Core 2 Duo or AM2?

[BorisTheSpider]

Hi still not ordered anyhting yet but just noticed that OcUK are selling Connect 3D x1900XT 512MB cards for £199 Inc. Vat. If I go for that and the Gigabyte S3 965 then everything should come to £710. Other alternative C2D option was to go for a more basic C2D mobo just now and wait until the end of the year or something when more C2D mobos are out. I was thinking about the Gigabyte S3 945 or the Asrock ConroeXFire.

Is it likely Intel will be changing the socket anytime soon? Just they seem to have been using 775 for a while, just wondering if it's likely they'll change it. And if so would that affect the compatibility of the current C2D chips?

What do you reckon?

Thanks.

[kalniel]

Is it likely Intel will be changing the socket anytime soon? Just they seem to have been using 775 for a while, just wondering if it's likely they'll change it. And if so would that affect the compatibility of the current C2D chips?

Socket is less of a concern than chipset requirements - as you say they've been using 775 for a while, but that doesn't mean you can run C2D on a 915 chipset!

If they did change socket then yes, it would affect compatability of current socket C2Ds.. processors are usually only compatible with one socket - AM3 will be an exception.

However, they are only likely to change the socket when they significantly change the architecture of the chip - and there's no need for that for a while yet. Even Kentsfield uses the same socket so no immediate concerns.

[BorisTheSpider]

Hi

I'm just about to order now, but before I do that I've one more question.

I didn't know that Akasa do PCI-E adapters for older PSUs that don't come with PCI-E power adapters. If I use my Thermaltake Silent PurePower 480W with one of those adapters would it have enough power for a C2D and x1900XT 512MB graphics card?

This is the adapter here(is this the thing I need?): http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatal...aCB_2d018_2dAK

Thanks.

[chuckskull]

Should be fine unless you have a massive amount of other drive you didn't mention.

[BorisTheSpider]

Basically this is what I'll have:

NEC DVDRW
Samsung 160 or 250GB HDD
Seagate 80GB HDD which I'm using just now, though I'll probably use it as a backup once I get a bigger HDD.
Floppy Drive(has came in handy sometimes )

That's all there is drive wise.

[chuckskull]

Yeah should be fine so long as the two molex connectors can push enough amps for the XT.

I'd stick with that and have a new PSU as my next upgrade personally.

[BorisTheSpider]

Ok, I'll see how it goes with the PSU I've got just now.

Again thanks for the help!

[BorisTheSpider]

Ok, I finally ordered the stuff. Thanks for all the help and advice guys, much appreciated .