Computer Question

RuByRuBy Join Date: 2002-12-12 Member: 10732Members
in Off-Topic
My friend came to me about building a new computer, but since I put mine together about 2 years ago, I've been out of the loop on the latest and greatest. I have a couple questions particularly regarding the processors. What's the best value nowadays? Is dual core worth the investment, what about 64 bit? AMD vs Intel?
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    Core2Duo, cheap graphics card to tide them over until DirectX10, 2 gigs of RAM. Thread over.
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  • TyrainTyrain Join Date: 2003-01-03 Member: 11746Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1585935:date=Dec 9 2006, 01:47 AM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TychoCelchuuu @ Dec 9 2006, 01:47 AM) [snapback]1585935[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Core2Duo, cheap graphics card to tide them over until DirectX10, 2 gigs of RAM. Thread over.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Win.
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  • RuByRuBy Join Date: 2002-12-12 Member: 10732Members
    I see these chips are 64bit, is it worth making the switch now?
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  • TyrainTyrain Join Date: 2003-01-03 Member: 11746Members
    Well, actually no. You will have a minor increase in performance. But since your buying a new PC anyway you could always buy it. They are not extra expensive or anything. And you are then equiped for future software.
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  • Marik_SteeleMarik_Steele To rule in hell... Join Date: 2002-11-20 Member: 9466Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1585935:date=Dec 8 2006, 07:47 PM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TychoCelchuuu @ Dec 8 2006, 07:47 PM) [snapback]1585935[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Core2Duo, cheap graphics card to tide them over until DirectX10, 2 gigs of RAM. Thread over.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    As concise as this is, Tycho's quite right. If you really want to nitpick about parts, start thinking about things like "How well will this motherboard support quad core and/or dual CPU in the future?"

    (disclaimer: I'm as out of the loop as you are, RuBy. For all I know *all* or *none* of the mobos sold affordably these days support quad core...someone ought to be able to answer below, though)
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    Intel Core2Duo chips are so hilariously fast that the question of 64 bit support is more or less irrelevant: unless you're buying a quad core Intel for about the same price, there's no other CPU that's worth it.
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  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    I love my notebook's Core2Duo. I tried out the HL2 Lost Cost demo with it in the Video Stress Test mode. Upon launching it Steam tells me that my CPU is too slow. I don't think that source supports SMP, but it ran great anyway with the GeForce Go 7400 about 38fps average at 1280x800 full settings no AA and full HDR.
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  • BlackMageBlackMage [citation needed] Join Date: 2003-06-18 Member: 17474Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1585935:date=Dec 8 2006, 06:47 PM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TychoCelchuuu @ Dec 8 2006, 06:47 PM) [snapback]1585935[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Core2Duo, cheap graphics card to tide them over until DirectX10, 2 gigs of RAM. Thread over.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    either that or a quad-sparc, an XVR-class graphics accelerator and 4x4GB of RAM
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  • CForresterCForrester P0rk(h0p Join Date: 2002-10-05 Member: 1439Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1585939:date=Dec 8 2006, 08:06 PM:name=RuBy)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RuBy @ Dec 8 2006, 08:06 PM) [snapback]1585939[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    I see these chips are 64bit, is it worth making the switch now?
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    I don't think they even make 32-bit high-end processors anymore. I think the only CPUs still in the 32-bit range are the older ones, and the "value" line (though even Sempron is 64-bit)...

    Anyway, it can't hurt, and if all of your hardware has supported drivers, you can even use the 64-bit version of XP (and Vista, when it comes out). <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" /> The latest and greatest 64-bit processors cost about the same as the latest and greatest 32-bit processors did back before 64-bit.
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