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Help me choose a CPU..

J

jcarson

Senior member
I am a desktop user, no gaming, tech savy, and use my pc as a media center (mainly)

I am looking to upgrade on the cheap.

I am looking for the best combo of MB and proc. in the bang for buck category. Trying to stay under 125 total! 😱

Anyone know what the best option is?

AMD x2 black? Core2 duo? HELP! I have been out of the hardware look for a while now.
 
The 780G platform for AMD is generally considered the best Media platform around. nVidia has some pretty comparable chipsets as well though. Intel is actually pretty lacking in that respect. If you are going to go cheap, you should be able to find a 780G combo with a AMD 4850e X2 processor for less than your stated $125.
 
is an E5200 as good as a AMD x2? It's on the 800Mhz FSB and is listed as pentium which if memory serves was slower than AMD's CPUs by a fair bit. Now I don't know about these newer ones and what they're all about so feel free to inform me.

 
Sometimes even faster than a Phenom x3 too which isn't bad at all. E5200 looks like the best buy mentioned so far...just need a mobo to go with it.
 
The egg has e5200 for 83. Seems a touch high, but not too bad. Now for a decent board. Micro or Regular ATX are good. I have a pci express video card already.
 
Originally posted by: Martimus
If you are going to go cheap, you should be able to find a 780G combo with a AMD 4850e X2 processor for less than your stated $125.
Click to expand...
+1

Something like this is unbeatable for a media center. If you are not gaming, or doing anything intensive with your pc, getting a cheap X2 + 780G mobo is the best way to go.
 
This recent comparo of 100 Intel and AMD processors is good to pinpoint bang-for-the-buck.

http://www.matbe.com/articles/...processeurs/page30.php

An AMD 780G mATX mobo with decent Athlon X2 processor is hard to beat for the price. I like the 5400+ because it is the fastest 65 W TDP X2 with an even frequency (2.8 Ghz). There is a slight penalty with odd frequencies (2.5, 2.7, 2.9) on the older K8 architecture.

I just upgraded myself to a 5400+. I paired it with an NVidia chipset (Asus M3N78-VM) because I prefer to work with Nvidia video drivers, but I almost got a 780G platform which is slightly better than the GeForce 8200 I got.

Because of its all-copper heatsink, I like this Asus model which is the AMD-chipset equivalent of my Nvidia M3N78-VM:

ASUS M3A78-EM for $79

Athlon 64 x2 5400+ for $66

Then get yourself some Kingston Value RAM DDR2 800 (2 GB for XP and 4 GB for Vista) and you are in business.


 
I am ordering the e5200, but torn on which board to get. Kinda want the asus, as they seem to be quality, but open to others. Any suggestions? Probably buying at newegg. They have 2 asus around 54.00.
 
Originally posted by: jcarson
I am ordering the e5200, but torn on which board to get. Kinda want the asus, as they seem to be quality, but open to others. Any suggestions? Probably buying at newegg. They have 2 asus around 54.00.
Click to expand...

I am surprized that you went with an Intel chip, considering what your stated goals were, but since you did I would suggest one of these motherboards, because it has similar capabilities to a 780G Motherboard, but will support Intel CPU's.
 
Originally posted by: jcarson
I am ordering the e5200, but torn on which board to get. Kinda want the asus, as they seem to be quality, but open to others. Any suggestions? Probably buying at newegg. They have 2 asus around 54.00.
Click to expand...

I see a gigabyte and an ASUS G31 chipset for $53, but shipping. There is a foxconn for $54 and free shipping, and a friend actually said it was a good board for overclocking (Duvie in case anyone else here knows him)
 
If you don't game at all, AMD 780G+ a cheapo X2 is pretty nice deal for non gamers. They also perform pretty well on say something like compilation tasks etc. 780G has acceralation on high def playback so perfect for a media center + working rig.

on other hand if you OC, you should get a Intel because they can get ya more once OCed. But the choices for chipset end might be little worse than 780G can get you for the money.
 
Originally posted by: Martimus
Originally posted by: jcarson
I am ordering the e5200, but torn on which board to get. Kinda want the asus, as they seem to be quality, but open to others. Any suggestions? Probably buying at newegg. They have 2 asus around 54.00.
Click to expand...

I am surprized that you went with an Intel chip, considering what your stated goals were, but since you did I would suggest one of these motherboards, because it has similar capabilities to a 780G Motherboard, but will support Intel CPU's.
Click to expand...


Well the chart posted by BernardP and other sites I have looked into said that the e5200 was a better bang for the buck unless you were gaming. I havent placed the order yet, but should soon.

 
If you plan on using HDMI for audio as well as video, best to avoid the 780G. It does not support surround LPCM over HDMI, only stereo.

Don't understand how 780G is "perfect" for HTPC, considering this limitation,
 
I guess I should clarify.. I am using Vista MCE to record HD via HDHomerun, then streaming to my 360 in the front room. Not really using it as a "traditional" HTPC.

Thats how I am using it as a media center / email / web surfer.
 
Originally posted by: error8
Originally posted by: Martimus
If you are going to go cheap, you should be able to find a 780G combo with a AMD 4850e X2 processor for less than your stated $125.
Click to expand...
+1

Something like this is unbeatable for a media center. If you are not gaming, or doing anything intensive with your pc, getting a cheap X2 + 780G mobo is the best way to go.
Click to expand...

I love my 780G + 4850e setup. Makes for a fantastic work/general task box. And the beauty of it is that I could watch a bluray with no issues and don't anything more than the mobo, cpu and ram to be up and running.
 
Question..

If I am using a PCI Express card, does the chipset (as in 780g) even matter? I have an nVidia 9600 that will be in there.
 
Originally posted by: jcarson
Question..

If I am using a PCI Express card, does the chipset (as in 780g) even matter? I have an nVidia 9600 that will be in there.
Click to expand...

If you have a 9600GT you should be fine with a non-integrated motherboard. In that case, a E5200 and cheap MB might make more sense. Intel MB are usually more expensive on the lower end, because they have the additional routing to the memory controller in the Northbridge, along with the additional cooling that NB needs compared to an AMD NB. This is the real reason an AMD setup is usually cheaper than an Intel setup, because CPU prices are pretty competitive. If you found a good MB for the price you want with that E5200, then by all means get it. The 9600GT should have most of the features you want for your media playing needs, plus it is a pretty good card for gaming as well!
 
Originally posted by: jcarson

Well the chart posted by BernardP and other sites I have looked into said that the e5200 was a better bang for the buck unless you were gaming. I havent placed the order yet, but should soon.
Click to expand...

However, if you read the AT article on IGP chipsets, they seem to favor the AMD solutions quite heavily. The Intel IGP products leave a lot to be desired. CPU is only half the equation.

Also with the AMD you're getting a cheaper CPU, which leaves you room to get a normal motherboard, rather than scraping the bargain bin on an intel board.

http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3430&p=7
Check how the G35 fares, then consider the G31 is worse.

People are recommending 4850e or 5050e + 780G because it's the better whole solution. There's no question that an e5200 is a better processor, but given your budget , you are probably better off with an AMD solution.
 
Originally posted by: Concillian
However, if you read the AT article on IGP chipsets, they seem to favor the AMD solutions quite heavily. The Intel IGP products leave a lot to be desired. CPU is only half the equation.

Also with the AMD you're getting a cheaper CPU, which leaves you room to get a normal motherboard, rather than scraping the bargain bin on an intel board.

http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3430&p=7
Check how the G35 fares, then consider the G31 is worse.

People are recommending 4850e or 5050e + 780G because it's the better whole solution. There's no question that an e5200 is a better processor, but given your budget , you are probably better off with an AMD solution.
Click to expand...

The OP stated a couple of posts back that he's using a Geforce 9600. So IGP won't matter to him.

BTW, the Nvidia 8x00 solution performed about as well as the AMD solution, overall. It did not fare as well with games, but better on Blu Ray playback.
 
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