Processor choice for small ff gaming pc

[ender56]

Hey Guys,

I was looking through the benchmarks and i need to decide on a proc for my needs. I will be gaming primarily, and i want it to rock on fallout3, WoW, Supreme Commander, and Starcraft 2 when it comes out.

I am building a small form factor PC with the following components:

AeroCool M40 MATX Cube Case - Black
GIGABYTE GA-G31M-ES2L LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX
nvidia 9600gt
4gigs of ram
XP 32bit

I am trying to fina a proc and i am coming up to a a decision:

Core 2 Duo E8600 Dual Core $269.00

or

Core 2 Q9550 Quad Core $319.99 (this is my price cap)

Heat will be a big issue in this case, as you see.

What would you guys suggest?

or scrap the project and use different parts?

ANY input appreciated!!

 

[NMDante]

If only gaming, get the dual core. E8500 or E8600.
Heat "could" be an issue, but it does have room for 3 fans (I'm guess 80mm). I think you're bigger issue could be if the 9600GT can fit in the case, especially if it has power inputs on the end of the card.

 

[Malovane]

Yeah, for gaming would go with the dual.

However, there's not a whole lot of difference between the 8400, 8500, and 8600... priced at $165, $188, and $270 respectively. You should be able to overclock all of them to 4Ghz without too much hassle... so spending 40% more on a chip that's 10% higher clocked than the lower one seems a questionable value.

 

[ender56]

awesome, any other ideas, im new a OCing, is there a good guide on how to do it for those dual intel models?

Also the gcard does have power at the tip, do you think itll fit?

 

[joefriday]

definitely go for the e8xxx series. Instead of overclocking, trying running at stock speeds and undervolting.

 

[quantumsheep]

I would spend less on that CPU and get a better GPU. That 9600GT will struggle with Fallout 3.

 

[jamesgoddard]

Can you wait a month... 35w dual and 65w quad cores a coming - ideal for this setup

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Intel-Planning-35W-and-65W-Quad-Core-Processors-98310.shtml

 

[M3d]

^Ditto. The extra money you pay for the E8600 over the E8500 is not worth it.
Use that and upgrade to an 8800 and you should be good.

 

[Guest]

Get the E8500 and OC it.

 

[emp]

If you want to try to OC, you'll need a capable chipset.

DFI LP JR P45-T2RS LGA 775 Intel P45 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136055

 

[ender56]

alright awesome suggestions!

so changing to:

E8500
AeroCool M40 MATX Cube Case - Black
DFI LP JR P45-T2RS LGA 775 Intel P45 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

would you recommend 8800 gts, gtx, or gt? any specific model (barring not outrageously priced) ?

 

[emp]

HD 4850.

 

[chookman]

http://www.aerocool.us/case/m40/m40-spec.htm

According to that you have 300mm the HD4850 is about 9.5" long... leaving you with about 1.5 inch to play with should be enough...

 

[Malovane]

With considerations of overclocking your 8500, and that case, you might want to lean with a 4850 that has a dual slot cooler. The reference design just pumps heat all over the case.

 

[ender56]

like:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127370

?

 

[Malovane]

like:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127370

?

Yep, that's a very good choice, and not too expensive either.