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CPU Round-up: $100 - $200 Intel and AMD Processors Tested
Techspot ^ | April 19, 2010 | Steven Walton

Posted on 04/19/2010 9:07:41 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach

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To: Vision

They are switching supplies, so your computer will never have “too much” power.
You can, however, waste lots of money buying a larger supply than you need.
The main factor is going to be your video card.
Typically a 500W supply would be adequate, unless you’re building a gaming rig with a very high end video card.
Definitely buy a quality brand. This is one component that you don’t want to get the cheapest one you can find.


81 posted on 04/20/2010 12:31:50 PM PDT by astyanax (Liberalism: Logic's retarded cousin.)
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To: CodeToad; astyanax
Great. Ok memory.

DDR3 seems the way to go but what is up with the 1066, 1333 and 1600MHz numbers.

What are the numbers that look like slot machine results....CAS7-7-7-20 to CAS10-10-10-20.

Is the most highest limit of memory on a 32 bit machine 4g or 6g? And if so what happens if you put in more? Is it ignored?

82 posted on 04/20/2010 12:40:55 PM PDT by Vision ("Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40)
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To: astyanax

One tip on power supplies.
As a general rule of thumb, if you have two power supplies of equal rating and price, you are better off going with the heavier of the two. It (usually) means heavier transformer, heat sinks, etc. and a better quality product.
If you find an 800W power supply that you can toss around like an empty box, it is not a deal, regardless of the price.


83 posted on 04/20/2010 12:48:07 PM PDT by astyanax (Liberalism: Logic's retarded cousin.)
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To: Vision

Highest limit on a 32 bit is 4GB. You can put in 4GB as that is usually 2 2GB sticks. 32 bit operating systems will usually report 3GB, but that’s another topic. Anything more the OS simply ignores it. You’re only wasting money and not hurting anything.

That 1066, 1333, and 1600 are the memory bus speeds. Your chip will tell you which one you need. Most chips will also allow you to use a lower memory speed but that results in less performance. My chip wants 1333MHz. Half of that is 667Mhz. So, I need memory rated at 667MHz. That is a little confusing but the basic memory approach is that using two memory sticks, or two banks of memory within one stick, the memory is interleave such that the first memory request comes from one stick and the next comes from the other, so the required speed of the memory stick is half of what your processor runs at. Memory is sold in stores as 1333 memory, but sometimes is stated as 667MHz memory. It is all in the packaging by the manufacturer, so look for both numbers and see what the packaging says.

The CAS numbers are timing numbers, and you shouldn’t need to ever look at those, unless you are doing some serious overclocking and actually know what you are doing and the vast majority doing that don’t.


84 posted on 04/20/2010 12:56:54 PM PDT by CodeToad
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To: Vision

Since this is your first build, I assume you won’t be over clocking, so go with the 1600MHz.
The other numbers are CAS latency and timing. Once again, not a concern.
If you are going with XP 32-bit, no need to buy more than 4 meg.
The processor you are looking at uses dual channel, so you’ll want to buy a pair of sticks, i.e. two 2meg sticks.


85 posted on 04/20/2010 1:02:51 PM PDT by astyanax (Liberalism: Logic's retarded cousin.)
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To: CodeToad

You absolutely rock.

I’m going put together a spec system and run it by you.


86 posted on 04/20/2010 1:03:38 PM PDT by Vision ("Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40)
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To: astyanax

Thanks again. Will be in touch.


87 posted on 04/20/2010 1:05:38 PM PDT by Vision ("Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40)
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To: CodeToad; Vision

Good point on the naming conventions.
The DDR3 1600MHz is referred to as PC3 12800.
Might make it easier to find.


88 posted on 04/20/2010 1:07:54 PM PDT by astyanax (Liberalism: Logic's retarded cousin.)
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To: astyanax

Ooops. Forgot about that. They sure don’t make buying memory easy.


89 posted on 04/20/2010 1:16:07 PM PDT by CodeToad
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To: CodeToad
"They sure don’t make buying memory easy."
Hehe! They don't make any of it easy.
They need to have something for the salesmen to do...
;)
90 posted on 04/20/2010 1:23:35 PM PDT by astyanax (Liberalism: Logic's retarded cousin.)
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To: Sprite518

That maybe what is costs to make that extra chip. Lot’s of companies have gone broke pricing on the margin.


91 posted on 04/20/2010 1:39:57 PM PDT by wordsofearnest (Brad Ellsworth is giving Indiana a twofer.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
:') Thanks Ernest!
Intel Core i5 750 = $195 -- Without question this modestly clocked 2.66GHz quad-core processor is the most powerful product featured in this round-up. Whereas the Phenom II X4 processors carried a 6MB L3 cache, the Core i5 750 bumps this figure to an even larger 8MB L3 cache.
BTW, is your system homebuilt, and regardless, did you overclock it?
92 posted on 04/20/2010 5:34:08 PM PDT by SunkenCiv ("Fools learn from experience. I prefer to learn from the experience of others." -- Otto von Bismarck)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
BTW, thanks for the answer to my question. If I wind up building one, I probably will use this one, add a video card, use one of the old cases around here, and i5 quad 750.
93 posted on 04/20/2010 6:03:13 PM PDT by SunkenCiv ("Fools learn from experience. I prefer to learn from the experience of others." -- Otto von Bismarck)
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To: SunkenCiv; Vision; astyanax; CodeToad; garyhope; Poser
I just posted this....:

Intel Sandy Bridge: Details of the next gen ( new sockets.......??)

94 posted on 04/21/2010 10:03:44 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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To: SunkenCiv
My systems are home assembled....and have some overclocked a bit.

Posting this on a system with MSI board with AM3 socket, DDR3 Ram AMD Phenom II 555 X2 black at 3.3 Ghz.

Couldn't get the extra cores to unlock so far.

95 posted on 04/22/2010 10:38:48 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

New sockets mean the manufacturers can take the opportunity to update motherboard designs and... The first generation may have some bugs.


96 posted on 04/22/2010 2:19:14 PM PDT by Poser (Enjoying Prime Rib for 58 Years!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Ya poor guy. :’)


97 posted on 04/22/2010 5:44:43 PM PDT by SunkenCiv ("Fools learn from experience. I prefer to learn from the experience of others." -- Otto von Bismarck)
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