Wich System Setup is Better?

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Setup 1: AMD
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 3000+
Motherboard:ECS RD480-A939 Skt 939 ATI Radeon XPRESS 200 CrossFire
HardDrive: Western Digital Caviar 160GB S-ATA 3GB/s
RAM: Kingston ValueRAM 1GB Dual-Channel PC-3200 RAM
Lite-On DVD+/-RW
Lite-On DVD-ROM

Total Cost: $368.51

Setup 2: Intel
Processor: Intel Pentium D 820 2.8GHz
Motherboard: ECS 945P-A Skt T (LGA 775)
HardDrive: Western Digital Caviar 160GB S-ATA 3GB/s
RAM: PQI Turbo 1024MB Dual-Channel DDR2 PC2-5400
Lite-On DVD+/-RW
Lite-On DVD-ROM

Total Cost: $381.95

Which setup is better? I'm using it for gaming and burning DVDs most of the time. Watching TV also. Which motherboard also overclocks better, that would be a plus. I would want the Pentium D to go from 2.8GHz to around 3.4-3.6GHz and the AMD 64 3000+ to go to around 2.2-2.4GHz. The harddrive is fine, I'll go RAID 0 later on, not now.

Everything else I have, X800XL, TV/HDTV Tuners, 450 Watt Antec PSU, Super Talent ST833BK Case, Big Typhoon, everything is all good.

Thanks for the replies, I should be buying soon for second comp.
-Azn

 

[amd64skater]

i hate to say it

well i hate to say it even though i am a hardcore amd fan i would use the intel its the better one now if u would have had a better amd chip like an x2 3800 or better then i would say use the amd but u r pitting a dual core vs a single core to there is no comparing the 2 but for gaming u might still get better play out of the amd than that pentium d but im not sure maybe some one else maybe better to say on that and for overclocking hopefully someone can help u on that also good luck

 

[NamesDontMatter]

Pentium D OC's very easily, like amd64skater said, you can not beat the Intel Dual Core for the price.

 

[Ketxxx]

Both are about equal. I would change that HDD for a 250GB SATA2 16mb cache model though. Thaat extra cache makes quite a bit of difference with NCQ.

 

[Jimmy 2004]

If you put the better ram in the AMD system I might go for that, but the intel probably just about edges it for me.

 

[rgrizzard]

Go for the Intel but change from an 820 to a 920.
This takes the processor from 90 nm to 65 nm, which = lower temps and reduced voltage.

 

[markkleb]

Get the RedChrome stuff (better and cheaper)
AMD3000+ $106/Jetway GT4 SLImobo $50/1 Gig Geil Ram $88/ 2 Hitachi Sata2 HDDs Raid0 $92

$336 (you can always upgrade CPU)

ECS mobos suck

 

[NamesDontMatter]

.... dont get a single core get a pentium dual core, and MARKLEB the ECS 945 Mobo kicks ass, my friend got a Pentium 805 D up to 3.5+ on it. For a budget board that is perfect. Tr14Dz go with your second setup it is perfect man.

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Alright, but I might change the 820 to a 920 like you guys said. Will the 920 still be able to overclock to 3.4-3.6GHz?

The reason why I put 820 is because I could get it for about $100, which isn't bad. I might wait though until Conroe comes out in a few months, then If they lower prices on 920 or 930, I'll get that instead. But will the ECS Motherboard support 65nm dual-cores?

 

[magibeg]

Unless you're in dire need of a new computer i suggest waiting for conroe to come out. The prices of the pentium D's should drop like a rock and if you wanted to spend a bit extra you could get yourself a mid-low range conroe that would probably perform beautifuly.

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Get the RedChrome stuff (better and cheaper)
AMD3000+ $106/Jetway GT4 SLImobo $50/1 Gig Geil Ram $88/ 2 Hitachi Sata2 HDDs Raid0 $92

$336 (you can always upgrade CPU)

ECS mobos suck

Not bad but, I wanted the ECS CrossFire motherboards because later on I might get 2 X1800GTO's. I'm not really planning to get any nVidia card or SLI anytime soon.

BTW guys, would refurbished motherboards still be good? What do they come with?

 

[markkleb]

I will repeat this one more time ECS SUCKS!!!!!!!
you may as well get a PC chips.

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Ok then, but what about refurbished/openbox products? They good?

 

[markkleb]

They are fine, I use refurb for almost all my stuff. Right now the only good crossfire boards are the expensive ones.

 

[markkleb]

Check out this mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131584
Review
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2617

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131584R
Refurbished fine? What do refurb motherboards come with? Do they come with all the cables?

 

[markkleb]

Dam what a deal,

Sometimes they do and sometimes they dont..

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Cables are cheap anyway so...I might go with that?

 

[ataraxia]

I will repeat this one more time ECS SUCKS!!!!!!!
you may as well get a PC chips.

^agreed. also if your on a budget and want a chip ($120.99!!!!!!!!!!!) that will beat high end chips..get this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116001 i have seen benchmarks with this cpu hitting 4.1 on air. i would try to find out which board they went with "asus" something??

here is one review and benchmarks
http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/05/10/dual_41_ghz_cores/

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

^agreed. also if your on a budget and want a chip ($120.99!!!!!!!!!!!) that will beat high end chips..get this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116001 i have seen benchmarks with this cpu hitting 4.1 on air. i would try to find out which board they went with "asus" something??

here is one review and benchmarks
http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/05/10/dual_41_ghz_cores/

I already said that I can get a Pentium D 820 for $100. I don't want an 805 for $20 more.

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

I found this motherboard at tigerdirect:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1490501&CatId=1533

Is this good? I'll probably get this with an 820 or 920. Since it's an SLI motherboard, will it have any trouble running my X800 XL since it's ATI?

 

[markkleb]

didnt you just say u didnt want a SLI? There are a lot of bad reviews with Abit.

If ur going SLI "GET THE JETWAY GT4 SLI
"http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813153030R

check the reviews on the Jetway.

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

yeah..but there aren't any good CF mobos at my price range. I guess I might try out SLI, but will ATI cards have problems/conflicts with SLI mobos?

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Ok... I got it. Here's what I'm going to get, just need your guys approval:
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ -$106.00
Jetway 939GT4-SLI-G (Openbox) -$45.99
Corsair ValueSelect 1GB (2x512) DDR RAM PC-3200 -$79.99
Western Digital Caviar 160GB S-ATA 3GB/s -$64.99
Lite-On DVD+/-RW -$29.99
Lite-On DVD-ROM -$19.99

Total-$346.95

Later on, I'll probably upgrade to an Athlon 64 3800+ or 4000+. Also, might add another WD 160GB for RAID 0, and 1GB more for RAM, and probably SLI, but that's later on, B-Day or X-Mas probably. Does this sound good for now though?

Also, will my X800XL have any problems with the Jetway mobo because it has an nVidia Chipset?

Thanks,
-Azn

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

...is ^ good?