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Looking To Grab A New Setup, But Which CPU?

Bloodflowers

Bloodflowers

Bloodflowers

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Joined
27 Feb 2007
Posts
10
I'm looking to build a new set up, however I'm not too sure on what CPU to gor for. I was considering getting the AMD Phenom Quad Core 9500+ (Socket AM2) - Retail. But I'm not sure if that's going to be probelmatic as they've only just come out and who knows what bugs are likely to come up. Or maybe a AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 6400+ Black Edition 3.20GHz (Socket AM2) - Retail.


I'd be grateful for any advice.

Considered specs are

Asus CROSSHAIR nForce 590 SLi (Socket AM2) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard

AMD Phenom Quad Core 9500+ (Socket AM2) - Retail


Corsair 2GB DDR2 XMS2-6400C4 TwinX (2x1GB)

Zalman CNPS9700-NT nVidia Tritium CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940/AM2/LGA775)

Western Digital Caviar Special Edition 80GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (WD800AAJS) RAID 0 config
 
I wouldn't get that motherboard if you're buying a Phenom, buy one of the newer AM2+ 790FX boards instead. The Crosshair is an old platform that can also be a PITA!
Don't go for the 6400 Black Edition either, over-priced and underperforms compared to it's intel counterparts.

Right now, you'd really be advised to get a Core2Duo/Core2Quad setup. Performance is better and price is about the same due to Phenom adopters being taken for the "give us all your money now" ride.
There's already problems with the current stepping Phenom's aswell, nothing that'd affect the every day user but it's not good.

Unless you plan on waiting a couple of months then AMD is not the direction to go, unless you buy the AM2+ setup and throw in a cheap 5000 Black Edition/similar until Phenoms are fixed and bios releases are less flaky.
 
Emlyn_Dewar said:
...
Right now, you'd really be advised to get a Core2Duo/Core2Quad setup. Performance is better and price is about the same due to Phenom adopters being taken for the "give us all your money now" ride...
Click to expand...


What he said.
 
I've never had an Intel setup and to be honest I've always been adviced to go AMD. Though just lately more and more people are going down the Itel road. It doesn't help when you're a total noob on a tight buget.
 
Bloodflowers said:
I've never had an Intel setup and to be honest I've always been adviced to go AMD. Though just lately more and more people are going down the Itel road. It doesn't help when you're a total noob on a tight buget.
Click to expand...


I've always gone for the best bang-for-buck. Have had Intel and AMD systems in the past; the chips could be made by Fred Bloggs Inc. in Timbuktu for all I care, if its the best value for money and works, that's what counts for me. I've just put a base system together (as in sig.) for around £550 including a 500GB HDD; with cheaper memory and PSU could have been done £100 cheaper. Intel is the way to go at the moment.
 
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If you are going AMD, then the you should get one of the 790 boards, maybe the MSI because it's cheap, decent & bang up to date. Combine that with a Phenom or if going Athlon, the 5000+ Black Edition. It'll clock to or near the 6400 speed just using the unlocked multiplier & consume less power even when overclocked. It's the better chip really.
 
As it would appear your building a completely new system (IE new ram/motherboard/cpu) rather than just an upgrade, I would just go with an Intel Core 2 Quad System.

The Phenom is £129+vat, and the Q6600 is £134+vat (Actually £131 for the this week only OEM special)

At stock the 2.4Ghz Q6600 will be around 10% faster than the [email protected]. Phenom will use more power, and has a lot less overhead for overclocking. So to be honest if your building a Quad Core system, even if you have no intention whatsoever to overclock, you might as well build an intel system. If you going to overclock, then the intel offers even more reasons to buy it.

Phenom isnt a 'bad' chip, By all accounts its closed the gap clock for clock. But its currently limited to low clock rates, doesnt overclock very well (3Ghz unstable with serious cooling) and now AMD have announced that its got a bug which can probably be fixed with a bios or windows update.. but the fix will almost certainly have a performance hit.
 
Right.......After many a long night of review reading and begging, stealing and borrowing the cash. I've finally come up with a propposed system. Having never bought Intel before and not being the most clued up of their tech, it's a bit of a stab in the dark. Although an OC bundle did all the hard work and of course you guys recommending the chip.

Antec P182 Super Midi Tower Case - No PSU (Gun Metal Black)

Corsair HX 620W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Compliant PSU (CMPSU-620HXUK)

Intel Core 2 Quad LGA775 Q6600 2.40GHz Retail / Asus P5K / 2GB Corsair PC2-6400C4 DDR2 Dual Channel Kit - Bundle

Asus GeForce EN8800 GT TOP 512MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail

Western Digital Raptor 36GB 10000RPM SATA 16MB Cache - OEM (WD360ADFD)

Sony Floppy Drive - Black

Pioneer DVR-212DBK 18x DVD±RW SATA Dual Layer ReWriter (Black

All advice and "NO DON'T BUY THAT" welcome.

Cheers in advance.
 
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I know Phenom is still new and yet to mature but I still dont see a reason to buy AMD currently. I was like you, had always had AMD but I also want the best performance possible for my money and that I'm sorry to say is Intel and I dont see that changing in the near future, especially with the arrival of Penryn's early next year.
 
I have always had AMD, well almost. My first pc was an Intel 486SX25 (no co-processor for the win!) then I had a K5 then a Barton then a AMD64 3200+ (Venice) and now a AMD X2 3800+

When I next switch motherboard it will be to Intel. AMD have just stopped cutting the mustard CPU wise.
 
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