Intel, AMD, and system building

ExcaliburMM

Senior member
Jan 24, 2009
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Hey Anandtech,
In my spare time, I build and sell PCs. On various forums people ask me to design them builds, and whenever I can't answer them, I direct them here. Because people trust me with their money, I try to keep up on what's going on. Today, I compared DDR2 and DDR3 memory prices again.

2x2GB DDR2 800: 88$. 2x2GB DDR3 1600: 79$.

To me, this signals the final nail in 775's coffin, as if all other signs weren't pointing this way anyway.

Now, from my entry into hardware, which admittedly was only a few years ago, I've been doing Intel builds. I'm mainly designing gaming riggs, rather than benchmarking/encoding/workstation, for various people. My concern is at what price point and to what comparisons is AMD a viable alternative?

AMD sockets confuse me as to which is compatible with what, due to the AM2/AM2+ business, but from what I gather, with AMD's lower motherboard prices, wouldn't an AM3 DDR3 system be viable for a build for performance between i5 and i7 with a cost effective price point?

I'm not really aware of the overclocking potentials of AMD chips, (XGhz being an expectation for X Intel chip), though I do see they offer more unlocked chips than Intel seems to. Nor am I aware which AMD CPU is comparable to which Intel CPU. Are there any charts that could give me such information?
 

cusideabelincoln

Diamond Member
Aug 3, 2008
3,275
46
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If you look at just processor pricing, anything below $150 right now should belong to AMD. They offer more more-than-dual-core processors below this price.

And with the prices of DDR2 and DDR3, socket AM3 is the best way to go for a build from scratch. Just about all Athlon II and Phenom II processors can work in either AM2+ or AM3 sockets. If the processor is labeled as AM3, then it will also work in AM2+.
 

Duvie

Elite Member
Feb 5, 2001
16,215
0
71
If you look at just processor pricing, anything below $150 right now should belong to AMD. They offer more more-than-dual-core processors below this price.

And with the prices of DDR2 and DDR3, socket AM3 is the best way to go for a build from scratch. Just about all Athlon II and Phenom II processors can work in either AM2+ or AM3 sockets. If the processor is labeled as AM3, then it will also work in AM2+.

Unfortunately you dont and it takes more then just a cpu to make a system....All parts included I dont see enough of a price point for me to build AMD systems for people unless they specifically ask for them.

I started building exclusively C2D since 2006 and the people are still kicking butt with those systems and they are all up and running. Since 2006 AMD in each processor succession has consistently been slightly underperforming....So they try to drop the price below Intels to clean up in the middle range before INtels crap celerons or neutered cache chips.

Most people I build for dont need quads yet so I can build an awfully cheap C2D bundled setup for neglible cost with other components versus similar performing AMD setups...
 

lopri

Elite Member
Jul 27, 2002
13,327
708
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Most people
Well yeah I did my share of garage cleaning with C2D's for neighbors and friends. Though I understand that AT crowd is not 'most people' and they tend to be very demanding. :twisted: