CPU Recommendation

[Gunslinger08]

What would you recommend? Is AMD still dominant in the ~$200 range? I'll be pairing it with probably a 7800GT.

 

[o1die]

The san diego 3700 is a great value.

 

[LiquidImpulse]

why not just go for something like a 3200+ and OC it? Saves u tons of cash.

 

[VooDooAddict]

Since there is no mention of overclocking I'm giving the recomendation based on no Overclocking.

Right now, I'm recomending the X2 3800+ to just about anyone. The only drawback is the price. It's right @ $300. Once you go dual CPU or dual core you won't want to go back. It's not nessesarily "faster"... it's just so much Smoother.

The 3700+ has got some legs for a single core. Nice stock clock speed + 1Meg cache.

If they are out of your range then snag a 3200+. Even at stock speeds the 3200+ is a very nice CPU. Much quicker then Athlon XP or similar rated P4s

 

[themusgrat]

If overclocking, get the 3200 or an Opteron 165, if you can find it for ~300. If not, I would also get the 3800 X2.