I’m building a computer for the first time in about a decade and know nothing about processors. I will not be overclocking, and will be keeping this PC aircooled. I’m trying to keep the CPU+mobo combo total under $350. Suggestions?
Intel is supposed to have the hot CPU’s right now…however a decently fast i7 is probably out of your price range…I have run some i5 4-Core CPU’'s against some Phenom II 4-Core AMD’s (CADD/Engineering Applications) and really can not tell any difference. The AMD 6-Core is without a doubt the fastest machine in our office ( I think probably more to do with the SATA 6.0 than the CPU, but I’m sure two more cores help as well).
Intel i5 CPU - 2.8GHZ 4-Core - $209
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115067
AMD CPU’s - The six core is absolutely faster, but I have heard of some compatibility problems with it, have not experienced any myself…runnning 64-bit XP on it currently with 16GB RAM for ANSYS FEM workstation.
AMD Phenom II x4 CPU - 3.4GHZ 4-Core - $164
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727
AMD Phenom II x6 CPU - 2.8GHZ 6-Core - $197
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103851
Motherboards are pretty much a matter of personal choice, but I have been using Gigabyte as of lately. I really like the new heavy duty thick copper ultra-durable design they are producing.
Sample Intel Motherboard - USB 3.0 - HDMI - Lots of I/O ports and lots of expansion room - $125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128437
Intel total: $334
Sample AMD Motherboard - USB 3.0 - HDMI - SATA 6.0 - ATI Radeon HD 4290 GPU - Lots of ports & Expansion - $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128435
AMD Total: $337 for the 6-Core setup
Happy PC Building…
have a ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe mother board for cheap. Came from a alienware auro7500.
also have a 650w power supply and Numerous DDRx’s rams availiable.
Various Video cards all PCI express.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.486632
or
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6410516&CatId=4910
Pretty sure that’s the same board in my 4 year old PC…
If I were to build a new one now I’d probably go with a Core i5 and board that supports DDR3, which is most Core i5 boards I believe.