Moving from AMD to Intel Quad, Options ?

[Ogs]

For years now ive been using my MSI K9N Neo motherboard with a X2 6000+, and while its served me well ive always wanted to move over to Intel, where they seem to be regarded as better. Ive always never known what to go for motherboard wise, im not into overclocking at all, i just want a straight up working motherboard that doesnt give any hassle with silly software problems or bios fiddling. Anyone know what my best options are for getting both a motherboard with core 2 quad support and a good quad core, without breaking the bank ?

 

[jak731]

q6600 + p43 MB

 

[ConTRo13R]

Any motherboard within your budget! simple

You only hear about all this bios fiddling and updates and that due to this forum being full of hardware enthusiasts or 'hardware hackers' as The Register has labeled us

 

[willy]

What's your budget for CPU and mobo?

Good choice moving to Intel

 

[Benimaru]

Hehe I'm doing the same thing funny enough almost the same spec too I'm going for the Q6600

 

[Redgie]

I did the exact same as you guys a few months ago, a Q6600 and whatever board you can afford will do you fine

 

[Ogs]

Ideally i wanted to keep it under £200 but it doesnt look like theres any chance of that happening if i want Quad . Is there any significant differences between these 2 motherboards ?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-293-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1344

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-294-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1344

 

[Redgie]

Haven't looked fully but the first makes no reference to having quad capability

 

[willy]

For that money i would get p45 instead, p5q

 

[Ogs]

Another question, is it just me or, were the Q6600's significantly cheaper awhile ago ?

 

[Kalpsn2000]

Another question, is it just me or, were the Q6600's significantly cheaper awhile ago ?

Yes they (and most other things) were cheaper but the weak £ has pushed prices up.

 

[EvilOne]

If you dont want to overclock then dont get a Q6600. Better off getting a high clocked dual core, or high clocked quad core if you have the money.

The AMD PhII is a more cost effective chip at stock(not overclocked) values then the intel lineup. So dont rule that out unless you really want to get away from them

 

[Ogs]

Ok well i think im going to stick with AMD. Cost and familiarity being the main reasons. So i need a new motherboard . How is this one ?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-111-GI&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=805

Apparently it can take every proccesor, including AM3's ? Anyone had any hands on with it ? Im thinking to get this proccesor to go with it -

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-226-AM&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=1033

Any idea what that compares to an Intel ? Also, would it be better or worse than my current X2 6000+ for most games ?

 

[sir-les-mp]

Ok well i think im going to stick with AMD. Cost and familiarity being the main reasons. So i need a new motherboard . How is this one ?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-111-GI&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=805

Apparently it can take every proccesor, including AM3's ? Anyone had any hands on with it ? Im thinking to get this proccesor to go with it -

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-226-AM&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=1033

Any idea what that compares to an Intel ? Also, would it be better or worse than my current X2 6000+ for most games ?

It will be a lot better for your games compared to your current x2 6000+,

If you can up your budget by £30 i would recommend this CPU Phenom II 920

 

[Ogs]

*edit nevermind*

 

[Sweetloaf]

I've just done this myself, I bagged an OEM Q9550 for £217 and an MSI P45 Neo3 which was around £85 It's a bit of a no frills motherboard but it does the job.

No firewire or eSATA but it does have 8 SATA ports and heatpipe cooling.

The Q9550 is fantastic by the way, I'd recommend saving on a mobo and buying a faster chip than the Q6600.

 

[Ogs]

Well after searching like a crazed animal, i think ive decided between these 2 pairs -

AMD

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-226-AM
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-111-GI

£216.18

I like that im future proof with AM3 on that motherboard (according to GIGABYTE).

Intel

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-161-IN&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=567
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-293-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1344

£235.73

Its Intel, everyone says there the best, and theres a few upgrades i could make in the future if i wanted.

Would like to hear some final words on these before i pick and smack down my cash

 

[Andrew G]

If you dont want to overclock then dont get a Q6600. Better off getting a high clocked dual core, or high clocked quad core if you have the money.

Just me or is this self contradicting?

Not having a go just making an observation

I had always thought from reading on here that the Dual/DuoCore had the edge over the Quads on overclockability (if that's a word). Also if you are just gaming and not video editing et al then a Quad core is a waste of time or have the goal posts move again?

 

[neon.uk]

Is your motherboard AM2+? Because if it is, surely a Phenom II chip would be the way forward?

 

[Ogs]

Is your motherboard AM2+? Because if it is, surely a Phenom II chip would be the way forward?

Na its too old, strictly AM2 only Otherwise this would have been an easy decision .