ready to switch camps

[tokey]

So i was going to use my stimulus package and get a wc setup for my system and install a phenom 9850 to replace my 9600. but the more i think about it the more i realize... i am not an overclocker. and no one i hang out w/ cares about pc's...

so i have no reason to add $500 of essentially bling to my system.

so now i have decided to try an intel cpu since i have never owned or purchased one.. keeping it under $600 for mobo cpu and 4gb of ram what would be the fastest/ best intel cpu out there. i would prefer quad since i kinda like having those extra cores just in case any suggestions?

 

[tokey]

i am looking at cpu's and i am wondering which is the best buy

q6600
q6700
or the q9300

and if the 9300 will the GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L work with this cpu w/o a bios update first or do i need a different board?

 

[ToxicBanana]

q6600 is the best bang for buck, and if you find a SLACR you get a nice OC.
wait a year and upgrade it then.

 

[Zayla74]

The 45nm CPU "should" work out of the box on that MOBO.
Flexion made a thread about the E8400 (45nm) and which mobos support it out of the box here: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1266257

I am not positive on this, Hopefully someone can correct me if wrong here, but I would assume, any MOBO that supports the E8400 out of the box would support the Q9300 as well. Seeing as they are both 45nm tech.

 

[wtburnette]

Personally, I'd say the Q6600 for around $200. Then you can either go with that Gig board or a similar P35 board for less then $150 and 4GB of good PC6400 DDR2 RAM for under $100 with a MIR. That's ~$450, leaving you well under your $600 budget for mobo, RAM and CPU. Add another $50 for a good HSF if you do decide to OC and you'll have a great setup.

 

[tokey]

eh i have a tuniq tower 120 on my phenom which i planned on using.

zayla i will look at that link... i will tinker w/ ocing a tad bit (could only get my phenom to 2350 lmao thing is a horrible overclocker as everyone knows ....

when i upgraded i should have gone the intel route to start w/ BUT untill this cpu AMD never disapointed me and i gave them my loyalty.... i cant say i am dissatisfied but i am not excited about it either... and my initial thoughts was upgrading to the 9850 but phenom has left a bad taste in my mouth

 

[tokey]

how do i know if newegg is going to send me the g0 stepping not b3? or should i purchase from someone else?

 

[Valnar]

The Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L is a decent board but many consider it the minimum point of entry into the Intel world. You could get a better board - it depends on your needs. Even if you don't overclock, look at other specs like audio chipset, firewire, NIC quality, etc.

Based on your original post, I'd say any P35 mobo + the Intel Q6600 CPU. Plenty fast and cool compared to AMD.

Robert

 

[tokey]

i know this is waaaaaaaay overkill but i was browsing motherboards.. i like the asus rampage formula I know this is a waste but damn-it! the goverment wants me to go out and blow my money! heh likely not but it is a nice board... and should support upgrades in the future

 

[xxkaliboyx]

i know this is waaaaaaaay overkill but i was browsing motherboards.. i like the asus rampage formula I know this is a waste but damn-it! the goverment wants me to go out and blow my money! heh likely not but it is a nice board... and should support upgrades in the future

G.W. Bush knew that!

 

[tokey]

hey if G.W want me to blow my money then by golly maybe i should get the rampage! lol
screw it

thanks for the advice guys i am going to jump!

the q9300 wiped the floor w/ the phenom 9850 in the reviews i have read.... i have all the other hardware i need ATM i think i will rampage it!.... still tryin to decide on q6600 or q9300

4gb ddr21066
750w thermaltake psu
8800gts 512 (waiting on the actual new series of video cards to come out before my upgrade)
1 tb of storage
vista ultimate 64


looks like i may have a fs thread coming soon or the phenom will take over gf's station and the 4800x2 will take over server duty for my 900mhz athlon

 

[Forceman]

Any reason you are going with Vista Ultimate over Home Premium? Unless you need the one or two things that Ultimate provides, Home Premium will be a better value.

 

[kush]

I really would go with a cheaper board if I were you - $300 for a board that isn't all that upgradeable seems silly (in terms of Nehalem on the horizon)...Especially when there's tons of plenty capable P35 based boards out there for $100-150 (even $200 if you splurge a bit more).

And personally, I would go for the G0 6600. It may not have the new SSE4 instructions, but unless you do a lot of encoding or something you'll likely not be able to benefit for some time to come. And besides, the low multi on the 9300 seems to really be holding them back. They seem to be topping out around 3.3-3.5 or so mostly. You would have to hit over 450FSB on that thing to get anywhere over what is easily obtainable with many q6600's... And that will be very hard unless you have high end water cooling (or better, ie: phase) most likely.

If it were me and I *had* to spend my rebate, I'd do as noted above, and SAVE the rest. Screw making those already rich even more rich. The economy is down, and I'd venture to say we haven't seen the bottom yet (nor will start a recovery until, oh November - January 15th timeframe).

 

[tokey]

Any reason you are going with Vista Ultimate over Home Premium? Unless you need the one or two things that Ultimate provides, Home Premium will be a better value.

i Have vista ultimate already... and i probably will go with the 6600 and a cheaper board.... my dog needs a new house but hey its nice to dream

 

[RonB]

Get the Q6600.

 

[Flexion]

The Q6600 is a good choice for a trouble free build. It's cheap and OC's well, and you'll have less compatibilty issues. I don't own one, and went Intel once the 45nm chips came out.

I got an X3350 and an E8400, while both OC well, I've read about so many other folks that can't get the E8400 to 4.0GHz or get the X3350/Q9450 to 3.6Ghz. Whereas the Q6600 G0 steppings are able to clock at 3.5-3.6GHz relatively easily.

Here's the kicker: Price. You can get Q6600s for around $200, whereas the X3350/Q9450 will run you $350, also you'll need to hit 450FSB just to get the X3350/Q9450 at 3.6GHZ, while the Q6600 only needs 400FSB, which pretty much any decent motherboard will handle.

I paid $350 for my X3350, and although I'm happy with it, I probably would've done better having 95% of the performance and paying $150 less with a Q6600. Remember all computer stuff gets obsolete anyways, I look back at my Althlon Thunderbirds, P4s, P2s and think about all the money that's gone down the drain.

 

[chrisf6969]

I really would go with a cheaper board if I were you - $300 for a board that isn't all that upgradeable seems silly (in terms of Nehalem on the horizon)...Especially when there's tons of plenty capable P35 based boards out there for $100-150 (even $200 if you splurge a bit more).

Agreed, too expensive of a motherboard.

Look around at the reviews. Nearly all P35, X38 & X48 motherboard perform with in a few percent of each other when equipped with the SAME components. (some places compare super high end ddr3 to like ddr2 667 to make some mobos look better)

Anyway, I wouldn't spend more than about $150 on a motherboard.
Asus P5K-E fits the bill nicely. Gigabyte or Abit's P35 motherboards are nice too.

Last week they had the Abit X38 motheboard for like $130 on sale ( after $80 MIR). That was a HOT deal.

mobo $150
CPU $200-300
4Gb good ddr2 $100+

about $500 and you should be set.