What's the best "bang 4 buck" Gaming CPU right now?

[pookguy88]

I'm looking to build a Doom3 box but i'm, as prolly others are, tight on cash.

what would u guys recommend for a reliable o/c friendly cpu right now?

i'm leaning towards Intel because AMD has always given me problems in the past and my P4 1.6A is really reliable at 2.0 right now. So anyone got suggestions?

 

[calam63]

i think anandtech suggests the athlon 64 2800+

 

[orangat]

Are you sure its AMD and not a crappy m/b chipset by VIA giving you problems in the past?

Intel does have better m/b implementations but AMD can still be a solid choice.

 

[pookguy88]

what A64 m/b implementation is best right now?

i want o/capability

 

[SneakyStuff]

Get a mobile Barton in that case, they can OC to 2.6 GHz on air.

 

[pookguy88]

will it be faster than a A64 3000+ for games?

 

[Degrador]

Originally posted by: pookguy88
will it be faster than a A64 3000+ for games?

Probably won't be faster, but should be comparable at least. How long would you be keeping the computer? 'Cause if it's longer than a year then you should definitely go for the A64 - 64 bit windows isn't too far away and when it comes you'll be glad you have a 64-bit processor (many if not all games will come with 64-bit versions in a year or two, not to mention that just having 64-bit drivers will help on their own).

 

[oldman420]

mobile barton 2600 45 watt

 

[Gamingphreek]

A64.. though you could TRY a mobile DTR A64 2800+ because they use less power and still give you the entire amount of cache not slimmed down, however people haven't had much luck with them yet, without a beta BIOS flash or something.

-Kevin

 

[dannybin1742]

mobile 2400+ 35W fa-sho

 

[SinfulWeeper]

What ytpe of motherboard do you have right now? IMHO, for most gaming... your 1.6 should be fine. You outta be looking @ video cards instead. A little more punch can be added by getting a 533 2.4GHz Northwood. Unless your motherboard is unable to handle it.

 

[pookguy88]

right now i'm using an Asus P4PE... i'm pretty sure its getting obsolete...

my vid card right now is a 9500 PRO

 

[SinfulWeeper]

That P4PE will take a 800fsb CPU and enable the HT. It however will not have dual cannel memory. I say slap a 2.53P4 (OEM) and OC that puppy like hell if you manage to get a SL6S2 stepping CPU. Or you can put in a 2.4 - 3.0 HT Northowood in there. If your memory is good enough, OC it also

After seeing ur video card though.... that would be a wiser upgrade than a CPU. Those 845PE boards are still very capable motherboards, even for their age.

 

[jpeyton]

A64 2800+ Mobile

 

[AristoV300]

3.0c with little vcore increase should do 3.6 no problem. You should be able to pick one up for around $200.

 

[Shimmishim]

best bang for buck gaming cpu has to be the A64 2800+

 

[Zebo]

Duron 1.8 for $44. Duh.

Are you guys telling me the Mobile XP at 2x the cost ($100) performs twice as good?

Or a A64 2800 at 4x the cost ($180) performs four times as fast?

Your choices offer extremly poor price/performance ratios.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: orangat
Are you sure its AMD and not a crappy m/b chipset by VIA giving you problems in the past?

Intel does have better m/b implementations but AMD can still be a solid choice.

Please that's the biggest FUD in the world of PC's. Perpetrated by intel zealots and the n00bs eat it up due to Intels brand awarness. Find me one reputable reviewer stating AMD chipsets are anything but rock stable in the last four years. Besides AMD stand a better change of being stable today (assuming any chipsets amd or intel arn't) because the A64 offloads the majority of the work for them having on-die mem controller.

 

[SinfulWeeper]

Yeah, but getting another motherboard and more memory will add cost. Right now his best bang for the buck is to get one of the CPU's I mentioned... or a better video card

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: SinfulWeeper
Yeah, but getting another motherboard and more memory will add cost. Right now his best bang for the buck is to get one of the CPU's I mentioned... or a better video card

I agree. I was addressing the AMD fans.

 

[pookguy88]

ok, maybe i wasn't too clear on this... i dont' really want to upgrade... i want a new doom box. Basically i'm wondering, for Doom3 what will make it run faster? assuming equal video cards (ATI or NVIDIA); AMD or INTEL?

 

[lobadobadingdong]

Originally posted by: pookguy88
ok, maybe i wasn't too clear on this... i dont' really want to upgrade... i want a new doom box. Basically i'm wondering, for Doom3 what will make it run faster? assuming equal video cards (ATI or NVIDIA); AMD or INTEL?

an amd64 is the choice for id's doom3 engine.

 

[SinfulWeeper]

Like lobadobadingdong said in that case, but a minor CPU upgrade would be more with it in my books

 

[topslop1]

Mobile 2600+ AMD. Get it.

 

[DreamInBlue]

I have my A64 2800+ @ 2250mhz w/ default voltage and stock fan with a K8N Neo platinum (nforce3 250gb with working agp and pci locks) which is extremely stable . If that is above your price limit then i would say go with a 2400 mobile and a Shuttle "AN35N-Ultra" it would be about $140 total and if overclocked perform as good or better than a 2.4c-2.8c which would cost $160-$180 respectively for just the cpu.