When it comes to computing power.... What is your unbiased opinion.

Whitedog

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 1999
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As far as raw CPU power... I only need it for one thing. Gaming.

ALL other tasks I do on my PC's don't require much. Yes, I rip music to MP3's, but I don't care how long it takes, because I don't do it much anyway.

Normal use for me is just programming, surfing....etc. Stuff that doesn't need anything more than 1GHz really.

BUT, I like to play games once in a while. Because of the Bang for Buck factor of Athlons, I have been using them since my first 650MHz version.

Given all that, is the A64 X2 still the best bang for Buck??????

All this about Intels new chip being King... doens't interest me. Bang for Buck is king!!!!

So which is it? (don't forget... I'm talking for GAMES).

:cookie:
 

Whitedog

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 1999
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And I want to point out.... I don't want the "MOST POWERFUL" cpu combo. I don't have a problem with someone else having a bigger penis than me. :shocked:

Currently have a mobile 2600+ @2.4 GHz. Seems fast enough, but would like to get something a little faster if it were feasable.
 

BrownTown

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2005
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Intel has a whole line of new chips from top to bottom. And the bottom ones overclock easily to the point where you will almsot certainly be GPU constrained. If you really care about band for the buck and gaming go single core, the second core only adds a few percent increase in FPS and only in some games.
 

darkhorror

Member
Aug 13, 2006
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I am going to have to agree E6300 is best bang for buck, overclocks like mad, gives great performance. Overclock it and you have more performance than anything AMD can offer.
 

RichUK

Lifer
Feb 14, 2005
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IMO, if you have the money its easily the best bang for buck. It?s the cheapest Core 2 Duo. Bearing in mind this will future proof yourself for a very long time, one trait which might benefit yourself since it doesn?t seem you upgrade often. I just can?t suggest an X2 anymore not unless you have a serious lack of funds, and require a cheapo dual core.

Basically DDR is now obsolete. So you would wisely be looking to invest in some DDR2, 2GB?s if you can, nothing too expensive. A suitable motherboard most likely based on the 965 chipset. Then of course the cheapest, but still very powerful E6300.

Also, i am never bias. I am always open minded.
 

Whitedog

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 1999
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K then.... a few questions. And yes, I would overclock it within limits of a Stock HS/FAN.

Recommended mobo and RAM? (Timing isn't important. I don't care about paying TOP$$ for memory that only improves benchmark numbers.)

Do they use DDR2?

I have 2GB PC3200 at the moment. I'll probably stick it in wifies computer and make this one my HTPC.

How much do you est. a Mobo/CPU/2GB ram to cost? Everything else in my rig is sufficient (X800XT) for now.
 

Whitedog

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 1999
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Originally posted by: RichUK
IMO, if you have the money its easily the best bang for buck. It?s the cheapest Core 2 Duo. Bearing in mind this will future proof yourself for a very long time, one trait which might benefit yourself since it doesn?t seem you upgrade often. I just can?t suggest an X2 anymore not unless you have a serious lack of funds, and require a cheapo dual core.

Basically DDR is now obsolete. So you would wisely be looking to invest in some DDR2, 2GB?s if you can, nothing too expensive. A suitable motherboard most likely based on the 965 chipset. Then of course the cheapest, but still very powerful E6300.

Also, i am never bias. I am always open minded.
Thanks. Good post. I interpreted that as "limited funds" = X2, else E6300 = Best bang.

Sounds good to me. Now just have to decide which modo and ram. :D
 

sjwaste

Diamond Member
Aug 2, 2000
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Opteron 146 or 148 would be near the best bang for the buck if you're gaming. Fast single core, overclocks well if that's your thing. Add a 7900GT and have a good time.
 

n7

Elite Member
Jan 4, 2004
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E6300 + Gigabyte S3 or Asus P5B/P5B-E + DDR2-800 overclocked to 3+ GHz :)
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
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Though I'm sticking with AMD for the foreseeable future, for the unbiased X2/AMD only might make sense if you already have the mobo for it.
 

Madellga

Senior member
Sep 9, 2004
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E6300 or E6400, best bang for the buck because you can overclock them (to 3.0/3.2)
50% more performance for free, clock for clock faster than A64 or X2.

If you want a A64/X2, get the X3800 and o/c to 2.4/2.5Ghz.

I think the return on the C2D is much better.

You asked our opinion, recommending a C2D has nothing to do with e-penis
 

myocardia

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2003
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Originally posted by: Whitedog
K then.... a few questions. And yes, I would overclock it within limits of a Stock HS/FAN.

Recommended mobo and RAM? (Timing isn't important. I don't care about paying TOP$$ for memory that only improves benchmark numbers.)

Do they use DDR2?

I have 2GB PC3200 at the moment. I'll probably stick it in wifies computer and make this one my HTPC.

How much do you est. a Mobo/CPU/2GB ram to cost? Everything else in my rig is sufficient (X800XT) for now.
Yes, all C2D-compatible motherboards require using both DDR2 and a PCI-E video card, except this one: ASRock VSTA. So, unless you're also planning on getting a better video card, that's the only one you'd be able to use. Well, except for the ECS version of the same board, but, I'd never recommend ECS to anyone. At least ASRock is made by Asus.

The problem with that board, though, is it doesn't overclock well at all. It won't go past a 300 Mhz fsb. That doesn't sound bad, until you realize that the C2D's have a 266 Mhz stock fsb. So, it will only allow you to go one processor higher (make an E6300 run @ E6400 speeds, an E6400 run @ E6600 speed, etc.). It also has only a 4x PCI-E slot, instead of a 16x slot, like all other motherboards have. I personally wouldn't buy one, but they are definitely cheap, and will allow you to use both your AGP video card, and your PC3200 RAM, so it's an option.

I'd personally buy an E6400, which is only $40 more, and is 266 Mhz faster at stock speed, but also has a higher multiplier, allowing you to reach the same overclock, with cheaper RAM. I'd put it on either a Gigabyte S3 or DS3, and use the cheapest PC6400 RAM I could find. If upgrading your video card isn't really an option right now, this card is awesome for it's extremely cheap price: PNY vanilla 6600. I'm actually running that exact card, while I decide on which "good" card to buy. It's not going to be as fast as your X800XT, but it's fast enough to play F.E.A.R. at the resolution I game at (1152x864). That would allow you to game, while you wait a month or two, and research better cards. Also, you'll then have a spare, cheap card.