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The Best CPU and Motherboard for the money
- Thread starter JSD7878
- Start date
electronicsfreak
Technical User
Im using a gigabyte board that is very similar to this one. Works great with no problems.
Plus I like intel due to stability.
There is a point in wisdom and knowledge that when you reach it, you exceed what is considered possible - Jason Schoon
Plus I like intel due to stability.
There is a point in wisdom and knowledge that when you reach it, you exceed what is considered possible - Jason Schoon
Best for what purpose? At what price? Which mainboards?
You keep posting these vague messages that look they're they're intended to start the big ATI vs nVidia or Intel vs AMD debates. There are literally thousands of sites that post hardware reviews and benchmarks. Surely you've seen them?
You keep posting these vague messages that look they're they're intended to start the big ATI vs nVidia or Intel vs AMD debates. There are literally thousands of sites that post hardware reviews and benchmarks. Surely you've seen them?
- Thread starter
- #4
Kmcferrin,
I post these vague messages because often it gets people to say things that I often even I didn't even think of, which can lead somewhere interesting.
I understand that specificity is necessary, but I think my original post while brief was and is quite precise. Which CPU and Motherboard are the best for the money is a very honest question.
But since you are a person of specifics, Give me your thoughts for the best CPU/Motherboard combination if you were building a system to run on Vista's and were planning on doing a lot of gaming and video editing.
Specific enough?
I post these vague messages because often it gets people to say things that I often even I didn't even think of, which can lead somewhere interesting.
I understand that specificity is necessary, but I think my original post while brief was and is quite precise. Which CPU and Motherboard are the best for the money is a very honest question.
But since you are a person of specifics, Give me your thoughts for the best CPU/Motherboard combination if you were building a system to run on Vista's and were planning on doing a lot of gaming and video editing.
Specific enough?
Sleepsalot
MIS
Sorry but I'm with Kmcferrin, on this. The use is exteramly revelevnt to any answer. I can say Questions like this are pointless.
Wayne
Life is a big Roleplaying adventure.
Wayne
Life is a big Roleplaying adventure.
- Thread starter
- #6
How much money?
I'm not trying to be a pain, but if you want the best gaming system for Vista, gaming, and video editing then you're still going to need more specifics. I recently upgraded my system for about $450 and it runs Vista, plays my games and can be used to occasionally edit video just fine. But if you're a hardcore gamer you might spend $400 on the video card alone. If you're doing video editing all day long then you might want the fastest CPU you can get along with a massive amount of memory.
If you tell me that you have $300 to spend on a CPU and mainboard then you're going to get a vastly different answer than if you tell me that you've got $600 to spend on it. Value-oriented CPUs can be had for around $60 for an Athlon X2 3600+, but you could easily spend several hundred dollars for Intel's latest and greatest. Value-oriented mainboards start at about $60-$70 and run up to $90-$100. But if you're looking for more bang or more features you could easily spend $250 for the latest SLI monster.
You're asking for motherboard recommendations, but you haven't listed your requirements other than "value for the money". Do you want to run two video cards or just one? If you want two, do you want SLI or Crossfire? Do you need two PCIe x16 slots for your dual video solution or are you happy with two physical x16 slots that run at x8 in SLI/Crossfire mode? Do you need onboard gigabit LAN or is 10/100 enough? Do you need dual NICs? Do you need more than one PATA connector? Do you want RAID, or will two non-RAID SATA ports do it for you? If you want RAID then is RAID 0 or 1 enough, or do you need 5 and 10 as well? Integrated audio? Integrated video? HDCP compliant integrated video? Two memory slots? Four memory slots? DDR2 or DDR3? How much memory does it need to support, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB? Do you want 1333 MHz FSB support or will 1066 MHz FSB be enough? Do you want overclocking options? How many PCI slots? How many PCIe x4 slots? How about PCIe x1 slots? Do you prefer heatsinks/heatpipes of active cooling? What form factor do you need? Are there any brands that you want to stay away from? What color PCB do you want, green, brown, blue, black, red, purple (it makes a difference to some people)?
Anyone who thinks that they can make an accurate recommendation without first knowing your needs isn't likely to be much help.
I'm not trying to be a pain, but if you want the best gaming system for Vista, gaming, and video editing then you're still going to need more specifics. I recently upgraded my system for about $450 and it runs Vista, plays my games and can be used to occasionally edit video just fine. But if you're a hardcore gamer you might spend $400 on the video card alone. If you're doing video editing all day long then you might want the fastest CPU you can get along with a massive amount of memory.
If you tell me that you have $300 to spend on a CPU and mainboard then you're going to get a vastly different answer than if you tell me that you've got $600 to spend on it. Value-oriented CPUs can be had for around $60 for an Athlon X2 3600+, but you could easily spend several hundred dollars for Intel's latest and greatest. Value-oriented mainboards start at about $60-$70 and run up to $90-$100. But if you're looking for more bang or more features you could easily spend $250 for the latest SLI monster.
You're asking for motherboard recommendations, but you haven't listed your requirements other than "value for the money". Do you want to run two video cards or just one? If you want two, do you want SLI or Crossfire? Do you need two PCIe x16 slots for your dual video solution or are you happy with two physical x16 slots that run at x8 in SLI/Crossfire mode? Do you need onboard gigabit LAN or is 10/100 enough? Do you need dual NICs? Do you need more than one PATA connector? Do you want RAID, or will two non-RAID SATA ports do it for you? If you want RAID then is RAID 0 or 1 enough, or do you need 5 and 10 as well? Integrated audio? Integrated video? HDCP compliant integrated video? Two memory slots? Four memory slots? DDR2 or DDR3? How much memory does it need to support, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB? Do you want 1333 MHz FSB support or will 1066 MHz FSB be enough? Do you want overclocking options? How many PCI slots? How many PCIe x4 slots? How about PCIe x1 slots? Do you prefer heatsinks/heatpipes of active cooling? What form factor do you need? Are there any brands that you want to stay away from? What color PCB do you want, green, brown, blue, black, red, purple (it makes a difference to some people)?
Anyone who thinks that they can make an accurate recommendation without first knowing your needs isn't likely to be much help.
- Thread starter
- #8
Ok here's a thought that surely you will agree with eventually money vs performance has a cap, meaning a diminishing return for performance as the amount of money increases. You can pay $1000 for a CPU but the cost doesn't usually justify the performance increase.
I have made similar posts in this forum for years now and never have I had anyone demand so much information without just giving up some useful information, here's a thought just offer a best recommendation with a given price range for what one could spend and then supply hardware within that range, so yes I think this has been my first somewhat rocky experience trying to get a very common question answered. The old phrase applies KISS
PS who would prefer integrated audio from their motherboard?
I have made similar posts in this forum for years now and never have I had anyone demand so much information without just giving up some useful information, here's a thought just offer a best recommendation with a given price range for what one could spend and then supply hardware within that range, so yes I think this has been my first somewhat rocky experience trying to get a very common question answered. The old phrase applies KISS
PS who would prefer integrated audio from their motherboard?
Someone cheap, or someone who doesn't have especially demanding audio requirements. Or someone who is building an HTPC and doesn't have expansion slots to dedicate to it. Or someone build a mini-ITX, nan-ITX, or pico-ITX based system.
The last discrete audio card that I bought was a Soundblaster Live! Value edition in 1998 or 1999. I used that for a few years, but on my last two mainboards I have used the integrated audio chipset. Contrary to popular belief, not all integrated audio solutions are software-based. Once they started using integrated audio chipsets with 3D sound, I didn't see any point in spending $80-$100 for a discrete sound card. It makes more sense to me to buy another 2GB of RAM or bump up a CPU or video card speed grade instead.
The same goes for onboard LAN. At this point, integrated LAN solutions are more than sufficient for all but the most demanding uses. Spending $50 for a better LAN card just doesn't make sense, and anything in the $10-$20 price range isn't likely to be better than what's built in.
And yes, I would agree that there is a sweet spot for price/performance ratios when it comes to CPUs. Right now that's probably anything in the $180-$200 range. If you go above that you're in an area where AMD doesn't play, so Intel isn't getting any price pressure at those price points.
Best bang for the buck in motherboards is totally dependent on your requirements. For AM2 I like the Gigabyte GA-MA69G-S3H. For Intel I like the Abit IP-35. Both have the latest and greatest chipsets from their respective CPU manufacturers. Both are from respectable board manufacturers. Both have a good mix of expansion options.
Best bang for the buck in motherboards is totally dependent on your requirements. For AM2 I like the Gigabyte GA-MA69G-S3H. For Intel I like the Abit IP-35. Both have the latest and greatest chipsets from their respective CPU manufacturers. Both are from respectable board manufacturers. Both have a good mix of expansion options.
electronicsfreak
Technical User
Ok, if you are going to do gaming, the best thing to do is spend a good deal of money on the video card. The video card has become one of the main components now and days especially with gaming.
If you are going to do editing then step up to a 3.2 or 3.4 Ghz processor and have at least 2GB or more of ram.
There is a point in wisdom and knowledge that when you reach it, you exceed what is considered possible - Jason Schoon
If you are going to do editing then step up to a 3.2 or 3.4 Ghz processor and have at least 2GB or more of ram.
There is a point in wisdom and knowledge that when you reach it, you exceed what is considered possible - Jason Schoon
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