Debating on Upgrade (Cpu Wise).

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Casper312

[H]ard|Gawd
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Aug 29, 2008
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So, after many debating, and mostly my new monitor making my computer choke on games i used to play decently on 1280x1024. Now playing on 1680x1050 is making dip under 30fps in certain games and unplayable in crysis on some levels (10-20fps on gamer, no AA).

So its time to upgrade, I was looking at newegg for a bit, and i really cant decide on what cpu to go with. I was thinking of just getting whats gonna be enough for me, which first was:

E7200
P5Q Pro
G.Skill Pi Black 4gb

Then started thinking into spending a bit more into a e8400 or even a q6600. Pretty much what im looking into this upgrade is just to play games with decent fps (40-50) on 1680x1050. I do plan to overclock quite a bit, Reason i was thinking of going with the e7200 is the countless reviews saying it can do 3.5ghz+ easy, but then the e8400 and q6600 do as well. If your wondering my budget is pretty much around $350.

So what do think? Go for the Q6600 or e8400 or is the e7200 enough?
 
The real question is what is your gpu. I see you sig has the 9800GTX, you carrying that over?
The three components you listed above are very fine. I can personally attest to the E7200 easily sailing past 3.5Ghz [mine's at 3.9]. But if your budget is $350 you have enough overhead from the price of the E7200 to step up to either the Q6600 or the E84/8500. But all that paired with a 9800GTX is still going to leave you handicapped by the 98GTX.
Bottom line your gpu is your key at 1680x1050.
 
Not another quad vs duo. Refer to the gazillions of other beat to death threads regarding them. e7 will suffice if you want to save more money.
 
Any of those CPUs will perform well for your resolution in gaming. Yes, dual cores clock higher than quadcores and are better for gaming since most games don't take advantage of 4 cores, but you won't notice much of a difference at your resolution, so it really doesn't matter which cpu you choose. Theoretically, the quadcore will last you a while, the e8400 probably just as long, and the e7200 slightly less. The e8400 can clock above 4ghz easily. The Q6600 can reach 3.3Ghz easily, and most of them do 3.6Ghz. The E7200 can reach around 3.8Ghz.
 
Just do this:

CPU/MOBO (Combo Deal) - Intel Core 2 E8400(3.0ghz) + Asus P5 Q Pro($15 MIR) for $250
Ram - G. Skills 4gig DDR2 1000 for $50 w/free shipping
Heatsink - Xigmatek HTD -S1283 120mm rifle for $32 w/free shipping
Retention Bracket for $8.50 w/free shipping

Boom --> $340.50
 
After debating im thinking of going with a e7200, gigabyte p45 (asus one has some ide problems and i still have an ide hd), and g-skills 4gb of ram. Im gonna overclock quite a bit, Since i might have a decent water cooling deal locally. I was thinking if the choice im going with is an overkill for 1680x10 or just right? Im keeping my 9800gtx as well. I pretty much want the cheapest upgrade possible to keep me gaming @ 1680x1050 with around 40fps (crysis not included) til around may of 09. Right now my 939 rig is struggling hard to play games at my new rez

sorry for the bad spelling/punc but my headache is killing me =/
 
Regarding the processor, any of those choices would work fine. The E7200/E7300 gives you a cheap overclocking option, the Q6600 gives you two additional cores that you could offload "background" tasks and/or services on, and the E8400 offers the chance to overclock to nearly/over 4GHz. (As for the motherboard, get either the GA-EP45-DS3R or the GA-EP45-UD3P.)

However, for 1680x1050, the 9800GTX isn't the best choice for that resolution, and after overclocking the processor, you may find the video card's performance a bit underwhelming.

If nothing else, take HG's advice into consideration and pick up the DDR2 1000 kit and the HDT-S1283 (with retention bracket).
 
It should help you hold on until may'09, but thats all on you.
 
tiraides said:
Regarding the processor, any of those choices would work fine. The E7200/E7300 gives you a cheap overclocking option, the Q6600 gives you two additional cores that you could offload "background" tasks and/or services on, and the E8400 offers the chance to overclock to nearly/over 4GHz. (As for the motherboard, get either the GA-EP45-DS3R or the GA-EP45-UD3P.)

However, for 1680x1050, the 9800GTX isn't the best choice for that resolution, and after overclocking the processor, you may find the video card's performance a bit underwhelming.

If nothing else, take HG's advice into consideration and pick up the DDR2 1000 kit and the HDT-S1283 (with retention bracket).
Click to expand...

I looked up and the diff between my choice and GA-EP45-UD3P is having the option to go crossfire, which im sure i wont do anytime soon.

What would be the perfect card for 1680x1050? Lets say with a e7200 @ 3.5ghz, I was debating on using the 90 day step up towards a gtx260, but that seems like an overkill to me since my goal is just to play games nicely with playable non-sluggish frames. I have the 9800gtx overclocked to 800/2025/1275.
 
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