My Dad is finally buying a new computer and we've been researching various price-concious options.To this day, he occasionally fires up FS2002. He's interested in a new HP box with a AMD-x2 3800 that is currently on sale. I am of the mindset, the if he wants to run FS2004 or even FSX (after the patch), then he should spend another hundred bucks and get the Core 2 Duo E6300. Don't get me wrong, I've bought nothing but AMD for the past five years or so, but everyone seems to be raving over the C2D.Either way, he'll need to add a descent video card and more RAM later on. Also, there are rumors of a descent price-cut on the C2D-line starting April 9th.Which would you choose (everything else being equal):AMD x2 3800C2D E6300 (+$100)Thanks for your thoughts...

I have a socket 754 AMD Athlon 64 3200 single core based computer and a socket 939 AMD Athlon 64 4800 dual core based computer, and I can tell you that the Core 2 Duo is streets ahead of the AMD Athlon 64 AM 2 3800 dual core and even my 4800 dual core and you might wish to know that the present AM2 socket AMD Athlon 64 CPUs are no faster than the older 939 socket AMD Athlon 64s. At a hundred bucks price difference go for the Core two duo, haveing the Core two Duo would not be a critical issue with FS2004 but because FSX is such a processor resource hog, it would be silly not to go for the Intel product if you envisage running FSX at some stage.Best and Warm RegardsAdrian Wainer

Thanks for the feedback Adrian, a thoughful comparison...

I agree with Adrian...hands down go for a Core2 over a 3800+. Core2 is a whole generation ahead of the AM2 3800. The thing about socket AM2 is that AM2 will be around for a while, as AMD is going to keep using AM2 for it's new cpu lines.So theoretically it's possible to get an AM2 motherboard right now, drop a current AM2 cpu in it (like a 3800+) and then early next year drop a Barcelona AMD cpu in there. Nice cheap easy upgrade...However, if it were me I'd still go Core2 because you would have FS performance NOW that is way better than what a 3800+ can deliver.RhettAMD 3700+ (@2310 mhz), eVGA 7800GT 256 (Guru3D 93.71), ASUS A8N-E, PC Power 510 SLI, 2 GB Corsair XMS 2.5-3-3-8 (1T), WD 250 gig 7200 rpm SATA2, CoolerMaster Praetorian case

I have a AMD x2 3800 and I am pleased with the performance i get. I can fly fsx pretty well - seem to be getting the same performace as everyone else. constant 20 fps in rual areas with tweeks, full autogen, global texture and ground texture - everything else has sliders to the left. i havent tryed the core 2 duo so i don't know what i missing but i can tell you i'm perfectly content right now with the AMD X2 3800.

Thanks all!Agreed, I've never gone wrong or had any problems with any of my AMD purchases. But, from what I'm reading here and elsewhere, C2D is the way to go at this time.Now if I can just get my Dad to come off a little bit more coin! Heck, maybe I should be the good son and cough-up the difference for him.Please, if anyone else has an opinion on the subject, I'd still like to hear it.

>Agreed, I've never gone wrong or had any problems with any of>my AMD purchases. But, from what I'm reading here and>elsewhere, C2D is the way to go at this time.Agreed - good interpretation. :) I run a 3800+ system right now. It can hold it's own with FSX (I am not a right-side slider-monger), and does excellent with all other apps I throw at it. Since you (or your Dad) is buying NEW rather than leveraging an existing 939 motherboard, I would definately recommend the C2D solutions. *Every*thing I hear about them points to their superiority. Plus, if you are adventurous, there's always the world of overclocking to squeeze the last drops of performance out of the system.If you were buying for an existing 939 motherboard, I'd recommend sticking with the AMD line (just to save some cash) - New build or new pre-built? Go C2D. :)-Greg

Current analysis suggests that Intel Duo is well ahead of AMD atthe moment, particularly for flight sim.RegardsTom