Preparing to build a new computer

MeltdownPrelude · 10-06-2008, 05:32 PM

I just inherited a fairly significant quantity of money, and have decided to utilize some of it to build my self a new top-of-the line computer. To hell with investing the economy is doing horrid! (half kidding, ill be investing 99% of it)

My current computer is beyond obsolete so im going to start from scratch. I'm a little bit of an AMD fanboy, having been using nothing but AMD CPUS for the past 10 years. But.... from the little bit of reading i've done, it looks like Intel is really dominating the performance in computers nowadays. Is the really true? I was considering basing my system on the AMD Phenom 9950 quad core and then deciding my motherboards and such from there.

But is Intel really that superior? Obviously im not willing to dish out for the intel "extreme" processors (extremely overpriced imo) but how does the top AMDs compare to the top Intels? The Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 seems to be the most direct competitor for the 9950 (same price) is it a lot faster?

Also, intel has CPUs scaling up (and in price) in the 300$ range, is there a amd cpu of that "class" ?

I guess this just ends up being an age-old Intel VS AMD thread.. sorry...

So what should i start my system out with? look for 200-300$ range cpu that will last for some time.

(consider overclocking, as i intend to do it)

10-06-2008, 05:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
MeltdownPrelude Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 41 OS: XP Pro	Preparing to build a new computer I just inherited a fairly significant quantity of money, and have decided to utilize some of it to build my self a new top-of-the line computer. To hell with investing the economy is doing horrid! (half kidding, ill be investing 99% of it) My current computer is beyond obsolete so im going to start from scratch. I'm a little bit of an AMD fanboy, having been using nothing but AMD CPUS for the past 10 years. But.... from the little bit of reading i've done, it looks like Intel is really dominating the performance in computers nowadays. Is the really true? I was considering basing my system on the AMD Phenom 9950 quad core and then deciding my motherboards and such from there. But is Intel really that superior? Obviously im not willing to dish out for the intel "extreme" processors (extremely overpriced imo) but how does the top AMDs compare to the top Intels? The Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 seems to be the most direct competitor for the 9950 (same price) is it a lot faster? Also, intel has CPUs scaling up (and in price) in the 300$ range, is there a amd cpu of that "class" ? I guess this just ends up being an age-old Intel VS AMD thread.. sorry... So what should i start my system out with? look for 200-300$ range cpu that will last for some time. (consider overclocking, as i intend to do it)