AMD vs Intel?

**Geezer57** · 11-25-2006, 17:29

It would be hard to configure a Core 2 Duo, plus motherboard, new RAM, and a graphics card within that budget. The least-expensive e6300 processor costs just over $180, a decent gaming motherboard would be at least $100, a gig of good DDR2 RAM also about $100, so that would leave only about $120 for the graphics card and everything else.

Assuming your current machine has regular DDR memory that can be re-used, and that the new system will primarily used for gaming over other applications, then a socket 939 Athlon 64 single core based machine will give you 95% of the CPU performance (in games only) of a Core 2 Duo, at less than half the price.
For example: an Athlon 64 3200+ retail (with heatsink/fan) for $61.99 including free shipping (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103535), eVGA makes a nice SLI-capable micro ATX NForce4 chipset board for $61.40 shipped (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813188007), upgrade the RAM (assuming you've got 512mb, but want at least a gig) for about $60. That leaves over $300 for the graphics card (the most important single component for gaming) and other stuff, which should make a much more satisfying system for your (presumed) MTW2 needs. With that much left you might afford an x1950XT 256mb (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102067) or any one of a number of GeForce 7950GT's with 512mb (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...k=&srchInDesc=).

**Gawain of Orkeny** · 11-26-2006, 04:01

Ive uped my budget to 800

The longer I wait the bigger my budget

Looks like no ones getting anything for Christmas this year but me :)

I see for 999 I can get an alienware complete system. But I dont need a new montier, KB or mouse yet to play MTW2.

Ive checked and it seems the top Core 2 out preforms its AMD counterpart 30% across the board.

**Caius** · 03-29-2007, 20:58

Whats better then?

AMD or Intel?

**Whacker** · 03-29-2007, 22:22

Originally Posted by Caius Flaminius

Whats better then?

AMD or Intel?

Short answer, if you are buying now, get an Intel Core 2 based cpu. They overclock like nuts (even on stock cooling) and outperform their AMD counterparts soundly.

Hopefully AMD will catch up soon... Competition is good and forces innovation and better pricing. Plus it's always great to root for the underdog.

**TevashSzat** · 03-30-2007, 02:53

AMD has been in the lead for too long with its domination of single core cpus, but intel is ahead now in dual cores

**BlackAxe3001** · 03-30-2007, 04:03

I can't believe that you brought this topic back alive Caius...

**caravel** · 03-30-2007, 13:10

Caius Flaminius, you know why I'm here...

Whenever an improper thread resurrection occurs I will not be far away... oh well lets get to it......

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On topic: I've always had AMD CPU's, but they are now lagging behind Intel by quite a bit. This is the nature of the CPU and Graphics Cards markets though.