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Which motherboard and processor for 150 total?

G

gipper

Member
I'm going to build a new PC for my wife to use on the standard internet/word/excel stuff so that I can relegate her current PC to windows home server duty. On this PC, I will also occasionally encode some DVD's for use on my iPhone.

I'm setting a 150 budget for the motherboard and processor, and I'll buy a single stick of 2Gig Ram for whatever board I get. Looking at newegg (where I'll buy), I'm going to end up with either a G31 based intel board, or a G740 AMD board. I prefer to buy intel or AMD chipsets, but I'm open. I've bought nVidia in the past, and they hosed me big with refusing to release new drivers for Vista. I fear they might do the same to me again in the future. I figure the board will cost about 50 bucks regardless. If I should look at a different chipset in that range, please let me know by all means.

Anyway, given the normal tasks plus some video encoding and assuming onboard graphics usage, I have no idea which platform is better. At 100 bucks for a processor it looks like Pentium Dual core (not core 2 duo) is my best option from Intel. However, at that same price point from AMD, I'm looking at SEVERAL options. There's the Athlon X2's with high clocks, the Athlon 64x2's with all the b and e versions, a higher clocked Phenom X3, and a lower clocked Phenom X4.

Which platform and architecture would you be looking at?
 
No overclocking right?

I'd up the motherboard to a 780G AMD motherboard and go with one of the higher end Athlon X2's. It'll be more than fast enough and the 780G integrated graphics are way better than the 740G and G31. 740G doesn't support HD video acceleration if I recall correctly.
 
What about this MSI Wind barebone? $140 with mb,cpu, mini case, PSU:
Wind at newegg

An Atom is a bit weak for encoding but is fine for everything else.

Otherwise the Wolfdale + Gigabyte looks good.
 
Originally posted by: Fox5
No overclocking right?

I'd up the motherboard to a 780G AMD motherboard and go with one of the higher end Athlon X2's. It'll be more than fast enough and the 780G integrated graphics are way better than the 740G and G31. 740G doesn't support HD video acceleration if I recall correctly.
Click to expand...



I thought about that later. Of course for 100 dollar mobo, you could do a lower end mobo without graphics and get an add-on. I think I'd rather just stick to integrated to avoid any issues.

I would consider overclocking, but if I did, it'd just be a very safe OC on the stock HSF.
 
Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
What about this MSI Wind barebone? $140 with mb,cpu, mini case, PSU:
Wind at newegg

An Atom is a bit weak for encoding but is fine for everything else.

Otherwise the Wolfdale + Gigabyte looks good.
Click to expand...



I have an EEE pc 1000h, and although I love it for word processing and surfing, I can tell that it lacks some oomph when I try to do things like video encoding on it and some other processor intensive stuff I've tried on it.

Plus, I like full size cases for my desktops and have a spare case sitting here with hdd's, DVD, and PSU in it.
 
Originally posted by: dbcooper1
For all except the video encoding, it probably doesn't matter. Even the slowest of the core2duo excel at that.
Click to expand...

Intel MOBO's start at 40 bucks. Core2duo's start at 120. That's 160. I think the total system might really trail the AMD system with that G31 integrated graphics solution.
 
Architecture is the same, only difference is the amount of on-die cache. Cache buffers the flow of data into the cores & keeps them fed properly - basically, the more the better, but for basic uses there's not much difference.

Either of these setups will suit your needs fine.

AMD
X2 4850e (2.6GHz, 45W) $58.50
Biostar A780G M2+ SE $50AR (supports PhII for future upgrade)

Intel
e5200 (2.5GHz, 65W) $80
Foxconn G43MX-K $63AR (supports Q9550 for future upgrade)

EDIT: The e5200 will kick the 4850e around in video encoding so if you do a lot that's the obvious choice. The 4850e is plenty strong if you mostly surf & read email, costs less up front and will save you money over the long term - lower power consumption for minor savings every month on your energy bill.
 
Originally posted by: Denithor
Architecture is the same, only difference is the amount of on-die cache. Cache buffers the flow of data into the cores & keeps them fed properly - basically, the more the better, but for basic uses there's not much difference.

Either of these setups will suit your needs fine.

AMD
X2 4850e (2.6GHz, 45W) $58.50
Biostar A780G M2+ SE $50AR (supports PhII for future upgrade)

Intel
e5200 (2.5GHz, 65W) $80
Foxconn G43MX-K $63AR (supports Q9550 for future upgrade)

EDIT: The e5200 will kick the 4850e around in video encoding so if you do a lot that's the obvious choice. The 4850e is plenty strong if you mostly surf & read email, costs less up front and will save you money over the long term - lower power consumption for minor savings every month on your energy bill.
Click to expand...


Excellent information and exactly what I was looking for; the low upfront with the good upgrade path. I think I'll go with the AMD setup because I do very little video encoding, I can start it and walk away anyway, and I'll probably be happier with the video solution.

Thank you very much.
 
Originally posted by: gipper
Originally posted by: Fox5
No overclocking right?

I'd up the motherboard to a 780G AMD motherboard and go with one of the higher end Athlon X2's. It'll be more than fast enough and the 780G integrated graphics are way better than the 740G and G31. 740G doesn't support HD video acceleration if I recall correctly.
Click to expand...



I thought about that later. Of course for 100 dollar mobo, you could do a lower end mobo without graphics and get an add-on. I think I'd rather just stick to integrated to avoid any issues.

I would consider overclocking, but if I did, it'd just be a very safe OC on the stock HSF.
Click to expand...

Err, 780G mobos are available for under $60.

You can get this X2 and 780g mobo for $104.98.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?ItemList=Combo.153361

Or that cpu with this 740G mobo for $82.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?ItemList=Combo.153355
 
Or just mate a 780g board with an le-1640 single core $35 2.6 ghz cpu. It flies. Runs vista 32 or 64bit versions like a champ. For what she's doing everything you've mentioned is overkill. Total cost will be around $100 with mb, cpu, ram. Get a case with psu for another $50, a modern SATA Hard disk and DVD burner and for $225 or so you are home free, (especially if you use Windows 7 beta on it)
 
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