New System Decision

[FrozenPixel]

I've been wrestling with which platform to go it with, AMD X2 or Core 2. Now I know this topic has been discussed to death but it seems the majority of the answers are right now Core 2 but this is the dilemna.

I don't build a new system very often in fact last system was a P3 800. Technology changes too quick for me to be concerned if my system is not the fastest to date but my main concern with this new build is at least upgradeability.

I fully understand it's difficult to predict whats on the horizon but if I have bee doing some research and talking with local retailers and most tend to lean towards building my system using a high quality AMD X2 platform as it appears it may be more flexible in the future if I was just to do just a CPU update at a later time.

Building a workstation with a bit of gaming in mind. So far I have purchased:

Coolermaster Praetorian 730
OCZ 600W GameXStream PSU
2 x LG DVD H22's
Vantec EZ Swap Sata Enclosure
WD Cavier SE16 320GB
2 x WD Raptor 74 GB

Now it's just down to the heart of the system. Comments?

 

[blackrod]

with the way the core 2 duos run and overclock, it seems to blackrod that if frozenpixel got one, frozenpixel would not have to upgrade for quite a while.

also blackrod is wondering what video card is frozenpixel planning on getting.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: blackrod


also blackrod is wonder what video card is frozenpixel planning on getting.

intel mobo w/onboard vid

 

[FrozenPixel]

Sorry about that, pretty set on the 8800 GTS 640MB or 2 x 7600 GT's XXX 256MB. I can't afford a FireGL or Quadro FX card.

 

[Randybob]

For video encoding and rendering, you definitely want a Core 2. AMD is going to be rolling out socket AM2+ and AM3, so upgradability with them is as hard to predict as it is with Intel. I was counting on 939 to still be the socket of choice, but everybody that promised that was wrong.

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: FrozenPixel
Sorry about that, pretty set on the 8800 GTS 640MB or 2 x 7600 GT's XXX 256MB. I can't afford a FireGL or Quadro FX card.

Out of those two choices get the 8800GTS definitely. Leaving SLi open as an option makes more sense than buying a pair of lower power cards already in SLi which you'd have to scrap to upgrade.

 

[FrozenPixel]

Thanks very much. Seems like the Core 2 would be best for rendering. Going to spec out the Asus Striker Extreme and the WS Professional mobo's.