AMD or Intel?

[EddieMcD]

Originally Posted by calhounian

As for Microsoft Office, because I need Word, Powerpoint and such for school, I guess that I will just go out and buy the Student Version because I don't think that I will be able to wait until '06 for "Office 12".

www.openoffice.org

Like it, love it, worship it. Plus, it's free. Can't beat that with a stick.

[Wetzel]

Originally Posted by Tristan Lall

As for Office, don't pay for it now, if you can afford to wait until the next version (creatively code-named "Office 12"), which ought to be out some time next year. There's a complete user-interface re-work underway, and from what I've seen of it, it actually looks rather good.

I still use Office 97. Excel does what I want, Word has spell check. I don't need no stinkin bloated user interface.

Wetzel

[Tristan Lall]

Originally Posted by Wetzel

I still use Office 97. Excel does what I want, Word has spell check. I don't need no stinkin bloated user interface.

Wetzel

I still use Office 2000, for the most part. I've got Visio 2003 and Excel Viewer 2003, though, since I needed access to some newer files. Note that I get Visio for free from school, so I can afford to make that sort of upgrade-on-a-whim.

The UI in Office 12 is going to be the first major rework since Office 97; in fact, it's pretty much different from anything that's come before in the Office suite. See here for some preview information.

[Kristian Calhoun]

ok, what is the difference between the 754 and 939 pin numbers? See Here... and which would you reccomend? And how can i find out which pin number type I am going to be purchasing?

[Denman]

the pin numbers are important. You need a motherboard with the same socket type (ie you need a 939 socket for a 939 processor)
I would imagine it says on it what type it is, but i usually buy stuff from ebuyer.com where its all catagorized into different sockets. 939 are the more modern and more likely to continue iirc

[Cuog]

Socket 939 pin processors are the newer technology from AMD the 754 is from Intel i think but in any case the 939 is newer and has more upgrades coming in the futur, if you plan to upgrade the computer you can go ahead and get this option it is certainly better otherwise get whichever is cheaper

[Andy A.]

Any new AMD desktop processor will use a 939 socket. It is the best option if you expect to ever upgrade the processor. Additionally, the newer and more powerful motherboards that support AMD processors are probably going to all use a 939 socket.

Which ever you use, it is important that both the CPU and Motherboard match. This is important because some sockets are visually identical, and a mismatch can cause permanent damage to the CPU, motherboard or both.

-Andy A.

[Tristan Lall]

In fact the 754 is an older AMD socket, the 939 is the current one, and 940 is also a current AMD socket, but used on the (more expensive, but similar) Opteron processors. These are Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) sockets. Lift the lever, drop the processor in, close the lever; don't push down with any appreciable force. The socket will be labeled with the type, but it may be hard to read, or obscured by other components. Look closely. Alternatively, pinouts are available from AMD.

Socket 775 is an Intel socket, for the newer Pentiums and Celerons; it's actually a Land Grid Array (LGA) socket, where the pins are on the motherboard, and the processor has pads on it—it makes the CPU cheaper and less prone to damage.

[Jonathan Norris]

Seriously take a good look at openoffice.org before you put down the $100's for M$ Office. I find it to be just as functional as M$ Office and you can save your files as Word Documents anyway. Try it out for at least a week before buying M$ Office, you could end up saving yourself a lot of money

[Wetzel]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Norris

Seriously take a good look at openoffice.org before you put down the $100's for M$ Office. I find it to be just as functional as M$ Office and you can save your files as Word Documents anyway. Try it out for at least a week before buying M$ Office, you could end up saving yourself a lot of money

I did, and it took far to long to load, everytime.

Wetzel

[sciguy125]

Originally Posted by Wetzel

I did, and it took far to long to load, everytime.

Have you tried OO.o 2.0? It's gotten significantly better.

[Wetzel]

Originally Posted by sciguy125

Have you tried OO.o 2.0? It's gotten significantly better.

No. Office does everything I need it to already.

Wetzel

[DarkJedi613]

Originally Posted by Cuog

Socket 939 pin processors are the newer technology from AMD the 754 is from Intel i think but in any case the 939 is newer and has more upgrades coming in the futur, if you plan to upgrade the computer you can go ahead and get this option it is certainly better otherwise get whichever is cheaper

754 is also AMD (as someone said above I believe) - I'm using an Athlon 64 2800+ in it.

I doubt you'll get any upgradability out socket for a processor, unless you buy another processor relatively soon after buying the first one. Sockets (or all connectors) seem to be getting replaced quicker and quicker now a days. (SATA 2 recently replaced SATA as the 'best', how long was SATA mainstream? a year or so?) When I upgraded, I decided to ditch my motherboard (which was messed up anyway...) and go with a newer socket (which was 754, because most 939 motherboards don't have an AGP slot, and I wasn't replacing my 9800 Pro yet).

Oh, and I also use and like OpenOffice. I find that the stuff makes a lot more sense than Microsoft Word, except styles...haven't quite figured those out yet.

[Ryan Dognaux]

AMD all the way.

I had my PC custom built, and have an Athlon 64 3200+ put into it. My processor may be a little slow compared to these pricey higher numbered models, but I'd put my money towards a rockin' video card anyday. My ATI X700 is keeping me happy for now. May make the switch to NVidia... someday