Better core Duo

[blimp]

Is it better to buy an intel or amd core duo?

[Strateg0s]

As far as I know, the Intel spanks the AMD. I saw some benchmarks a while back. But depending what you plan on using your computer for, i.e. if it isn't for gaming, you might just get a quad processor for $280 or so (Q6600). If you are just using your computer for internet and other light tasks, then there are lots of cheap processors that you'd be perfectly happy with and never know the difference if you don't spend twice as much.

[MuSuLPhReAk]

Intel has a better core duo system with better performance.

[D-S]

What are the most important parts for performance and gaming?

[champcar99]

video card and processor, always get the best video card you can afford and a good processor will make for awsome gaming..I get all my PC games for free,just finished call of duty 4 awsome game ..

[Mr.Freeze]

yeah! cod4 is the best game!:D

[Strateg0s]

I don't have time to play games, but my younger brother just bought a graphics card for $210 over the Boxing day sales. That's about the best bang for the buck you'll find. He did his homework before deciding on it.

"Galaxy GeForce 8800GT 600MHZ 512MB 1.8GHZ DDR3 PCI-E DVI-I HDCP HDTV Out OEM Video Card"

[gsxr750]

8800GT or ATI 3870.

[Freebsd1977]

Don't spend too much money on a top end cpu and go cheap on the video card and memory. You can get better performance by upping your total amount of ram. I'm running an AMD Turion 64 X2 2-core cpu on my laptop but I upgraded the RAM to 2 GB of DDR-667 and Vista runs like a charm now. If you're planning on running Vista, forget the 1 GB is enough Microsoft story, minimum should be 2 GB.

[z83]

8800GT or ATI 3870.

8800GT :puff

[mcgee]

Don't spend too much money on a top end cpu and go cheap on the video card and memory. You can get better performance by upping your total amount of ram. I'm running an AMD Turion 64 X2 2-core cpu on my laptop but I upgraded the RAM to 2 GB of DDR-667 and Vista runs like a charm now. If you're planning on running Vista, forget the 1 GB is enough Microsoft story, minimum should be 2 GB.

Good to know, my vista is running sub par on the laptop
(1024ram):bch

[Freebsd1977]

Good to know, my vista is running sub par on the laptop
(1024ram):bch

That's the reason why, memory hog = vista. Memory prices are cheap these days, max out your laptop. One warning though, make sure to try out the memory modules in-store and see if your lappy accepts them okay. I bought a pair of modules that crashed vista on load up, so I returned to the store and just paid $2 for each as a restocking fee and bought Kingston brand and tried them and I'm in vista heaven now.

GL

[mcgee]

Thanks

[IronRobi]

So for HD movies and the occasional game or 2..... what motherboard/processor would you recommend?

I guess I should mention that I do run 4gb of ram and have a 2600HD 512mb video card, just on old 3.2ghz processor right now and it chugs a little bit doing HD playback. Vista runs like a dream though.

[D-S]

I bought 2 BFG 8800 GT OC2's 512mb....run them in SLI or whatever and I dont notice much difference....guess I should of gotten dual GX2 's

[D-S]

and with this SLI crap, I cant run my 2 monitors...anyway around this?

[Xplode]

and with this SLI crap, I cant run my 2 monitors...anyway around this?

SLI is the use of two graphics cards using all their resources working together to improve the graphics performance for one monitor. Theoretically, to use a second monitor in SLI mode you need to install a third graphics card that is not SLI'd, but I'm not sure if any SLI motherboards support this.

You have to disable SLI to use both monitors when gaming (or whatever) but you have to reboot every time you want to do this, it's kinda annoying but that is the only way I know how.

Hope this helps :)