Two computers. Same price (£499). Which to go for?:

Option 1:
- AMD Phenom™ II X4 945 Processor (3.0GHz, 8MB Cache, Quad Core)
- 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 Memory
- Dual Graphics - Hybrid CrossFireX 512MB ATI HD4550 + 512MB ATI HD3200
- 1TB Ultra Fast Hard Drive with 32MB Buffer
- ASUS M4A78 Pro High Performance Mainboard


Option 2:
- Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 Processor (2.33GHz, 4MB Cache, Quad Core)
- 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 Memory
- 1GB ATI Radeon HD4670 Graphics
- 500GB Ultra Fast Hard Drive
- ASUS P5QL Pro High Performance Mainboard

Key points highlighted.
Proposed use for computer: games.
500GB hard drive likely to be sufficient.

Any opinions greatly received. Please offer alternatives if you're aware of something better for a similar price.

Would probably go up to max of £700 if this spec is rubbish for the proposed gaming use (doesn't have to be some bleeding edge beast of a gaming machine, obviously).

No monitor needed.

ETA: Missed a bit off the graphics card spec for the Option 1 AMD machine. Added now.

I'd go with option (A.)

I'd go with option (A.)
Edit: Never mind.

I would go with option 2, the hybrid CrossfireX graphics will be reduce the 4550 to the HD3200 speeds and you will get much higher gamign performance from the Intel Quad core + 4670 than you would the phenom

Thanks, Ghozer. I was coming down on the side of the Intel machine.

I've heard that Intel are better, these days, than AMD, but why is an Intel 2.33GHz 4MB cache quad core chip better than an AMD 3.0GHz 8MB Cache quad core chip? Or is it the better graphics option on the Intel machine that gives it the edge?

Go with option B.

Does this mean I'm no longer required?

It's not all about Ghz any more, it's about performance per Ghz, but to be honest they are prett close those machines, the Cache is the biggie, I didn't realise it was 8mb vs 4mb, if you can get a 6 or 12mb Quad core Intel i'd go for that over the phenom any way.

Go with option B.

Does this mean I'm no longer required?

After consulting my special adviser it appears I may have jumped the gun. Option 1 gave him a shiver whereas option 2 didn't even get a whimper from him. Oh wait, he's just noticed something and now he's off to research. I told you he was good. Anyway, the main problem seems to be the cache with 2, though I hardly think you will notice that. Option 1 would have been better had the GFX hybrid was 2 of the same card. He's just given an "I don't know mate" :(, this is not good. He thinks the AMD will be more powerful, but I think Intel are better. Go for option 1, it could turn out to be a nice buy.

Looking at your budget you could build a much better system than both of them for gaming..

Absolutly no point going for Quad core when gaming as nothing (yet) will take full (if any) advantage of more than 2 cores, you'r best of saving a bit and spending it on a single graphics card.

a Core 2 Duo E8500 or something, with 2/4GB of DDR2-800 (or even DDR3-1066/1333) ram, with a 4870x2 or a 4890 would be better than either of the above, and still be within the £700 budget.

I'd go with Ghozer on this one, or just Option2 with a 4890 instead of a 4670, will still be under £700 & a fair bit more gaming oomph.

Or just give Ghozer some cash & send him shopping for bits for you, every hardware geek likes building gaming machines, & he's definitely a hardware geek. :thumbsup:

*goes off to plan my next monster*

lol thanks steev, I do have a reputation though..

a friend of mine purchased an alienware (over £2500), I then build a machine of the same specification and it only cost ~£1200, and beat his on benchmarking etc.

but yeah, it's not all about benchmarks but you get the idea :)

Thank you, all. Just digesting the graphics card info.

So the Intel would be better, but preferably with a bigger cache and not necessarily quad core, and with a slightly different spec graphics card. Is that right?

Those two machines are off-the-peg from Mesh, by the way. Presumably I could do better for the same price (£500) if I bought components individually? After getting a bigger than expected builders' bill this morning, I'm backing away from the £700 budget. £500 would be much better.

Thank you, all. Just digesting the graphics card info.

So the Intel would be better, but preferably with a bigger cache and not necessarily quad core, and with a slightly different spec graphics card. Is that right?

Those two machines are off-the-peg from Mesh, by the way. Presumably I could I do better for the same price (£500) if I bought components individually? After getting a bigger than expected builders' bill this morning, I'm backing away from the £700 budget. £500 would be much better.

Building your own is always the better option. Linky (http://images.contentreserve.com/ImageType-100/0128-1/%7B7471EBD3-0A38-4386-A4E3-F0D7419DDB9C%7DImg100.jpg).

Go with option B.

Does this mean I'm no longer required?
No. You're just elusive (not allusive, by the way ;)).

I'm still tossing ideas around.

Building your own is always the better option. Linky (http://images.contentreserve.com/ImageType-100/0128-1/%7B7471EBD3-0A38-4386-A4E3-F0D7419DDB9C%7DImg100.jpg).
Is there a Ladybird version?

No. You're just elusive (not allusive, by the way ;)).

I'm still tossing ideas around.

I am aware of the difference now. ;)

What Ghozer says is right about building your own. The trouble is, who will build it? Honest opinion? I don't think it's beyond you at all. Just keep your old machine until the new one works. There's always lots of helpful types around who will offer advice.

Is there a Ladybird version?

No but there is this (http://pixelatedgeek.com/2009/05/1980s-computer-popup-book/). Whilst it's a bit old the technology is still the same, it's just that the numbers are bigger.

...There's always lots of helpful types around who will offer advice.
This is true.

The last time I fiddled around in the back of a computer was when I set a BIOS password and promptly forgot it. Had to change a jumper whatsit on the mother board, after much frantic Googling for instructions. That was an entertaining evening.

This is true.

The last time I fiddled around in the back of a computer was when I set a BIOS password and promptly forgot it. Had to change a jumper whatsit on the mother board, after much frantic Googling for instructions. That was an entertaining evening.

Forget what I said about building. ;)

i'll build it for you, drop me a pm :)

i'll build it for you, drop me a pm :)
Thanks very much for the offer, but I'm out in the southern tip of the back of beyond. Besides, I quite fancy giving it a go now. I have a soldering iron in the cupboard and everything ;) .

a Soldering iron is NOT required :)

and where exactly is "the southern tip of the back and beyond"?

a Soldering iron is NOT required :)

and where exactly is "the southern tip of the back and beyond"?
You haven't seen me bend a circuit board :D . How difficult can it be? Tab A into slot B and all that? I'm kidding.

It's more than likely I'll end up going for something from Mesh or Dell, but I'm sure I'll be able to call on someone down here who's handy with a screw driver if I do go for individual components.

ETA: PMd you.