Intel Processors

GWC Community GWC Hive Mind
#1

So, my trusty sidekick and friend has started to show his age. My home Dell Dimension decided it no longer was going to burn CDs…just one of many burps it has made in the last year that are my normal warning signs that a new computer will be in my future.

I go to the Dell website and start browsing computers. As background I was once a computer consultant and knew my way around a computer fairly well having purchased hundreds for businesses, family and friends. My old rule of thumb when it came to selecting processors:

Celeron = Teh suck
Pentium = Your only choice (faster the better, but never the fastest as you will pay a premium for that)

Imagine my surprise to learn that Intel has decided to make their product line infinitely complex with EIGHT TYPES of processors. Seriously. Eight. I am going to assume that if I take the reverse order of the processors I am going slowest to fastest:

Celeron
Pentium
Pentium Dualcore
Core2 Duo
Core2 Quad
Core2 Extreme
Core i7
Core i7 Extreme

Of course, each can have varying amounts of memory strapped to it, have varying front side bus speeds…blah blah blah…

I want to know best bang for my buck. I am not a hard-core user. I dabble in video, occasionally game and mostly use it for pictures and home stuff. My current four year old computer handles all of these tasks fine (including running Mass Effect with a shiny new video card). I am willing to spend some bucks, but don’t need to go overboard. Total system (no monitor, no Office) should be under $1,000. Easier sell to the wife if it is under $500.

#2

Here’s how I see it. Granted, I’m not studied on processor technology but I support a few of these at work.

Celeron - Crap
Pentium - Ok
Pentium Dualcore - Not bad
Core2 Duo - about the same as dual-core, just a newer version
Core2 Quad - Quad processors? Not necessary for home use. :slight_smile:
Core2 Extreme - Also a quad processor.
Core i7 - newest, used for heavy video processing and gaming - not something I would need, also quad processor
Core i7 Extreme - a beefed up version of core i7

I’d go with a Core2 Duo if I were you. We use 'em all over the place here and very rarely have we had a processor problem and had to replace one.

#3

Earlier this year I purchased a Inspirion 530 w/ the Core 2 Quad.
I got it because they were running a special on Windows XP Pro installed w/ Vista to upgrade whenever. When it was all said and done, around $900, but that included a monitor and 4 GB ram.

Runs great at encoding MP4. I can do AutoCAD 2009 at home. Its a good machine so far. I don’t know if this will help any.

Good Luck

#4

My current laptop has the Core2 Duo and I’ve been pleased with the performance, I would say my usage sounds a lot like what you’re describing you use the home computer for.

#5

I don’t know where you’re at, but I like these guys:

www.acnt.com

Bought an AMD system for about $600 bucks (no OS):

Asus M3A78T mobo
Athlon 64X2 Dual Core 6400+ (3.2ghz)
2 gigs generic memory

  • older video card 8500gt (but you already got one)
    500 G HD, LG DVD burner, sd card reader

I don’t know about Intel, but I think my AMD would be close to their Core2 Duo.

It’s not the most powerful system, but for what I do, it screams… XP loads in about 60-90 seconds… very happy, cause was a great price for me, and there’s a lot of room for upgrade (SLI, 8 gigs of DDR2 if I want, and the mobo will take a Phenom, too)… I’m a light PC gamer, mostly internet, video, email, music.