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E6420 vs 5600+

Vixen

Vixen

Vixen

Soldato
Joined
23 Feb 2004
Posts
6,941
Location
Edinburgh
I'm considering a pre-built system, and I've found two around the same price, with the only difference being the processor. I have no plans to overclock, I just want something that will play my games smoothly. Between the E6420 and 5600, which is better, and how significant is the difference?
 
I like AMD but the CPU's are all 3+yr old tech and Intels C2D is about 1 year and far better overall, AMD are soon to have new CPU's so its your choice but most will say get the C2D.
 
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So the E6420 is a faster, better performing chip than the AMD? I won't be upgrading this system at all, at least not as far as changing the processor.

I'm looking at £410 for a pre-built system with the E6420 (with 2Gb PC5300, X1300pro, vista premium), does that sound reasonable?
 
If your looking to play games smoothly then I wouldn't be buying a system with a X1300 in it. They aren't even comparible to a 6600GT. Ofcourse this is entirly dependant on what games you are speaking about, but don't expect more than 40 on HL2.

Can't see any decent pre-builds for your price range, building it not an option?
 
Jaffa_Cake said:
If your looking to play games smoothly then I wouldn't be buying a system with a X1300 in it. They aren't even comparible to a 6600GT. Ofcourse this is entirly dependant on what games you are speaking about, but don't expect more than 40 on HL2.

Can't see any decent pre-builds for your price range, building it not an option?
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The main thing I play is WoW, which just isn't running on my current pc because the graphics card is getting old and dying. As I'm still running agp, it's only worth getting a new card if I replace everything else with it. My current card is a 9800pro, and before that I was running a 6600, so I'd figured the x1300 should be about equivalent to those.

I've had a lot of problems with pcs I've built/had built for me, and I just don't know enough any more to support one myself. I'd rather get a pre-build and know that someone else is there if things go wrong.

Would I be able to upgrade the graphics card to something like http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-059-OK&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=912 without any problems with vista? I know it doesn't like hardware changes, but I don't know how much can be changed.
 
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Yeah you could but it save you the money from buying 2 gfx cards if you built it yourself. It would be worth learning imo + you have the support from people here.

The X1300 is about 60% of a 6600GT.
 
Jaffa_Cake said:
Yeah you could but it save you the money from buying 2 gfx cards if you built it yourself. It would be worth learning imo + you have the support from people here.

The X1300 is about 60% of a 6600GT.
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How does the x1300 compare to a normal 6600? The one I had in my old pc wasn't a GT, and it ran all the games that I wanted.

Thanks for your help btw :).
 
Vixen said:
How does the x1300 compare to a normal 6600? The one I had in my old pc wasn't a GT, and it ran all the games that I wanted.

Thanks for your help btw :).
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I would go for the 6600... whats your budget? I'm sure that we will be able to help with a solution there... and C2D wins hands down when compared to AMD at the moment

I have a 4300 you can have for £40 (including P&P) that should easily be good enough and clockable to 6420 speeds if your into doing that...

Stelly
 
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The x1300 is a good for nothing card. Before you opt for pre built, why dont you try & price up a custom system, its not that hard to do & there is lots of help online & here.
 
Van Diemen said:
The x1300 is a good for nothing card. Before you opt for pre built, why dont you try & price up a custom system, its not that hard to do & there is lots of help online & here.
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My last few systems I've had, I've built myself or my ex built for me. I've struggled to get the help I needed for previous problems, and now I just really want something that someone else has to fix.

My current system is my boyfriends old one, which is a 3800, 1GB pc3200 and a dying 9800pro.
 
Hey Vixen, how much are you looking to spend all together?

Maybe one of us can spec you a system. ;)

Also will you be overclocking the system?
 
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At stock the X2 5600 is going to be faster, because of its much higher clockspeed - 2.8ghz vs 2.13ghz (which cancels out the higher IPC of the E6420).
 
jaykay said:
I would get the AMD if your not overclocking.
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Ill add to that, I would get the AMD if your not overclocking and your on a tight budget. Since when your spending in the money range of a E6420, a AMD equivalent (price) CPU, would be around the same in real life performance but you should be going for an Intel CPU, since its newer architect.

Hamoodii said:
Core2Duo :)
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Reason?
 
The E6420 isn't faster than the 5600+, there very much very similar in performance at stock.

If you're not overclocking (and assuming the AMD isn't more expensive - which I doubt) then I would recommend the 5600+. Not only will it give you a system that's just as quick as the Core2Duo, but it will likely have a better upgrade path in terms of just dropping a K10 chip in at some point at the future.

Jokester
 
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