E8500 vs. Q6600

[Guest]

I'm looking to build the best possible gaming oriented rig for Crysis Warhead on very high to run on an HD 22" monitor as well as in the future Diablo III and WotLK maxed out. I'm not sure if I should take the more ghz with the E8500 or take the quad. They are the exact same price right now on newegg.com. 189.99


Here is what I plan on buying:
Case:
RAIDMAX AZTEC ATX-619WU Black/ Blue 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case - Retail (74.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156191

Processor:
????

Motherboard:
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail (126.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128344

GPU:
VisionTek 900250 Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail (539.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129114

Memory:
OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail (127.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227289

HDD:
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31000340AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM (139.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148274

PSU:
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail (129.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

CD/DVD Burner:
LG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner w/ SecurDisc Tech Black SATA Model GH20NS15 - OEM (24.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136149

Cooling:
ZEROtherm ZEN FZ120 120mm CPU Cooler - Retail (39.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835887016
Retention Bracket: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019

Monitor:
HP w2207h Black 22" 5ms HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 Built in Speakers - Retail (329.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824176091

Speakers:
Logitech S-220 17 Watts 2.1 Multimedia Speaker System - OEM (20.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121014

Mouse:
Logitech G5 2-Tone 7 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Laser 2000 dpi Mouse - Retail (49.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104076

Keyboard:
Logitech G15 2-Tone 104 Normal Keys 29 Function Keys USB Wired Standard Gaming Keyboard - Retail (89.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126034

OP: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - OEM

$1,867.86

Compatibility? Future-'resistant'?

 

[Jake_Barnes]

This topic has been moved from the section CPU-Components to section Homebuilt Systems by Jake_Barnes

 

[adreen]

impossible to be future proof with comp tech...but especially since i7 is around the corner and will make everything out right now regarding cpu/mobo/ram obsolete with no upgrade paths...
bad time to go all out imo.

 

[MrCommunistGen]

From what I read because of cache architecture changes i7 won't really provide much for gamers. I'd say get the dual core.

-mcg

 

[lunyone]

Of the 2 you mentioned, the e8500 would be the better gaming CPU right now. The quad core might have better applications later when games take advantage of the extra cores, but who knows when a majority of games will do that???
Other suggestions:
Case - $78 shipped!!! One of the better cases out there. The Raidmax you selected has $25 in shipping, so the MIR will cover that, so were basically at the same price.
Cooler Master 690 without Power Supply - RC-690-KKN1-GP
or
get the Antec 900 case - $99 shipped!
Antec Nine Hundred Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

You will do just fine with the stock CPU HSF, but if you want cooler and quieter, than get this:
CPU HSF - $41 shipped! One of the best CPU HSF's you can get right now!
XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 heat-pipe direct touch w/ aluminum alloys cooler for amd (socket 754/939/am2) & intel (socket 775) processors
Frosty Tech's review

PSU - $104 - $20 MIR = $84!!! Better price than newegg's price. Still the same PSU that you selected: Corsair tx 750w PSU!! Good choice here!
Corsair TX 750W ATX 12V Power Supply

 

[Maziar]

A guru who is in this forum told me something that i never forget
U can always OC a QUADCORE but i cant add cores to a Dual Core CPU

 

[kelfen]

VisionTek 900250 Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail (539.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814129114

Stick with ATI because dioblo 3 is using havok pyhisic engine and ATI= havok, Nividia=agiea.. I'm so jelous, I so want that card
I can't spell for **** in the morning sry

 

[Guest]

Don't you think I should wait another year before I get the i7 processor? It requires the use of DDR3 memory as well as an X35 Mobo. It's a bit expensive for not too big (right now it seems) of an upgrade. Wouldn't it be better for me to wait a year and then upgrade as the prices are garaunteed to go down by then.

 

[wgdz]

i7 might be good, but thing is no one really knows yet until it actually comes out. Until now it will be speculation for the most part. Though you won't go wrong to wait it out if you have a decent enough rig to last till Q1 of next yr.

 

[Craxbax]

DX 11 and Win 7 will usher in the advent of multithreaded rendering in games. This should be Q2/3. So at that point the newest and hotest games should start taking advantage of this technology. All the your current favorites will still favor the dual cores however. Intel and Microsoft have decided which way the market will go so why fight it.

 

[Cranky1970]

I would get the 8500 over the Quad. If you use more apps that are multithreaded get the quad.

 

[Starmonger]

Im also asking this same question as I'm thinking of getting either of these processors instead of my e6600. Also looking for a new ddr2 mobo as my 965p-ds3 has just broken, if anyone can suggest one?

 

[Starmonger]

look at this: http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=770&p=3

it makes me think the quad is deffinatly the way to go

 

[Starmonger]

taken from the conclusion:

"There were certainly a number of interesting results recorded when testing such a large range of processors with the Radeon HD 4870 X2. Perhaps the most interesting thing that we have noticed is how much faster the Core 2 Quad processors were when compared to the Core 2 Duo’s, this is not something that we have really seen before"

 

[jkflipflop98]

Crysis uses 4 cores. I assume warhead does as well.

Go for the q6600 and clock that sucker to 3.0 - 3.2. You'll be golden until it's time for a nehalem rig.