Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 16 of 27

Thread: About to Upgrade: Core 2 Duo or 64x2?

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Portsmouth
    Posts
    160
    Thanks
    10
    Thanked
    1 time in 1 post
    • cocksy_boy's system
      • Motherboard:
      • GA-Z77X-UD5H
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i5-3570K
      • Memory:
      • 2 X 4GB
      • Storage:
      • Crucial MX500 240GB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • inno 3D 8800GT 512Mb
      • PSU:
      • Corsair 650W ATX 120mm fan
      • Case:
      • Antec P180
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • BenQ G2420HDBL 24", AG Neveo F-419 19"

    Question About to Upgrade: Core 2 Duo or 64x2?

    Hey all,

    Right, I've just killed my current system (I think I have broken the motherboard whilst transporting it, not too sure!), but I have decided its about time to upgrade. My current system is as my sig .

    I basically have always liked and used AMDs as they are good value and great to overclock, but the Core2Duos seem to be very good and although slightly more expensive than the AMD64x2, seem to perform a lot better. I would also like to save as many components from my currnet rig, unless they will massively reduce the performance of the new one, in which case I'll compromise a bit more! Unfortunately I've lost touch with the newer technologies, speeds, and decent components, as I'm in the Navy and have been working very hard away from home for a while !

    I'm looking to spend about £400 (I'll keep the HDD, Case, Monitors, Drives, etc) and it will be used for gaming, editing photos, watching films, web browsing, music, tv, and maybe a bit of video editing! My first 2 basic setup ideas are as follows:

    1) Athlon 64x2 4600+ (or 4400+... which is better-overclocked or not!)
    AsRock 939 Dual SATA 2

    2) Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 or E6600
    AsRock 775 Dual VSTA

    The remaining money I will either spend on newer faster memory for the rig, or if my current Geil memory isn't going to be the bottleneck, then a newer faster graphics card. Or possibly put in a dedicated sound card if the onboard one is slowing the system down.

    So, what do you think? Will these motherboards & setups be any good for gaming, performance & overclocking and how will they perform if and when I have the money to upgrade all the rest of the parts in the future?

    Or would I be better off starting with off with a completely different motherboard, cpu, memory, and graphics, and cutting my losses with my old components - I could use it as a second 'backup' rig (assuming I replace the mobo if that was the problem), or something like that- I'm unlikely to get a lot of money for it, if I try to sell it!

    Any and all help and comments appreciated! Thanks in advance

    Cocksy

  2. #2
    Moderator chuckskull's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    The Frozen North
    Posts
    7,713
    Thanks
    950
    Thanked
    690 times in 463 posts
    • chuckskull's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z77-D3H
      • CPU:
      • 3570k @ 4.7 - H100i
      • Memory:
      • 32GB XMS3 1600mhz
      • Storage:
      • 256GB Samsung 850 Pro + 3TB Seagate
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GTX 980Ti Classified
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic M12 700W
      • Case:
      • Corsair 500R
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus VG278HE
      • Internet:
      • FTTC
    For £400, I'd for a for a 939, 4200+, Asrock mobo and pick up the X1900XT overclockers are doing for £199. Should come to about £400. Presuming you resuse the GEIL RAM.

    You wont get, a conroe, motherboard, RAM (cant re-use the geil, as conroe is DDR2), and a half decent graphics card for £400.

    Bang/Framerates for buck the athlon is the way in this case.

  3. #3
    Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Portsmouth
    Posts
    160
    Thanks
    10
    Thanked
    1 time in 1 post
    • cocksy_boy's system
      • Motherboard:
      • GA-Z77X-UD5H
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i5-3570K
      • Memory:
      • 2 X 4GB
      • Storage:
      • Crucial MX500 240GB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • inno 3D 8800GT 512Mb
      • PSU:
      • Corsair 650W ATX 120mm fan
      • Case:
      • Antec P180
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • BenQ G2420HDBL 24", AG Neveo F-419 19"
    Is the 4200+ better than the 4400+ & 4600+ then? Any ideas how that mobo will overclock with the AMDs, and will the Geil be much of a bottleneck for the system or not? Cheers!
    Last edited by cocksy_boy; 24-08-2006 at 08:02 PM.

  4. #4
    Moderator chuckskull's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    The Frozen North
    Posts
    7,713
    Thanks
    950
    Thanked
    690 times in 463 posts
    • chuckskull's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z77-D3H
      • CPU:
      • 3570k @ 4.7 - H100i
      • Memory:
      • 32GB XMS3 1600mhz
      • Storage:
      • 256GB Samsung 850 Pro + 3TB Seagate
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GTX 980Ti Classified
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic M12 700W
      • Case:
      • Corsair 500R
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus VG278HE
      • Internet:
      • FTTC
    Quote Originally Posted by cocksy_boy
    Is the 4200+ better than the 4400+ & 4600+ then? Any ideas how that mobo will overclock with the AMDs? Cheers!
    It's cheaper, which allows you a more powerful graphics card and the 4200 will clock to 2.6ghz easily. If you break up and sell your old PC. You can afford a faster X2 and another gig of RAM. the extra gig being the better choice IMO or maybe a better clocking crossfire ready motherboard. I'm just working on best framerates for the cash.

    If you can find another £300ish core 2 duo becomes viable.

  5. #5
    Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Portsmouth
    Posts
    160
    Thanks
    10
    Thanked
    1 time in 1 post
    • cocksy_boy's system
      • Motherboard:
      • GA-Z77X-UD5H
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i5-3570K
      • Memory:
      • 2 X 4GB
      • Storage:
      • Crucial MX500 240GB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • inno 3D 8800GT 512Mb
      • PSU:
      • Corsair 650W ATX 120mm fan
      • Case:
      • Antec P180
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • BenQ G2420HDBL 24", AG Neveo F-419 19"
    As you mentioned crossfire - which is better, SLI or crossfire (I realise its not quite that easy, but what are the general feelings?!). And, would I be better to go for a single more expensive, faster gfx card, or 2 cheaper ones in sli/crossfire? Thanks!

  6. #6
    Moderator chuckskull's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    The Frozen North
    Posts
    7,713
    Thanks
    950
    Thanked
    690 times in 463 posts
    • chuckskull's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z77-D3H
      • CPU:
      • 3570k @ 4.7 - H100i
      • Memory:
      • 32GB XMS3 1600mhz
      • Storage:
      • 256GB Samsung 850 Pro + 3TB Seagate
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GTX 980Ti Classified
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic M12 700W
      • Case:
      • Corsair 500R
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus VG278HE
      • Internet:
      • FTTC
    Quote Originally Posted by cocksy_boy
    As you mentioned crossfire - which is better, SLI or crossfire (I realise its not quite that easy, but what are the general feelings?!). And, would I be better to go for a single more expensive, faster gfx card, or 2 cheaper ones in sli/crossfire? Thanks!
    Personallyi'd go for a single expensive card now and have cross as a cheap upgrade option in the future. The X1900XT for £200 is probably the fastest you can get for that money.

  7. #7
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    31,038
    Thanks
    1,878
    Thanked
    3,379 times in 2,716 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish
    Agreed - if you're tight enough on money to be considering budget boards then SLI/Crossfire aren't an option - the motherboards are a lot more expensive for starters!

  8. #8
    Senior Member sawyen's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Sheffield University
    Posts
    3,658
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked
    22 times in 21 posts
    • sawyen's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Laptop motherboard
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i7 740QM
      • Memory:
      • 8192MB DDR3
      • Storage:
      • 256GB SSD, 1TB WD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • AMD Mobility HD 5870
      • PSU:
      • MSI stuff
      • Case:
      • N/A
      • Operating System:
      • Win 7 64bit
      • Internet:
      • Virgin ADSL rubbish
    yeap, sometimes its best to not think about SLI or Crossfire at all..

    Considering most ppl wont ever use them given the speed new cards are being introduced..

    4200+, ULi budget board and an X1900XT is the best way forward if you're in the £400 mark..

    Conroe chips + *getting cheaper but still cost an arm* motherboards + *can be cheap as chips.. or can end up requiring you to sell ur daughters* DDR2 will give us just enough for a low-mid range, possibly entry level card... which is bollocks IMHO..
    Me want Ultrabook


  9. #9
    Banned
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    1,022
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    lol its called search you know how many conroe vs amd threads there have been lol

  10. #10
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    31,038
    Thanks
    1,878
    Thanked
    3,379 times in 2,716 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish
    Well true.. but every person's circumstances are different - I've not seen one asking about the asrock VSTA board before

  11. #11
    Member
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Hamilton,Scotland
    Posts
    196
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    on your budget the skt939 would be best imo, if you change to the core2duo itl probably go ovber your budget. At least with 939 you get to keep your ram.

  12. #12
    root Member DanceswithUnix's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    In the middle of a core dump
    Posts
    13,008
    Thanks
    781
    Thanked
    1,568 times in 1,325 posts
    • DanceswithUnix's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus X470-PRO
      • CPU:
      • 5900X
      • Memory:
      • 32GB 3200MHz ECC
      • Storage:
      • 2TB Linux, 2TB Games (Win 10)
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus Strix RX Vega 56
      • PSU:
      • 650W Corsair TX
      • Case:
      • Antec 300
      • Operating System:
      • Fedora 39 + Win 10 Pro 64 (yuk)
      • Monitor(s):
      • Benq XL2730Z 1440p + Iiyama 27" 1440p
      • Internet:
      • Zen 900Mb/900Mb (CityFibre FttP)
    Hang on guys, cocksy_boy has asked about the Asrock VSTA board which has 2 *DDR* memory slots as well as a pair of DDR2 slots. He *can* have a Core 2 chip and re-use his RAM (and video card too).

    The downside of that board is that the PCIe graphics is only a x4 slot. If you put in a top of the range graphics card then you won't quite get the best from it as you lose about 5% compared to AGP.

    Anandtech also have a review showing that (once again) DDR2 makes no real difference to performance on Core2.

  13. #13
    Banned
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    1,022
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    asrock rule, next thing you will be telling me is they have made a 754 adapter which turns it into conros with ddr2 , they are great for these cheap paths

  14. #14
    Banned Smokey21's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Stafford, Midlands
    Posts
    1,752
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    For 400, id go AMD X2, and get this X1900XT for 188 http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/106190

  15. #15
    Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Portsmouth
    Posts
    160
    Thanks
    10
    Thanked
    1 time in 1 post
    • cocksy_boy's system
      • Motherboard:
      • GA-Z77X-UD5H
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i5-3570K
      • Memory:
      • 2 X 4GB
      • Storage:
      • Crucial MX500 240GB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • inno 3D 8800GT 512Mb
      • PSU:
      • Corsair 650W ATX 120mm fan
      • Case:
      • Antec P180
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • BenQ G2420HDBL 24", AG Neveo F-419 19"
    Thanks for all your inputs people! Bascially, if you scrimp on either cpu or gfx then they are always going to be the bottleneck, but to get a decent gaming system, the gfx is probably slightly more important (as it does the most work!).

    So the way I'm thinking to go is this:
    a C2D E6300 (which can be overclocked well) £100
    a decent motherboard (like the DS3) £120
    2GB PC6400 (which can cope with the overclocked C2D) £130
    a decent gfx (maybe this X1900XT) £165

    Total: £515 +VAT.

    Hmm, slightly more than I had originally wanted and doesn't use any of my original components, but I can always cut back on the gfx or mobo slightly - maybe even reduce to just 1 gig ram - any thoughts? Cheers!

  16. #16
    Moderator chuckskull's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    The Frozen North
    Posts
    7,713
    Thanks
    950
    Thanked
    690 times in 463 posts
    • chuckskull's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z77-D3H
      • CPU:
      • 3570k @ 4.7 - H100i
      • Memory:
      • 32GB XMS3 1600mhz
      • Storage:
      • 256GB Samsung 850 Pro + 3TB Seagate
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GTX 980Ti Classified
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic M12 700W
      • Case:
      • Corsair 500R
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus VG278HE
      • Internet:
      • FTTC
    The RAM is the easiest to upgrade later, if you need to knock £60 off the price.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Intel Core 2 Duo X6800 Extreme Edition
    By JackDaniels in forum SCAN.care@HEXUS
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 24-08-2006, 06:45 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •