Best bang for the buck?

cy · Post by cy » Thu Feb 19, 2004 11:15 pm

What CPU and MB on the market has the best bang for the buck? I am planning to upgrade my old rig to something faster. Intel or AMD? Man..i m so outdated

Thanks for any help in advance

Joel · Post by **Joel** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 11:36 pm

I can help you out in the CPU department.

Best P4 for the $ - 2.6GHz Northwood Core

Best Athlon for the $ - Athlon XP 2500+ Barton

Both OC very well, also.

cy · Post by cy » Fri Feb 20, 2004 12:31 am

Thanks, but for those 2, which one is better overall?
Also i got a question. Does HT really makes a big diff? Or just in some of the applications?

zooner · Post by **zooner** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 1:53 am

Originally posted by cy
Thanks, but for those 2, which one is better overall?
Also i got a question. Does HT really makes a big diff? Or just in some of the applications?

it makes a huge difference in any kind of multi-tasking. I can run several cpu intensive applications and then pull up BF1942 with all the settings maxed without a hitch. All I have is a p4 2.4c. I used to own a p4 2.53 northwood and the p4 2.4c is vastly superior.

kieofwoo · Post by **kieofwoo** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 3:41 am

Athlon Barton 2500 Mobile - many people getting 2.7GHz on air with this cpu...

cy · Post by cy » Fri Feb 20, 2004 5:50 am

How about MBs?

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 7:18 am

Originally posted by cy

Also i got a question. Does HT really makes a big diff? Or just in some of the applications?

IMO...very much so. I'm very impressed with the P4C's.

The 2.8C P4 is creeping into the best bang for the buck category now, it's price dropped substantially the past month. Leave the stock HSF on there too!

MOBO...Asus P4P800 Around 107 bucks at Essential.

Pair of Crucial 512 meg PC3200 sticks for about 180 bucks, and you're all set.

Dunster · Post by **Dunster** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 10:00 am

Originally posted by YeOldeStonecat
IMO...very much so. I'm very impressed with the P4C's.

The 2.8C P4 is creeping into the best bang for the buck category now, it's price dropped substantially the past month. Leave the stock HSF on there too!

MOBO...Asus P4P800 Around 107 bucks at Essential.

Pair of Crucial 512 meg PC3200 sticks for about 180 bucks, and you're all set.

Roger that! I have a 3.0C P4 on the P4P800 Asus board. Excellent performance. The 2.8C is priced better for performance verses cost. I even have a pair of Crucial PC3200 (512MB sticks) on the board. You will be very happy with that setup.

kieofwoo · Post by **kieofwoo** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 10:27 am

Originally posted by cy
How about MBs?

They are designed to run at 133/266 FSB and a mulitplier of 13. So if your socket A mobo supports that then you're good to go.

cy · Post by cy » Fri Feb 20, 2004 3:45 pm

Thanks for all advice. I guess P4C is the one to go with? hehe.

YeOldeStonecat, there's alot of type of P4P800, like E, DLX, S, VM. Which one should i go with? If i want to save money, can i just go with the cheapest one?

THanks!

Originally posted by kieofwoo
They are designed to run at 133/266 FSB and a mulitplier of 13. So if your socket A mobo supports that then you're good to go.

My board support up to 1.2 Only with the rev 1.0a.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 3:51 pm

Originally posted by cy

YeOldeStonecat, there's alot of type of P4P800, like E, DLX, S, VM. Which one should i go with? If i want to save money, can i just go with the cheapest one?

I just know of 3x P4P800 models:

VM-for small form factors with integrated graphics <==not recommended
http://www.essencompu.com/nupplysingar.asp?ID=4285

Straight up P4P800 model <==recommended
http://www.essencompu.com/nupplysingar.asp?ID=4290

P4P800 Deluxe...similar to above model but has firewire
http://www.essencompu.com/nupplysingar.asp?ID=4284