Pentium D or Core 2 Duo?

[Wiz]

Which is best, which runs best, & coolest & better OC etc?

I have a friend who wants me to help him spec a new Intel system

Also - is AMD still better bang for the buck - or has Intel caught up?

I don't want any AMD/Intel is better crap, just good reasons why you think either one is best in the $200 - $300 CPU market.

Thanks, and lets keep it civil please.

 

[scottv67]

Wiz,

I built a couple of Intel C2D Conroe systems recently that are real rock-crushers when it comes to Folding performance. The CPUs I used are E6600 (2.4GHz stock) and they overclock easily.

I'm not a huge expert on AMD but I'm pretty happy with my new Conroe-based systems. The Conroes seems to run cooler than my older Intel systems.

If you go to Newegg and look at the Intel processors, certain CPUs (like the E6600) have a ton of feedback posted. You might pick up some good tidbits there.

Thanks,
-scottv67

 

[Wolfsraider]

I am running the e6600 as well and built an e6300 for a friend, they are beasts no heat issues and with the asrock mobo (little o/c if any) you can still use agp card or pci and ddr2 or ddr (2 sticks max though)

Mine is rock stable (unless you count user errors lol)

I have had dual xeon, opteron 165, and prescotts northwoods the c2d is hands down a better propcessor, but i admit i loved the opteron 165 setup (same mobo setup in the 60.00 ish range usd. its the sata2 dual variant this time 775 version. last was sata dual 939. The mobos are very good bang for the buck, unless you want max oc . the opteron oc 600 mhz this one about 300mhz.

You might wait for Amaroque to chime in though...

Amaroque
Golden Member

Posts: 1587
Joined: 01/02/2005
BTW I've noticed that the Toledo core @ 2.8GHz with only 512 Meg at DDR 500 in single channel is at least 25% faster then the C2D @ 2.4GHz running at DDR2 700 with 2048 Megs of RAM in dual channel.

Interesting.

He might give you a different agle on the amd / intel

Whichever way you go it will definetly be a fast syatem

 

[Coquito]

Well, you have this. Then you have the c2d chips going for their usual premium. D is in the sink, leave it be.

AMD is quite cheap now, but only the top chips can keep up with the low end of the Core2Duo line. C2Ds clock up well with even cheap ram, but I'm too inexperienced to have tested anything yet.

 

[BlackMountainCow]

If cost is the #1 issue, an X2 is the best choice in my opinion.

But if performance matters just a bit, then the C2D is way better than the P-D and still a lot better than the X2 (at comparable MHz/ratings of course).


My 2 cents

 

[petrusbroder]

An other 2 cents:

Pentiums are too hot and not efficient enough.
Even a low end C2D is more efficient then a similar priced AMD.
The C2D overclock very well (more than 3 MHz for an E6400 - no problems if you have a good cooler and good RAM-sticks)

I am planning for a C2D and have considered my options during the past month.

 

[Wiz]

Thanks guys, should be enough to convince him.

 

[Assimilator1]

Originally posted by: Wiz
Which is best, which runs best, & coolest & better OC etc?

I have a friend who wants me to help him spec a new Intel system

Also - is AMD still better bang for the buck - or has Intel caught up?

I don't want any AMD/Intel is better crap, just good reasons why you think either one is best in the $200 - $300 CPU market.

Thanks, and lets keep it civil please.

C2D is far superior to Pentium D ,much faster & cooler
C2D is faster than X2s clock for clock but price cuts by AMD have kept them competitive (last time I checked anyway), though C2D overclocks way better.

Look at Anandtechs E6300/6400 review for more info & Anandtechs E4300 review

And what BMC said ref cost/performance

I shall be building a C2D rig in 3-4 weeks time to upgrade my main rig ,I'm just waiting for the new E4400 to come out & for all the price shifting to settle down.You might want to wait that little time too for a better value CPU :thumbsup:

 

[Freewolf]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103771

 

[deerslayer]

Just dropping in to say "Hi Wiz". Haven't seen you around for a while.

I have no comment on your processor question, sorry.

 

[natethegreat]

AM2 X2 3600+ & MSI K9N Neo4-F = ~$160

Leaves quite a bit of extra money for the GPU if gaming is intended.

 

[Amaroque]

Originally posted by: Wolfsraider
I am running the e6600 as well and built an e6300 for a friend, they are beasts no heat issues and with the asrock mobo (little o/c if any) you can still use agp card or pci and ddr2 or ddr (2 sticks max though)

Mine is rock stable (unless you count user errors lol)

I have had dual xeon, opteron 165, and prescotts northwoods the c2d is hands down a better propcessor, but i admit i loved the opteron 165 setup (same mobo setup in the 60.00 ish range usd. its the sata2 dual variant this time 775 version. last was sata dual 939. The mobos are very good bang for the buck, unless you want max oc . the opteron oc 600 mhz this one about 300mhz.

You might wait for Amaroque to chime in though...

Amaroque
Golden Member

Posts: 1587
Joined: 01/02/2005
BTW I've noticed that the Toledo core @ 2.8GHz with only 512 Meg at DDR 500 in single channel is at least 25% faster then the C2D @ 2.4GHz running at DDR2 700 with 2048 Megs of RAM in dual channel.

Interesting.

He might give you a different agle on the amd / intel

Whichever way you go it will definetly be a fast syatem

I think it all depends on which programs you are running. I was referring only to the project DPAD.

First, I would count OCing a friends computer out of the question! That is, unless you want to be full time tech support (i've learned my lesson with that!). So now we have nullified OCing.

P4's pretty much suck all around (They suck a lot of power, and they suck at performance). IMHO.

As much as I really like my X2's. If you take OCing, and P4's out of the question, I'd personally still build another C2D. They run a bit cooler, and are more upgradeable at this time.

My 2¢

 

[Wiz]

deerslayer: Hiya, been busy in RL... Cars, Cars & more Cars.

He is hearing all the sage wisdom I'm passing along from you guys & he will be building a C2D system. There is supposed to be a price frop on them in a couple weeks or so, he will wait until then.
Thanks!

 

[Amaroque]

What are you into? Me and my buddy are building (nitro methene) dragsters...

 

[Skip Da Shu]

Originally posted by: Assimilator1

Originally posted by: Wiz
Which is best, which runs best, & coolest & better OC etc?

I have a friend who wants me to help him spec a new Intel system

Also - is AMD still better bang for the buck - or has Intel caught up?

I don't want any AMD/Intel is better crap, just good reasons why you think either one is best in the $200 - $300 CPU market.

Thanks, and lets keep it civil please.

C2D is far superior to Pentium D ,much faster & cooler
C2D is faster than X2s clock for clock but price cuts by AMD have kept them competitive (last time I checked anyway), though C2D overclocks way better.

Look at Anandtechs E6300/6400 review for more info & Anandtechs E4300 review

And what BMC said ref cost/performance

I shall be building a C2D rig in 3-4 weeks time to upgrade my main rig ,I'm just waiting for the new E4400 to come out & for all the price shifting to settle down.You might want to wait that little time too for a better value CPU :thumbsup:

Pretty much a ditto of above with one exception... If you've already got some DDR400 memory.
I'm an old AMD fan but my fastest cruncher is an OC'd C2D e6400. But the mobos that clock them really well are expensive. $ to $ I find the 939 X2s best bang for the buck IF you've got extra DDR400 or better memory laying about from an old 'puter. If not, the lower end of the C2Ds are the best deal right now.

 

[BadThad]

C2D, performance and low power usage.

 

[Allio]

The low-end C2Ds aren't worth it unless you plan to overclock them. The X2 4600+ performs the same as the E6300 and is significantly cheaper.

But if you overclock the E6300 is an absolute little beast

 

[Amaroque]

Originally posted by: Allio
The low-end C2Ds aren't worth it unless you plan to overclock them. The X2 4600+ performs the same as the E6300 and is significantly cheaper.

But if you overclock the E6300 is an absolute little beast

Yes... But you don't want to OC a friends computer much, if at all. I've gotten burned badly by this a number of times!

X2's are awesome CPU's! My point is that any C2D system will be more upgradeable at this time. That makes it a much better value in the long run.

 

[Assimilator1]

Unless his friend wants to o/c off his own back

Still you could do a modest overclock for his PC & then run a battery of test to be sure its ok.