[cpu] Which chip should I get?

[TheLe]

I am working on a budget right now, but I am really looking for a good CPU for my gaming machine.

Here are my current options:
Pentium D 940
Pentium D 945
AMD X2 4200


I do some some apps, but nothing major that really warants a bigger dual core. So having minimum dual core capabilities is fine.

I am really looking to do gaming, and I do not want to Overclock.

I am leaning towards the D 945, since it is cheaper than the D940, but I am unsure why.

Any suggestions?

~Le

 

[drothgery]

The 945 is cheaper because it's missing hardware support for virtualization; if you don't know what that is, then it's not worth paying extra for it. It's the cheapest of the CPUs you're looking at. Also, the 940 and is being discontinued Real Soon Now (as Intel cuts down the Pentium D lineup to just the 805, 915, 920, and 945 post-Core 2 Duo launch).

The 940 isn't worth considering; the Core 2 Duo E6300 is much faster, and less expensive (though a motherboard that supports it may cost more). In fact, in the $150-$200 price range, it's the clear choice for a new system (the PD 945 is the best bet for upgrading a Pentium 4/Pentium D motherboard that doesn't support Core 2 Duo -- and most don't; the 4200+ is the best bet for upgrading an Athlon 64/Athlon 64 X2 motherboard).

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

What drothgery said, based on the info provided. However, if you are looking at keeping components from an existing system, that will alter the decision greatly. I don't think anyone is making a Core2Duo MB that supports AGP, so if you were planning on using your old video card you may be out of luck.

 

[TheLe]

Thanks for the comments so far! I am actually looking to build a new system from scratch. I got two 200-gb SATA hard drives, and will be getting memory/videocard later.

I just need to decide on a CPU, which will allow me to choose a Motherboard, which leads to the memory/videcard.

Since I am building from scratch, it sounds like the Pentium Core 2 or Amd X2 would be in my best interest, right?

`Le

 

[drothgery]

Since I am building from scratch, it sounds like the Pentium Core 2 or Amd X2 would be in my best interest, right?

Err, Intel Core 2 Duo; Intel's dropping the Pentium brand.

 

[Steel_Wind]

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600. Accept no substitutes. This is the most bang for the buck on the market right now - and it's not even remotely close. It beats the snot out of the fastest AMD processor available by about 15-20%. When the E6600 was about to release, AMD was forced to drop the price of the most expensive fastest processor (selling for $1,050 just a few months ago) - so that it was less than the E6600.

The E6600 is the reason upgrades for FAST machines have never been cheaper. Ever. AMD is not happy about the awesome performance of Intel's E6600.

The E6600 Retails for about $339. Because they are the #1 chip in demand right now, they are hard to find in stores, but Newegg has them.

You'll want DDR2 800 ram to go with it. I'd go to Newegg for that as well. Avoid the 667 speed ram. In fact - get all your parts through Newegg and you'll save money and get the best bang for the buck.

 

[drothgery]

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600. Accept no substitutes.

...

The E6600 Retails for about $339. Because they are the #1 chip in demand right now, they are hard to find in stores, but Newegg has them.

You'll want DDR2 800 ram to go with it. I'd go to Newegg for that as well. Avoid the 667 speed ram. In fact - get all your parts through Newegg and you'll save money and get the best bang for the buck.

Err... a Core 2 Duo E6600 is $150 more than the CPUs he's looking at (as opposed to the E6300, which is about the same price). And given the difficulties in getting early DDR2 800 to work with early Core 2 Duo motherboards, the very minimal performance advantages of DDR2 800 over DDR2 667, and a $100 price difference (for 2GB from crucial.com, anyway), I can't recommend going that way to anyone on a budget, especially if they're not interested in overclocking.

The E6600 is the 2nd-best non-Extreme/FX CPU out there, so it's not surprising that it's the best price/performace chip (the chip in this spot usually is, no matter which vendor's leading the performance wars). But if the price is out of your budget, it's out of your budget.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

So on the Intel vs. AMD kick, is the E6600 ($449.00) worth the extra bucks compared to an Athlon 64 X2 5000+ ($359.00)? Much like the OP I'm looking for game performance and will not be overclocking.

Edit: Sorry to the OP for asking this in your thread.

 

[Steel_Wind]

Err... a Core 2 Duo E6600 is $150 more than the CPUs he's looking at (as opposed to the E6300, which is about the same price). And given the difficulties in getting early DDR2 800 to work with early Core 2 Duo motherboards, the very minimal performance advantages of DDR2 800 over DDR2 667, and a $100 price difference (for 2GB from crucial.com, anyway), I can't recommend going that way to anyone on a budget, especially if they're not interested in overclocking.

The E6600 is the 2nd-best non-Extreme/FX CPU out there, so it's not surprising that it's the best price/performace chip (the chip in this spot usually is, no matter which vendor's leading the performance wars). But if the price is out of your budget, it's out of your budget.

The 667 Ram is being abandoned - dumped really.

The price diff here is pretty small in comparison to the overall bang for the buck. Sorry - I wouldn't change the advice at all.

Have fun with figures in other parts of the system. Dump a hard drive. The E6600 is too good a bargain.

 

[Steel_Wind]

So on the Intel vs. AMD kick, is the E6600 ($449.00) worth the extra bucks compared to an Athlon 64 X2 5000+ ($359.00)? Much like the OP I'm looking for game performance and will not be overclocking.

Edit: Sorry to the OP for asking this in your thread.

The E6600 is available for much less than $449. You should be able to find it for $339.

And yes - easily worth it over the x2 5000. It is a substantially faster chip and runs a lot cooler and - therefore - mucho less sound coming off of your system as the fans are not whirring like jet engines to keep it cool.

There is a reason AMD is getting the snot knocked out of it in the marketplace right now. This chip is why. I'm not an AMD hater. I've got six AMD systems. Doesn't change the fact that there is no point buying an AMD right now.