I am trying to keep a budget of under $600 without a monitor for a new PC.
I’m not a gamer, but I do consider myself a power user. I do some desktop publishing and the PC will also be used from time to time for up to 1080P video playback.
I do not want on board graphics only
Right now the cheapest combo I have found is a G31 chipset mobo with a E5700 and a Radeon 4350. What I’d really like is P43 chipset with an E8500 and Radeon 4770.
My main issue is the CPU. I’d really like an Intel E8400(6MB L2, 3GHz, 1333FSB)
, but that tends to put me out of budget. Using the (2.66GHz,3M,1066MHz,FSB) with the G31 keeps me in budget
1. I’ve read as many benchmarks as I could. Is there any real-world difference between the 2 processors?
2. Does the L2 and FSB really make that much of a difference
3. I’ve read a lot about overclocking the 7500.
a. How is the G31 chipset for that task?
b. Would that totally eliminate the reason for questions 1 and 2?
I know that there is less than $100 difference in what I’m asking, but at $600, that’s a big difference
Thanks,
Craig
I’m not a gamer, but I do consider myself a power user. I do some desktop publishing and the PC will also be used from time to time for up to 1080P video playback.
I do not want on board graphics only
Right now the cheapest combo I have found is a G31 chipset mobo with a E5700 and a Radeon 4350. What I’d really like is P43 chipset with an E8500 and Radeon 4770.
My main issue is the CPU. I’d really like an Intel E8400(6MB L2, 3GHz, 1333FSB)
, but that tends to put me out of budget. Using the (2.66GHz,3M,1066MHz,FSB) with the G31 keeps me in budget
1. I’ve read as many benchmarks as I could. Is there any real-world difference between the 2 processors?
2. Does the L2 and FSB really make that much of a difference
3. I’ve read a lot about overclocking the 7500.
a. How is the G31 chipset for that task?
b. Would that totally eliminate the reason for questions 1 and 2?
I know that there is less than $100 difference in what I’m asking, but at $600, that’s a big difference
Thanks,
Craig