AMD and Intel are just two different companies that make processors. All programs WILL work because they both are based on x86 architecture.

Currently, Intel Processors are faster. In addition, I have found the Core 2 processors to be EXTREMELY stable, overclockable, and run at a low temperature.

BOTH companies offer duo and quad core processors.

I would personally recommend getting a Intel processor, but if you don't do any very processor intense tasks, either one would be fine. However, I can personally say all current intel desktop processors are very fast and sufficient for most tasks.

I am in the computer industry and I can say Intel has the most talented people and best silicon fabration facilityies in the world, which give them better products (in general).

I'm buying CPU next week and after a lot of reading I decided to buy either Pentium Dual Core E21x0 or Core 2 Duo E4x00.
Going to overclock it just after buying, I heard you can easily get 3Ghz with C2D and 2,8 with DC for each core.
So if you want to buy cheap and good CPU, I suggest doing the same ;) (you have to get better Motherboard and RAM then of course but as far as I know, it's worth it :])

makhan

I'm buying CPU next week and after a lot of reading I decided to buy either Pentium Dual Core E21x0 or Core 2 Duo E4x00. Going to overclock it just after buying, I heard you can easily get 3Ghz with C2D and 2,8 with DC for each core. So if you want to buy cheap and good CPU, I suggest doing the same ;) (you have to get better Motherboard and RAM then of course but as far as I know, it's worth it :])

I built a computer about half a year ago and I sued a E4300 which was a 1.8Ghz. They are kinda hard to find now, but you can find E4500 which is a 2.2Ghz pretty easily. I have had mine overclocked to 3.02Ghz with NO PROBLEMS whatsoever. I think I can actually go higher but my ram is holding me back.

If you got some more $$ to spend, you can get a Q6600 which is a quad core for around $260, and I think it is well worth it. I build a computer more recently than the one I was talking about ealier for my brother and it has a Q6600 and patriot ram and it is smoking fast. No overclocking even needed, 4 cores at 2.4Ghz is overkill for most applications.

Make sure to get GOOD RAM. I would recommend Patriot ram. Many people rave about Corsair, but they are really overpriced, Patriot is really very good stuff. Also get dual channel, it makes overclocking easier cause the two ram sticks work together to meet the CPU FSB speed.

As for motherboard, I would spend between $100-$200 on one. Don't go CHEAPER! The motherboard is the most pain in the rear thing to change if it breaks becasue everything is connected to it. I would recommend a good ASUS or EVGA board.

CPU: I'm thinking about Dual Core E2160 or Core 2 Duo E4500, don't have enough money to buy quad
RAM: I want to buy Patriot 2x1GB LLK 800MHz CL4, plus maybe 2x512
Motherboard: I'm thinking about one of these: Asusa P54, Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3, DFI P35-T2RL, Abit IP35-E, Foxconn P35A-S, MSI P35 Neo2-FR

did you change CPU fan, or are you using the one given with the BOX version? (I don't know if I should buy it, I would think about Pentagram Freezone then)

makhan

CPU: I'm thinking about Dual Core E2160 or Core 2 Duo E4500, don't have enough money to buy quad RAM: I want to buy Patriot 2x1GB LLK 800MHz CL4, plus maybe 2x512 Motherboard: I'm thinking about one of these: Asusa P54, Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3, DFI P35-T2RL, Abit IP35-E, Foxconn P35A-S, MSI P35 Neo2-FR did you change CPU fan, or are you using the one given with the BOX version? (I don't know if I should buy it, I would think about Pentagram Freezone then)

A E4500 should serve you fine. I originally used the stock cooler and it worked FINE. I don't remeber exact temperature numbers but it was plenty cool. You DON'T need to spend money on a after market cooler. With that said, I ended up getting a Zalman 9500 or something like that. It is fully copper and has 5 heat pipes. It lets you blow the air either backways or forwards (in respect to the case) which is nice because I have better ventaliation in my desk if I blow the air out the back of the case. I get around 36 C idle and around 40 C underload. Zalman really makes very quality aftermarket coolers.

As for ram, just get 2Gb for now, don't get the other 512 because someday you might want more ram then you would need to jsut toss those sticks. 2Gb is really plenty for most applications including gaming. If you were gonna do 3D stuff like Maya or video editing, I would want a full 4 Gb.

As for motheboards, I recommend either ASUS or EVGA. What are you usng the computer for anyways? Gaming? Video? I can better recommend stuff if I knew. If it was gaming, I would recommend mayube a crossfire or sli motherboard so 2 or 3 years down the line you can get a second videocard (ussually for REALLY CHEAP, because by then the card should be outdated) and still get marginally good performance. I couldn't find the Asus p54, is that a typo? But again, in general ASUS or EVGA make great boards.

I would go for 4gb, but 32bit OS can use only 3gb and I'm not going to use 64bit version yet (compatibility, drivers problems, etc. XD). And 2x1 + 2x512 will be faster than 3x1 (I'm not decided yet though, I may end up buying 2x1, 2x2 or 4x1 XD)
yeah, it's a typo XD It was supposed to be Asus P5K, sorry ;)
I'm using computer for everything XD But the most demanding things are: gaming, computer graphics (for now only Photoshop, but I'm planning on playing with Adobe Premiere, Adobe After Effects and 3Ds Max when I have more time) and running two OSs at the same time (one in VMWare)

Just to clarify: 32-bit OSes DO use 4GB of RAM. However, applications may or may not have access to all of that RAM based on other factors. The RAM that is "not used" is actually being used by the OS and by the Video Cards for addressing purposes. So while not being used to it's full potential it is still being used.

For instance my laptop with Vista Home Premium has 4GB of RAM and it can use 3.5GB of RAM. 512MB of RAM is saved for addressing based on my 8400M GT. My current desktop system when using 32-bit Vista Ultimate only gave applications access to 3GB of RAM due to the fact that I was using Crossfired Radeon X1950 Pros. Using a single X1950 Pro gave me access to 3.5GB of RAM. I'm on Vista Ultimate x64 with SP1 now though so it's a moot point to me. ;)

Back on topic though: Intel just announced their new 45nm Dual Core chips. E8000 series. So you may want to hold off for those because you'll be able to get an older 65nm C2D for even cheaper or could just get an E8000 series chip. They're highly overclockable too. Possibly even more so then current C2D chips.

-S1

Yeah, I was thinking about E8600, but I decided much better solution would be buying now PDC or one of the cheapest C2D and changing it in one/two years (that's one of the reasons I want to buy better motherboard, to be able to change CPU without messing with other stuff later)

And btw...
What's better to buy? 2x2GB of RAM, or 4x1GB?

I've never seen a difference. Right now I'm 4x1GB. My laptop is 2x2GB and to me 4GB of RAM is 4GB of RAM. whether it's a 2GB stick or 1GB stick the speed to communicate with the processor or the northbridge is the same.

-S1

There might be a little difference, but if you haven't got a 64 bit OS, the main problem will be the fact that your OS doesn't support the full 4GB.
I'd personally go for 2x 2GB by the way.

@$GoldenApe
I know it doesn't support full 4gb, but I wanted to know if that fact affects it's speed.
I bought new stuff today, if anyone is interested it's:
Motherboard: Asus P5K
RAM: Patriot 2x2GB 800MHz CL4
CPU: Pentium Dual Core E2160 (for overclocking)
CPU Fan: ArcticCool Freezer 7 Pro

I still don't have computer case, didn't find anything good without power supply with nearby stores, gonna look for sth >_<
I was wondering if I should buy E4500, but I hope E2160 will be fast enough after overclocking and I'm going to change it in 1-2 years anyway (I hope the rest is good enough for me to change only CPU and GPU while modernizing for the next time ;))

makhan

And btw... What's better to buy? 2x2GB of RAM, or 4x1GB?

You want to fill the maximum number of slots for the amount you want. So if you don't really intend to add ram, you want 4X1GB because the more slots you have filled the more bandwidth you get. I personally think 4Gb is fine for now and prolly 5-10 years from now so I would suggest 4X1 Gb sticks.

I'm leaning towards intel for my next build... I waited on AMD's Phenoms only to be dissapointed so I think the Nehalem will be the intel chips to get. I'm interested to see how intel's integrated memory controller stacks up to AMD's.

@~TheMadManAzn
I went for 2x2gb after all :] It will be easier to update some day and I don't think 4x1gb would perform better enough for me to see the difference.