Should I buy a AMD 939 system or wait for the newer chips?

[brandonbull]

I'm in the market to get a new system. Been out of the CPU loop for a hile so I'm behind on the newest stuff. Should I go with a 939 cpu before they are gone or should I hold out for the newest CPU core/socket stuff? I have my eye on a Opteron 170/175.

I looking for a decent gaming/development/everyday rig. Any suggestions on a MB for the CPU?

 

[George Powell]

Avoid 939 for a new build. If you want to go AMD then AM2 is the way forward.

However the best performance is to be had from the Intel Core 2 Duo or even Quad if your budget allows.

 

[Brunnis]

I don't think I follow... Why would you buy a 939 system when AM2 is out?

That said, Intel's Core 2 Duo is a better choice these days. The Athlon 64 X2 3800+ might be a good choice if you have a limited budget (since CPU and motherboard is cheap), but otherwise it's Core 2 Duo all the way.

EDIT: Ooops! I basically repeated what Mr Powell said... We seem to be in agreement, though.

 

[brandonbull]

Originally posted by: Brunnis
I don't think I follow... Why would you buy a 939 system when AM2 is out?

That said, Intel's Core 2 Duo is a better choice these days. The Athlon 64 X2 3800+ might be a good choice if you have a limited budget (since CPU and motherboard is cheap), but otherwise it's Core 2 Duo all the way.

EDIT: Ooops! I see I was a little slow. Mr Powell and I seem to be in agreement, though.

I haven't looked for a new chip in almost 2 years(Last chip was the AMD 3200+ Venice) so I'm a little dated on the new tech.

I don't know how much of a difference the AM2 chips are from the 939 chips. Intel chips? Never had an Intel chips before so maybe I will give them a look.

 

[postmortemIA]

Difference is that all future stuff will be for AM2 for a while, S939 won't see new releases. Second difference is that AM2 supports DDR2 memory. C2D is really much better per clock, it would be the best thing to chose if you have free choice.

 

[biostud]

for a new build C2D is the way to go, Intel has the upper hand ATM.

 

[Duvie]

Originally posted by: biostud
for a new build C2D is the way to go, Intel has the upper hand ATM.

QFT....


Unless you already have sckt 939 or AM2 equipment and you want to upgrade cpu only, there is no reason I would see promoting this route...

However that is price depending and there are some good for sale prices out there on used opterons and X2's...

 

[Liver]

you can always get awesome deals on 939 gear in the used / for sale forums. good performance gear for used prices. if that is a concern.

 

[brandonbull]

Originally posted by: Liver
you can always get awesome deals on 939 gear in the used / for sale forums. good performance gear for used prices. if that is a concern.

Prices aren't too much of a concern, but I don't want to overpay for marginal performance increase.

I was looking at the AMD stuff first because they always were better for pricing.

 

[brandonbull]

Originally posted by: brandonbull

Originally posted by: Liver
you can always get awesome deals on 939 gear in the used / for sale forums. good performance gear for used prices. if that is a concern.

Prices aren't too much of a concern, but I don't want to overpay for marginal performance increase.

I was looking at the AMD stuff first because they always were better for pricing.

 

[imported_K3N]

This processor, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005 which can easily be overclocked to 3.0ghz can and will outperform this processor, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103861

 

[brandonbull]

I guess I have been out of touch. Don't remember the love for Intel before. Will need to do some research on the Intel stuff then.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I wouldn't bother with anything that doesn't use ddr2 ram. Right now the intel core2 duo is the king of the desktop cpu's. If I were building a system today I'd use an e6400 cpu with a mb using the intel 965 chipset. Yeah I'll probably get flamed for saying it but they rock and that is the bottom line. A year ago my setup was enviable but today it's ho hum.

 

[cheesecurd]

good lord, go c2d. i used to be an amd guy, but intel definitely has the upper hand right now. yes its more expensive, but not THAT much in the grand scheme of things. You can get an e6300 + DS3 motherboard for about 230 and you don't need outrageously expensive memory to get a good overclock (if you are into that kind of thing -- overclocking is pretty easy with c2ds, so if you're not, its a good time to start!).

 

[nyker96]

if you can wait a bit there are bigger and better things coming from both intel and amd. like the k8L and intel has 4xxx series and native quad core as well on 45nm process. you can of course get core 2 now I think is better for the money you gonna spent. getting ddr1 would be pointless right now unless you already got some.