Which CPU? Intel or AMD?

I'm debating which CPU to get, the AMD Phenom II X2 550 or the Intel Core 2 Duo E8400.

Is the Intel Core 2 Duo worth the $60 more in performance?

The e8400 is obviously faster and a very good overclocker on top of that, but the $60 is a lot of money. if you're using it primarily for gaming and are on a budget i think i would go with the x2 550 and put any money you have left into the graphics card. personally i would also choose amd simply because of am3 where the 775 socket is as good as dead today, but that depends on when you are planning future upgrades.

why no phenom II x3 720 be on your shortlist btw? it gives the e8400 a run for it's money and is quite a bit cheaper.

Get a 550be cos it can unlock and become a 3Ghz quad core:o (not 100% though)

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=227004

The e8400 overclocks ridiculously well. I hit 4.5GHz without breaking a sweat, but 2000MHz is about the max for my motherboard. I run it at 4.2GHz on a daily basis, and it stays in the 30's unless I'm stressing it with Prime95... What kind of motherboard and cooler are you going to get?-GeordiLaForge-

I would never recomend a chip becasue it OCes so well. Most people don't over clock. I think that you would be happy with either chip, the AMD chip + mobo would be the cheapest way to go however.

Sweet, I'm gonna go with the AMD Chip then, and I think I've found a motherboard compatible with it that's also able to unlock the cores.

The ASRock AOD790GX/128M, but what do you guys think?

Sweet, I'm gonna go with the AMD Chip then, and I think I've found a motherboard compatible with it that's also able to unlock the cores.

The ASRock AOD790GX/128M, but what do you guys think?

LordIlpalazzo

In my opinion you should go for an am3 motehrboard for the ddr3 support.