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

[DJ-phYre]

I have been looking for a good deal, although I was hoping it was for a C2D setup... but I believe this might be my ticket for an upgrade

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...d=0&PageSize=10&page=1


Second deal from the bottom... 5000+ and 2GB XMS2 DDR2 for $158 - $40 MIR (add it to cart to see the rebate)

I am upgrading from a 3800+ w/ 1GB XMS DDR400...

Throw that deal with a good mobo and I think I will be very happy...

Anyone disagree? I just want some opinions...

... and btw I know C2D is superior, but I just want an upgrade for a good price... just the best bang for my buck

 

[v8envy]

Keep looking for a core2 deal. Mine was $171 shipped for a E2180 + gigabyte DS3L (at clubit, no rebate) and $12 AR for 4 gigs of HP ram ( micron D9 chips ). Pretty competitive with the 5000+ at stock clocks, but at 3 ghz they're not even playing the same game.

The deals are out there, just keep vulturing hot deals and get the components when the time presents itself. You'll barely notice going from 2 ghz to 2.6 ghz (but with a smaller cache), yet you'll definitely notice your wallet being lighter.

 

[elcamino74ss]

I just pulled my gigabyte am2 3600 for a DS3L and an e2200. I got the ds3l from clubit too and the e2200 from a fry's combo (saving the board for the kids) I was running my 3600 @ 2.6 and the e2200 seems a good bit faster. I haven't clocked it up too much yet since I spent most of my time getting Vista loaded and runs nice with 4gb of ram

I plan to get an e8400 once price and availability comes down then put the e2200 with that ecs mobo and set it up for the kids.

 

[WT]

Just make sure your 3800 is an AM2. I hope this s the case, as the 5000+ is a newer AM2 socket type. I love my 5000 BE ... its sitting at 3.2 and runs comparable to my e6600 at 3.2.

 

[ionoxx]

If you're using DDR400, you're currently using Socket 939. That 5000+ processor is AM2... you will need a new mobo and ram for that...

 

[sutahz]

I agree, won't work. What I saw as a red flag was his "i currently have 1GB DDR-400" and this deal on Newegg is "CPU+ 2GB DDR2"
Looks C2D is stll the way to go there pard.

 

[harpoon84]

Originally posted by: WT
Just make sure your 3800 is an AM2. I hope this s the case, as the 5000+ is a newer AM2 socket type. I love my 5000 BE ... its sitting at 3.2 and runs comparable to my e6600 at 3.2.

X2 5000+ BE @ 3.2GHz comparable to an E6600 @ 3.2GHz? Sorry, but that's rather hard to believe.

 

[v8envy]

Could happen. If he's running at high res/high eye candy/lowish-end graphics and is GPU limited the 3.2 ghz AMD chip is not the bottleneck. Really, any modern dual core at 2.8ghz+ should be enough for most gaming. I have yet to find a situation where my E2180 @ 3 ghz is ruining my gaming experience.

For everything else, yeah. Not even close. Some benchmarks show a 50%+ delta between the 6400x2 (larger cache than the 5000+) and E2140s clocked to 3.2, never mind a 6 series.

 

[DJ-phYre]

All of you that say it won't work with my current motherboard... I am aware...

Read my original post:

Originally posted by: kick3r
I have been looking for a good deal, although I was hoping it was for a C2D setup... but I believe this might be my ticket for an upgrade

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...d=0&PageSize=10&page=1


Second deal from the bottom... 5000+ and 2GB XMS2 DDR2 for $158 - $40 MIR (add it to cart to see the rebate)

I am upgrading from a 3800+ w/ 1GB XMS DDR400...

Throw that deal with a good mobo and I think I will be very happy...
Anyone disagree? I just want some opinions...

... and btw I know C2D is superior, but I just want an upgrade for a good price... just the best bang for my buck

 

[v8envy]

If you're going whole platform there's absolutely 0 reason to go AMD except for the very cheapest CPUs. Performance/$, performance/watt, bang/buck or any other metric -- there's an Intel based platform which will be better.

AM2 3800x2 + $20 mboard + cheapie 533 or 667 ram + $10 PSU + 2600XT = cheapest (total build budget: under $250) modern PC capable of gaming. Estimated useful lifespan: negative 12 months.

E8400 or E2160 + DS3L/P35-E + select cheapie 667 ram + $50 PSU + 9600GT or 8800GT = great bang for buck mildly OCable mainstream system for around $550. Estimated lifespan: 12 months.

E8400 + premium mboard (asus P5K e.g.) + quality OC ram + $80 PSU + 8800GTS 512 = fantastic overclocked performance for only a few $ more. Estimated lifespan: 12-18 months.

If you live near a microcenter and can pick up a retail Q6600 for $200 there's absolutely 0 reason to even consider any Phenom.

 

[DJ-phYre]

Originally posted by: v8envy
If you're going whole platform there's absolutely 0 reason to go AMD except for the very cheapest CPUs. Performance/$, performance/watt, bang/buck or any other metric -- there's an Intel based platform which will be better.

AM2 3800x2 + $20 mboard + cheapie 533 or 667 ram + $10 PSU + 2600XT = cheapest (total build budget: under $250) modern PC capable of gaming. Estimated useful lifespan: negative 12 months.

E8400 or E2160 + DS3L/P35-E + select cheapie 667 ram + $50 PSU + 9600GT or 8800GT = great bang for buck mildly OCable mainstream system for around $550. Estimated lifespan: 12 months.

E8400 + premium mboard (asus P5K e.g.) + quality OC ram + $80 PSU + 8800GTS 512 = fantastic overclocked performance for only a few $ more. Estimated lifespan: 12-18 months.

If you live near a microcenter and can pick up a retail Q6600 for $200 there's absolutely 0 reason to even consider any Phenom.

I won't be doing any overclocking; I don't do hardly any gaming.

I already have psu and video for now

I just want a new processor (which will require a new motherboard) and at least 2GB of RAM for when I go to Vista.

 

[SlowSpyder]

Originally posted by: kick3r
All of you that say it won't work with my current motherboard... I am aware...

Read my original post:

Originally posted by: kick3r
I have been looking for a good deal, although I was hoping it was for a C2D setup... but I believe this might be my ticket for an upgrade

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...d=0&PageSize=10&page=1


Second deal from the bottom... 5000+ and 2GB XMS2 DDR2 for $158 - $40 MIR (add it to cart to see the rebate)

I am upgrading from a 3800+ w/ 1GB XMS DDR400...

Throw that deal with a good mobo and I think I will be very happy...
Anyone disagree? I just want some opinions...

... and btw I know C2D is superior, but I just want an upgrade for a good price... just the best bang for my buck

Chances are you will be happy with that as it is a decent bit faster then your current system. 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. With that being said, if you don't plan to overclock at all, then that system is a decent and cheap upgrade. If you plan to overclock, spend a bit more on a C2D. Just my two cents.

 

[DJ-phYre]

Understandable... but C2D in the 2GHz range are $200+ just for the CPU.

This deal is with CPU (2.6GHz) + 2GB RAM for $120...

I am just trying to get a grasp on why I would want to spend that extra money for a C2D.

 

[DJ-phYre]

Where I would lose the most ground against the C2D is the bigger cache size... since the AMD only has 2x512mb...

EDIT:

And if I was to overclock... it goes to 3.10GHz easy by just increasing FSB b/c of unlocked multiplier...

 

[OLpal]

Like the other folks pointed out,, your not talking real cheap ,,simple upgrade, if your running DDR400 then your also more then likely running an AGP video card , just another cost to factor in & your Power Supply may be the wrong type & power for PCI Express video card... There's a lot to consider !!

Check out the specs on the processor , motherboard, memory, video card & power supply your currently using & see how they match with you upgrade... These guys are here to help, so make sure you let them know exactly what you have !!

Hope your upgrade works out cool !! Ol'Pal

 

[OLpal]

Kickr if your really wanting to stay AMD i'd recomend X2 5000 Black w/ good cooler, some good DDR2 800 ram [real affordable for now, load up], the new release of ATI 3850 or Nvidia 8800GS [sweet deal] Team these up with a good quality power supply, Sata drives,,, & a good quality motherboard that i'm sure these guys will help you with on choice !!

Good Luck Ol'Pal

 

[DJ-phYre]

My current setup is:

MSI K8 Neo4 Plat
6800GT PCIe
400w PSU
1GB DDR400

I will be ditching the motherboard, processor and RAM for now.

 

[heyheybooboo]

ECS A770M-A AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX $60 AR

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 $45

Athlon 64 X2 5400+ 2.8GHz AM2 65W $95

I believe you may reuse your HSF from the s939

I think ECS changed their name or WOOB. That mobo is alot better than the 'combo' selection you chose ...

Memory speed with the X2 5000+ is like 740MHz (2600MHz / 7 X 2) With the X2 5400+ it is 800MHz (2800 / 7 X 2)

And I believe AMD OverDrive will work with the 770 chipset.


Edit: Sorry - I just realized I checked the wrong combo

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: kick3r
Understandable... but C2D in the 2GHz range are $200+ just for the CPU.

E2200 is 2.2Ghz, and costs $95. E4600 is 2.4Ghz, and costs $137.
Both will OC to 3.0+ Ghz easily.

 

[OLpal]

I'm with virtual larry on this one ! as
Your best bang for the buck !!
Gigabyte P35 DS3L $90
E2200 Intel $95
Muskin DDR2 800 $45 [amir] #996533
Only thing to remember is intel chipset allows only 1 IDE port on their boards
But SATA & USB are aplenty

With whatever you go with a quality power supply is worth considering..

Ol'Pal


ps; you may also want newer SATA drives

an option for a cheap upgrade on your 939 MB would be the Athlon 64 4000 @ $50

 

[rchiu]

Originally posted by: kick3r

Originally posted by: v8envy
If you're going whole platform there's absolutely 0 reason to go AMD except for the very cheapest CPUs. Performance/$, performance/watt, bang/buck or any other metric -- there's an Intel based platform which will be better.

AM2 3800x2 + $20 mboard + cheapie 533 or 667 ram + $10 PSU + 2600XT = cheapest (total build budget: under $250) modern PC capable of gaming. Estimated useful lifespan: negative 12 months.

E8400 or E2160 + DS3L/P35-E + select cheapie 667 ram + $50 PSU + 9600GT or 8800GT = great bang for buck mildly OCable mainstream system for around $550. Estimated lifespan: 12 months.

E8400 + premium mboard (asus P5K e.g.) + quality OC ram + $80 PSU + 8800GTS 512 = fantastic overclocked performance for only a few $ more. Estimated lifespan: 12-18 months.

If you live near a microcenter and can pick up a retail Q6600 for $200 there's absolutely 0 reason to even consider any Phenom.

I won't be doing any overclocking; I don't do hardly any gaming.

I already have psu and video for now

I just want a new processor (which will require a new motherboard) and at least 2GB of RAM for when I go to Vista.

If you won't be doing any overclocking, the x2 5000+ is as good or better than any c2d processors in the 100 range. I have a x2 AM2 OC'ed at aound 2.6ghz, an e4500 oc'd at 3ghz, an e2200 oc'ed at around 3ghz, an opteron oc'ed at 2.7ghz, just bought a Q6600. I can tell you that they all perform well with today's application. Even if you game, I'd save up and buy a good video card.

The only draw back I see with AM2 is that it's the end of the line as I don't see any upgrade path, unless you get an AM2+ mobo, and AMD release better Phenom chip in the future. With a p35 board or better, you will be able to go cheap today, get better cpu down the road.

 

[DJ-phYre]

I have also decided I want to go back to a smaller form factor b/c I missed my Shuttle... but I don't want to spend the money on the Shuttle so I chose mATX

This is what I am looking at:

Thermaltake Lanbox Lite
http://www.newegg.com/product/...p?item=N82E16811133045

GIGABYTE GA-G31M-S2L LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/product/...p?item=N82E16813128078

2x1GB RAM (Haven't decided)

500w PSU (Haven't decided)

I am going to be buying this slowly over the next couple months... I will probably order case and motherboard (there are likely not going to be any price changes) and then pick and buy a PSU while I wait for a good rebate/deal on RAM and maybe even a price cut on the CPU

What CPU? I want to keep it around $150 or so on the CPU

 

[heyheybooboo]

If you are considering the onboard video there are much better options from both AMD, Intel and nvidia than the Intel GMA 3100 IGP

The new standard GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H AMD 780G Micro ATX

 

[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.

 

[DJ-phYre]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
If you are considering the onboard video there are much better options from both AMD, Intel and nvidia than the Intel GMA 3100 IGP

The new standard GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H AMD 780G Micro ATX

Won't be using it. I have a 6800GT right now until I can afford to upgrade...

Most likely will be picking up a 9600 card