Intel or AMD - help!

[Scrubydoo]

Up until recently I was considering upgrading (or rather rebuilding) my games-only computer with an intel C2D8500 (or 8400),4Gb DDR2 6400 memory and a Gigabyte GA-X48-DS4 mobo.

However - maybe I've overlooked the AMD route.

I can see that the socket 775 is about to become obsolete with the i7 - no upgrade path without new CPU/mobo/memory.

But would a re-build with something like an Athlon x2 black edition 6500 cpu and Gigabyte GA-MA790FX-DQ6 be better? Would this be better as a more easily upgradeable setup?

I think that AMD is about to launch some new cpu's which might be a better buy than the 6500 - so I might wait for them to emerge before buying stuff.

As I mentioned before, this is for a games-only computer - it won't be used for anything else.

 

[Scrubydoo]

The chances are - unless I win the lottery - that I'll be using this comp. for the next 3-4 years at most. A cheaper method of upgrading ( new cpu's as opposed to new cpu/mobo/memory) is important since money is really tight and little is left to save up for upgrades.

I used to think that, with the release of core 2, AMD cpu's were considered crap and I've only looked at intel setups up to now.

I've got no real leanings about intel or AMD - although I've always gone AMD in the past (intel has been 'on the dark side' until now)

 

[Scrubydoo]

I probably will go crossfire - I won't be able to afford a high-end graphics card immediately, so I intend to get a 1Gb ATi 4850 and possibly get another some time in the future (when I can afford it that is).

 

[Scrubydoo]

The one thing that makes me favour going the AMD route more than anything is it's much cheaper than intel - the cost of an AMD 6500 cpu and mobo is almost the same as the cost of just a C2D 8500.

Since it's a games-only rig, the only sacrifice would be a few fps (in a few games) - plus I'd have the extra moolah to get a more powerful graphics card (1Gb 4870 instead of a 1Gb 4850) and higher spec memory.

The only downside - no decent mobos with the 750 southbridge at present (I think most people regard the SB600 as really cr*p).

Is there a site where I can find out about AM3 chips that are soon to be released?

 

[Scrubydoo]

With the i7 due out soon, I doubt that there'll be any more socket 775 cpu's coming out.

AM+ gives the option of future upgrades at least, with the denebs due out reasonably soon.

 

[Scrubydoo]

Not heard anything about the shanghai cpu's - and little about the deneb.

Since it's for a games-only rig (and my present rig is dreadfully slow with Age of Conan) I might have to go for the intel route, since there are precious few stable mobos with the 750 southbridge - and there's no precise date for the denebs.

If a decent SB750 mobo comes out within the next month, then I might go for an X2 650 and get a deneb when the prices settle down.

Otherwise it's probably the X48/C2D8400 - before the jerky frame rates drive me nuts

 

[Scrubydoo]

Want to go the crossfire route - don't think the nVidia chipsets do that!

 

[Scrubydoo]

Just wish X48/C2D route wasn't so expensive - means that it reduces what funds are left for the graphics card and memory.

Plus future upgrades will also be very pricey (x58/i7/ddr3 = ouch) with the end of socket 775.

 

[Scrubydoo]

With limited funds, the only way I can afford a 4870 or 4870x2 is to go the AMD route. At least that way I could upgrade to either a deneb or possibly shanghai, and not have to get another mobo as well since they still use the AM2 socket - as far as I know anyway.

But the current batch of boards with the 750 southbridge have not had very good reviews - mostly down to instability (poor BIOS?). Otherwise it's the SB600 which has a poor reputation to say the least.

So it's a case of AMDx2 6500 + decent SB750 mobo + DDR2 8500 + 4870, or a C2D8400 + X48 mobo + DDR2 6400 + 4850.

Some choice eh?

 

[Scrubydoo]

Think that I'm better off with dual core - since they can be clocked higher and few games actually benefit from 4 cores. Higher mHz help more as far as games go.

And this will be a games-only rig - other stuff is done on another computer.