Which is the better gaming system?

[rolliejoe]

Hello, I have two possible gaming systems and I'd like to know whether one is significantly better than the other, or if they are both about the same.

System 1: 1.86ghz core 2 duo with a 8800 GT 512 MB video card, 5 GB ram, win7 64 bit
System 2: 2.33ghz core 2 duo with a 520 GT 1GB video card, 5GB ram, win7 64 bit

I know neither system is particularly good, but I don't have any money to spend on computer upgrades so I have to make do with one of them. Also, I can't put the 8800 into the 2.33 ghz machine because of some extremely odd problem where the PCIe slot is not providing full power or something (but the 520 works just fine with it).

Is one of these systems much better than the other for gaming? Or are they close, like within 10-15% of each other? Thanks in advance.

 

[smokincola]

System 1: 1.86ghz core 2 duo with a 8800 GT 512 MB video card, 5 GB ram, win7 64 bit
System 2: 2.33ghz core 2 duo with a 520 GT 1GB video card, 5GB ram, win7 64 bit

I'd say system No.2 though looking at this http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=544&card2=650
there doesn't seem to be much in it with the graphics cards but hey ho always go with the extra texture memory. Also the extra cpu speed from 1.86 to 2.33 should give you a bit more grunt/power. After that I guess overclocking forums are your friend

 

[Brett928S2]

Hi

System 2...

All the best Brett

 

[smokincola]

Oops just read the graphics card performance stats properly and the memory bandwidth, pixel and texture fill rate numbers are swinging WAAAAAAAY over to the 8800GT.

I'd say if you can overclock the 1.86 cpu to over 2Ghz I'd go with system 1. Apart from core clock and shader clock the 8800GT kicks the 520's ass ! So basically those clock advantages count for nothing.

So to clarify...Cola has come to his senses finally and his final answer is SYSTEM No.1

Shame you can't put the 8800GT into the 2nd system though, I'm guessing if you have it running in one system it's not that you've accidentally forgotten to hook up aux power as well as slot power. Then again what size PSU are you running ? Maybe the power draw of the 8800 is considerably higher than the 520 ?

 

[rolliejoe]

Thanks for the replies so far guys. So far responses on this and another gaming forum have been about 50/50 between the systems though! One other bit of info, I'll be running things at 1280x1024 if that matters.

@smokin - Unfortunately overclocking the 1.86 isn't really an option for me, being beyond my PC skill. Also all the parts are just standard gateway things so I'm sure the cooling system/mobo/etc. aren't good for overclocking. Without any overclocking involved is your vote still system 1?

As to the 8800 in the 2.33ghz system, that's a long story but the short answer is: the PCIe slot in the 2.33ghz machine is very slightly broken somehow. It supports low power cards but not high power ones, even though the PSU is a 600w with 40+ amp on the 12v line. If you want the full story its at:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/349663-33-graphics-cards-crazy

 

[smokincola]

In that case, yeah my vote goes with system number 1/One as that 8800GT has waaaay better stats than the 520 (even though the 520 is DX11 and the 8800GT is DX10 but really how many games use DX11 ?). Shame about the texture memory size but having only just recently upgraded to a 1GB graphics card I still think 512MB is viable.

So 'SYSTEM No.1'

 

[wr6133]

System 1 as the GPU has more grunt. Though with some games the low VRAM may be a sore spot. As the mobo 'sPCIe works on it though you can always trawl Ebay snag a 2nd hand 550ti for chump change in the future.

 

[olin9]

If the MB supports the 2.33 CPU , put it in number 1.

Specs?

 

[salenadsouza05]

I think Xbox360 is the best gaming system ever for playing games......I have played so many games on this System and battlefield is mine favorite Xbox Game.....