CPU/Mobo Tri core DDR3 or Quad core DDR2

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Vinny

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Am in a dilemma. I have plans to buy a new system in the next 2-3 months. I know prices would fall further then, but which would be better -

x3 720 BE + AM3 mobo + DDR3(24k) or X4 940BE + A2+mobo + DDR2(20k)

4 GB C5 DDR2 800 MHZ is around 3k
4 GB C9 DDR3 1300MHZ is around 6k(cheapest i could find on IT wares)

System would be primarily used for gaming. Would be coupling the above with a GTX 260. I understand games today are not optimized for multiple cores. Even though the trend is changing, question is how fast will it change. And GTA4 is a bad example. When a games gives u similar performance with a 9800gt and a GTX 280, makes you wonder, hmmmm...
I am not a frequent upgrader. Lets say spending like 10k once a year would be okay for me :bleh:

Also i want parts bought locally, not interested through KMD. Due to budget restrictions, as of today I cannot consider a 955BE. Not very happy spending so much on a processor.

So, which combination should I go for?
Cheers
V
 
at the moment, there is very little difference in performance between triple and quad core in most games (unless you go for highly oc'ed core i7).. even there is not much difference in bandwidth between a good ddr2 module like DDR2-1066 and DDR3-1333.

I think you should go with 720BE and AM3 platform as that will allow u to swap proc for a faster quad core later this year or in the beginning of next year.

With AM2 you are almost stuck at a dead end and will be almost forced to do a complete upgrade in 12 months to take advantage of falling DDR3 prices..
 
Haraakiri,
Is Transcend any good? Its half the price of a corsair/gskill.

Halo,
Are AM3 mobos really future proof when you consider -
(1). AMD Mobo supports only upto 1333 mhz ram today. Is it hardcoded or can a bios fix change it later?
(2). By next year DDR3 2000 mhz rams might become standard(maybe). If above issue cannot be fixed, mobo needs to be changed again right?
 
Vinny said:
Haraakiri,
(2). By next year DDR3 2000 mhz rams might become standard(maybe). If above issue cannot be fixed, mobo needs to be changed again right?
Click to expand...
Yes I have similar query . I think ddr3 memory standard is going to be above 1333mhz which the current am3 mobos provide. So even if we get a 6 core chip still ram might not be sufficient as well as would be of lower speed . Hence we won't be able to take full benefits of the chip. Kindly enlighten us!
 
As far as I know X3 720 wont work in an Am3 mobo.

newer proccys are compatible with older mobo, not the other way around.

in 2~3 months, when u get ur system, prices will really fall. U can get easily am Am3 mobo with PII 955 and 4Gb DDR3 for sub 24k easily.
 
@ Vinny - no point in deciding the combo right now when u are going to buy after 2-3 months ,

core i5 will be out by that time so situation will be completely different , it will be in ur budget also and much better than 940 etc .
 
dOm1naTOr said:
As far as I know X3 720 wont work in an Am3 mobo.
newer proccys are compatible with older mobo, not the other way around.

in 2~3 months, when u get ur system, prices will really fall. U can get easily am Am3 mobo with PII 955 and 4Gb DDR3 for sub 24k easily.
Click to expand...
X3 720 is an AM3 processor with backward compatibility for AM2+ mobos
 
dOm1naTOr said:
did anyone read the OP's questions?
X3 AM2+ wont work on an AM3 mobo as most of the guys suggested.
Its just wait to debate about the config u gonna have 3 months later. GOD knows, maybe a new CPU brand comes up:ohyeah:
Click to expand...

Dude............I really am not getting it. If u are referring 720 BE X3-its am3 socket so it must work on am3 motherboard + its working on my am2+ motherboard.

DDR3 or DDR2????

Even I had this dilemma....but am3 processors are backward compitable so if u buy a am2+ motherboard(790gx, fx) any new am3 processors will work fine with full compatibility and no compromise on perfomance.

U could save the extra cash which u would have spent on DDR3 ram and motherboard on GPU or ur wish.

*******************************************************

If u like to adopt ddr3 platform ur motherboard will support only am3 processors for now-------->However it can be considered futureproof since ddr3 modules might become cheaper.

My Suggestion is:
X3 720 BE + Biostar 790 gxb a2+ ----------->12k
+
Ram 4GB------>2.5k
or
DDR3 platform
X3 720 BE + Biostar 790 gxb a3+(6.5k)-------------->14k
+
Ram 4gb------->5k+

The perfomance difference between the two config are marginal either way.:hap2:
 
Vinny said:
Haraakiri,

Is Transcend any good? Its half the price of a corsair/gskill.

Halo,

Are AM3 mobos really future proof when you consider -

(1). AMD Mobo supports only upto 1333 mhz ram today. Is it hardcoded or can a bios fix change it later?

(2). By next year DDR3 2000 mhz rams might become standard(maybe). If above issue cannot be fixed, mobo needs to be changed again right?
Click to expand...

corsair and gskill could be important if you intend to overclock. Transcen wouldn't have any heatspreaders, would have slightly higer CL.

IMHO AM3 mobos are much more future proof than any sockets today(AM2+, 775 1156 1366 and what not :().Some of the amd boards already support 1600 OC, but officially amd mobos are 1333 and similar is the case with x58. 1600 or above is overclocked. I am not sure whether a bios fix changes that, somebody else in this should answer that :).

Anyway there's very negligible performance advantage for atleast amd when you go from 1333 to 1600 for eg. Most of the reviews suggest you go with CL rather than FSB.

You can go with AM2+ board + ddr2 + 720BE and wait for amd to release new chipset probably in Q1 2010, to upgrade to ddr3 and AM3. In 3 months time, lot's might change, with more phenoms, mainstream nehalems, p55 chipset, directx 11 gpus for windows 7 and price drops :)
 
Hmm let me wait and see how situation changes in next 2-3 months. Hopefully a quad core + ddr3 combo won't be too expensive then.

Thanks guys!
 
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