AM2 X2 CPU, which one to get?

Ok normally I never start any topics on what hardware to get, actually I hate them Anyway, I've read reviews and checked out the pricing but I'm still undecided.

I'm going to build a new rig soon. I already got the graphics card, a Radeon X1800 XL. I'm not much of a gamer but I do like going to lanparties so I do want to be able to play any recent game at decent settings. CPU speed is more important to me than performance graphics, also because I use the pc for SolidWorks (for school), Photoshop and Dreamweaver, alongside WMPlayer.

At first I was in doubt about going C2D or Athlon X2. I know Intel has the best performance at the moment, but an E6600 is in a whole different price range. While the E6600 cost 250~300 euros, an Athlon X2 5200+ costs 150~200 euros. Also, I'm getting a motherboard from EPoX and their P965 board has some issues. Therefore I'm thinking of getting their AMD 580X CrossFire board which has socket AM2.

So I'm looking for a socket AM2 CPU. I haven't heard much of their CPUs for a while so I'm not so keen on which one has the best price/performance rating. I was looking into the 5000+ ~ 6000+ range. The CPU will be watercooled but I'm not going for top overclocking results. But if a 5200+ has better performance to a 5600+ when overclocked, that will influence my decision.

What CPU would you suggest?

For those interested, my current main pc is a 3000+ Venice with 2x1gb DDR and a 7600GS card. I have a dualscreen setup with a 22" widescreen (Samsung 226BW) and an old 15" TFT.

 

What about a E6300? that destroys a FX60 class AMD cpu.

 

Why sacrifice having the best performance system for the money by sticking with a piss-poor mobo manufacturer? There are plenty of C2D boards out there from big names with little price tags. The P5N-E being my fave atm.

Unless you have an astounding reason to stick with Epox(y), go for something better tbh.

 

Do you think getting an EPoX board for free is a good reason? Also I love the look of their boards. The pc will be modded, the colortheme will be black/red/carbon. Therefore the board HAS to have a black or red PCB and absolutely NO blue, green or purple slots. Looks are more important than anything.

The E6300 was my very first pick, but in that case I'd go with the E6400 because the price difference is minimal.

Oh and I don't really like the Intel chipsets either ...

 

i have a socket 939 EPoX 9NPAJ and it has NEVER EVER given me a damn problem. as far as i'm concerned, EPoX are the best boards ever.

 

Yes their older boards (read: sA and s939) were all high-performance boards directed at the enthusiast market. Unfortunately they lost track with the new generation. I believe they have had some internal changes, getting new staff and all. I heard a product designer from DFI has switched over to EPoX.

 

Well for a red, black and carbon colour-scheme, the Abit Fatal!ty series boards would be perfect, and I'm sure they beat Epox boards hands down.

I'd say the FP-IN9 SLi would be perfect for what you're after - a decent, stable board, with the perfect colour scheme, and better than an Epox board, even if it's free.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure they're good boards, but why sacrifice a massive chunk of performance for the sake of £120? [edit] Make that £81...[/edit]

Just because they poached an enginner from DFI doesn't mean they're producing LanParty-class boards now, evident because the P965 board they've got's a poor thing indeed.

 

Wha? they made a shite 965 mobo? hows is that possible?
the 965 is one of the best modern day chipsets to be released and yet Epoxy ****ed that up? i always thought they were bland and cheapy.

 

Well according to the O/P, it's "got some issues", so they've probably made a bit of an arse of it.

 

all i can say is EPox boards rule, shame there difficult to find these days.


personally a AM2 3800x2 at £50~60 of on overclockers cant be sniffed at considering it runs at 2GHz and will clock to a decent level of 2.4GHz

i would like to see someone buy a 6300 or 6400 at that kinda price!

 

My 3600 has seen 2.7 on air. I'd pick it.

 

I have looked into the Abit Fatal1ty line before, I actually had a good look at them IRL at CeBIT last month. They sure fit the color theme. Its a shame I didn't take a picture.
A downside to the board is the fact that it's SLI, while I have a Radeon card (and I'm not swapping it). Sure I can use the card with the board but that would be a waste of the 2nd PCIe slot. The other Fatal1ty board, the F-I90HD, has the AMD RX1250 chipset but is mATX.
You have to consider my funds are very limited (I'm 18 years old and still a student). Therefore I have to rely on my sponsors for a great deal.
One more thing, I've just ordered a CPU waterblock for socket AM2, so the decision for AMD Athlon has been made.

@KayinBlack: The 3600 is a bargain at only 60 euros. My brother has the 3800 and is very satisfied, but I want to regain the performance overhand by getting a better one

I've had a good look at the pricing here in Holland. Here's a short list:
- X2 5000+ (2x2,6GHz 1MB): € 157
- X2 5200+ (2x2,6GHz 2MB): € 163
- X2 5400+ (2x2,8GHz 1MB): € 172
- X2 5600+ (2x2,8GHz 2MB): € 176
- X2 6000+ (2x3,0GHz 2MB): € 225

Considering this list I think the 5600+ provides best performance for the money. The gap between 5600 and 6000 is too big, so the 6000 is dropped. The gap between 5400 and 5600 is so small that the 5400 is dropped (actually many shops price it around €230 and it's hardly available). I think the 5200 is also a good buy but I think I'd pay the extra 13 euros for the 200mhz gain.

 

I'd go with the 5200+ since it is the cheapest with the larger cache, and then overclock it up as high as possible, hopefully to at least the 6000+ speeds, if not more.

 

the 5600+ would be my choice there. wouldn't be a bad rig really, even cheap ram could let you see 3GHz+.

Seeing someone buying a new AMD on this forum brings a smile to my face, as the last 6 months has been conroe crap threads.

I have a Opty 165 currently at 2.8Ghz as i cant be bothered to fiddled anymore for now, and it shifts pleanty fast.

my next major upgrade will be when quad core is cheap as chips, mmmm photoshop CS2, 3D studio max 9 and solidworks 2004 all open at the same time. oh and cheap 8GB memory kit! 3 years wait me thinks!!!

 

the big question is whether you're running COSMOS as part of Solidworks or not.

If you are I'd definitely suggest the C2D route from my own personal experience.

I had at one point in time two relatively comparable systems, one AMD A64 X2 4800, the other a C2D. Dunno what was so different, but the C2D ate COSMOS in half the time it took the X2; and the X2 was running faster. (both systems had Nforce 5 series motherboards and 2GB RAM each, also both used SATA 150 Raptors)

hope this info helps you!

 

If it helps you make a decision, I've got my 5200+ running at 3.00GHz (3002MHz). I reckon it could go a bit higher, but I stopped upping the VCore at 1.5v. I'm using a Arctic Cooling Freezer64 Pro.

 

Well I haven't used Cosmos yet, so I think it won't be a problem. Next to that I'm going to buy a notebook by the end of the summer, which will definitely be a C2D.

Ok now another question. I got an offer for 2x512mb DDR2-800 memory for free. I actually wanted 2x1gb but that will cost me. Should I take the bite with the 2x512mb or should I buy the 2x1gb.
I think the answer will probably be 2x1gb, but I'd like to see a good argumentation.

 

ummm free memory, i would take it and use it until i could find a really nice DDR2 2gb kit thats cheap, come on FREE memory and a FREE motherboard!! take what is free and sell it later.

 

It's not meant to be sold.. I'm supposed to use it in the mod.

 

Depends, how many memory expansion slots do you have? If 4, then 2x512 wouldn't be too bad. If only 2 though, then you're limited.