Help me find the cheapest dual core at dell home?

[TaylorD]

I had an e521 dual core 5200+ at $450 the other day but cannot replicate it...

I have some money to use at dell.com that expires soon and want to get the cheapest possible configuration with a dual core processor. (everything else as stripped down as possible)

any help appreciated.











So I have a GC to dell and want to buy something really cheap to have as an extra PC. I can get the AMD pc for less than $350, while the Intel comes in at $425 (after using the GC - both are fairly stripped down as I have my own components and don't want to pay dell $100 for 512mb ram, etc...)

Not looking for Intel vs AMD discussion, or any devotees to either brand, just an assessment of how comparable these two processors are in terms of performance...

Any input welcomed
Thanks
-TD

edit:
prices AFTER GC, not BEFORE

 

[cmrmrc]

5200>>>915....dont get the 915...
how can you get a 5200 for less than 350 on a complete pc?

 

[dguy6789]

The Athlon 64 X2 5200+ is significantly faster than the 915. If you overclock the 915 to the max, the 5200 will still be superior at stock.

 

[TaylorD]

sounds good to me. the funny thing is the x2 5200+ computer shows no discounts and comes in at $475 (minus my GC) while the D 915 comes in at about 700 then shows an "instant $150 discount" - for psychological effect I am sure.

obviously this is bare minimum ram, HD, optical drive, no vid card, etc. I have enough crap lying around to fill this machine up better than dell...

 

[irishScott]

Unless we're talking core duo or core 2 duo, AMD is always > Intel

 

[TaylorD]

if i am not mistaken the d 915 is dual core though i dont know if it is core duo

 

[DrMrLordX]

The 915d is dual-core, but it is of a different architecture than Core 2 Duo. Don't make the mistake of assuming people are referring to dual core CPUs in general when they mention Core 2 . . . it is its own Intel brand name (covering Intel's latest dual core processors, such as the Conroe and Allendale).

In any case, Pentium Ds are inferior now that Intel has moved to Core 2.

Core 2 > X2 > Pentium D

Just remember that and you'll be fine, usually. Huge differences in clock speed can sometimes change that equation, but not always.

 

[TaylorD]

i know core 2 duo is a whole different thing, but wasn't sure about the difference between "core duo" and "dual core" I assume there is none and "core duo" is Intel's name for it?

I have a core 2 duo (T7200) laptop, XPS M1210 - it runs circles around my old(er) xeon setup.

 

[Noya]

"Core Duo" was the mobile CPU that is the predecessor to "Core 2 Duo". "Core Duo" is still superior to "Pentium D" dual core CPU's.

 

[TaylorD]

I thought centrino duo was the mobile predecessor to the mobile core 2 duo processors? Intel really f'ed this one up in terms of naming, IMO. The average consumer is bewildered.

 

[StopSign]

Centrino Duo is the platform name for their dual-core laptops for both Yonah and Merom processors.

"Core Duo" and "Core 2 Duo" are names of their current generation of dual-core processors. They're names just like "Pentium 4" and "Athlon 64."

 

[stevty2889]

The 915 is a pentium-d, dual core P4 chips, netburst architecture
Core duo= yonah, = dual core pentium-m chips, designed specificaly for laptops
Core 2 duo = Conroe, the new architecture, primarily based off of core duo rather than netburst like the pentium-d's

Basicly, there is no real choice, the AMD system you listed is way better than the pentium-d, higher end AMD chip vs. bottom of the barrel Intel chip.

 

[IntelUser2000]

I thought centrino duo was the mobile predecessor to the mobile core 2 duo processors? Intel really f'ed this one up in terms of naming, IMO. The average consumer is bewildered.

Seriously though, people were confused way before Core 2 Duo naming came about. I doubt most can tell what Centrino really is, and whether its a CPU or a platform.

So to answer your question, no, Centrino Duo isn't a processor, but a platform. Centrino Duo systems can have Core Duo, or the newer Core 2 Duo CPUs. You can think of the Core 2 Duo as an engine in the car, and Centrino Duo as the entire car.

Predecessor to Core 2 Duo is Core Duo, at least according to the naming.

 

[TaylorD]

I believe centrino included an intel wireless adapter as well?

 

[Amaroque]

Originally posted by: stevty2889
Basicly, there is no real choice, the AMD system you listed is way better than the pentium-d, higher end AMD chip vs. bottom of the barrel Intel chip.

Agreed. I really like my X2's.

However, I just built a C2D and I'm thourghly impressed with it (from OC, to thermals, to general IPC).

What everyone is saying here is correct. IMO don't buy any P4D.

 

[StopSign]

Yes, the Centrino package includes a processor and wireless card.

 

[TaylorD]

sounds good, I did some more research and the 5200+ is the clear winner, especially since it (?) comes out cheaper

 

[TaylorD]

bastards changed the builds on me, so a 5200+ comes in near $800 now!!! knew i should have pulled the trigger...

 

[sdsdv10]

Can you use your Dell GC at the Outlet store? I usually buy refurbished as they are significantly cheaper. My Dad just ordered a refurbished XPS410 with a E6700 CPU, 2GB of RAM, 2 x DVD burners, 2 harddrives in RAID 1 (don't know size) some type of ATI graphics card, keyboard, mouse with XP Pro for $980 with free shipping. The CPU and OS alone would cost $640 at Newegg, so I don't think it's a bad deal (~$340 for case, fans, PSU, 2GB DDR2 RAM, 2 HDD, 2 DVDs, GPU, motherboard, keyboard and mouse). Same warranty as new builds. Just a thought.

 

[TaylorD]

unfortunately no... i usually shop at the outlet as well (on a refurb dell right now...) but this credit i have is good for new home system purchases only

 

[coldpower27]

Originally posted by: TaylorD
bastards changed the builds on me, so a 5200+ comes in near $800 now!!! knew i should have pulled the trigger...

As it should be the Pentium D 915 is officially 113USD, while the Athlon 64x2 5200+ is officially 403USD.

They were probably just correcting an error.

 

[TaylorD]

Originally posted by: coldpower27

Originally posted by: TaylorD
bastards changed the builds on me, so a 5200+ comes in near $800 now!!! knew i should have pulled the trigger...

As it should be the Pentium D 915 is officially 113USD, while the Athlon 64x2 5200+ is officially 403USD.

They were probably just correcting an error.

not exactly... if you go to build it now, with the 5200+, it requires certain things, like a 2 year warranty, larger hd, better optical drive, etc.... used to just be able to add it to a bottom of the line system...

 

[coldpower27]

Originally posted by: TaylorD

Originally posted by: coldpower27

Originally posted by: TaylorD
bastards changed the builds on me, so a 5200+ comes in near $800 now!!! knew i should have pulled the trigger...

As it should be the Pentium D 915 is officially 113USD, while the Athlon 64x2 5200+ is officially 403USD.

They were probably just correcting an error.

not exactly... if you go to build it now, with the 5200+, it requires certain things, like a 2 year warranty, larger hd, better optical drive, etc.... used to just be able to add it to a bottom of the line system...

The end result is the same, your forced to pay more for the system regardless, something has got to give as these 2 processors are nowhere near the same price points. You get some more stuff in the process, but your still forced to pay considerably more, as you should.