Gaming rig....

[LiengLiengZA]

.....Intel c2d/c2q or AMD phenom?

 

[SirFooK'nG]

Most games utilize the c2d more effectively than a c2q, but newer games will more than likely improve on that. Personally I have always loved AMD, but changed to intel back when the C2Q came out. There was nothing in the AMD arsenal to match it. Nowdays AM3 chips are very good, so maybe you should look at longer term for upgrade abilty. With i3, i5, i7 8XX and i7 9XX out or busy coming out the options get bigger and bigger!

If you dont have a PC or are coming from a plain P4 i would go for the i5, it is quad core and supports hyperthreading.

When I last upgraded i went from an AMD64 3000+, skipped dual core, core 2 duo and went straight to core 2 quad. Best move i did, cost a bit, but my q6600 still rocks 3 yrs later!

 

[ADRAM3L3CH]

i would go for the i5, it is quad core and supports hyperthreading.

No it doesn't, the i7 supports hyperthreading. It is quad core though and priced very close to a c2q 9550 which it is faster than. Get an i5, it's worth it.

 

[SirFooK'nG]

No it doesn't, the i7 supports hyperthreading. It is quad core though and priced very close to a c2q 9550 which it is faster than. Get an i5, it's worth it.

Sorry - corrected (the i7-8xx is the i5-7xx with hyperthreading enabled)

Socket 1156
Quad core i7-8xx (Lynnfield) = hyperthreading
Quad core i5-7xx (Lynnfield) = no hyperthreading
Dual core i5-5xx (Arrandale) = hyperthreading
Dual core i5-5xx (Clarkdale) = hyperthreading (desktop version)

 

[DerpiesFreud]

go AMD flip Intel

 

[LFX]

obvious troll is obvious

 

[SirFooK'nG]

obvious troll is obvious

agreed, just trying to get post count up...

 

[reddevilandy10]

If you don't want to sell one of your kidneys for an i7, go with the 720BE. You can always upgrade to a faster AM3 chip later. The Core 2 Quad route doesn't leave you with many upgrade choices. It's either i5 or i7 after it's dead.

 

[killadoob]

go AMD flip Intel

Any logical reason for this other fanboyism?

 

[ryu]

/slight hijack

how would you guys rate the Q8200 ???

 

[PostmanPot]

/slight hijack

how would you guys rate the Q8200 ???

Better than any AMD equivalent (price-wise)...

 

[ryu]

and performance wise ?

 

[SirFooK'nG]

and performance wise ?

pretty much on par with the older q6600, which runs damn fine, thank you very much .....

some other POV's... http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardware/148592-q6600-vs-q8200.html

 

[PostmanPot]

and performance wise ?

Price for price, Intel gives far better bang for buck.

AMD's "price equivalent" to the Q8200 is a tri core CPU...

 

[czc]

And you'll probably get told whats the point of a quad core when most games still use dual core. Rather get the tri.

 

[killadoob]

What is the point of a tri core when most games only use a dual core

Not the best argument i have heard .

 

[PostmanPot]

I doubt gaming rigs are bought to play older games.

 

[SirFooK'nG]

+1 killa
a true wtf statement if ever!!

 

[SirFooK'nG]

My quad plays everything - and bloody well too!

 

[Singularity1]

AMD's Athlon X4 620 is out. It has similar performance to the Q8200 but costs about R1200.