Decided not to go 5000+; Help me figure out Proc/Mobo mATX

[DJ-phYre]

Originally posted by: Denithor
My recommendations:

Gigabyte G33M-S2L mATX $100
e4500 (2.2GHz, 2MB cache) $125
Antec Earthwatts 500W $55
Mushkin 2x1GB DDR2-800 $47 (after $10MIR)

Two alternatives:
e8400 (3.0GHz, 6MB cache) $200-220 (tight supply right now, price will fall as supply increases)
Mushkin 2x2GB DDR2-800 $88 (recommended if you plan to upgrade to x64 OS)

Since you don't plan to OC your CPU I would recommend getting one with at least 2MB cache (which will help to offset the lower stock speed). The e8400 will provide considerably higher performance but the cost is higher as well. Only consider the 2x2GB memory if you plan to use a 64-bit OS in the near future (32-bit OS will only register about 3.2GB of the memory). The Earthwatts powersupply is an excellent model at a great price with no rebates.

What are the differences in the board I posted and yours? (I am at work so trying to be incospicuous as possible lol)

I didn't realize the 8400s were at that price... and I was considering the E4500, but 6MB cache on the E8400 would suit me much better for my everyday computing

 

[DJ-phYre]

Also... any idea how the latest Ubuntu runs on the gigabyte boards?

I am thinking of dual-booting... want the least amount of pain configuring things manually in linux

 

[DJ-phYre]

Originally posted by: Denithor
Antec Earthwatts 500W $55

Are there any good modular psus in the $50-80 price range?

I would prefer modular since this is going to be somewhat of a SFF

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: kick3r
I won't be doing any overclocking; I don't do hardly any gaming.

I just want a new processor (which will require a new motherboard) and at least 2GB of RAM

No overclocking and hardly any gaming = just about anything will work.

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder
But, if you're going to upgrade your whole system (mobo, ram, and CPU) then most everyone here will tell you to go with a Core2.

They tend to recommend with their own needs in mind, not the needs of those they are recommending for. There are some cases where AMD is better depending on usage, lack of overclocking and price point. Well, this one probably isn't one of them though.

My recommendation for non-overclocker:

C2D E4500 $99 at Micro Center B&M, otherwise $110 at Micro Center online. Alternately look for a Fry's B&M deal - those have been going for $120-125 with an ECS 945GC chipset board. That's a really budget and functional setup for a non-overclocker. If not getting the Fry's combo, then maybe pick up a cheap under-$50 945GC chipset board from Newegg or somewhere. Then, get the cheapest 2GB RAM kit you can find - even if it's DDR2-667. If you have a Fry's near you and the deal gods are smiling on you, you can get CPU/mobo/RAM for around $150 (plus taxes and with RAM rebates).

If you're overclocking, you'll want to bump your motherboard choice to a Gigabyte or Asus brand with G33 or G35 chipset.

 

[v8envy]

Originally posted by: kick3r
Also... any idea how the latest Ubuntu runs on the gigabyte boards?

I am thinking of dual-booting... want the least amount of pain configuring things manually in linux

Runs like a dream with Ubuntu 7.10. Most problem-free board/cpu combo I've had since the early days of Linux. Needed only minor tweaking to enable hardware monitoring of the cpu and GPU, has been rock stable ever since.

If you're dead set against overclocking I'd highly recommend a more expensive CPU like the E6750 or E8400. E4500 is a great CPU if you are willing to crank the FSB, otherwise it's not significantly better than a 5000x2 and not quite as good as a 6400x2. And in that case, might as well throw AMD some cash so that Intel cpus are cheaper for the rest of us in the future. =)

With a quality low end motherboard like the gigabyte DS3L overclocking core2 chips is a complete no-brainer. All you have to do is lock the PCIe bus at 100 mhz, set the memory divider to '2.0', and type '233' (or '266' if you're daring) into the FSB speed field. That easy. Then just run stability tests, see if your temperatures increase (at stock volts they shouldn't increase at all for a 2.56 ghz OC) and you're done! Why wouldn't you?

 

[DJ-phYre]

Originally posted by: v8envy

Originally posted by: kick3r
Also... any idea how the latest Ubuntu runs on the gigabyte boards?

I am thinking of dual-booting... want the least amount of pain configuring things manually in linux

Runs like a dream with Ubuntu 7.10. Most problem-free board/cpu combo I've had since the early days of Linux. Needed only minor tweaking to enable hardware monitoring of the cpu and GPU, has been rock stable ever since.

If you're dead set against overclocking I'd highly recommend a more expensive CPU like the E6750 or E8400. E4500 is a great CPU if you are willing to crank the FSB, otherwise it's not significantly better than a 5000x2 and not quite as good as a 6400x2. And in that case, might as well throw AMD some cash so that Intel cpus are cheaper for the rest of us in the future. =)

With a quality low end motherboard like the gigabyte DS3L overclocking core2 chips is a complete no-brainer. All you have to do is lock the PCIe bus at 100 mhz, set the memory divider to '2.0', and type '233' (or '266' if you're daring) into the FSB speed field. That easy. Then just run stability tests, see if your temperatures increase (at stock volts they shouldn't increase at all for a 2.56 ghz OC) and you're done! Why wouldn't you?

Ok, I will not put out the notion of overclocking... I have done it before I just don't like to... but if with the right board/cpu combo all I need to do is increase FSB then I can handle that... However as I said before I am going mATX so the DS3L is out...

 

[Skott]

Well, right now the best matx mobos that OC are the Gigabyte DS2R, ASUS P5K-VM, and the ASUS P5E-VM HDMI. The P5E-VM HDMI is probably the most popular one right now since it has the honors of the best fsb OC for a matx mobo. Check the features on each one though because they all have different features available. Of course if you OC the cpu you'll also want to adjust the ram too. They go hand in hand for best performance although I know some people just OC the cpu and leave the ram alone. Also DFI is planning to release AMD and Intel chipset SLI matx mobos but I dont expect to see them until the second half of 2008 sometime. I wouldnt wait on them though since DFI didnt say when they might release. Just that they were going to make them.