Upgrade path for Casual user

[imported_OrSin]

I'm getting a Barebones for my GF. I dont know if i should get a AM2 or 775. She really she don't do crap but surf the web and play solitare. She very burns dvd some times and encodes video some too, bust she dont mine waiting that to get done. I looking at a cheap Dual core setup that will be upgradable if she need more speed. Definatley getting Vista and 2 GB. Vista because she love it and it works for her (she loves the spider game). 2 GB becuase the 2 GB kits are cheap now and if I get 2 GB now she will be set for 5 years. Whats left is what Dual core. C2D is too much for her for now. AM2 is cheap but the Pen D and Celeron D are very cheap.

Both barebones cost the same so price is not the issue for that. She currentily is run Vista on a Xp 2500 wiht onboard video and 1 GB and it plenty fast for her so doubt even a celeron would be slow.

So it down to who makes the fastest $100 cpu (or less) and what path is most upgradable. I guess I could have just asked that at the start

 

[Rockinacoustic]

For a little over $100, the new AMD X2 3600+ would be a perfect for her needs. Unless you plan to overclock it (Which it does very well so I've heard), then a cheap AM2 motherboard should do.

 

[lobbyone]

Originally posted by: OrSin
I'm getting a Barebones for my GF. I dont know if i should get a AM2 or 775. She really she don't do crap but surf the web and play solitare. She very burns dvd some times and encodes video some too, bust she dont mine waiting that to get done. I looking at a cheap Dual core setup that will be upgradable if she need more speed. Definatley getting Vista and 2 GB. Vista because she love it and it works for her (she loves the spider game). 2 GB becuase the 2 GB kits are cheap now and if I get 2 GB now she will be set for 5 years. Whats left is what Dual core. C2D is too much for her for now. AM2 is cheap but the Pen D and Celeron D are very cheap.

Both barebones cost the same so price is not the issue for that. She currentily is run Vista on a Xp 2500 wiht onboard video and 1 GB and it plenty fast for her so doubt even a celeron would be slow.

So it down to who makes the fastest $100 cpu (or less) and what path is most upgradable. I guess I could have just asked that at the start

Yes, Pentium D and Celeron D are cheap, but the Pentium D will run quite hot compared to a A64 X2, Celerons are well above-averaged nowadays for basic uses but they are NOT dual cores despite the "D", since you mentioned encoding, the A64 X2 will be your best bet.

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: lobbyone

Originally posted by: OrSin
I'm getting a Barebones for my GF. I dont know if i should get a AM2 or 775. She really she don't do crap but surf the web and play solitare. She very burns dvd some times and encodes video some too, bust she dont mine waiting that to get done. I looking at a cheap Dual core setup that will be upgradable if she need more speed. Definatley getting Vista and 2 GB. Vista because she love it and it works for her (she loves the spider game). 2 GB becuase the 2 GB kits are cheap now and if I get 2 GB now she will be set for 5 years. Whats left is what Dual core. C2D is too much for her for now. AM2 is cheap but the Pen D and Celeron D are very cheap.

Both barebones cost the same so price is not the issue for that. She currentily is run Vista on a Xp 2500 wiht onboard video and 1 GB and it plenty fast for her so doubt even a celeron would be slow.

So it down to who makes the fastest $100 cpu (or less) and what path is most upgradable. I guess I could have just asked that at the start

Yes, Pentium D and Celeron D are cheap, but the Pentium D will run quite hot compared to a A64 X2, Celerons are well above-averaged nowadays for basic uses but they are NOT dual cores despite the "D", since you mentioned encoding, the A64 X2 will be your best bet.

i think what he meant for you to understand is that he can get a cheap intel solution now and upgrade down the road.

OP, just go with the AM2 setup now. by the time she'll need more power, a new socket should be out and it would be time to upgrade to a new computer anyway

 

[imported_OrSin]

Not playing on upgrading to a new system for her for 5 years at least Sse like what she likes and it best to just leave it only. Thats another reason I'm getting vista for here. I figure in 5 years it will still be getting updates. I didn't realize the Celerion D are not dual core. I guess I have been in the AMD camp since Geforce 2 systems I'm a little out of touch with intel.

Looks like AM2. I just hope when AM3 comes out it will work in the AM2 boards like they say. If not I might be able to get some, what is now highend, AM2 chips for really cheap.

 

[IlllI]

how about something like this Text has integrated graphics, so that would save on the cost somewhat. probably wouldnt need much more, if its mostly used for 2d stuff/web etc.

 

[catalysts17az]

Stick with Intel in this round of CPU's. (eat the cost) if she is going to use this system for a few years go with the better processor here. you might want to wait another 2 months as the 6300 will get 4mb of cache. just a thought, it wont cost any more, well according to intel it wont. it is because she will hang on to this system that you should go with Intel, there just better in this round.