PCTech Forums

Hey guys. I have JUST started building my Gaming Machine! I have been wanting to build it for 2 years but I did not ever have the Money to do it and now I finally do. Every paycheck I buy a part or part's.

Anyways, I cannot decide on a Processor.

It is between the AMD ATHLON XP 3000+ or the INTEL P4 at 3.0 GHZ with HT.

Which would you all recommend and why? If it matters, I THINK my Video Card will be a GeForce 6800GT 256 MB.

Will be running 2 sticks of 512 MB RAM, PC3200 I think.

So can anyone help me decide which processor to go with? Motherboard will be a ASUS.

Thanks!

PS: Already bought my case and PSU, Case came with a 350 Watt PSU but that isn't enough with the Video Cards and Processor's today I do not think? So I upgraded to a 420 Watt Dual Bearing Ultra Quiet PSU. Thanks again guys!

Hi Tank

hehe..its so exciting to build a new system and fire it up for the first time!!

Well, im sure that alot of us here can argue pro's and con's for each CPU until the world quits turning.Personally, i like AMD so that would be my choice.Although, i would go with the XP 3200+ instead of the 3000.3200 is the biggest avaliable from AMD in 32 bit.Here are a few specs:

L2 Cache Size: 512 kB
Processor Instruction Set: AMD® 3DNow!(TM) Technology, Intel® x86 Compatibilty
QUANTISPEED ARCHITECTURE
Processor Socket: AMD® Socket A (Socket 462)
Bus Speed: 400 MHz
Processor Class: AMD Athlon XP
Processor Speed: 2.17 GHz

Good choice on the vid card by the way, if you do choose AMD then you should know that AMD and Nvidia work really well together.

On the PSU, upgrading wasnt a bad idea.350 would have probably ran your system but the 420 will run it with less of a strain, which will also result in the 420 lasting longer than the 350 would have. Just remember to keep the cooling fans clean

Thank you very much! You provided me with all the information I wanted and needed. I think I will go with the AMD ATHLON XP 3200+, only reason I considered the AMD ATHLON XP 3000+ is because it is 90$ cheaper and only a 0.10 GHZ difference, so yea. The AMD's are better for Gaming I assume?

I honestly don't think there is a blind bit of difference between intel & AMD - each are as good as the other for gaming. Where AMD scores well is that they are cheaper, so you can either get a higher clocked processor for the same money, or you can spend more money elsewhere to boost performance.

I would say AMD. I use a 2400+, and theres lots of cool MOBO's that you can get for it. But personally, I would get the 3000+. Im my PC Modder magazine they were also able to overclock an AMD better than an intel, with specific mobo's too. Im not saying its Better than Intel, but its all in the complete system that makes that computer faster. Well good luck with building your first computer! Its lots of Fun!