Building a computer? Need advice/suggestions? Come here!

[Rook]

Last edited by Xetsuei; September 4th, 2009 at 03:05 AM.

You should make a new thread freelancer and keep it updated!

[Cortexian]

To much technology not enough time!!

[Warsaw]

You should make a new thread freelancer and keep it updated!

Why Freelancer? I'm in here just as often and am usually on the ball faster.

Besides, we don't need a new thread. The OP with the "builds for price segment" is a waste of space, especially when all decent builds point to Intel platforms these days.

[Amit]

Decent builds under $400 point to AMD, still.

[Warsaw]

Honestly, it depends on what parts you are scrounging, but AMD is good only if you are going to buy an AMD A-series APU and actually use its integrated graphics. Do not scoff at the i3, it will ravage the equivalent AMD.

Oh, and with the massive disappointment that was Bulldozer, I can't recommend AMD anymore. Intel just has too much of a performance-per-watt lead. And I'm no fanboy, all of my computers have been AMD.

E: So, Sandy Bridge-E is a goddamn waste of time and money. The performance isn't there, you're better off buying Sandy Bridge for performance or even Gulftown if you want to save money.

[Zeph]

I was dissapointed with Sandy Bridge E as well. Ultimately, about 10% higher performance overall with amazing boosts upwards of 30% on things heavily memory intensive. Not an impressive leap from a 2600k at all, but I'd love a pair of these Xeon flavor on a server.

[InnerGoat]

SB-e is as expected... Fastest thing out there even if it's twice as expensive for little gain

My new hardware shipped this morning

[Amit]

Honestly, it depends on what parts you are scrounging, but AMD is good only if you are going to buy an AMD A-series APU and actually use its integrated graphics. Do not scoff at the i3, it will ravage the equivalent AMD.

Not necessarily. The X4 and X6 Phenom II's still get the job done and do it better than an APU can. The graphics on the APU can't match a $100 graphics card for a budget gaming PC. And I think the X4 955 Black Edition goes directly against the i3-2100. While the i3 is faster at stock speeds for gaming, I can overclock my X4 955 BE to smoke it in gaming. You can overlock i3's properly so they are stuck with stock gaming performance while the AMD Phenom II's destroy it when it comes to multi-threaded applications and general productivity. I value that over extra gaming performance. Performance I know I don't need.

[Warsaw]

Yeah, and that's the catch. You have to choose what really suits your needs, and that's why the templates in the original post are a waste of time (which is the real point I was making). It's actually better to help people here on a case-by-case basis. And believe me, I know about the Intel vs. AMD subtleties, I did build a Phenom II X4 955-based system last year for the same reason. Contrary to what you just stated, though, the i3 2100 and Phenom II X4 955 at base clocks are so neck and neck in every department (even multitasking and general productivity) that it makes a hard sell for either and you you have to really go with personal preference. Remember that most people do not overclock.

Oh, and the GPU in the A8-3850 is equivalent to an HD3850 (modern form on 32nm, HD6550D), hence the name. While it was never exactly the greatest GPU in the world from any angle, it certainly was no slouch either. It is without equal if you want to make a budget game machine; you can play just about any title out there today with decent results using it. If you ask me, it's currently AMD's crown jewel, with the FX looking at it in envy.

[Patrickssj6]

tbh whoever proposed the idea of i3, i5 and i7 should get a medal. Each processor fitting its niche perfectly.

(owner of Phenom II X4 955)