New gaming machine - which way to go?

[doakwolf]

Hi all,

I'm waiting for Operation Flashpoint (2): Dragon Rising to be released and I've decided to build a new PC so I can play it (loved the original).

I had decided on a basic system consisting of (or similar to) the below (cost ~$1800 AUD):
Intel E8400 or Q9550 (OCd)
Asus P5Q-E (already purchased but can be sold again as I got it very cheap)
HD4870 or a 4870X2 (awaiting specs/bench's for the game to see if the X2 will be required - will push price up another $300)
4-8Gb DDR2 800
22" LCD (I want to be able to run the game at 1920x1080 at high detail)

Anyway, today I started reading about i7s... I hadn't even thought about it due to my limited budget. I've calculated the price difference will be about $400AUD (between the Intel 775 system and an i7 system - DDR3 and MoBo taken into consideration).

Main reason for the post is to ask about how these different CPUs get along with the different GPUs. I read that if I'm going to be using a single GPU that I should consider a Dual core CPU but if I'm wanting to get into CrossfireX I should go i7. Since I'm strongly considering the 4870X2 (Crossfire on a single card), I'd hate to pay that much for a great GPU and only bottleneck it with an unworthy CPU.

Can anyone shed any light on the way that the different CPUs work with different GPUs?

Cheers,
Doak.

 

[sharken]

Q

 

[fullmetall]

The E8400/E8500 will work fine with the GPU, 4780 1gb runs anything, the 4870x2 most games will only utilize one card, but, more of the newer games could do both.

If this is just for "gaming" E8500 will do just the thing you need.

If not, then, i7 would be the better choice. Gaming/multitask subjects.

Also, another choice to get rid of the LGA775 way,(even though the Dual core out beats the AM3 chipsets) theres also the AM3 x3 720be and the x4 940.

 

[doakwolf]

Thanks FullMetall.

I suppose it's a matter of waiting for game specs/requirements to be released by Codemasters so I can make the right choice. My friends' just ordered an insane i7 rig so I'm quite jealous and might also find some 'extra budget'.

 

[Upendra09]

You sould also use quad core if it isn't too much, it is the next best thing to an i7 since more and more games are coming out that use four cores. So quad core could help, i would recommend the Q6800 and OC it a bit.

 

[sharken]

or get i7 if you want the non jealousy and Sh*t eating grin on your face, dont tell yourself I cant afford, just ask yourself, "what do i need to do to afford it" on the positive side...

 

[fullmetall]

Whats $1800 AUD?

you can build a i7 in US for $1200 no problem.

x4 940 for $900

x3 720be for $700-$800

E8500 can differ from $700 and up on a good rig.

I wouldn't go for quads unless its a Q6600 or Q8200 on lga 775, anything else, i would rather go i7core.

 

[doakwolf]

An i7 machine here will cost about $2300-2500AUD. It's just the way it is here - we always pay more than you guys over in the USA. It's never just a matter of working out the exchange rates, unfortunately.

 

[sharken]

well do you have to buy it as soon as possible? cause if i had close to enough for best, might as well save for rest, or figure out how to get it, no regrets....

 

[dannyboy33]

I honestly wouldn't get anything in the LGA 775 socket, it's kind of a dead end. I had to make the same decision as you just a couple of days ago. Either go with the i7 and you will be set for a good couple of years or go with the AMD AM3 socket which is just starting (x3 720 be or x4 955 reccomended) and you will be able to upgrade to newer cpu's down the line.

 

[doakwolf]

Hmm, I've just done a new quote and found I can do the i7 system for about $2200. That will be with a HIS IceQ 4870 (pre OCd) so I'm hoping that will be enough to play this new game I'm wanting because I won't be able to even consider a 4870X2.

I'll have to look into how much I can sell my Socket 775 MoBo for (which I bought last week) and if I can get most of my money back, I think you guys have convinced me to spend the little bit extra now (and just not eat for a few months!) and go with i7.

Thanks to all

 

[sharken]

lol, you wont be disappointed, you got best from beginning, no regrets, no what ifs, you would only get that if you bought Generic brand X cpu

 

[fullmetall]

X4 955 is not a recommended buy. 955 is a sploof, its a higher voltage overclocked 940 and gets not much more performance, costs $250 compared to the x4 940.

if $2300 aud is about a $1200 usa then, $1800 would be around $600-$700 u.s.

Get either a x3 720be build or a E8500 build, just because lga 775 is dead, doesn't mean it's not a good chip. E8500 outbeats any quad and amd in gaming for dual processing games.

 

[dannyboy33]

X4 955 is not a recommended buy. 955 is a sploof, its a higher voltage overclocked 940 and gets not much more performance, costs $250 compared to the x4 940.

if $2300 aud is about a $1200 usa then, $1800 would be around $600-$700 u.s.

Get either a x3 720be build or a E8500 build, just because lga 775 is dead, doesn't mean it's not a good chip. E8500 outbeats any quad and amd in gaming for dual processing games.

It might beat them now, but for how much longer? Soon it will start to fall behind as games will use more cores. Think about the future not just now.

 

[Helloworld_98]

FM that quote is wrong, the 720 is pretty much equal to all the e8xxx series, you get the extra core too which is a boost, maybe even another after that.

but I agree, a 955 is pointless, especially in the UK where the 940 is £50 less.

 

[fullmetall]

How can u get future proof with a $700-$800..

only options are the x3 720 which is AM3 and thats more future or the lga 775.

 

[doakwolf]

I'm a little confused.. I don't really know about AMD chips and have decided to go with Intel.

So here are the two possibles I'm considering:

P45:
Asus P5Q-E (P45)
Intel Q9550
8Gb DDR2 800
HD4870 OCd
$1900AUD

X58:
Asus P6T Deluxe V2 (X58)
Intel i7 920
6Gb DDR3 1600
HD4870 OCd
$2200AUD

I've now decided I'm happy to pay the extra for the i7 rig. But, is it worth it $300 extra? The ONLY reason I'm considering i7 is so that 24-36 months down the track when I'm starting to think my machine is too slow, I can throw a new CPU into it and a second HD4870 (xfire) as a 'simple' upgrade. Hence my thinking the i7 is more future proof.

Thoughts?

Thanks to all for your help,
Doak.

 

[fullmetall]

which type of ram is the 1600? and your optical drive and hdd + PSU?

 

[doakwolf]

I have already bought OCZ GameXStream 850w PSU (crossfire ready). HDD will be just a standard SATA2 drive. Can't afford WD raptor.

RAM: Corsair TR3X6G1600C8 6GB (3x 2GB) PC-12800 (1600MHz)

Optical not important. Just a standard DVD writer for now. Don't need Blu Ray.

 

[doakwolf]

Well my new Asus P6T Deluxe arrived yesterday

My boss paid me a $3200 bonus yesterday so I found some extra budget for an i7 rig.

Very happy and now just deciding which way to go GPU wise.

Doak.