zenmaster :
What do you mean by balance in your builds?
Do you mean choosing to build some good and some bad?
I would prefer to make "Logical" builds that are well thought out.
If somebody put a $5, $10, and $20 bill on the table every day and said I could have "one" of them. To me it would make sense to take the $20 every day. I would not call myself a "fanboy" of the $20s. I would certainly take (5) $5s or (3) $10s before a $20.
Balance is neither logical nor based on sound reasoning.
The better choice often tends to remain the better choice.
It may be that every single review site on the Web is biased against Intel and posts faked review numbers. Sadly, even AMDZONE.com which makes no bones about being a "Fan" site does not post many reviews comparing AMD chips to Core2Duos.
On a very very tight budget, you can build a reasonable AMD system for about $50 less than a Core2Duo system. However, for $50 more than the cheapest X2 system you can put together, I can build an Intel system that is as fast or faster than a X2-6400+ system with the same components. And at this point the Intel system will use less power and run quiter.
That leaves the AMD systems to those with extremely minimal funds or those without basic computer knowledge about optimizing their system.
This also leaves the retail market as well. These systems simply run at default settings with little choice to optimize the box.
On the server side, AMD's memory numbers are great for Virtualization servers running software such as VMWare.
However, the majority of the people that post on this site do not fall into those categories. Hence, I would not intentionally suggest a build that does not fit their needs.
I do not know how to separate your questions for individual answers except as below:
What do you mean by balance in your builds?
Balance in my builds means choosing components that have a track record of working well together. Balance in your builds, from what you have posted here, is whatever you decide it means at the time.
Do you mean choosing to build some good and some bad?
Of course not but you knew that already.
I would prefer to make "Logical" builds that are well thought out.
Hmmmm. That would seem to be “logical”, no surprise here.
If somebody put a $5, $10, and $20 bill on the table every day and said I could have "one" of them. To me it would make sense to take the $20 every day. I would not call myself a "fanboy" of the $20s. I would certainly take (5) $5s or (3) $10s before a $20. ??...Your analogy would seem rather stretched.
What if the $5 bills were actually worth $21 because they were collectors items. In other words… apparent value does not make you a fanboy. It is knowledge, and experience that makes us prudent system builders.
Balance is neither logical nor based on sound reasoning.
Balance…does not seem to mean the same thing to you as it does to me.
The better choice often tends to remain the better choice.
The better choice…according to you or according to the end user who will use his machine differently than you? The better choice is often in the eyes of the end user, and relative to his perspective.
It may be that every single review site on the Web is biased against Intel and posts faked review numbers. Sadly, even AMDZONE.com which makes no bones about being a "Fan" site does not post many reviews comparing AMD chips to Core2Duos.
I care considerably about numbers, however I care significantly more about the reality of how the machine performs it’s function in the real world and how much trouble it was to get it there.
On a very very tight budget, you can build a reasonable AMD system for about $50 less than a Core2Duo system. However, for $50 more than the cheapest X2 system you can put together, I can build an Intel system that is as fast or faster than a X2-6400+ system with the same components. And at this point the Intel system will use less power and run quiter.
Doubtful.
That leaves the AMD systems to those with extremely minimal funds or those without basic computer knowledge about optimizing their system.
No, it leaves the AMD systems to those who are prudent with money, knowing full well the AMD system will operate well within the design parameters and spending more on an Intel system will afford them no better computing experience and less money to have a life with. We are not talking game addicts here.
This also leaves the retail market as well. These systems simply run at default settings with little choice to optimize the box.
Big manufacturers tend toward the cheapest components and the largest profit margin. They also strive to appease customer perception without regard for customer education so we do not look favourably upon those systems.
On the server side, AMD's memory numbers are great for Virtualization servers running software such as VMWare.
However, the majority of the people that post on this site do not fall into those categories. Hence, I would not intentionally suggest a build that does not fit their needs.
VMWare has been an AMD partner for some time so it would seem a logical and viable result