Challenge: Build a computer for under $1000 - Page 5

koji042 · #41 03-07-2009, 03:54 AM

Just want to ask another question... do you think AMD will ever catch up to Intel now that it's behind? I know the computer world is constantly changing, but Intel seems to one step ahead of AMD every step of the way since the Core 2 Duos were released. With AMD's financial issues and having ATI Under their wing, just curious to know your take on the siutation.

Thanks.

rabb1t · #42 03-07-2009, 08:30 PM

Ya never know. They caught up before by innovating and they didn't have anywhere near the financial resources that Intel does. I don't know what factor the engineers played, but I think I've heard that most who worked on the innovation that caught AMD up are now working for Intel. I suppose there is nothing stopping the current workers, or new ones, from innovating and leaping ahead again.

But in terms of production, in actually executing and improving on what they currently have, there's no way AMD can catch up because they just don't have the financial resources that Intel does to open new factories and push the chipsets to smaller sizes. And since they are behind in terms of timetables with when they launched their current architecture compared to Intel, they just can't catch up in dye size shrinks and tweaks. They are, and will remain, behind on that aspect, so when they do catch up / move ahead it's got to be from a design standpoint. Pretty much we won't know anything about that as outsiders until they are close to a breakthrough.

I'm guessing it's probably going to take 2 full chipset architecture generations for them to catch up. (Like 4+ years.) AM3 isn't going to do it. 2x2 has faded into obscurity, and I doubt their next chipset will be a huge leap forward.

They are doing the best thing they can to stay competitive right now - offer stuffs for teh cheap. They know that only their best stuff can match what Intel does for gaming, so they have to focus on that and staying cheap.

koji042 · #43 03-30-2009, 12:27 AM

I have another graphics card question. xD
A friend of mine wants to upgrade his graphics card (he's been running integrated for just about forever), but his power supply is at 300W. Is there any decently performing 3D card for maybe $25-50 that would work?

Thanks.

shirtofah · #44 03-30-2009, 09:47 PM

depends on the rest of his specs because if he has some stuff already that has high voltage needs. then no
and if it was pre built by a store.
theres probably not much wats left to get used left.
becuase stores usualy make it so you have a bit more wats than you need but not much

rabb1t · #45 03-30-2009, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koji042

but his power supply is at 300W. Is there any decently performing 3D card for maybe $25-50 that would work?

If he considers something like 1280x1024 at sub 30 FPS "decent".

There's a chance you could find something like 8500 GT on Ebay that could work. If they have a PCIe slot. (8600 GT goes up to 350w) It would also depend on if they have enough amps. It's not all about watts.

With a 350w or higher with enough watts you could get a 9500 GT, which would be reasonably tollerable.

I'd highly recommend they save up closer to $125 and do something like a 9600 GT and a 500w OCZ StealthXStream.

There's also the question of if that system is a half-height one. If so that will make things even tougher.

(Sorry no links, barely any time.

)

koji042 · #46 03-31-2009, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabb1t

If he considers something like 1280x1024 at sub 30 FPS "decent".

There's a chance you could find something like 8500 GT on Ebay that could work. If they have a PCIe slot. (8600 GT goes up to 350w) It would also depend on if they have enough amps. It's not all about watts.

With a 350w or higher with enough watts you could get a 9500 GT, which would be reasonably tollerable.

I'd highly recommend they save up closer to $125 and do something like a 9600 GT and a 500w OCZ StealthXStream.

There's also the question of if that system is a half-height one. If so that will make things even tougher.

(Sorry no links, barely any time.

)

Thanks much.

This pretty much confirmed what little research I'd done beforehand so I told my friend to save up for a while longer.

LordXenophon · #47 04-20-2009, 08:32 AM

I bought a computer at a garage sale yesterday, for $20. From what I found inside, it looks it might have been QforQ's old rig. All I needed from it was the CR/RW drive (mine was broken) and the RAM.

What's all this "retail" stuff you're talking about? :P

LordXenophon · #48 04-30-2009, 08:20 AM

http://www.gamerwok.com/archives/3055

Thund3rball · #49 04-30-2009, 04:11 PM

Build a Kick-Ass $500 Gaming PC, Play Crysis at 40FPS!
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/fea...y_crysis_40fps

Here's another from Ars

$686.60
Includes monitor, keyboard & mouse but no OS.
http://arstechnica.com/hardware/guid...09-edition.ars

rabb1t · #50 04-30-2009, 11:42 PM

The main thing I disagree with about that Maxium article is that you have to OC the poop outa that E5200. From what I've read on several boards you really have to push that core to be good for games. Great if you are used to doing that, but for someone who's looking for teh cheap and not used to it I'd say spend the little bit more and get an E7400.