AMD or Intel (Dual Core CPUs)?

[eatme]

CPU AMD® ATHLON® 64BIT X2 4600 2 x 512K L2 Cache (939 pin)
+
Motherboard ASUS® A8N32-SLI DELUXE: DUAL DDR, S-ATA, 2 x x16 VGA, 3 PCI


OR


CPU INTEL® CORE® 2 DUO E6400 (2 X 2.13GHZ) 1066mhz FSB/2MB Cache
+
Motherboard ASUS® P5N32 SLI-DELUXE: 2 PCI, DUAL LAN, SATA RAID


???

 

[Gashman]

to do what with, if you want encoding and what not go intel, if gaming both are good, conroe is faster in games but its more or less un-noticable

 

[smids]

Conroe wins on all counts.

 

[Justintime]

Never thought i'd see the day.. but yea.. if building new, Intel is the way to go.

 

[Kamakazie!]

if you are not intending to overclock then there is little difference between the 2. The E6400 probably just edges it slightly. Also depending on your upgrade budgets the AM2 platform looks likely to offer more choice in the future (and for longer).
If you will overclock however then the E6400 is the clear choice (upgrading aside).

 

[Kamakazie!]

Conroe wins on all counts.

[pedantic]
Isn't the E6400 an Allendale?
[/pedantic]

 

[smids]

[pedantic]
Isn't the E6400 an Allendale?
[/pedantic]

Damn you!!!

 

[eatme]

to do what with, if you want encoding and what not go intel, if gaming both are good, conroe is faster in games but its more or less un-noticable

Mainly for gaming, but also for running quite a few programs at once, mainly Dreamweaver, Photoshop, iTunes, etc.

So Conroe all the way?

 

[Gibbs]

i would say Core2 if your building new, i want to save as much cash as i can so thats why i went S939 for the cheap route

 

[smids]

Yup, Core2 all the way. It beats the AMD in gaming and encoding now.

 

[Gibbs]

it lays waste to AMDs current line up tbh, just need a better motherboard range to push the Core2 chips further.

Cheap Route: S939
Money No object: Core2

Am just holding out for Kentsfield quad core

 

[eatme]

How about the Core 2 E6400 with this motherboard:

ASUS® P5N32 SLI-DELUXE: 2 PCI, DUAL LAN, SATA RAID

I am planning on building from scratch

 

[manveruppd]

Also depending on your upgrade budgets the AM2 platform looks likely to offer more choice in the future (and for longer).

Why do you say that? Is it based on AMD's announcement that AM3 CPUs will be socket-compatible with AM2? Or has there been an official announcement from Intel's part for a new socket? I'm hoping to upgrade in a few months' time (by which case we'll hopefully know more about what's ahead), and I'm already agonising over whether to choose overclockability or future upgradeability.

 

[trojan698]

Go for the E6400

 

[Gashman]

go for the intel then

 

[Kamakazie!]

Why do you say that? Is it based on AMD's announcement that AM3 CPUs will be socket-compatible with AM2? Or has there been an official announcement from Intel's part for a new socket? I'm hoping to upgrade in a few months' time (by which case we'll hopefully know more about what's ahead), and I'm already agonising over whether to choose overclockability or future upgradeability.

Yeah based on AMD's announcement.
I have not heard anything about Intel's roadmap plans, i mentioned this in a previous thread. It is something i will be looking into before i purchase. If Intel are gonna offer a consistent socket for the next few years (lets be honest, its highly unlikely) then i am as likely to go core2duo as X2... as it stands i just don't think the upgrade and cost benefits of the AM2 are beaten by the current gain in performance that core2duo offers.
I will see, got a few months yet before i have the money.

EDIT:
K8L should bring AMD back atleast on par especially the native quadcore.
It is a bit of a gamble either way though.