ocing any....

You could take a 2600+ and rop multipliet and run fsb up to 200fsb and run your corsair pc3200 at its max capabilities....

This is what swayed me from buying a 2.4chip + a GB mobo, the fact that it still is hardly available and that the price is just too damn high to justify the price. And to think, I might've built a P4 system for the first time! Alas, I'll have to wait till Springdale to give that a try, hopefully the 3.06 drops to around 250$ by then, muahahahahahahhaha! :D