Desktop PC: Help me customize a Dell (1 Viewer)

[Radioman970]

Cool! I'm glad I asked that question.

My last 3 PCs have been AMD. I wouldn't buy anything else. Although nobody would have to make me say uncle to buy a Intel. I just like the price point best. Period. Base a system around an AMD and the price drop considerably! I also like that AMD shows it's big balls with the naming system they use. 1800+ 3400+

Btw, I have a ATI all-in-wonder 9800, AMD 1800+, half gig 2100 RAM and I get very good VHS to digital dubs using ATI's Tivo-like software. There's a lot (well, more than I need) of options for the type of output in that software and I believe some upgrades would make it even better.

 

[DaveF]

I'm not an expert, but I waste time reading the reviews of the various CPUs and have a non-partisan opinion.

AMD was the performance and price/performance leader until last year. In particular, their dual-core chips, the X2 line, out-performed the Intel equivalents, the Pentium D series. They were also cheaper. By nearly all accounts and metrics, the AMD X2 line was a better solution than Pentium D CPU (8xx and 9xx lines).

Then the Core 2 Duo came out. It crushed the X2 on price/performance and is generally better on absolute performance. It's also more energy efficient.

In response, AMD cut their CPU prices, upwards of 50% in cases. That zippy AMD X2 3800+ that goes for about $180 right now was $315 only a few months ago. With this price correction, AMD X2 lines are competitive again on price/performance against the Core 2 Duo.

If you're looking lower end, regular single-core CPUs, then AMD seems generally the best way to go still.

For your new PC? Up to you. I perceive that dollar for dollar, the Intel Core 2 Duo is better than the AMD X2, but right-minded individuals may disagree.

 

[Ken Chan]

All Core 2 Duo processors are 64-bit; Core Duo (no "2") are not. Of course, in the future they could come out with a low-end chip without that capability and decide to retain the "brand", since very few people use 64-bit, and marketing people are weasels. In fact, that low-end C2D 4300 does not have "Vanderpool" virtualization support, which helps when running VMs; but most people would not ever take advantage of it anyway.