Has anyone ever considered AMD?

[Mark]

Looking to build a good quality business class machine ( not overclocked but BULLET PROOF ) but it seems every build here uses Intel. I just find that the quads are much cheaper with AMD. Am I missing something?

...and yes, I'm asking for a MB/CPU suggestion :)

AMD Athlon II X4 630 $98.00

Budget is only $600.00

[Kilauea]

I built 3 AMD rigs and 1 Intel rig in the past year or so and AMD is definitively not a bad choice.

As for mobo, I'd look into Gigabyte or Asus (even tho both might be a little better than what you ask for). You could look at the 785G chipset or the newer 880G which both have a fairly good IGP which can play blu-ray movies (but then again it might be more than what u want).

Here is a few links:
Gigabyte 880GM-UD2H
Gigabyte 785GM-US2H if you don't mind using DDR2 (I am actually using one of those)

As for the CPU, it would be useful to know what will be done on the computer in details, but I'd say any Athlon II would work unless u enlighten us with more details.

[Mark]

Originally Posted by Kilauea

I built 3 AMD rigs and 1 Intel rig in the past year or so and AMD is definitively not a bad choice.

As for mobo, I'd look into Gigabyte or Asus (even tho both might be a little better than what you ask for). You could look at the 785G chipset or the newer 880G which both have a fairly good IGP which can play blu-ray movies (but then again it might be more than what u want).

Here is a few links:
Gigabyte 880GM-UD2H
Gigabyte 785GM-US2H if you don't mind using DDR2 (I am actually using one of those)

As for the CPU, it would be useful to know what will be done on the computer in details, but I'd say any Athlon II would work unless u enlighten us with more details.

The computer will be used for Excel presentation and will have a blu-ray player as well. We have a number of ARX files that we use ( AutoCad ). So basically a multimedia machine with quick app execution.

It will not be used to build any designs or gaming.

[Kilauea]

Not sure about the ARX (Autocad), but for the rest Athlon II should be plenty. Considering the prices, I think I'd go for less than an X3, I mean we are looking at less than 15$ difference between than and a similar clocked X2. The preferance would probably go for an X4 just for the sake of being able to take advantage of the multithreaded applications which may require it (However as of today, I doubt you'd notice a difference between an X2 and an X4 for what you are doing).

This Athlon II X2 250 looks really attractive at 59.99.
Athlon II X3 440 @ 76.79
Ahtlon II X4 635 @ 102.99 This one is clocked a slightly slower than the other 2.

[Mark]

Originally Posted by Kilauea

Not sure about the ARX (Autocad), but for the rest Athlon II should be plenty. Considering the prices, I think I'd go for less than an X3, I mean we are looking at less than 15$ difference between than and a similar clocked X2. The preferance would probably go for an X4 just for the sake of being able to take advantage of the multithreaded applications which may require it (However as of today, I doubt you'd notice a difference between an X2 and an X4 for what you are doing).

This Athlon II X2 250 looks really attractive at 59.99.
Athlon II X3 440 @ 76.79
Ahtlon II X4 635 @ 102.99 This one is clocked a slightly slower than the other 2.

The x4 it is. Price is right on that count for sure and I had a very good experience with Giga-byte is the last month but not sure about an mATX vs a standard ATX though.

[_dangtx_]

as above, ddr2 785 giga all the way, ddr3 still giga but perhaps the 870? thats a bit more for overclocking but bulletproof? pretty much as well.

are you sure you need a quad? you could go below 600. case wise, perhaps a silverstone? looks more expensive than the 50 bucks or so youll be paying. psu, corsair 400 watter will do.

[LarkStarr]

Intel is used mostly because it's the best performance money can buy.

AMD is generally considered as the best bang for the buck.

I'd recommend the 890GPA chipset (from gigabyte). decently cheap ($150 I think?), solid and it has integrated video that can play those blu-rays.

I'd also get a phenom II class processor.. if you're doing anything with autoCAD it will love the extra cache the Phenoms provide over the Athlons. the Phenom II X4 955 should suffice (about $150 if memory serves)

just toss in some ram ($100 for 4 gigs, cheaper on sale) and a case + psu + hdd ($200 to play with) and you're good to go. $600 :D

[Mark]

Quick calculation:

GPA 890 ( nice board ) $140.00
AMD CPU Phenom II X4 925 $160.00
...a case without the Disco look...$90.00
...half decent powersupply...$80.00
DVD RW - $25.00
Blu-Ray player - $70.00
RAM - $125.00
Windows 7 $120.00
$740.00

Hmmm..too much...So that's not going to work.

[Realityshift]

x4 620/35 is a phenom II.. still based on the same thing.

If you want fast loading aps though, a quad or dualy will not be what makes the difference, its going to based on hard drive speed, that x2 250 + a decent SSD would open any ap faster then an x4. No mater how fast your CPU is it can only open aps as fast as your hard drive will let it. Unless you doing a ton of multi tasking, or using multithreaded aps, you will never see the benefit of the x4 over the x2, infact youll probubly see a very small loss of performance because of lower clock speeds per core.

Id highly recommend you look at a cheap 785G motherboard with an IGP, I know they go as low as $70, grab that x2 250, spend some $$ on a 32-40g SSD and load the applications you need on that, but have your backups on a slower cheaper 500-1000g main drive. If you go IGP you can do with a cheaper 350-400w PSU, you dont need a corsair just dont by an Nmedia or some no name brand.

[ilya]

The reason why people buy Intel boards is because they typically provide stability and reliability comparable to server boards made by great companies like Tyan and Supermicro.

I'm using a Bad Axe2 from Intel and in 3 years it has never given me a non overclock related BSOD/crash/issue. It's seen some pretty intense use too. Problem is it's not a great overclocking board and like most Intel boards, the features are fairly lackluster.

I'm not saying an AMD build wouldn't be reliable though, just putting my 2 cents out there.