Build Advice X2 7750 v E5200, is the Virtualisation worth it?

[KayDat]

I'm looking at building a new setup on a budget, and I'm currently slightly stumped; whether to go for the overclocker E5200, or the price equivalent X2 7750 which has Virtualisation. Looking at Windows 7 which has XP mode, Virtualisation looks like it would be a good feature to have, but it's not a something that has been covered by many in comparisons, not Bit-Tech at least. So here I am, looking for some advice. What does everyone think?

If I were to go for Intel, it'd be basicly identical to the What to Buy June guide:

• XFX 4770 512
• Intel E5200
• Gigabyte GA-EP43-UD3L

As for AMD:

• XFX 4770 512
• AMD X2 7750 BE
• Gigabyte MA770-US3

Overclocking and Virtualisation aside, AMD is still looking mighty enticing; the MA770 has more features than the EP43, and costs less; hailing from Australia, the MA770 costs $109AUD (~54GBP) while the EP43-UD3L costs $152AUD (~75GBP). That's ~21GBP difference.

One final question: If I were to go AMD, should I stick with the 7750, or go 7850? From what I've seen, the 7850 doesn't have much more OC headroom than the 7750, and since I do intend to OC, stock speed is pretty much irrelevant.

[Zeus-Nolan]

can you get the new E6300? I just bought one its really good, has VT and overclocks very well.

[KayDat]

I can...but it'd really be pushing my budget, and the Intel platform seems to cost more as it is.

• E5200
  $93AUD/~46GBP
• E6300
  $129AUD/~64GBP
• X2 7750
  $87AUD/~43GBP

[Zeus-Nolan]

So you are just buying cpu, motherboard and graphics card then? is this your main system?
I would go AMD the motherboard seems much nicer and cheaper

[KayDat]

CPU, mobo and RAM for now, GFX soon. 4770 is short on stock pretty much everywhere. Yes, this will be my main system. I already have plenty of HDDs sitting around, and I'll be using my old ATI X1800XL until I get my hands on a 4770.

Well, I was leaning towards AMD already, that's why I wanted some opinions on Virtualisation and OC benefits.

[Zeus-Nolan]

To be honest i've been on the fence for 4 years till last thursday when I bought my E6300 (2.8ghz), GA-EP43-S3L, 4GB Corsair TwinX, Silverpower (Seasonic) SP-SS-400, Samsung 1TB F1, a CM 355 case and a mx518 mouse for about £360 (waiting for a 4870 @ £107)

From what i read that the 7750 is a very good buy and OC's well, a friend has one for CSS and other online games and loves it he has it at 3.1ghz my E6300 does beat it at stock but not by much 2fps with crysis my E6300 runs cooler too i oc'ed it to 3.2 and it was at 40c on full load (both prime95 and encoding video) his 7750 was at 50c or so

I want to buy a another pc which is going to be an AMD based system at almost the same stuff

[bagman]

no contest e5200 much better hands down

e5200 better than 720BE when both are overclocked

[mm vr]

Originally Posted by bagman

no contest e5200 much better hands down

e5200 better than 720BE when both are overclocked

I'm hearing an Intel fanboi...

[bagman]

e5200 same performace as 720BE i ment when both are overclocked

it is true read cpc's magazine issue 68 just as supprised as you

[KayDat]

Hm...what did they say? Because a quick Google suggests otherwise. Just about everyone says 720BE over E5200. That, and that there is a better upgrade path, seeing as s775 is reaching EOL, while AM3 still has a while to go. As unbiased as I want to be, AMD is looking really attractive. And if I spend an extra $20AUD (~10GBP), I can get a GA-MA780G-UD3H which supports CrossFireX. From what I hear, 4770 CrossFire does pretty good. So a possible CPU upgrade path, a GFX upgrade path, slightly cheaper/equal price and a mobo with better features. If at all possible, I want someone to show me I'm wrong now, before I make a mistake.

[bagman]

look at articles when they have taken overclocking in to acount, as the e5200 overclocks very well to about 3.7 3.9, and the e5200 oc comes on par with the 720BE oc

e5200 much cheaper

e5200
biostar tpower
corsair 4gb 1066
titan fenrir
total= £240

720BE
Gigabyte GA-MA790FXT-UD5P
corsair ddr3 1333mhz 4gb
titan fenrir
total=333
difference £93 could spend that on more better stuff and you will drop no performace, diffence between 250 and 275

[KayDat]

BTW, I ain't gonna spend on a 720BE. This is a budget PC. I'm not looking to spend anymore than $380AUD (~186GBP). BTW, I'm just looking at CPU, RAM and mobo here, not taking HSF into account. I already have a Noctua HSF sitting at home.

Does anyone else want to back the E5200? A second opinion? BTW, E5200 doesn't have VT, something I raised in the first post.

[docodine]

Have you taken a look at the Athlon II X2 250? OCd to 3.73ghz, it's about even with the e8400. It's brand new, and has much lower power consumption than the competing C2Ds. Not too many reviews are out yet, but I'm pretty sure that this chip is a winner.

[KayDat]

Actually, I'm looking at the X2 550 right now. I posted the same question on an Australian forum, and I think I've decided on a build:

CPU: $149 (X2 550) (~73GBP)
Mobo: $129 (GA-MA780G-UD3H) (~63GBP)
RAM: $85 (4GB PC2-8500) (~42GBP)

Total: $363 (~178GBP)

With AM3 and CrossFireX available, there is room for upgrade. There's also Firewire onboard (I need it for DV importing) and GFX onboard (useful for multi-mon setups). Compared to a similar Intel setup, which has none of the above and s775 which is reaching EOL, and the Intel setup would still be using DDR2-800.

[docodine]

Nice choice, even though 790GX would be a nicer choice.

[KayDat]

Cheapest 790GX would be an extra $58AUD (~29GBP). Can't justify it. Out of curiosity though, what benefits would there be in getting a 790GX over a 780G?

Edit: Quick research reveals that it's really just the higher clocked IGP that differenciates the 780G from the 790GX. I'll be getting a 4770 anyway, so why bother?

[docodine]

Sorry, that was a bit of an automatic answer.. 790GX has very few advantages in most places over the 780G, and is probably not worth the price premium. 790GX boards might be made with higher end components, more USBs and such, better OC options, etc... 780G is perfectly fine. Sorry for that.

[KayDat]

It looks like 790GX has the same number of USB ports as 780G. I think the main difference is onboard GFX, and AM3. I was mistaken in thinking 780G has AM3; it actually has AM2+. While AM3 CPUs are backwards compatible with AM2+, the main difference is with DDR3 RAM, which I don't want to use anyway.

[EvilRusk]

I'd check that you can use the onboard GFX at the same time as a PCIE card.

Often the motherboard will disable the onboard GFX if a plugin GFX card is detected. I have a 790 that does that, and I think the Gigabyte 780 I have does also (not tested it though).