PC buying advice wanted - pretty please :-)

[spionfox]

Anybody able to offer a bit of PC advice?

Got the choice of two similar specifications machines, one with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and the other with an AMD Athlon 64 x2 processor. Both selling for around £300.

All other things being equal, which would be the best to go for? Don't do gaming, the thing I really want is quietness of operation.

Or, would it be worth paying an extra £100 for a slightly lower featured PC (smaller HD etc) that has an AMD Phenon processor?

Thanks for any (good) advice.

 

[M17TT C]

I would have thought that quietness of operations would have been down to the fans and heat sink. The fans are what make the noise and the heat sink cools the parts down so the fans don't need to be on full all the time.

I may be completely wrong about that, but in my world that seems quite logical!

EDIT: Thinking about it a bit more, it probs would depend on the processor, ie some use more power than others, so I would probs completely ignore what I wrote and wait for someone who knows what they are talking about to come about!

 

[Matt_B]

From what I have heard Core2Duo are very prone to getting very hot, so will require more fan action = more noise. Don't know much about the AMD though.

Core2Duo are very fast

 

[bocadillo]

From what I have heard Core2Duo are very prone to getting very hot, so will require more fan action = more noise. Don't know much about the AMD though.

Core2Duo are very fast

My laptop has an Intel Centrino Core2Duo processor. It is very quiet although it does have an additional fan which is switched on by thermostat *very* occasionally - i.e. not every day. Even that is not what I would call noisy.

 

[Orifice]

My previous PC had an AMD Athlon (I've always used AMD) and it run hot needing propper cooling/fans.
I gather that Intels of similar capabilities are cooler running and don't need as much in the way of fans/big heat sinks.

 

[Feriol]

My previous PC had an AMD Athlon (I've always used AMD) and it run hot needing propper cooling/fans.
I gather that Intels of similar capabilities are cooler running and don't need as much in the way of fans/big heat sinks.

Traditionally thats true, AMD always pushed there processors a little harder and therefore hotter, to try and keep up with Intel on performance. Nowadays though they are both about the same.

Far more important to consider for heat related noise will be the graphics card, i'm going to assume at that price they are onboard? what chips are in each system?

 

[spionfox]

Traditionally thats true, AMD always pushed there processors a little harder and therefore hotter, to try and keep up with Intel on performance. Nowadays though they are both about the same.

Far more important to consider for heat related noise will be the graphics card, i'm going to assume at that price they are onboard? what chips are in each system?

This is the one I am considering:
http://www.comet.co.uk/cometbrowse/product.do?sku=435961&tab=specification

 

[Jeff]

This is the one I am considering:
http://www.comet.co.uk/cometbrowse/product.do?sku=435961&tab=specification

It's £30 cheaper here

 

[Steven]

Anybody able to offer a bit of PC advice?

Got the choice of two similar specifications machines, one with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and the other with an AMD Athlon 64 x2 processor. Both selling for around £300.

All other things being equal, which would be the best to go for? Don't do gaming, the thing I really want is quietness of operation.

Or, would it be worth paying an extra £100 for a slightly lower featured PC (smaller HD etc) that has an AMD Phenon processor?

Thanks for any (good) advice.

Why are you buying this particular PC? I mean by that what purpose are you looking to use it for? If I read the specs it is not your bog standard PC. :icon_conf

 

[Beliall]

i got a core 2 duo, its a noisy bast**d

 

[Macky]

i got a core 2 duo, its a noisy bast**d

Just to be a pedantic prick, your Core2Duo is silent, it's your fan that's making the noise

 

[Durham Fox]

Just to be a pedantic prick, your Core2Duo is silent, it's your fan that's making the noise

I wasn't very far off posting that

 

[Feriol]

This is the one I am considering:
http://www.comet.co.uk/cometbrowse/product.do?sku=435961&tab=specification

Graphics type says 'tbc' so i can't comment. Being a full tower is a good thing though, there should be more room inside for air to flow which will help cooling. Normally i would recommend removing any of the plates from unused slots, but opening the box might void your warranty.

The PSU will be a cheap one though and very noisy, if your really fussy invest in a quiet one.

 

[Beliall]

Just to be a pedantic prick, your Core2Duo is silent, it's your fan that's making the noise

ha ha. it rattles too

 

[spionfox]

It's £30 cheaper here

Thanks Jeff, managed to get an extra £20 off my quoting Laskeys!

 

[Jeff]

Thanks Jeff, managed to get an extra £20 off my quoting Laskeys!

Bastards, I wanted my commission

Laskys is part of Comet anyway, so they could have given you the same price.

 

[fludie]

Stick to AMD, intel are shite.

There is some decent 700W psu's on ebuyer.


Here is a start for your pc:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/124915 - Processor 86.70

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130454 HDD 59.89

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/128675 - psu 29.99

 

[Durham Fox]

Stick to AMD, intel are shite.

There is some decent 700W psu's on ebuyer.


Here is a start for your pc:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/124915 - Processor 86.70

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130454 HDD 59.89

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/128675 - psu 29.99

I'd love to hear your argument for that.

 

[bocadillo]

I'd love to hear your argument for that.

FFS don't encourage him!!

 

[Macky]

Stick to AMD, intel are shite.

I'd love to hear your argument for that.

FFS don't encourage him!!

I really don't think I'd be able to cope with a fludiefied argument on AMD Vs Intel processors, I'm losing the will to continue breathing as it is.