HELP TO CHOOSE MOBO + CPU (specific)

Dear All,

I have to choose between a couple of INTEL CPUs and Motherboards quickly.

requirements

just general to little above, an effecient system, sometimes gaming, video editing, music, internet, Photo softwares....

PCI express Video Card + good sound card -----> UPGRADE IN FUTURE, NOT NEAR. for right now will use the one integrated in board.

CPU upgrade ----> MAY BE IN FAR FUTURE


[b]CPUs :[/b]

INTEL CORE 2 DUO E8400 3.0Ghz (6MB CACHE - 1333Mhz FSB)
http://ark.intel.com/cpu.aspx?groupId=33910


INTEL CORE 2 DUO E8500 3.16Ghz (6MB CACHE - 1333Mhz FSB)
http://processorfinder.intel.com/d [...] Spec=SLAPK


INTEL CORE 2 QUAD Q8300 2.5Ghz (4MB CACHE - 1333Mhz FSB)
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx? [...] 3+MHz+FSB)



INTEL CORE 2 QUAD Q8400 2.66Ghz (4MB CACHE - 1333Mhz FSB)
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=38512


INTEL CORE 2 QUAD Q9400 2.66Ghz (6MB CACHE - 1333Mhz FSB)
http://processorfinder.intel.com/d [...] Spec=SLB6B





Motherboards:

INTEL DG41RQ (LGA775-SND+AGP+GIGA LAN-1333MHZ FSB) PCX SLOT
http://www.intel.com/products/desk [...] erview.htm



INTEL DG41TY (LGA775-SND+AGP+GIGA LAN + DUAL DISPLAY-1333MHZ FSB) PCX SLOT
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx? [...] ard+DG41TY




INTEL DG43NB (LGA775-SND+AGP+GIGA LAN-1333MHZ FSB) PCX SLOT
http://www.intel.com/products/desk [...] erview.htm



QUESTIONS FOR MY CASE:

Q.1 roughly, 'core 2 duo 3.0Ghz' price approx matching core 2 quad 2.5ghz , so
CORE 2 DUO ---- OR ---- CORE 2 QUAD ?

Q.2 CORE 2 QUAD 4MB CACHE Vs CORE 2 QUAD 6MB CACHE ? which will perform better ?


Q.3 In motherboards, CHIPSET G41 Vs G43 which will perform better ?
( considering same CPU for both , keeping all other things RAM etc... same) Higher version will perform better?


Q.4 considering above motherboards, should I give priority to MAX Upgradable amount of RAM --- OR ---- PCIx versions --- OR ---- CHIPSET ver ?

DG43NB
2 slots DDR2 Max upto 4GB
CHIPSET G43

D41TY
2 slots DDR2 Max upto 8GB
CHIPSET G41
Dual Display Output VGA + DVI-D


DVI-D --- any importance ( currently I not have a monitor for it ) ?


Please reply

or get the intel i5

thanks a lot, but here in my locality AMD is not 'go n get'

only few specific AMD flavoures available.

so I have to go for INTEL.



I did explrored AMD supported boards and CPUs
Yes they are offering much more in same price as INTEL


But for my case, I have to be with INTEL

so what you suggest now?

I wouldn't even mess with LGA 775 stuff anymore. Get yourself one of the LGA 1156 processors. If you have a microcenter nearby, you can get an i7 860 for $229 or i5 750 for $160. Whatever you do, avoid AMD. Some have argued that AMD is better performance for the dollar, but with the release of the Lynnfields, Intel has taken that away from AMD. The Phenom II X4 965 ($245) doesn't even come close to out performing the i7 860 ($229). Ram and motherboards cost about the same for both platforms.