Question: To SLI/Crossfire or not?

[winhack]

winhack, You can go either way.So that means price will be your deciding factor.Me I am a AMD person all the way,but I know Intel's are great too!! Also let comfort of knowledge be part factor as well(price + knowledge of ship set = Happy end user )

Price is very important. I'm currently tracking the price of my system components from five different vendors, though only two of them have ALL the components of both builds. While price is a factor, at this point the two systems are about $350-$400 apart, and $400 on a system that will cost over $2k no matter HOW you do it isn't going to make the big difference. Technology will be just as important. As you pointed out, knowledge and research are the way to really ensure you have the right answer for YOU.

Right now, the Intel-based system is more expensive than the AMD-based system, but as soon as the Conroe procs are released into retail, I expect the two systems will rest at about $150 to $250 difference in price.

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

If you've had good experiences with Intel, and you've had them all of these years, stick with them then. Why not?

 

[winhack]

Amd built systems are great, everything is great. If you have so much faith in intel, and oyuve used everything for intel, and you find it good. Why not stick with it?

I'm not saying I will and I'm not saying I won't. My research thus far warrants examining both platforms (first time this has happened), and I have an open mind and am willing to put each through it's paces and see which one makes the most sense for me. Being an "Intel" guy for the sake of being an "Intel" guy isn't how I work, though I realize for some it makes a lot more sense to stick with what you know.

I find myself asking "How will I ever know if AMD can REALLY suit my needs or not if I don't give it some honest effort and look into it?" So research it will be. Research never hurts, and at the end of the day when I've made my selection, I can do so with the satisfaction that I know that I looked into it as opposed to wondering if maybe there was something I missed. I always prefer for my answers to come from a standpoint of practical experience than theoretical presumption, if I have the choice that is.

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

I didn't understand some of those words that you put in there, but I see what you're saying. It is true though, you'll never know if AMD is right for you since you've been using Intel all of this time, until you try it out, or do some research. Whatever your decision, I'm sure It'll be right for you.
BTW, what are your system specs now?

Edit: I see it now.

 

[winhack]

I've updated my profile to add all my system specs as they are today. Nothing phenominal, pretty standard stuff, really. And to be honest, it plays most of my current games just fine. I've had this system for 3 years now (bought all the parts for this one in mid 2003)--at least as far as my invoice shows. I like to cycle down my machines while they're still useful to people (like my wife and kids), so a 3 year interval +/- between new systems is about right for me. She and my son are sharing my last system (2.53GHz Intel socket 423 with a ASUS SiS648-based motherboard).

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

I build one every 1.5-2 years or so. But recently I got 2 comps 8 months apart, Intel and AMD.

 

[rpg711]

i'd suggest u to go amd and get the 3000+...its a mistake i took but now i see that they are 90$ and im like CRAP i bought a intel 3ghz for 150 lol and those 3000+ venice can make it to 3ghz 325 htt so its worth it