Ok, which combo of CPU/GPU?

And here is the poll...

  • 1) E5200 and EVGA 260 (216) GTX

    Votes: 5 8.3%

  • 2) E7300 and EVGA 260 (Vanilla) GTX

    Votes: 27 45.0%

  • 3) E8400 and 4850 (512 mb)

    Votes: 17 28.3%

  • 4) Q9400 and 4650 (512 mb)

    Votes: 5 8.3%

  • 5) xxx and xxxxx (that doesn't cost more than 350 shipped)

    Votes: 6 10.0%
  • Total voters
    60
  • Poll closed .
D

Direfox

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Oct 24, 2004
Messages
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So, I have 330-350 bucks to spend on a CPU and a Video card. No more than that. Rebates are fine, but the total price BEFORE rebates can't exceed 350 bucks with shipping. What I'm looking for is the best combo for games that are out today, i.e. Far Cry 2, Crysis, Fallout 3, etc. Resolution = 22" monitor at 1680 x 1050. I have all the other components besides the CPU and video card, the 775 mobo will accept wolfdale CPU's and it has 4 gigs of ram. It looks like it will be another 8 months after this that I can upgrade again, so I want the combo to last at least to the middle of 2009.

So looking at Newegg, I'm looking at.....

1) E5200 and EVGA 260 (216) GTX

2) E7300 and EVGA 260 (Vanilla) GTX

3) E8400 and 4850 (512 mb)

4) Q9400 and 4650 (512 mb)

5) xxx and xxxxx (that doesn't cost more than 350 shipped) Please post if you have another option.

edit: [H]ELL YES I'm going to overclock!
 
I vote #3. It's a decent processor that I think will run the newest games for a while. Any of thos GPUs will need to be upgraded before the CPU, so might as well just get a good CPU and stick with it.

(2 is a better balance of GPU and CPU though)
 
GN85 said:
I vote #3. It's a decent processor that I think will run the newest games for a while. Any of thos GPUs will need to be upgraded before the CPU, so might as well just get a good CPU and stick with it.

(2 is a better balance of GPU and CPU though)
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I would do #2 myself but your points are quite right.
 
I think that most if not all of todays games are GPU limited and I don't see outgrowing the 7300 any time in the near future.

Good luck with any decision you make.
 
I vote for the E5200 and the 260 GTX 216. I wil take a more powerful GPU over a more powerful CPU any day.
 
E7300 and GTX 260 (192). You can get an EVGA at the egg for $219.99 - great warranty and the option of step up within 90 days.

The basic system would be really good for gaming and a moderate overclock on both would really make it fly. And the nice thing is both components are capable of major overclocks if you should so choose.
 
Q6600( with high OC ) and 4850?

Or maybe not. I guess all of the CPUs there should be able to manage most games with a solid OC, so video card should probably be the priority.
 
Raap said:
Q6600( with high OC ) and 4850?

Or maybe not. I guess all of the CPUs there should be able to manage most games with a solid OC, so video card should probably be the priority.
Click to expand...

I have the Q6600 and love it. *Spec's in Sig* My is running at 3.2 with air (Tuniq Tower) I have a 22" samsung and play every game out at max specs for my LCD 1650x1050
 
I went with #2 as well. You want the best gpu you can get. The difference IMO is the 192 vs 216 core GTX260 is not as big a difference as the extra mb of cache with the E7300 over the E5200.
 
#2 for sure. The 216-shader 260 doesn't give much if anything over the 192-shader version. But the extra cache and clock on the 7300 seems to be worth it over the 5200. Check out Xbit's review - http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/core2duo-e7300-pdc-e5200_2.html#sect0.

Granted the difference will be less at the resolution you plan to game at but the CPU upgrade is a lot more justifiable than the bump from the 192 to 216 shader GPU.

#3 is an interesting choice because the 8400 is a significant upgrade from the 7300 but the 4850 will leave too much performance on the table now. #4 is just, well, lol :)
 
If you prefer ATI cards and/or want to go multi gpu later with that mobo, how about a E7300 + 4850 1GB (or 4870 1GB for just a few bucks more than a 260).
 
three. at 1680 x 1050 a 4850 is perfect. really isn't anything that can't play with it. spend the rest on your cpu. e8400 is a big step up from a 7300. if you want better you can wait a week and get a E8400 and a 4870 512mb for under 350. ATI just dropped the prices on the 4870 512mb. you should be able to find one for under 190 shipped somewhere. That would get you buy the limit.
 
I would pick number 2, the E7200 and GTX260.

One reason is because I think Nvidia's drivers just blows away the primitive crap I'm currently living with from my ATI card.

And it doesn't seem like the 216SP edition of the GTX260 is really that much better than the original from a handful of benchmarks. So I'd take the better E7200 over that E5000 series CPU.
 
Great stuff! Keep it coming. Yes I do plan on overclocking, not bleeding edge but can't leave stuff at stock, thats just sick and wrong.

My last several cards have been ATI and I haven't had any problems with them, but I love the idea of having EVGA's warranty/customer service.

For you guys that voted quad + 4670, think that GPU can handle games at 1680 x 1050? I like the idea of having a stronger CPU and then 8 months down the road upgrading to something better, but not if it makes my games crappy now.
 
Keep in mind that if you wanted to go the quad route a Q6600 would be almost 100$ cheaper than the Q9400 for basically the same performance once OC'ed, which would open up the possibility of getting the 4850 instead of the rather slow 4670.
 
Raap said:
Keep in mind that if you wanted to go the quad route a Q6600 would be almost 100$ cheaper than the Q9400 for basically the same performance once OC'ed, which would open up the possibility of getting the 4850 instead of the rather slow 4670.
Click to expand...

good suggestion.
 
GonzoP said:
Problem there is the 512mb. At 1680x1050 which is the OP's desired res 512mb really limits the ability to crank the AA
Click to expand...

not really, your only pushing 1.76mp there. very few games are going suffer even with AA. if he was at 2.3mp I would agree with you but here I think he would do better to get the faster card rather then the more memory.
 
Valset said:
not really, your only pushing 1.76mp there. very few games are going suffer even with AA. if he was at 2.3mp I would agree with you but here I think he would do better to get the faster card rather then the more memory.
Click to expand...

Could not have said it better myself.
 
Raap said:
Keep in mind that if you wanted to go the quad route a Q6600 would be almost 100$ cheaper than the Q9400 for basically the same performance once OC'ed, which would open up the possibility of getting the 4850 instead of the rather slow 4670.
Click to expand...

+1 :)
 
SpeedyVV said:
5) 7300 and 4870.

$120+$220 = $330.
Click to expand...

That is a good suggestion, didn't realize the 4870's were getting that cheap.

Q6600( with high OC )
Click to expand...

I hadn't even thought about the Q6600... got my mind fixed on the 45 nm CPUs, but thats a good idea also. The problem is, this always happens... for a few dollars more you can get xxxxx. The Q6600 and 4870 would come to $384.
But it never ends, you have to put a limit on it somewere. If money were no problem I would get a Q9550 and a 280 GTX, but thats not in the cards. So far the E7300 and 4870 (512) sounds the best.
 
q6600 + xfx 9800gt w/ free cod4 <= $350 w/ tax+shipping included

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150316

just o/c the cpu and the 9800gt would tide you over till newer gpus come out or the current ones become even cheaper by mid 2009. not top of the line card, but still a great value nonetheless. free cod4 would be icing on the cake, assuming you don't have it already. the q6600 should last you for quite awhile.
 
$165 E8400 + $220 GTX 260-192SP = $385+/- $10.

If you scour Ebay, you could easily get the E84+GTX260 combo for <$350 shipped.
Also, there's the [H] FS/T threads. From your list though(newegg prices), I'd go #2. E73 and 260.
 
I would go for a cheap quad core that you can overclock and whatever GPU you can afford after that.
 
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