Ridiculous cheap high performance

[AvalancheDiode]

Jan 09 2008

Currently on newegg.com:

AMD Phenom II x4 940 with BioStar TForce TA790GX combo: 334.99

Sapphire 4850x2 2GB with OCZ 2x2GB DDR2-800 combo: 324.99

Antec 300 with Antex NeoPower Blue 650W combo: 169.94

Samsung SetPoint F1 1TB with Windows Vista Ultimate OEM combo: 264.98

Samsung 22x DVD burner: 25.99

Total price $1120.89 plus shipping.

That's ridiculously cheap.

[Busby, Paul (Bicci)]

Re: Ridiculous cheap high performance

Shame its not the same over here in UK

[[GCA]Tim270]

Re: Ridiculous cheap high performance

Not really cheap to be honest...could get a lot more bang for your buck.

[jesus]

Re: Ridiculous cheap high performance

Is the Phenom II AM2 compatible? Or is it strictly AM2+?

[AvalancheDiode]

Re: Ridiculous cheap high performance

Not really cheap to be honest...could get a lot more bang for your buck.

Depends on how you plan to use it. Raise uncore speed to 2.2GHz and overclock cores to 4GHz (probably need water), then there is no way Q6600 can out-perform it in any conceivable way (except SuperPi). Most reviews you've read didn't say much about uncore speed, but that's crucial to Phenom's performance. AMD simply screwed up IMC on desktop applications. They also screwed branch prediction. Since branch prediction, super scalar and pipeline efficiency are the key to processor performance, they can't catch Intel up without a new design from scratch.

So it all comes down to how you plan to use it. For games, Phenom II is OK. For number crunching and 3D rendering, it's not as good as Intel. For multi-process multimedia and heavy firefox use, it's pretty decent.

Is the Phenom II AM2 compatible? Or is it strictly AM2+?

AM2+ would be better. Most AM2 board won't support Phenom II due to their power plane design. Some may support it, albeit with lower bus speed. Which board do you have

[jesus]

Re: Ridiculous cheap high performance

Depends on how you plan to use it. Raise uncore speed to 2.2GHz and overclock cores to 4GHz (probably need water), then there is no way Q6600 can out-perform it in any conceivable way (except SuperPi). Most reviews you've read didn't say much about uncore speed, but that's crucial to Phenom's performance. AMD simply screwed up IMC on desktop applications. They also screwed branch prediction. Since branch prediction, super scalar and pipeline efficiency are the key to processor performance, they can't catch Intel up without a new design from scratch.

So it all comes down to how you plan to use it. For games, Phenom II is OK. For number crunching and 3D rendering, it's not as good as Intel. For multi-process multimedia and heavy firefox use, it's pretty decent.



AM2+ would be better. Most AM2 board won't support Phenom II due to their power plane design. Some may support it, albeit with lower bus speed. Which board do you have

I have AM2. I'm not thinkng about getting one, but I'm just curious to know how long they're thinking about supporting AM2, especially since Intel's new i7 uses a different socket than the core2 series

[AvalancheDiode]

Re: Ridiculous cheap high performance

I have AM2. I'm not thinkng about getting one, but I'm just curious to know how long they're thinking about supporting AM2, especially since Intel's new i7 uses a different socket than the core2 series

They are gonna abandon AM2 altogether. There will be no new CPU supporting AM2. Either way, AMD or Intel, you'll need a new board. Phenom II are meant as a stop-gate CPU until they can roll out AM3 platform, then there will be another socket change in 2010-2011 time frame. That sucks, but we still need AMD to get the price down.

[Busby, Paul (Bicci)]

Re: Ridiculous cheap high performance

na mate. AM3 (which is the DDR3 version of AM2) is coming out later this year and has both ddr2 and ddr3 controllers in it so it works on both AM2+ boards and the new AM3 boards however the current P2s wont work on AM3 boards.

[Vreki]

Re: Ridiculous cheap high performance

na mate. AM3 (which is the DDR3 version of AM2) is coming out later this year and has both ddr2 and ddr3 controllers in it so it works on both AM2+ boards and the new AM3 boards however the current P2s wont work on AM3 boards.

I read this on Toms hardware (table is FUBAR here, but you can see it in the link): http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/phenom...w-31484-5.html

The memory controller in the Phenom II supports DDR2 modules at clock rates of up to 1066 MHz. The upcoming AM3 model includes DDR3 support as well: at a minimum, AMD plans to support DDR3-1333 in this new offering. The following table provides an overview of the various Phenom models and their memory compatibilities.

Support
	Phenom
	Phenom II
	Phenom II
Version
	AM2+
	AM2+
	AM3
Memory Interface (s)
	DDR2
	DDR2
	DDR2, DDR3
Sockets Supported
	AM2, AM2+
	AM2, AM2+
	AM2, AM2+, AM3

Does that mean that AM2+ is less of a dead end than Socket 775?
One thing that makes me hold a bit back on 775 motherboards is that Intel seems to be about to abandon it. And the new 1366 motherboards are too expensive.

A benefit of having a pure AMD/ATI setup would also be the abilty to use Fusion http://www.amd.com/us/fusion/Pages/index.aspx

[|D|-Jaws]

Re: Ridiculous cheap high performance

Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price
1
Rosewill R101-P-BK Black Computer Case
Item #:N82E16811147112
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$8.00 Instant
$29.99
$21.99
1
CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX 450W Power Supply
Item #:N82E16817139003
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate
$79.99
$69.99
1
GIGABYTE Radeon HD 4670 GV-R467D3-512I Video Card
Item #:N82E16814125244
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy
-$6.00 Instant
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate
$80.99
$74.99
1
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ 2.6GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor
Item #:N82E16819103211
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy
$52.99
1
CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
Item #:N82E16820145184
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant
$30.00 Mail-in Rebate
$64.99
$54.99
1
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
Item #:N82E16822148288
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy
$64.99
1
ASUS M2A-VM Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Item #:N82E16813131172
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy
$64.99
1
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model DH-20A4P-04
Item #:N82E16827106228
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy
$19.99


Grand Total: $424.92


Beat that.

[jake_]

Re: Ridiculous cheap high performance

OP's title seems to have a bit of hyperbole.

Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price
1
Rosewill R101-P-BK Black Computer Case
Item #:N82E16811147112
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$8.00 Instant
$29.99
$21.99
1
CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX 450W Power Supply
Item #:N82E16817139003
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate
$79.99
$69.99
1
GIGABYTE Radeon HD 4670 GV-R467D3-512I Video Card
Item #:N82E16814125244
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy
-$6.00 Instant
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate
$80.99
$74.99
1
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ 2.6GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor
Item #:N82E16819103211
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy
$52.99
1
CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
Item #:N82E16820145184
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant
$30.00 Mail-in Rebate
$64.99
$54.99
1
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
Item #:N82E16822148288
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy
$64.99
1
ASUS M2A-VM Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Item #:N82E16813131172
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy
$64.99
1
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model DH-20A4P-04
Item #:N82E16827106228
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy
$19.99


Grand Total: $424.92


Beat that.

Crappy GPU, crappy CPU, and I dunno about AMD motherboards. :p

[|D|-Jaws]

Re: Ridiculous cheap high performance

OP's title seems to have a bit of hyperbole.


Crappy GPU, crappy CPU, and I dunno about AMD motherboards. :p

I don't care, this was a recent budget box I built for a friend's 6yr old kid.

[jesus]

Re: Ridiculous cheap high performance

Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price
1
Rosewill R101-P-BK Black Computer Case
Item #:N82E16811147112
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$8.00 Instant
$29.99
$21.99
1
CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX 450W Power Supply
Item #:N82E16817139003
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate
$79.99
$69.99
1
GIGABYTE Radeon HD 4670 GV-R467D3-512I Video Card
Item #:N82E16814125244
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy
-$6.00 Instant
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate
$80.99
$74.99
1
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ 2.6GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor
Item #:N82E16819103211
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy
$52.99
1
CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
Item #:N82E16820145184
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant
$30.00 Mail-in Rebate
$64.99
$54.99
1
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
Item #:N82E16822148288
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy
$64.99
1
ASUS M2A-VM Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Item #:N82E16813131172
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy
$64.99
1
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model DH-20A4P-04
Item #:N82E16827106228
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy
$19.99


Grand Total: $424.92


Beat that.

Store-bought HP compaq on sale for $250 with a free printer which was later sold for $50 with the specs:

AMD X2 5400+ 2.8ghz
3GB PC2-6400 RAM
500GB HDD
Vista HP 32bit
and put in my old 8600GT

^My brother's PC that he uses to play bf2, cod4, fallout 3, ETQW, tf2, css


do I win the prize?

[|D|-Jaws]

Re: Ridiculous cheap high performance

Store-bought HP compaq on sale for $250 with a free printer which was later sold for $50 with the specs:

AMD X2 5400+ 2.8ghz
3GB PC2-6400 RAM
500GB HDD
Vista HP 32bit
and put in my old 8600GT

^My brother's PC that he uses to play bf2, cod4, fallout 3, ETQW, tf2, css


do I win the prize?

So your brother uses this PC to play Fallout 3 on? What resolution and at what level of graphical detail? What is the framerate?

[=98=]

Re: Ridiculous cheap high performance

Yikes, Fallout 3 won't play nice with an 8600gt, especially outdoors :|: