AMD better value on a Budget?

hopeful_builder · 22 Jul 2012 at 14:23

So now I'm build a media centre for my dad (some of you may have seen the other thread about the one I was Given)

I'm going to go M-ATX motherboard as I think a ITX board and case is to small and my dads not too bothered about the size of it within reason.

I've always used Intel, but looking at it AMD offer better value when on a budget. so for £90 Max I need a motherboard and CPU - Can anyone suggest one please?

I realise I could get a cheapo mobo and pop an Intel G530 in there, but from what I see its not too far off the budget to go quad core with an AMD :confused:

MeatLoaf · 22 Jul 2012 at 15:59

Just rebuilt my dads PC with a G530 and the cheapest 1155 mobo ocuk had at the time and its great. Come in at under £75 for mobo and CPU.

If i had of been building it for a media centre id have added in something like a 5450 or Geforce 210, or spent a bit more on the mobo to get HDMI.

Martini1991 · 22 Jul 2012 at 16:04

hopeful_builder said:
So now I'm build a media centre for my dad (some of you may have seen the other thread about the one I was Given)

I'm going to go M-ATX motherboard as I think a ITX board and case is to small and my dads not too bothered about the size of it within reason.

I've always used Intel, but looking at it AMD offer better value when on a budget. so for £90 Max I need a motherboard and CPU - Can anyone suggest one please?

I realise I could get a cheapo mobo and pop an Intel G530 in there, but from what I see its not too far off the budget to go quad core with an AMD

But the FX4 is 90 quid.
Wut.

Cheapest board and FX4 is ; http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-314-AM & http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-331-GI That has some future proofing CPU wise.

Cheapest 1155 is ; http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-079-AK & http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-401-IN&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=2037

About a 50-60 quid difference in price there.

Orcvader · 22 Jul 2012 at 16:07

He probably meant Llano. But even then the cheapest quad core variant is ~£85 on OcUK.

OP, for a media PC, both Intel and AMD are perfectly fine for 1080p media. Probably might edge to Llano for the odd light gaming, but it's up to you.

Martini1991 · 22 Jul 2012 at 16:10

Orcvader said:
He probably meant Llano. But even then the cheapest quad core variant is ~£85 on OcUK.

OP, for a media PC, both Intel and AMD are perfectly fine for 1080p media. Probably might edge to Llano for the odd light gaming, but it's up to you.

But the Intel set up is cheaper than the AMD CPU alone.
Along with its upgrade path of Ivy.

Orcvader · 22 Jul 2012 at 16:16

Cheapest Intel:

YOUR BASKET
1 x ASRock H61M/U3S3 Intel H61 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Micro Motherboard £47.99
1 x Intel Celeron G530 2.40GHz Socket LGA 1155 Processor - Retail £32.99
Total : £90.88 (includes shipping : £8.25).

Cheapest AMD:

YOUR BASKET
1 x AMD A4-3300 2.50GHz (Socket FM1) APU Processor (AD3300OJGXBOX) £41.99
1 x ASRock FM1 A55M-HVS AMD Chipset (Socket FM1) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £39.98
Total : £91.87 (includes shipping : £8.25).

Pretty close between the two to be honest.

Martini1991 · 22 Jul 2012 at 16:19

The 1155 kills the Llano in CPU performance, for media both will be fine.
FM1 hasn't got an upgrade path past the quad core llano's, socket 1155 has upto an i7 3770.

You'd be foolish to get the Llano, also that isn't the cheapest Intel, the cheapest Intel is sub 75 quid, you messed up on the board ; http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-079-AK

Orcvader · 22 Jul 2012 at 16:21

Martini1991 said:
The 1155 kills the Llano in CPU performance, for media both will be fine.
FM1 hasn't got an upgrade path past the quad core llano's, socket 1155 has upto an i7 3770.

You'd be foolish to get the Llano, also that isn't the cheapest Intel, the cheapest Intel is sub 75 quid, you messed up on the board ; http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-079-AK

True, but I wasn't sure if the lower Intel was fine enough. But yes, the Intel will be more future proof.

That board doesn't have HDMI, unless it comes with a DVI to HDMI adapter.

Jokester · 22 Jul 2012 at 16:22

Intel has the 24fps bug though, which might be an issue for a media centre. Plus you don't need anything more than the Llano CPU wise for a media centre so upgrade path isn't really an issue.

Martini1991 · 22 Jul 2012 at 16:22

DVI to HDMI adaptors can be had for pennies.

Jokester said:
Intel has the 24fps bug though, which might be an issue for a media centre. Plus you don't need anything more than the Llano CPU wise for a media centre so upgrade path isn't really an issue.

Thought it was 23.X or something?
If that bug wasn't an issue in the OP's usage, I honestly don't see why people would pay more for the Llano to end up with much worse CPU performance, seems illogical at best.

Orcvader · 22 Jul 2012 at 16:33

You know, it's only for a media PC. Honestly, will OP's dad even notice the difference?

Jokester · 22 Jul 2012 at 16:35

Martini1991 said:
Thought it was 23.X or something?
If that bug wasn't an issue in the OP's usage, I honestly don't see why people would pay more for the Llano to end up with much worse CPU performance, seems illogical at best.

Yeah, it should be 23.976, Intel can only do 24. It may or may not be an issue, depending on the OP's dad. But for a media centre it seems daft to go Intel for a faster CPU, when he won't make use of it and it may actually irrate him when watching films on it.

Martini1991 · 22 Jul 2012 at 16:37

But it's the cheaper set up too, why get the lower performance at a higher price point?
If there's no problem with the playback of course.
Obviously, if the playback is an issue, you're best off on the Llano, but if there isn't? The Intel is cheaper.

Jokester · 22 Jul 2012 at 16:38

Martini1991 said:
But it's the cheaper set up too, why get the lower performance at a higher price point?
If there's no problem with the playback of course.

It's 99p...

Orcvader · 22 Jul 2012 at 16:39

Martini1991 said:
But it's the cheaper set up too, why get the lower performance at a higher price point?
If there's no problem with the playback of course.

If Intel has the 24fps bug, then it's probably better to go with Llano. Even though it has less CPU performance, it will give the better media playback, which is what OP wants.

Martini1991 · 22 Jul 2012 at 16:40

Jokester said:
It's 99p...

No it's not, the board in Vaders is 10 quid more expensive than the cheapest Intel board.

Jokester · 22 Jul 2012 at 16:43

Martini1991 said:
No it's not, the board in Vaders is 10 quid more expensive than the cheapest Intel board.

Yeah, and the AMD CPU is £9 cheaper than the Intel one. If his dad is genuinely going to need the additional CPU performance and can live with the 24fps bug, sure get the Intel, but in this case for a bog standard media box there's no real reason for it.

Martini1991 · 22 Jul 2012 at 16:45

Jokester said:
Yeah, and the AMD CPU is £9 cheaper than the Intel one. If his dad is genuinely going to need the additional CPU performance and can live with the 24fps bug, sure get the Intel, but in this case for a bog standard media box there's no real reason for it.

The G530 with applicable board is 10 quid cheaper than the A4 and board, vader has a 48 pound Intel board in his link, there's a 38 quid one.
The Intel CPU is cheaper than the A4.

The AMD set up is 10 quid more expensive.

Jokester · 22 Jul 2012 at 16:49

Martini1991 said:
The G530 with applicable board is 10 quid cheaper than the A4 and board, vader has a 48 pound Intel board in his link, there's a 38 quid one.
The Intel CPU is cheaper than the A4.

Ah right, there's also a cheaper FM1 board as well, vader's not made a very good job has he

Martini1991 · 22 Jul 2012 at 16:51

Jokester said:
Ah right, there's also a cheaper FM1 board as well, vader's not made a very good job has he

Cheapest AMD board comes with Nexuiz

Price difference is 8 quid between the two, in favour to the Intel set up, along with about 35% better CPU performance (Difference in IPC, Llano is about Athlon II)
Wish Intel would release Ivy pentiums/celerons already.