X2 Mobo with DDR2?

[bladephoenix]

I was planning the following in January (prices in Canadian Dollars):

CPU: AMD 3800+ X2 -- 419.95
Mobo: MSI K8N Neo4 -- 159.95
RAM: OCZ DualDDR Kit 1GB -- 149.95
HD: Samsung 200MB SATA II -- 114.95
GPU: Sapphire X800GTO 256 MB PCI-E -- 249.95
TV: Haugepauge PVR 250 -- 169.95

SubTotal: 1264.70 + 7% GST Sales Tax
Total: 1353.23 CAD (1,123.40 USD)

I was originally looking into DDR2 ram, but then found no mobo that could support DDR2 240 pin RAM. The only 240 Pin RAM I found was for Intel CPUs. Thus, I looked into getting and Intel DC:

CPU: Intel 820 2.8 Ghz Dual Core -- 319.95
Mobo: Gigabyte 8I945G Pro -- 209.95
RAM: Corsair DualDDR II Value Ram Kit 1GB -- 129.95
HD: Samsung 200MB SATA II -- 114.95
GPU: Sapphire X800GTO 256 MB PCI-E -- 249.95
TV: Haugepauge PVR 250 -- 169.95

SubTotal: 1194.70 + 7% GST Sales Tax
Total: 1278.33 CAD (1,123.40 USD)

It's a little cheaper and I get DDR2 ram, thus don't have to worry about getting new RAM and mobos when DDR2 becomes standard. I am wondering about two things: Why is everyone so hard on Intel then, if they have support for the later technologies at a cheaper price point, and why isn't there a DDR2 mobo for the X2?

 

[n7]

Sorrry, but for ~$80 more, the X2 is so worth it.

You cannot even compare the P-D 820 to the X2; it's alot behind in performance.

Also, DDR2 isn't faster than DDR in most cases, which is one of the reasons AMD has wisely shunned it for now.

They will introduce DDR2 support soon, but it's not necessary for their platform right now.

 

[Markfw]

Take my word for it, that 3800+ trunces the 820D. Also, you need really good cooling for the 820D even at stock, so it doesn;t throttle. Se my thread, and Duvie's feedback in the CPU forum.

Get the X2 !

 

[atybimf]

Originally posted by: n7
Sorrry, but for ~$80 more, the X2 is so worth it.

You cannot even compare the P-D 820 to the X2; it's alot behind in performance.

Also, DDR2 isn't faster than DDR in most cases, which is one of the reasons AMD has wisely shunned it for now.

They will introduce DDR2 support soon, but it's not necessary for their platform right now.

qft

 

[theMan]

seriously, why would you switch your entire platform just for ddr2? ddr2 provides no gain, and the P-D just sucks compared to the X2. just read this.

just because the name has a 2 in it doesnt make it better. just because the cpu is 1000mhz faster doesnt make it better, just because the cpu has 2mb L2 cache doesnt make it better, just because intel is going 65nm before amd doesnt make them better, etc, etc. you have to look at performance, not the name.

 

[stevty2889]

Even if for some crazy reason you did go with the pentium-D..you're gonna have to get a differant motherboard, because the 915 chipset doesn't support pentium-D's, you have to get a 945 or 955 chipset based board. I can get a pentium-D 830 for $160 and still went with the X2, because it's by far the better proccessor. Look at marks and duvies expiriences with the pentium-d, and look around at other threads showing the rediculous temps people are getting..DDR2 isn't worth it, it's got a higher frequency, but has higher latency as well..and even Intel admited the pentium-D was just slapped together, because they had nothing to compete with the X2 at all..

 

[bladephoenix]

Oops sorry, actually it is a 945 board, not a 915 board...misspelled the model. I just fixed that

 

[mechBgon]

As the other guys said, there's nothing inherently desirable about DDR2 over DDR. If you decide you want an Intel-based system and it happens to need DDR2, then fine. The prevailing advice around here is to build yourself an AMD system due to the high gaming performance of any Athlon64, and the high multitasking performance available in the dual-core variants, all with relatively low power/heat demands.

Plus most people just like rooting for the underdog

 

[bladephoenix]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
As the other guys said, there's nothing inherently desirable about DDR2 over DDR. If you decide you want an Intel-based system and it happens to need DDR2, then fine. The prevailing advice around here is to build yourself an AMD system due to the high gaming performance of any Athlon64, and the high multitasking performance available in the dual-core variants, all with relatively low power/heat demands.

Plus most people just like rooting for the underdog

No particular reason for an Intel box, either one will be fine. I just thought that DDR2 is cheaper than DDR, and will likely replace DDR1 one-day. Thus, I had thought getting the more recent techology would generally be best, to minimize obsolence. In all likelyhood, I probably will be getting the X2 setup, but I was just looking at the Intel option so I don't have to get a brand new DDR2 mobo and DDR2 ram 6 months after getting a new system.

 

[mike3uz]

Well why dont you wait for socket m2. That will support X2 and DDR2 memory. I would just get a nice set of ddr for the x2 setup.

 

[theMan]

your reasoning makes no sense. you would only need to upgrade to ddr2, if you had to upgrade your entire computer. as everyone is saying, ddr2 shows no performance gain.

 

[MrDudeMan]

another vote for DDR1 and the X2. get 2gb of 2x 1gb g.skill DDR500 from newegg. it is the best price you will ever find on DDR500 2gb and the extra bandwith makes the X2 happy. you wont regret it.

 

[alimoalem]

my friend has a pentium d based system....820 D, 1gb ddr2 @ 533MHz(i think), 300gb SATA drive, lightscribe dvd burner, etc. he has dsl and when he plays bf2 online, i see lag. and i'm not talking about the 64 player games where connection speed matters. i don't know about heat but i do know what i see. i haven't seen the x2 3800 perform but i've never heard anyone ever say anything about it lag

 

[theMan]

yeah, its probably throttling. read duvie's little review in the cpu section.

 

[bladephoenix]

Originally posted by: mike3uz
Well why dont you wait for socket m2. That will support X2 and DDR2 memory. I would just get a nice set of ddr for the x2 setup.

I was thinking about that. I read that the m2 was supposed to be released sometime in January (which is around the time I will be getting this rig). I figure though that those sockets will be at the top of the price chart the moment they are released though, while the 939 Sockets, including the 3800+ X2, should go down in price a bit. It partly the reason I am timing the rig for then.

 

[Hacp]

Originally posted by: alimoalem
my friend has a pentium d based system....820 D, 1gb ddr2 @ 533MHz(i think), 300gb SATA drive, lightscribe dvd burner, etc. he has dsl and when he plays bf2 online, i see lag. and i'm not talking about the 64 player games where connection speed matters. i don't know about heat but i do know what i see. i haven't seen the x2 3800 perform but i've never heard anyone ever say anything about it lag

Are you sure he doesn't have a 9250 SE???