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Sharky Extreme : Monthly High-end Gaming System Buyer's Guide |
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Monthly High-end Gaming System Buyer's Guide |
September High-end Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 2By Vince Freeman September 22, 2006
Current Cost: $247 We finally come to the AMD processor selection, and this is where we had the toughest time making the call. Socket AM2 is the de facto choice for any new AMD performance system, as not only do we graduate up to high-speed DDR2 and an enhanced feature set, but this platform is where the newer and faster AMD desktop processors will be targeted. Naturally, this translates into better upgrade opportunities for AM2 system owners, especially as the $600+ Athlon 64 FX-62, the only 2.6 GHz 939-pin processor that could turn our heads, is still priced out of reach. The dilemma revolves around the ethereal Athlon 64 X2 5000+, a 2.6 GHz AM2 processor which looks to be the perfect choice for our AMD system. This CPU purports to have a retail price of approximately $360-$380 - you can even find some old listings on price search engines, but these are all "out of stock". Even worse, some online vendors do have limited stock, but are price-gouging in the $550-$600 range. No one seems to know what's going on, but current Athlon 64 X2 5000+ supplies are virtually non-existent. Hopefully, in a month or two, This processor and the recently announced Athlon 64 X2 5200+ will finally hit the market in some quantity.
Due to this, we were forced into a corner with the AMD selection, and it came down to an "Athlon 64 X2 4600+ or bust" type of deal. As supplies of the discontinued Athlon 64 X2 4800+ are limited, the Athlon 64 X2 4600+ seems to be the only higher-speed AM2 processor that doesn't feature an inflated price tag. This is still a 2.4 GHz dual core model, so performance will be more than adequate, although it is a 2x512K Windsor core. The big issue with this processor is that we've left money on the table, and unless we move up to the $600 Athlon 64 FX-60 (939-pin at that) there is no other viable option. With such a gaping hole in the AMD product line at the $300-$500 price range, this puts the Athlon 64 X2 in tough against the Intel Core 2 Duo, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.
Current Cost: $327 There is no such trouble on the Intel side, and their Core 2 Duo processors seem to be everywhere. Even in the face of a significant Pentium D price drop, Core 2 Duo prices are extremely attractive, and there seems to be a perfect CPU match for virtually every budget. The more entry-level Core 2 Duo 2MB Allendale models offer a lot of bang for the buck, the Core 2 Duo 4MB Conroe is a high-end user's dream, while the Core 2 Extreme gives the enthusiasts their fix. In this case, the Core 2 Duo E6600 fits our high-end guide like a glove, in terms of both price and performance.
The Core 2 Duo E6600 is a full 4MB Conroe model, running at a clock speed of 2.4 GHz. The processor uses the LGA775/Socket T platform, and its retail price of approximately $327 seems like it was designed specifically for our Intel system configuration. The Core 2 Duo E6600 features the 65nm Conroe core, which includes 4MB of shared L2 Advanced Smart Cache, a 1066MHz FSB, SSE4, full 64-bit support (EM64T), Intel Virtualization Technology, and Execute Disable Bit. The Core 2 Duo also includes high-end power savings features, such as Intel SpeedStep and Intelligent Power Capability, making it one of the most power efficient CPUs on the market.
Current Cost: $0 At this point in time, due to the slight differences in the AM2 socket and heatsink-fan design, we're recommending taking the retail path this month. This ensures no compatibility issues, and since the retail processor includes a heatsink-fan for free, it doesn't affect our budget one way or another. Over the next few months, we should have a better handle on the selection of higher-end AM2 heatsink-fan units, and will be able to make a more informed choice.
Current Cost: $0 The Intel budget was already a few dollars over when we came to the heatsink-fan option, so we're going with the Intel retail cooler this month. This is not that big a deal, especially with the cool-running Core 2 Duo processors, and the more-than adequate retail coolers that Intel bundles. Of course, feel free to spend the extra money for the 3rd-party heatsink-fan of choice, but we'll wait until at least the next guide before making the plunge.
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