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Need help picking out a processor

G

GoldBug

n00b
Joined
Mar 28, 2003
Messages
44
I need to replace my wifes computer and I've decided to use an Intel processor. The only game she plays is Sims, like every other chick in the world, so I don't think I need anything super powered. But I also don't want the cheapest thing I can find. I've only built 2 computers and the last one was about 5 years ago so I can hardly tell where to start anymore. I figured picking out a processor would be a good thing to start with.
 
Curious142 said:
What's your budget for this project?

CB
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I guess I'm not really setting a budget. I'd like to buy something decent but it doesn't have to be a top of the line thing. Like I said, all she cares about is playing her Sims game.
 
GoldBug said:
Not sure which socket to use, that's part of my problem of where to start. Is 775 a decent starting point?
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socket 775 cpus should be fine. they should last for awhile, you can also use them to game modern games aside from sims 2/sims 3

anyway there's a sale over at amazon, a socket 775 pentium dual core e5200 @ 2.5ghz for $39.99+ shipping

this should be good enough for sims 2/3 and some of the modern games that are out now while not hurting the budget that much, but the other ones i listed (previous post) if you want to futureproof the rig more.
 
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which sims version?

What are the minimum requirements for The Sims?

To play The Sims you will need:

* Windows 95 or 98
* 233 Mhz or faster Intel Pentium processor or AMD K6
* 32MB RAM
* 2MB Video Card, 16-bit Color Capable - DirectX 7 Certified
* Sound card - DirectX 7 Certified
* 300 MB free hard disk space (additional space required for DirectX 7 installation and Windows swap file)
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Socket 775: E8400 for 3.0ghz dual core chip can be had around $160 new and $130 used. Great, cool running chip, with a decent cache size. Can be upped to a quad core for a little more $ too.

Pair it with a decent p45 motherboard like the gigabyte ep45-ud3r or an asus p5q ($120 new or $90 used)...

Add the pci-e graphics card of your choice... (depends mostly on games planned on playing)

Add a moderately decent power supply... (brand names really do matter in this department)

And you're ready to rock and roll.

If you want something a bit more future proof, look into the socket 1156 (current gen. lower end) or 1366 (current gen. - high end). Either way with these newer ones though, you're looking at a good deal more for the overall build than the s775. Board and chip alone with these two newer ones are going to run you about $400-$500. Then you have to add your gpu, power supply, etc...
 
sprout2287 said:
... Board and chip alone with these two newer ones are going to run you about $400-$500. Then you have to add your gpu, power supply, etc...
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CPU:

Core i5 750 - $149

http://microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0317379

Motherboard: $149

http://microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0317309

So $300 for CPU and motherboard, this is assuming you have a microcenter nearby.

I recently upgraded my socket 775 system to an i5 based system. The only reason I did it was because the SATA ports on my 775 motherboard were going bad (was down to 2 sockets out of 6), While I could have purchased a replacement motherboard I hate buying stuff for a dead end platform. If your building from scratch go with the new tech. If you go with socket 775 you'll end up atleast paying the same amount you would pay for an i5 setup.
 
I got lucky too, I got my 920 D0 from microcenter for $199 which is about 30 min driver in Fairfax Va from where I live. Even newegg can't beat that price.

Back on topic, a good choice for sim games is an E8400. Sims don't use no more then 2 cores at max.
Socket 775 E8400 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037&cm_re=e8400-_-19-115-037-_-Product. Better then the q8300 which has slower clock speeds. You don't need many cores unless you doing multitasking. For gaming an E8400 is a superior chip and can be overclock darn easy and runs cooler then the quads.
 
I would Spend more on the board then the chip. You can get a decent dual core processor for the 775 architecture for $30-$40 dollars. Though if you have an eye to the future, you might want to spend a little more on the mother board. This will enable you to just pop in a new chip if in a year or so you decide that the current configuration is too slow. By then the chips that are now $140 will be at that magic price point.
 
By then the chips that are now $140 will be at that magic price point.
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I would expect them to cost more in the future not less. I mean you can pick up a Q9550 for around $165 and in a year I expect the price to be higher since production of these will probably end in 2010. With that said there still will be loads of used 775 chips floating around eBay years after intel ends production.
 
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