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Budget build, AMD or Intel

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by Christer, 2004/08/17.

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  1. 2004/08/17
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Hello all!

    I have been asked to build a budget computer for our treasurer. All components are the same, with two exceptions:

    Asus A7V8X-MX and AMD XP 2200+ (1,8 GHz)
    or
    Asus P4SP-MX and Intel P4 Celeron 2,4 GHz

    The cost is equal.

    Which combination should I go for?

    Thanks for Your time,
    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  2. 2004/08/17
    dobhar Lifetime Subscription

    dobhar Inactive

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    Last edited: 2004/08/17
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  3. to hide this advert.

  4. 2004/08/17
    Paul

    Paul Inactive

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    Toss a coin maybe?
    The CPU fan may be a little quieter on the Celly. :)
     
    Paul,
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  5. 2004/08/17
    Paul

    Paul Inactive

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    I see you're adding "fat to the fire" as well Kent. :D
     
    Paul,
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  6. 2004/08/17
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Hi guys,
    thanks for Your input!

    Kent,
    I've seen the thread on Intel versus AMD but I threw in the motherboards as well. Both are Asus but maybe someone will tell me that they are good at X but not at Y.

    Paul,
    if no decisive conclusion can be drawn ...... ;) ...... then I'll reach for my wallet!

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  7. 2004/08/17
    dobhar Lifetime Subscription

    dobhar Inactive

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    Paul => Who me?? :D


    Seroiusly Christer...I do though love your chose of mobo's being an ASUS fan. We have a couple of the Pentium Celeron 2.4 GHz at work on Intel mobo's and they are smoking machines. Unfortunately I can really only comment on Intel as at work, on 500+ machines we only use Intel. As I stated in the other post, link added, I have now built 4 boxes and all have been Intel and all on ASUS mobo's (2 - Pentium Celerons, 1 - PIII 450 mhz, and 1 - P4 2.0 GHz).

    What software you going to be running?

    I'm curious if there are any posters running AMD with CAD programs such as ACAD, Solid Edge, Canvas, etc... and how they compare to Intel.

    I would like to work on an AMD just to see what's what.

    Laters,
     
    dobhar,
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  8. 2004/08/18
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Kent,
    I'm close to revealing which my thoughts were before posting this thread but I'll hold that off a bit longer ...... ;) ...... !

    It will be running Windows XP-pro, Office XP-pro, possibly Adobe Acrobat 5.05 and whichever software a treasurer uses for treasuring.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  9. 2004/08/18
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Another thought, those mobo's are micro-ATX ...... :confused: ...... is it possible to fit them in an ATX case (normal size)?

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  10. 2004/08/18
    Scott Smith

    Scott Smith Inactive Alumni

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    I dont think thats a fair comparison.

    A7V8X vs P4SP

    Via vs SIS?? Via hands down.

    How about a P4VP-MX ? or P4V533-MX ??
     
    Scott Smith,
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  11. 2004/08/18
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    ssmith10pn,

    The P4VP-MX is an alternative, the price is approximately the same but it only supports PC2100 as opposed to PC2700 for the P4SP-MX. Which is more important, VIA or PC2700?

    The P4V533-MX is not available where I'm bringing my business.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  12. 2004/08/18
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    I checked the web shop and the XP 2200+ is no longer available so it will be the XP 2500+ (Barton) instead ...... :confused: ...... if it makes any difference apart from relieveing our treasurer of some more cash!

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  13. 2004/08/18
    RayH

    RayH Inactive

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    I personally like to build Intel CPUs on Intel chipsets. They are more stable, have excellent support, and are very forgiving.

    If such isn't going to be done, I'd do an AMD on whatever.
     
    RayH,
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  14. 2004/08/18
    user__11063

    user__11063 Well-Known Member

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    umm....tough one that, as both processors are the same really, but i take it you mean a Intel Celeron as opposed to the Intel P4?? If so then if your treasurer is just doing finances, internet, email, word, excel and general office stuff then i would go with the Celeron option, the AMD option is very good if you are looking at doing multimedia but as this is for a treasurer then i would suggest the Celeron route! :D

    Hope this helps
     
    user__11063,
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  15. 2004/08/18
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Hi martync2,
    thanks for Your input, any and all thoughts count!

    The only thing I'm sure of ...... :eek: ...... is that he's not a gamer but for the rest, I'm not sure. He will probably not be treasuring all the time but he doesn't need state of the art equipment.

    With the change of mobo for the Intel alternative as suggested by ssmith10pn and the upgrade of the cpu from 2200+ to 2500+ for the AMD alternative due to unavailability of the former, the total price has actually changed in favour of Intel. Not by much, only 5 %.

    My own thought is to go AMD since that processor seems better than the Intel. The XP Barton has 128 kB + 512 kB cache compared to 8 kB + 128 kB for the Celeron. In addition to that, the "AMD mobo" can use PC2700 memory whereas the "Intel mobo" can only use PC2100 memory.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  16. 2004/08/19
    Rockster2U

    Rockster2U Geek Member

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    Have been biting my tongue but when I read that Celerons and Athlons are basically the same, the swollen tongue needs excercise. Not trying to upset things here, but being the intelligent man he must be, your Treasurer must understand that he gets what he pays for. Recognizing that he is not a bean counter, but still budget minded, here's a little something for your consideration with on-board video, audio and lan. On his next couple of business trips, he drinks beer instead of martinis and he's covered your cost differential.
    Motherboard, Processor, Memory
    Now, if you want a big merit increase next year, buy a mobile XP 2600+ for another $9.00 US and a decent CPU cooler, then set it up to run at 2.4 ghz actual and you've just delivered a budget PC that will punish most anything Intel puts out, regardless of price - and that includes all but one P4. And, it runs all day long with unbelievable stability. If you can find a better "budget buy ", I'd sure like to hear about it.

    ;)
     
    Last edited: 2004/08/19
    Rockster2U,
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  17. 2004/08/19
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Rockster2U,
    I wondered where You've been hiding ...... ;) ...... !

    First of all, in Sweden, Newegg is not an option but I guess that You linked to annoy me with the pricing ...... :eek: ...... but surely to show the products too.

    About the prices:
    Motherboard - Newegg = $89 - JME (Sweden) = $115 (exchange rate = 7.50)
    CPU - Newegg = $89 - JME = $109
    PC3200, matched - Newegg = $119 - JME = $213 (no OCZ available in Sweden but Kingston HyperX)

    Conclusion: For the money we spend on budget equipment ...... :mad: ...... You americans get almost state of the art equipment!

    Now, is a matched pair of PC3200 essential for Dual Channel or may two Kingmax 256Mb PC3200/DDR400 CL2.5 184p SuperRAM modules be acceptable? Price $120 ...... :( ...... the same price as the matched pair at Newegg.

    Your suggestion (with a matched pair of PC3200) would end up at $780, an increase of $129 (~20%).

    If the regular KingMax 2x256MB will suffice then it will end up at $687, an increase of $36 (5%).

    That sum total includes in addition to the above, a case, an internal modem, two 40 GB Seagate PATA's, a mobile HDD rack and a Logitech Cordless Desktop Express. He already has a decent CD-ROM and a 17" CRT which will be reused.

    Anyone out there got a new perspective on "budget buy "?

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  18. 2004/08/19
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Rockster2U,
    an additional question regarding the ABIT NF7-M:

    The FSB is 333 MHz and PC2700 (333 MHz) or PC3200 (400 MHz) memory modules can be used. I seem to remember having read that performance is better if the CPU and RAM are synchronous which means that PC2700 would be a better choice than PC3200.

    Right or wrong?

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  19. 2004/08/19
    ReggieB

    ReggieB Inactive Alumni

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    Don't know if anyone else has picked this up already, but if they haven't:

    There is usually no problem fitting a micro-ATX board into a standard ATX case. Most cases have the support post holes positioned for a number of baord types, and for ATX cases that I have used, that includes the post holes for a mini-ATX board. The outputs should line up with the rear exit too.
     
    ReggieB,
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  20. 2004/08/19
    Rockster2U

    Rockster2U Geek Member

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    Christer:

    I'd urge matched pairs and would think you are industrious enough to get OCZ brought in to Sweden. That is an excellent deal and the stuff runs very good. The board will run a 2500+ at 400mhz with a very slight vCore voltage boost 0.1 (but will require better than average memory for total rock solid performance and failsafe stability) - read some of the NewEgg reviews. Personally, I'd go for a 45W mobile 2600+ which is only rated at 266 and will run 400 without even trying - no voltage boost required either - dollar for dollar thats the best Athlon chip ever made - outperforms a 3200+ 400mhz chip. Runs extremely cool. If you don't like it, I'll buy it back from you at NewEgg's going price. Just can't say enough about it.

    Equipped with a machine like that your "Treasurer" will be CFO next month, CEO next year and you'll be looking forward to that mega bump in compensation and 3 extra weeks vacation before you know it.

    ;)
     
    Rockster2U,
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  21. 2004/08/19
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Rockster2U,

    Well, I wouldn't hold my breath ...... :p ...... said treasurer is treauring for our flying club. People (including me) who work for the club provide unpaid labour in our own time and I don't think that extended vacation is an option ...... :D ...... !

    His current computer is an old PII/350 and the whole system is beginning to get too geriatrical. The HDD has started making noises from time to time and occasionally it refuses to boot. So, there is no time to waste and I'll have to make do with what I can get pronto here in Sweden.

    I'll go by Your advice when someone asks me for help and there is more time to spare but I doubt that Newegg ships outside the U.S.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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