Nathan Kroenert wrote: > I'd also add a few other things... > > If you look around, you can get an Opteron system with ECC memory for > very little more than a Core i7 jobbie. (at least last time I was buying > you could) > > Getting the ECC on a system you are going to actually depend on, and > will get cranky at if it fails is all goodness... > > If you stick with Phenom-II, you should get a similar configuration > somewhat cheaper... And- I'd tend to push for more memory than a > slightly faster CPU... If you are thinking about spinning up vBox, get > all the memory you can fit in. > > My play boxes have 8GB, and I'm frequently cranky I don't have more, as > once you have the flexibility of using VM's for whatever you feel like, > 2 is never enough... ;) > > For what it's worth, my last two purchases have been Phenom and > Phenom-II x4's. > > Nathan.
In my personal experience (and speaking only for myself), I used to be a big fan of Athlon systems. I never had any specific issues with the processors themselves, but my experience with AMD-compatible motherboards was always less than stellar. Over the years, I experienced a wide range of memory-timing issues, AGP malfunctions, and/or incompatibilities with PCI cards due to variations in systems bus timing/implementation. I tried every "well known" motherboard brand along the way too, ASUS, Gigabyte, ECS, and others. So finally, when I built my last system, I decided to build a Core 2 DUO E6600-based one, and suddenly, all of the problems that I had experienced in the past were gone. Given Intel's excellent performance metrics with their new processor generations and new focus on power efficiency, I personally would suggest a Core i7 system if you're performance focused, or an Core i5-based system if you are budget constrained. If budget is paramount, then the AMD route may be the best option. Cheers, -- Shawn Walker
