AMD 64 vs PCI Express

pquinn · September 9th, 2004, 12:11 AM

I am in the process of purchasing a new computer primarily for gaming and imaging. I am having a problem deciding between the AMD 64 3400 and an Intel 540 with PCI express. I would like to look a couple of years down the road towards a day when I upgrade the video card etc. Does anyone have any ideas on which route is likely to give the most reward?

HeadBand · September 9th, 2004, 12:20 AM

personally i would go with the intel there will be 64-bit processors that will run on this platform down the road so if you needed 64 bitness you could just upgrade the cpu but if you wanted a pci-express graphics card or ddr2 memory you would have to upgrade the motherboard on the amd system also and since it is a socket 754 you may have to upgrade the cpu also....i'm not sure if many if any socket 754 boars will support pci-e

tony_j15 · September 9th, 2004, 03:56 PM

Welcome to TIMO! How much do you want to spend? The AMD route will be cheaper, plus AMD cpu's do better for gaming.

pquinn · September 9th, 2004, 10:48 PM

I'm not so concerned with the actual cost. I have a budget and both seems to fit. The question is which will allow the greater flexibility in a couple of years?
Is the 64 bit processor the way or is the PCI express the way. At this time they are mutually exclusive, so I must choose....

Thanks for the replies...

EpyonMelee · September 9th, 2004, 11:19 PM

64

beppodmime · September 9th, 2004, 11:29 PM

I have a quick q, pquinn, could you possibly wait til later this year/early next year? I'd honestly hold onto your money for just a bit longer, and wait for nVidia to release a nice PCI-X mobo with SLI in mind, all the while watching the prices of the 6800GT's drop little by little (or the 6600GT's, I imagine two of those in your box would stomp). I definately see this in the Socket939 future, probably sooner than later.

That's currently what I'm waiting for before I decide what I want to do with my box.

pquinn · September 10th, 2004, 12:34 AM

I've been waiting for about six months already to see what happens between the two. You are correct, the best scenario would be to have PCI-e WITH the AMD 64. If I had any idea when that is to happen I may just wait...waiting is HARD no Doom3 on my present system, Far cry works well but Doom is the first game that my system just will not handle...wait wait wait...

camaro · September 10th, 2004, 12:50 AM

Don't ever worry about upgradability of a mobo. When your CPU will need upgrading in a year or more there will be a new chipsets out with new features and you will want to get a new mobo anyway.

I got a Abit NF7-S a year ago and it was the shiznit. Got a 2500+ knowing if I need more I can put a 3200+ in there. Well guess what. I'm probably getting A64 when I upgrade next. Sockets change all the time. This is the 3rd time I bought one of the lowest rated CPUs for a certain socket in hopes of upgrading just the CPU and I always get a mobo with the new CPU.

Buy the best now and never worry about upgradability.

Siliconjunkie · September 10th, 2004, 01:07 AM

When comparing apples and fish, I always choose bread.

AMD64 vs PCIX? A processor vs a bus? What are you comparing?

RamonGTP · September 10th, 2004, 03:39 AM

I don't think he's comparing PCI express with the Athlon 64. I believe he's comparing :

INTEL w/PCI Express
OR
AMD Athlon 64 without

I personally would go with the A64 becase im into games and do more of the stuff that AMD is better at. People may make the argument that 64bit isn't much of an advantage today, but I can say the same thing about PCI Express.