CPU+MB+VC - Best Value for $360-$455 - New Build

striker25

December 13, 2008 1:00:17 PM

Here are the combination's I'm looking at for 3 cpu's, 3 video cards, and 4 motherboards. I'm looking at best value and bang for buck for next 2 years or so. I pretty much want to stick with an ASUS motherboard but if you think there is one I absolutely have to have that's not ASUS, let me know. All motherboards listed here with do Crossfire or SLI in case I want to add another video card at some point. All CPU's will be overclocked, eventually. Prices are current Newegg.

Price Rebate
$129.99 $15.00 ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45
$159.99 $15.00 SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB
$164.99 $0.00 Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz
$454.97 $30.00 Total - $424.97

$129.99 $15.00 ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45
$199.99 $10.00 HIS Hightech H487F512P Radeon HD 4870 512MB
$119.99 $0.00 Core 2 Duo E7300 Wolfdale 2.66GHz 3MB L2 Cache
$449.97 $25.00 Total - $424.97

$134.99 $0.00 ASUS P5N-D LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI-no eg
$199.99 $30.00 XFX PVT98WYDDU GeForce 9800 GTX+ XXX 512MB
$119.99 $0.00 Core 2 Duo E7300 Wolfdale 2.66GHz 3MB L2 Cache
$454.97 $30.00 Total - $424.97

$149.99 $0.00 ASUS M3A78-T AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX -eg
$159.99 $15.00 SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB
$66.00 $0.00 AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ 2.8GHz Socket AM2 65W BlackEdition
$375.98 $15.00 Total - $360.98

$149.99 $0.00 ASUS M3A78-T AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX -eg
$199.99 $10.00 HIS Hightech H487F512P Radeon HD 4870 512MB
$66.00 $0.00 AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ 2.8GHz Socket AM2 65W BlackEdition
$415.98 $10.00 Total - $405.98

$130.99 $0.00 ASUS M3N72-D AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA nForce 750a SLI - eg
$199.99 $30.00 XFX PVT98WYDDU GeForce 9800 GTX+ XXX 512MB
$66.00 $0.00 AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ 2.8GHz Socket AM2 65W BlackEdition
$396.98 $30.00 Total - $366.98

Which would you go for?

More about : cpu 360 455

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Newf

Motherboard Expert

December 13, 2008 1:25:02 PM

I would take door #1 with the E8400.
But I think that you have hinted that you want a gaming rig. In that case Door #2 makes more sense. OC the E7300 and get the benefit of a better video card.
Avoid the P5N
Don't even consider the M3s.

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Noya

December 13, 2008 1:58:33 PM

I would go with:
- Gigabyte UD3R or UD3P
- Intel e7300 (or even the cheapest 45nm model, e5200 I think)
- ATi 4870 or Nvidia GTX 260
- 4gb memory (or 8gb for Vista 64-bit)

Would be the best gaming rig for the budget.

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ohiou_grad_06

Graphics card Expert

December 13, 2008 2:23:38 PM

Why not consider door #2? Though the chip is not as fast, talking faster video card there, the chip can be overclocked to compensate, and after a while, will the chip make as much difference as the video card anyway?

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striker25

December 15, 2008 10:11:10 AM

I'm considering all of them.

Intel's new chipset requires a new motherboard and ram to run, so it will require a new motherboard, cpu and ram to update to it. That said, the Core2duo's are currently the over clock kings and both of them would last a little longer that the AMD dual core.

One thing about the AMD chipset boards, the ASUS website says that both the M3N72 and M3A78 boards will support the new AM3 chips. That means that I will be able to update the CPU's to the new Phenom when it comes out next year. This fact is what keeps them in consideration since AMD prices their chips lower.

I'm looking at value for now and the future.