What would you do in this situation?

[big4x4]

I can get an x2 4400 + abi sli mobo + 2 gigs of ram for $100 cheaper than the c2d e6300 + gigabyte s3 + 2 gigs of ram. What would be a better combo to opt for?

Option 1:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103546
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi...ription=abi+an8&Submit=ENE&N=0&Ntk=all
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145596

Option 2:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005
http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustratingReview.asp?Item=N82E16813128015
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227030

 

[thescreensavers]

get the c2d and thats coming from a Only AMD guy

 

[big4x4]

Are you sure? Don't they perform similar at stock speeds? Not to mention, the 939 boards these days are rock stable

 

[Bobthelost]

Are you overclocking? If so then the discussion is over. If not then for god's sake ditch that 4400X2 for the 4200X2.

 

[big4x4]

Yes, i am gonna oc a little bit. I think 100 dollars is more important to me than a negligible boost in speed, not to mention, the s3 isn't the greatest motherboard.

 

[engiNURD]

Originally posted by: big4x4
I can get an x2 4400 + abi sli mobo + 2 gigs of ram for $100 cheaper than the c2d e6300 + gigabyte s3 + 2 gigs of ram. What would be a better combo to opt for?

Option 1:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103546
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi...ription=abi+an8&Submit=ENE&N=0&Ntk=all
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145596

Option 2:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005
http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustratingReview.asp?Item=N82E16813128015
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227030

With some prices settling down, the pricing is now...
Option 1: $635 + tax and shipping
Option 2: $520 + tax and shipping

At stock speeds, for overall system performance, the E6300 beats out an X2 4600+. Overclocked, the 4600+ reaches 2.8Ghz levels (FX-62), and the E6300 overclocked surpasses even that. One recommendation I have is switching from the S3 gigabyte board to the DS3 instead, for better overclocking options.

 

[vailr]

A better choice might be:
Gigabyte GA-965P-S3 Motherboard - $116
Intel Core2 Duo 6300 - $200
OCZ Gold 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) - $200 (after $25 rebate)

 

[big4x4]

Originally posted by: engiNURD

Originally posted by: big4x4
I can get an x2 4400 + abi sli mobo + 2 gigs of ram for $100 cheaper than the c2d e6300 + gigabyte s3 + 2 gigs of ram. What would be a better combo to opt for?

Option 1:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103546
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi...ription=abi+an8&Submit=ENE&N=0&Ntk=all
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145596

Option 2:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005
http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustratingReview.asp?Item=N82E16813128015
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227030

With some prices settling down, the pricing is now...
Option 1: $635 + tax and shipping
Option 2: $520 + tax and shipping

At stock speeds, for overall system performance, the E6300 beats out an X2 4600+. Overclocked, the 4600+ reaches 2.8Ghz levels (FX-62), and the E6300 overclocked surpasses even that. One recommendation I have is switching from the S3 gigabyte board to the DS3 instead, for better overclocking options.

Option one is actually only 380 shipped, no tax for me : )

 

[Bobthelost]

Originally posted by: big4x4
Yes, i am gonna oc a little bit. I think 100 dollars is more important to me than a negligible boost in speed, not to mention, the s3 isn't the greatest motherboard.

If you're only gaming then yes, you're right. In which case get a single core. Easier to cool, easier to overclock, cheaper and better value all round.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: big4x4
Yes, i am gonna oc a little bit. I think 100 dollars is more important to me than a negligible boost in speed, not to mention, the s3 isn't the greatest motherboard.

The S3 has overclocked past 400Mhz FSB by some people. No mods or special cooling.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: vailr
A better choice might be:
Gigabyte GA-965P-S3 Motherboard - $116
Intel Core2 Duo 6300 - $200
OCZ Gold 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) - $200 (after $25 rebate)

OCZ Gold doesn't play well...you need the Platinum or a different brand. Unless you're lucky and have a newer BIOS on your board out of the box.

 

[engiNURD]

Originally posted by: big4x4
Option one is actually only 380 shipped, no tax for me : )

According to the links you posted, these are the prices:
Option1:
245 - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Toledo 2.2GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939
150 - ABIT AN8 32X Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI X16 (w/$30 MIR)
240 - CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2x1GB) DDR-500
======
635 - 30MIR = $605 + tax (if any) + shipping
Option2:
185 - Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86GHz 2M
245 - OCZ Gold 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2-800 (w/$20 MIR)
90 - GIGABYTE GA-945P-S3 Socket T
======
520 - 20MIR = $500 + tax (if any) + shipping

where is my math going wrong?

 

[big4x4]

Originally posted by: engiNURD

Originally posted by: big4x4
Option one is actually only 380 shipped, no tax for me : )

According to the links you posted, these are the prices:
Option1:
245 - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Toledo 2.2GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939
150 - ABIT AN8 32X Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI X16 (w/$30 MIR)
240 - CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2x1GB) DDR-500
======
635 - 30MIR = $605 + tax (if any) + shipping
Option2:
185 - Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86GHz 2M
245 - OCZ Gold 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2-800 (w/$20 MIR)
90 - GIGABYTE GA-945P-S3 Socket T
======
520 - 20MIR = $500 + tax (if any) + shipping

where is my math going wrong?

I never said I was buying it from newegg, now was I. I just used those links as references

 

[engiNURD]

Originally posted by: big4x4
I never said I was buying it from newegg, now was I. I just used those links as references

Ahh... now that makes more sense. I thought it was too late in the day for my mind to do math, lol. I'd still go with the Conroe since it beats any AMD, overclocked or not.

 

[Gorrillasnot]

Sounds to me like you have your mind set on the AMD combo which is fine if that's what you want, but for my money and if I were going to OC I'd go with C2D.
Another option might be to go for a socket AM2 AMD combo if you want to stick with AMD for now. That way if prices drop on C2D you could just swap out the mobo and CPU and could reuse your DDR2.

 

[big4x4]

You know what, I think you guys are changing my mind! LOL. Recommend me some good, cheap ram and I think I may end up just switching

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: big4x4
You know what, I think you guys are changing my mind! LOL. Recommend me some good, cheap ram and I think I may end up just switching

How cheap are you looking for?

TeamXtreme DDR2-800 is $275 at tankguys.com for 2GB and runs 4-4-4-10 timings (can go to DDR2-100+ very easy).