Did I jump the gun and do something stupid

[MonkeyFaces]

I just purchased an x2 3800 windsor + MSI kn9 neo (low end nforce 5) motherboard for $240 w/ shipping and tax factored in. I already have a conroe capable motherboard, the abit 965pro, which I purchased for $200 and intend on returning to the retailer. Should I have just kept the motherboard and my current p4 prescott 630, then upgraded to an e6300 for a total of $420+ (without tax and shipping)? Did the $240 combo offer a better price : performance ratio over a low end conroe + mobo combo (would be around $450 w/ tax)?

 

[MonkeyFaces]

I did a little thinking after I posted the thread, and I decided I should cancel the x2+mobo order. I doubt the x2 3800 or conroe will provide any real world performance over my current p4 + 7900gt. However, before I do cancel the order (or decide against it), I would like to hear other people's input.

 

[myocardia]

I have only bought AMD's processors for the last 8+ years, but I would cancel that order.

 

[Duvie]

Why does the E6300 cost 420+ to upgrade??? That is only like 215 dollars at monarch....

I would get the Conroe...cancelling the AMD was a good move...

Edit: I see on the 420 thing...You are adding the cost of the mobo....

I would ******-can that mobo for a cheaper 150 dollar Gigabyte board or wait for Nvidia boards later this month..

 

[larciel]

so you have p4 630 right now and want to upgrade?

1) amd x2 3800 choice is waste of money IMO. Performance boost over p4 isn't worth $240
2) e6300 setup for $450. while performance might justify the cost, you won't feel $450 worth of difference.

so, yes I agree with you that you should cancel the upgrade for now

 

[Kwint Sommer]

A Conroe running at an equal clock speed (I don't know what your motherboard can do but I do know that the E6300 can be overclocked to 3GHz) would more than triple your current performance. Personally I would keep the P4 and motherboard for a few months and when a good deal comes along on a Conroe upgrade. The x2 3800 just won't last you that long before needing an upgrade. So long as you're spending the money you might as well get a system that will last a few years and the 3800 isn't it.

 

[MonkeyFaces]

The benchmarks say than an x2 4400 is on par with a stock e6300. What are the chances that the x2 3800 can oc to 2.4 on stock voltages. How will such an overclock affect power consumption?

 

[Kwint Sommer]

I must admit to being ignorant as to the exact overclock an x2 4400 can yield but it has been my experience that an x2 that will do more than a 20% overclock is rare indeed. Conversely, it seems reasonable that with a decent board the E6300 can be overclocked by 40% and members of this forum are reporting closer to 60% using only air. An x2 4800 when well overclocked would probably match an equally well-overclocked E6300. That should be proof enough of which is the better deal but if you want stock speeds then an x2 4400 is the equivalent.

 

[MonkeyFaces]

If I kept the current abit 965 pro, would it likely support quad core?

 

[Bender316]

Originally posted by: larciel
so you have p4 630 right now and want to upgrade?

1) amd x2 3800 choice is waste of money IMO. Performance boost over p4 isn't worth $240
2) e6300 setup for $450. while performance might justify the cost, you won't feel $450 worth of difference.

so, yes I agree with you that you should cancel the upgrade for now

In single core apps perhaps, but overclocked and considering it's dual core, the 3800+ is a much nicer chip.
I have a 630 and it runs at 55C idle at stock with a TT Typhoon! -it's hot as hell. And it can't even handle HDTV decoding on H2.64... For dual core, overclocking and heat output I think the 3800+ is a worthwhile upgrade. You won't get cheaper performance/watt in that price range.

if he can do the conroe for similar money on the Gigabyte DS3 board, he will end up with an even better machine.

 

[Zebo]

3800+ blows away conroe price performance. The whole board and cpu costs as much as just intel prcessor.. add a board and... AMD setup is 50% cheaper and only ~15% slower. By definition better price to performance.


Overclocking 2600Mhz for both should be automatic. Core will still be 20% faster and still cost 100% more money. Again 3800 has better price to performance.

 

[Zebo]

What's your budget and use? What are you trying to accomplish here exactly?

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: MonkeyFaces
If I kept the current abit 965 pro, would it likely support quad core?

Your best bet is to contact Abit about that one. Supposedly, 965 boards are Kentsfield compatable. Certainly may require a bios update though.

 

[MonkeyFaces]

Price: Performance ratio and power consumption are certainly my priorities. I only truly considered canceling my order when people told me the e6300 offers more performance for its price. Now that many have stated the x2 3800 offers just that, I may just reconsider, and keep my order. My budget is $250 for now. My options are conroe mobo now, conroe cpu later, or x2 3800 + decent mobo at the same time (would be much nicer).

 

[MonkeyFaces]

Originally posted by: Bender316

Originally posted by: larciel
so you have p4 630 right now and want to upgrade?

1) amd x2 3800 choice is waste of money IMO. Performance boost over p4 isn't worth $240
2) e6300 setup for $450. while performance might justify the cost, you won't feel $450 worth of difference.

so, yes I agree with you that you should cancel the upgrade for now

In single core apps perhaps, but overclocked and considering it's dual core, the 3800+ is a much nicer chip.
I have a 630 and it runs at 55C idle at stock with a TT Typhoon! -it's hot as hell. And it can't even handle HDTV decoding on H2.64... For dual core, overclocking and heat output I think the 3800+ is a worthwhile upgrade. You won't get cheaper performance/watt in that price range.

if he can do the conroe for similar money on the Gigabyte DS3 board, he will end up with an even better machine.

I need a new motherboard now, and I think that x2 3800 will be the better platform as far as sli support goes. I currently have 1 7900gt and an evga 7600gt waiting to step up to a 7900, or dx10 equivilant.

 

[Zebo]

Well you dont have a choice of SLI yet with C2D so the answer is obvious I'd think??? 3800+, Sli mobo, OC to 2600-2800 Buy another GT For $224.. total is $476.

 

[MonkeyFaces]

Getting an sli mobo instead of the cheap basic one I ordered will make the total $300. I know I don't have a choice if I want sli, but is it still a good price : performance ratio when comparing to a conroe that will cost $450 w/ tax and shipping?

 

[Zebo]

3800 x2 -$150
M55SLI - $93
7900GT - $224

Total $476 shipped like I said
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150144
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/ViewProducts...U&DNAME=Motherboard+Bundles+By+AMD+CPU

 

[myocardia]

I actually see it this way: if you're only looking for something that will hold you over for a short while, get the 3800. If you're looking for awesome performance, for not that much more money, go Conroe or C2D if you like calling it that.

I'm personally building a Socket 939-based system right now. I refuse, at the moment, to buy another two gigs of RAM, since I already have 3 gigs of awesome RAM (2x512 MB of BH-6 and 2x1GB of 2-3-2-5 PQI Turbo, that will do 240 Mhz, all DDR(1)). Dang, I'm not even going dual-core yet. There's no need, yet. A single-core will still outgame a dual-core! I plan on buying a nice dual-core, and putting it in the closet, for when I actually need it (Skt 939 version), but they aren't even needed yet, for gaming.

So, the only thing that makes any sense at all, is buying what will make you happy. If you can afford to go Conroe, that makes the most sense right now, truthfully. But, if you can't, there's not a thing wrong with going AM2.

 

[Zebo]

He's a gamer - SLI will do far far more than a CORE in reality
http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTEwOCwxLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA==

GPU is limiting game performance when running high quality with high resolutions. Not processor.

Dispite these results I am purchasing the E6700 - But I'm a fool with money and hardware enthusiast. But it does'nt make sense from a price/performance standpoint for a gamer.

He can get SLI mobo, X2 and another 7900GT for alomst the same price as Core + mobo alone... everyone knows which makes more sense here. Until E4200 and actual SLI support comes out for Intel core, AMD still makes more sense for a hard core gamer.

 

[MonkeyFaces]

Originally posted by: Zebo
3800 x2 -$150
M55SLI - $93
7900GT - $224

Total $476 shipped like I said
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150144
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/ViewProducts...U&DNAME=Motherboard+Bundles+By+AMD+CPU

THANK YOU! I wasn't aware of the budget motherboard options from gigabyte. I was starting to think I would have to pay $300+ for an x2 + sli combo, but now it can still cost $250. I will buy a 7900gt from bestbuy with a 30% coupon. It becomes the same price as the xfx gt w/o rebate and my current gt is a bfg.

 

[Zebo]

A third option is stick with Intel sell your GT and get a 7950 dual GPU one slot solution.

E6300 $220
Giga DS3 $150
7950 GX2 $500

Sub total $870

- $200 for selling your GT

Total $670

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130023

...does'nt make much sense though. Not only is this $200 more, it's slower GPU wise especially considering you can OC separte GTs like crazy.