E7300 and GTX 260(216) or E8400 and 9800 GTX+?

[jasontsnyder]

I'm building a budget system and I'm spending the time waiting for my tax returns comparing hardware. My first question: If I go with an E7300 and a GTX 260 then my build is $20 more than the E8400 and 9800GTX+. The most intense task my computer will have is gaming. Will the system benefit most from the newer GPU or the newer CPU?

My second question: I could get a Q9300 from microcenter for the same price as the E8400 from newegg, but I've learned that the gaming benefits from dual to quad core are minimal. Which seems to have a better price to performance ratio?

Thanks to anyone who can offer some input, won't be getting my returns for another few weeks so I've got some time to hash it out.

 

[darkside_gamer7]

I wld def go w/ any build that will let you go w/ the 260. Matters way more for that then to go cheaper and get 9800gtx+. If you are gaming you should post ur allowance or an estimate and people will help you alot more plus give you pointers on what to go w/ and probably give you full example builds based on ur budget. Guys here are cool about that.

 

[darkside_gamer7]

Did the same thing and these guys on here were very helpful.

 

[jasontsnyder]

Yeah saw that. Thanks for the quick reply, I think you're right about the 260, makes sense that a graphics card would be better for gaming.

Ok, here's the lot. Sorry if I mess up the links, I'm a forum virgin.

Antec 300(you're all familiar I'm sure) $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

Gigabyte UD3P(a little more future proof with 2 PCI-E slots) $134.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358

MSI HD4870 1GB(inexpensive, mail-in-rebate) $234.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127397

PC Power and Cooling Silencer 500w(right connectors this time?) $74.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703015

Core Duo E7400(I'm not much of an overclocker) $119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115132

Patriot DDR2(looked so good in the Tom's Ram-Off) $52.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220293

Western Digital 80gig(I don't need a lot of space, just a SATA drive) $33.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136195

ACER 22inch LCD(Might pick up something locally though) $169.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009145

LG DVD-ROM(SATA again, though I might just use my old IDE one) $24.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152

Grand total of $906.87, which is a little steep, but I can swing it. I might leave off the DVD ROM and the monitor, I don't like the idea of dead pixels.

 

[Mrbumbum]

e7400 is cheaper and higher stock clock
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115206&Tpk=e7400

Your not overclocking but your getting the more expensive p45 board. I would knock that down to a GA-EP45-UD3R or
GA-EP45-UD3P or Asus P5Q Pro or even an Asrock P45XE

Asrock $95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157143

p5q pro $125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299

GA-EP45-UD3R $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128359

GA-EP45-UD3P $135
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358

I would reccomend the PC Power & Cooling 750watt because its only $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341011


If you end up going with a crossfire board and the 750watt power supply get a 4870 1gb over the gtx 260
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801

 

[WR2]

You can get a PC Power & Cooling Silencer 500W PSU for $75 with free shipping and a $15 rebate
The Antec Earthwatts 430 doesn't have free shipping at the moment.
Final cost after taxes, shipping and rebates (shipping to my zip code)
Antec Earthwatts 430 $84.31
PC P&C Silencer 500 $65.43

 

[darkside_gamer7]

No good on the psu my friend. Ur gpu needs 2 6-pin connectors.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341011

Take this brother for just 20 more after mail in rebate. Ltl more power for later and plenty good for the Gpu so you no struggle. Plus has good connections for Gpus. and has 2 more if you decide to sli later or whatever. Sata dvd drives are better and if you decide to build another and better game build then you can carry it over plus it works better w/ this psu. Recent mobos don't carry ide.

 

[darkside_gamer7]

Or what w2 said. You will have to ugrade PSU later if you get another card or are upgrading.

 

[JNC84]

No good on the psu my friend. Ur gpu needs 2 6-pin connectors.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341011

Take this brother for just 20 more after mail in rebate. Ltl more power for later and plenty good for the Gpu so you no struggle. Plus has good connections for Gpus. and has 2 more if you decide to sli later or whatever. Sata dvd drives are better and if you decide to build another and better game build then you can carry it over plus it works better w/ this psu. Recent mobos don't carry ide.

+1

 

[jasontsnyder]

Hey thanks!

I had that power supply(the PC Power and Cooling one) on my wish list for like a week before I found an online power supply calculator (http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp) and realized that I pull less than 300w. I didn't notice the GPU connectors though, thanks!

I was wondering about the E7400 and it's lower price, and I so I kinda went with the old you-get-what-you-pay-for, a safe bet when you don't know what you're dealing with. It's a better CPU for less money?

I guess I should go with the Gigabyte motherboard, $20 cheaper and such solid recommendations from you folk. So the difference is the UD3R has one PCI-E and the UD3P has the crossfire/sli option?

I'm going to edit my post and my newegg wish list.

Thanks!

 

[Mrbumbum]

any chipset other then x58 or nvidia chipsets will only support crossfire, assuming it has 2 pci e 16 slots.

 

[jasontsnyder]

I was wondering about that. I've had some bad experiences with ATI in the past, bad drivers and such, and I've been leaning towards the 260's. It seems like It would be wise for me to go with the ATI cards though, if my board only supports crossfire. What are your experiences with ATI? all good drivers, quality cards, that sort of thing?

Anyways, I've edited my post with the build on it, you guys have saved me $10 immediately, and like $100 bucks with mir's. Thanks! I'm going to go look at the Tom's articles for GPU's and try to pick an ATI card.

 

[darkside_gamer7]

I'm wanting a HIS 4870 1gb but I haven't fully decided on my build I'm doing at the moment.

 

[darkside_gamer7]

Make sure man though if you go the HD 4870 route or crossfire in general for future then get the 750 watt. That 500 watt won't do it.

 

[WR2]

What size / resolution monitor will you be using?
The 4870/1GB and GTX 260/216 are so close in price and performance it really doesnt matter which you choose.

edit; OK 22" and 1680x1050 res and for that monitor and any smaller monitor you won't be needed a dual video card setup. A single GTX 260 or 4870 should do just fine.

Here is an option might help you get closer to also taking the new monitor.
A single video card only requires one PCI-e x16 slot. GIGABYTE GA-EP43-UD3L $85
I'm firmly in the "single video card upgrade" camp vs upgrading by adding a 2nd, older model video card.

 

[WR2]

And yes, the PC P&C Silencer 500 PSU has the right number and type of PCI-e power connectors; 1x 6pin and 1x 6+2pin

 

[jasontsnyder]

The monitor is 22 inches and has a recommended resolution of 1680 x 1050.

As far as the PSU goes darkside_gamer, are you sure that it won't support 2 4870's? I ran the PSU test I listed and even and all components %100 and CPU %100 the max watts used were 458. Seems like it would hold up. I know PSU's are the one thing you don't really want to mess around with, but is the extra wattage really necessary?

 

[jasontsnyder]

thanks WR2, that's what I wanted to know.

 

[WR2]

Honestly, 2x 4870s on a 22" monitor are overkill.
And for future upgrading I think a next gen video card and the 500W PC P&C PSU will still be a very good match.

 

[jasontsnyder]

Awesome. I'm sooooo excited, I haven't been able to be irresponsible and spend this kind of money on something not essential(car, moving, etc.) in about 6 years.

Thanks so much guys, you've all been a huge help, now my instant costs are down to $906.87 and my mir's are $85! if I drop the DVD ROM I'm actually down in the $700's.

What do you guys think about performance? Far Cry 2? Fallout 3? Any other good games you guys know about? Will I be running high settings at my recommended resolution?

One other thought, is it worth it to pick up vista 64 or should I stick with xp or xp 64 until windows 7 pokes its head out?

Thanks again!

 

[darkside_gamer7]

Wld stay where you are unless you go with a better build later. I said the PSU wld be bad because of the connections and yes the 2 hd 4870s is overkill right now unless you want max settings on everything and good AA and AF.

 

[jasontsnyder]

Thanks man!

 

[darkside_gamer7]

Quad core is heavily reccomended for higher settings though. But you shld get some good stuff from what you are getting. Crysis is a good graphic oriented game if you wanna test. Fallout 3 is good. Like far cry 2 as well. If you like first person shooters then I wld try bioshock for fun. It's a great game and doesn't demand alot of graphics. Halflife 2 is a great game too but like bioshock not as demanding on graphics as the other 3 top games. But that 4870 will runem at full and all settings at max. Wait for the new crysis bundle before you get it. will have the first + warhead and the new one. fallout 3 is a great starter.