Please help: Athlon 64 or Pentium 4?

1337cshacker · September 21st, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by android56

Hi, I'm totally new at this and could use some help.

My brother needs a computer and has a limited budget. He wants to make sure that he can at least play The Sims 2. He's not looking for a suped up gaming machine, just something simple. Here are the computers I'm looking at on http://www.hp.com/buynow. Now if you had to choose between these two computers, which would you get:

1.) HP a1130e series
-Athlon 64 3200+ operating at 2.0 GHz
-512MB RAM @ 400MHz
-NVIDIA GeForce 6200 w/TurboCache 256MB support (it comes with this card and PCI express slot)

OR

2.) HP a1110y series
-Intel Pentium 4 516k (2.93GHz, 533MHz FSB)
-512MB DDR2-400MHz (2x256)
-No card is included and there are no PCI express slots. However, I would just buy a video card that would work with The Sims 2

Please let me know what you guys think. Thanks a lot!

-android

even if you dont do "supped up gaming" which everyone should, a AMD64 is still the best choice. runs cooler, faster, better memory controler for ram usage, better L2 cache's, better fsb, better core.

android56 · September 21st, 2005

Hi, I'm totally new at this and could use some help.

My brother needs a computer and has a limited budget. He wants to make sure that he can at least play The Sims 2. He's not looking for a suped up gaming machine, just something simple. Here are the computers I'm looking at on http://www.hp.com/buynow. Now if you had to choose between these two computers, which would you get:

1.) HP a1130e series
-Athlon 64 3200+ operating at 2.0 GHz
-512MB RAM @ 400MHz
-NVIDIA GeForce 6200 w/TurboCache 256MB support (it comes with this card and PCI express slot)

OR

2.) HP a1110y series
-Intel Pentium 4 516k (2.93GHz, 533MHz FSB)
-512MB DDR2-400MHz (2x256)
-No card is included and there are no PCI express slots. However, I would just buy a video card that would work with The Sims 2

Please let me know what you guys think. Thanks a lot!

-android

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. · September 21st, 2005

Well, for gaming go AMD.......and the 6200 borrows RAM (that aint good)

you can custom build one cheaper

***Agentlaidlaw*** · September 21st, 2005

It be wiser to just custom build one. But the AMD would be a better choice. Also the 6200 would lag a bit with the Sims 2.

***Pethegreat*** · September 21st, 2005

AMD it just makes sense. Now you can build your own from newegg for alot less than Hp ever will. Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811195014 _______Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813135177 ________ Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...9103537_______ memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820146900 _______Hard drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148039 ______Video card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131420 _____DVD/Cd drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...6827131407____ That is about $800 us and you just use your old monitor keyboard and mouse. Here is what you get: AMD64+3000, 1gb PC3200 ram, 120GB harddive, Case with 350watt PSU, ATI x800gt, Beige DVD/Cd drive, PCI-express motherboard.

***TheMitter*** · September 21st, 2005

Pethegreat, he said he doesn't need it to be that great, a X600 would be just fine, knocking off like 75$, plus he doesn't need a gig of ram. And also, he doesn't sound like he knows that much bout computers, and I know that it isn't that hard to build one, but if he ran into some kind of problem installing windows, you know, little things, such as boot settings wrong, jumpers on cd drives wrong, ect., he may be completely confused. But I wouldn't suggest buying an hp. Don't buy any of those, hp, gateway, dell, compaq, emachines, ect... THEY ALL SUCK! but if you don't plan on ever upgradeing any parts in your comp, or ever having to reinstall windows, go with dell, they build decent enough pc's for decent prices, just if you upgrade em, you have to buy from dell, they charge rediculous prices to...

***TheMitter*** · September 21st, 2005

I felt that reply was dragging on...If you do go custom, or decide to just go with the hp, get the amd built one, I myself have an intel, but I got the thing for free. ^_^

android56 · September 21st, 2005

Hmm...looks like I'll be going the AMD route. Thanks for the quick replies. I don't know that I'll be building the computer, but I'll probably at least get the AMD and upgrade it to the 3500+ and not get their Nvidia video card upgrade. I'll just get a different card and install it myself. Any good card recommendations in the $125 range? Thanks again!