Is a Core 2 6300 really worth $450 more?

[Freejack2]

It seems I can get an opteron 165 for $160 shipped these days and it's supposed to be a decent overclocker. I have an Asus A8N SLI Deluxe I got from the Microcenter Deal and I already have 1.5gb of pc3200 DDR.
So for me to go to a Core2 6300 I'd need 2gb (1.5gb makes no sense if I'm getting new ram) of DDR2, a new motherboard, and the Core 2. I'd be spending about $450 more to get into a core2 over an opty 165.

If you were in my shoes would you spend the $450 extra for a core 2 or is the performance difference not worth $450?

 

[dexvx]

Probably not if you want an easy drop in replacement. However, you can recoup much of the cost by selling your DDR memory, Asus A8N-SLI board, and CPU. I think you end up paying about $250ish extra

 

[harpoon84]

Originally posted by: dexvx
Probably not if you want an easy drop in replacement. However, you can recoup much of the cost by selling your DDR memory, Asus A8N-SLI board, and CPU. I think you end up paying about $250ish extra

Yup, summed it up nicely.

You'll have to reinstall Windows and everything as well if you change platform, so if that's too much of a hassle then an Opty 165 might be a better choice.

It also depends on what you mainly do with your PC as well. If you are primarily a gamer then just get the Opty 165 and overclock it to 2.8GHz and it will run all the latest games fine.

If you use your PC more for CPU intensive tasks like media rendering/encoding and want tasks to be done as fast as possible then an upgrade to C2D makes more sense.

 

[Freejack2]

Actually I'm running a P4 HyperThreading Northwood on an Asus P4P800 right now, No matter what, my current processor and board are going to my wife. If I went to a Core 2 6300, I'd sell her processor which is worth maybe $30 (P4 2.4 Northy, non HT), A8N board is worth about $50, her old board about $20, and her ram is worth maybe $40 so that's only $140. So I'd still need $310 more for the upgrade.

I mostly do gaming, I rarely do anything with media rendering/encoding. The worst I've done is encoded a video while playing World of Warcraft and my HT Northy seemed to do ok with it. Would I be right in thinking that the upgrade from a Radeon 9800 pro to a Geforce 7900gto is going to be the most effective of my upgrades and that the Core 2 6300 isn't going to have as much as an impact as the upgraded video card?

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Freejack2
Would I be right in thinking that the upgrade from a Radeon 9800 pro to a Geforce 7900gto is going to be the most effective of my upgrades and that the Core 2 6300 isn't going to have as much as an impact as the upgraded video card?

You're definitely right. GPU's make alot more difference in the gaming arena than processors.

 

[dexvx]

FYI, Fry's has a retail E6300 / ECS 945P board for $179.

I dont know, seems like a toss up to me.

 

[Furen]

Originally posted by: dexvx
FYI, Fry's has a retail E6300 / ECS 945P board for $179.

I dont know, seems like a toss up to me.

Except that that board probably doesn't overclock much, and he'd still need new ram. I'd go for the Opteron and a new video card, if possible.

 

[harpoon84]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: Freejack2
Would I be right in thinking that the upgrade from a Radeon 9800 pro to a Geforce 7900gto is going to be the most effective of my upgrades and that the Core 2 6300 isn't going to have as much as an impact as the upgraded video card?

You're definitely right. GPU's make alot more difference in the gaming arena than processors.

To a degree only.

Typically, online FPS and MMORPG games, as well as RTS and flight sims, are more CPU dependant than single player FPS/RPG or racing type games.

A P4 w/HT may struggle with the latest online games, depending on what it's clocked it. If it's below 3GHz, then the upgrade to an E6300 or Opteron 165 will also be VERY beneficial.

 

[zsdersw]

You'll have to reinstall Windows and everything as well if you change platform,

Maybe.. maybe not. I would've thought that as well.. having experienced it personally many times.. but then I saw an XP installation get moved from one platform to another without any blue screens.. just new drivers to be loaded and that's it. I was rather shocked indeed. Of course, I've also seen the converse.. XP installation moved to a computer with the same chipset (but a different motherboard) and have it refuse to boot normally. The bottom line, I guess, is that it's a toss up.

 

[rudder]

If I wasn't able to get 2 gigs of DDR2 for $125... I probably would have kept my biostar tforce and 3500+ amd and popped in an X2. But the ram and the fact I do lots of video encoding made it an easier decision. I got an E6300 and really I think I won't need to upgrade for quite a while now.

 

[OcHungry]

Originally posted by: dexvx
FYI, Fry's has a retail E6300 / ECS 945P board for $179.

I dont know, seems like a toss up to me.

Push push conroe push.
use above as your moto, you might get a raise.

 

[akshayt]

what is your prime usage?

 

[crydee]

I have a P4P800 with a P4 3.0 w/HT and a 9800 pro and 1.5 gigs of ram too. I gave up on Oblivion because I couldnt even play it decently and FEAR was a definte no-no. I'm going to drop 1200 or so and build around a E6600 for all the new games that look great coming up. You'll have to upgrade to DDR2 sometime and eventually socket type, so why not now in preperation for a good line up(imo)?

 

[swtethan]

Originally posted by: OcHungry

Originally posted by: dexvx
FYI, Fry's has a retail E6300 / ECS 945P board for $179.

I dont know, seems like a toss up to me.

Push push conroe push.
use above as your moto, you might get a raise.

we all know by now that youre the ultimate AMD fanboy

 

[kenji4life]

Originally posted by: OcHungry

Originally posted by: dexvx
FYI, Fry's has a retail E6300 / ECS 945P board for $179.

I dont know, seems like a toss up to me.

Push push conroe push.
use above as your moto, you might get a raise.

Even as an AMD stockholder, It's starting to get old to me. I don't like intel either (they are largely based here in my area), but let it go man, let it go.

 

[dexvx]

Originally posted by: OcHungry

Originally posted by: dexvx
FYI, Fry's has a retail E6300 / ECS 945P board for $179.

I dont know, seems like a toss up to me.

Push push conroe push.
use above as your moto, you might get a raise.

OH DAMN, I didnt know you worked for DesignReactor too??

 

[Viditor]

Originally posted by: Freejack2
It seems I can get an opteron 165 for $160 shipped these days and it's supposed to be a decent overclocker. I have an Asus A8N SLI Deluxe I got from the Microcenter Deal and I already have 1.5gb of pc3200 DDR.
So for me to go to a Core2 6300 I'd need 2gb (1.5gb makes no sense if I'm getting new ram) of DDR2, a new motherboard, and the Core 2. I'd be spending about $450 more to get into a core2 over an opty 165.

If you were in my shoes would you spend the $450 extra for a core 2 or is the performance difference not worth $450?

Either an Opty or an X2 would certainly be the best bang for the buck...
The 2 reasons for an AMD system at the moment are
1. Low cost dual core
2. Upgrades

You certainly fall into category 2, and if you went to Conroe you're not going to get a performance increase equivalent to the extra cost...

The one caveat to this is if you plan on doing some heavy overclocking...the headroom on the Conroe is significant. That said, you should definately get a good (and more expensive) Intel mobo for a heavy OC...but at least you'll get a performance increase more in line with your investment.
At the end of the day, it depends on your budget.