Choosing the right hardware II, Processors

Previous entries: I

The first choice which will dictate the rest of the hardware is the choice of processor. Will it be an Intel or AMD chip? One of my wants is a dual core processor since I do a lot of multitasking this is the one thing most useful to me. If you don't play games you don't have to get a very expensive processor so the bottom of the market is the place to be. If you look around when you arrive there the dual core processors available under € 100 there are some candidates:

Name	specs	socket	speed	cache, bus	price
Intel® Core 2 Duo	E2140	S775	2x1.6GHz	1MB, 800MHz	€74
Intel® Core 2 Duo	E2160	S775	2x1.8GHz	1MB, 800MHz	€83
Intel® Pentium	D 805	S775	2x2.66GHz	1MB, 533MHz	€89
Intel® Core 2 Duo	E4300	S775	2x1.86GHz	2MB, 800MHz	€95

Name	socket	speed	cache	bus		T/B	price
AMD® Athlon 64 X2 3800+	AM2	2x2.0GHz	12KB	400MHz	89W	Boxed	€70
AMD® Athlon 64 X2 4400+ EE	AM2	2x2.3GHz	512KB	400MHz	65W	Tray	€79
AMD® Athlon 64 X2 4000+	AM2	2x2.0GHz	1Mb	400MHz	89W	Boxed	€84
AMD® Athlon 64 X2 4000+	AM2	2x2.1GHz	1MB	400MHz	65W	Boxed	€84
AMD® Athlon 64 X2 4200+	AM2	2x2.0GHz	1MB	400MHz	65W	Tray	€85
AMD® Athlon 64 X2 44 00+	AM2	2x2.3GHz	512Kb	400MHz	65W	Boxed	€85
AMD® Athlon 64 X2 44 00+	AM2	2x2.3GHz	512Kb	400MHz	65W	Boxed	€85

Keep in mind these prices are just indications and from a certain date, they are the lowest prices in my country per item, all from different shops so they would probably end up 10% higher anyway. I have always been an AMB fan and since from the reviews I have read the conclusion seems to be that it does not really matter that much for my use. The choice between Intel and AMD is easy to make then. If you are going to play a lot of games you might follow a different path here. I do see a lot more reviews and reports on the high end part of hardware so getting information on how to choose the best gamer hardware (and pay for it!) is easy.

The plan is to order it all from one supplier since this saves me paying postage multiple times and with a budget of about € 250 this can come in at 10%! So how to choose a supplier. This was easy actually since I have some experience with 4Launch, great company, good service and nice prices. So I want to order it all from them.

From their list the conclusion is that it will be an AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor, not the lowest stepping (3600+) but one above that, an AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+. This leaves me with the choice of TDP, socket and whether i want a tray or boxed version. At AMD's desktop compare site you can easily compare features. The socket is easy, since I will need a new motherboard anyway (my old one is a Socket A). I will go for a AM2 socket since that will give me the possibility to upgrade my processor the longest (since this is the newest socket in AMD's product gamma). Since I don't yet own a heat sink for this platform and I hear good things about the AMD boxed coolers the best choice would be a boxed version. 4Launch does not carry the 35W TDP, the choice is between the 65W or 89W TDP. Well, the lower the TDP the lower the energy bill therefore the 65W it will be since the price difference is only € 8. This all still leaves me with 2 possibilities, the difference being the stepping of the processor (F2 or F3). 4Launch does not carry the F3 setting (yet) so the F2 it will be. And I can say for €77 is quite a good price.

So all things considered the choice for processor is made, an AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 2.0GHz HT 1MB AM2 65W Boxed for €77 it will be.

In the next installment of this series I will take on the motherboard.

//Z

Update: The next installment is up!