Need help deciding between two systems.

[smn_1010]

guys i seriuosly need advice which system to buy, and here are the details:

option 1:
Acer Vetron M480G
Core 2 Quad Q8300 @ 2.5GHz
4MB L2 Cache / 1333
4GB DDR 3
1.0 TB HDD
1 PCI X 16


Option 2:
HP Compaq 8000 Elite
Core 2 Quad Q9550 @ 2.83GHz
12MB L2 Cache / 1333
2GB DDR 3 / upgradable to 16GB DDR3
250GB HDD
I think it has 2 PCI X 16 which gives the option to SLI


1- I play games at 1440x900
2- I have a palit 9600GT and plan on keeping it until i have the money to upgrade to GTX 260.
2- option 1 comes with a 19 inch screen (but considered irrelevant as i already have the exact same screen)
3- option 2 is more expensive - around $70

do i sacrifice more RAM and HDD for a better CPU, is it worth it??

Usage: Gaming: latest games such as BF Bad company 2, AC2, Mass effect 2 and Splinter Cell: Conviction and a lot of the upcoming games.

Please help me decide which of these two to purchase, and please do not suggest the i5 or anything like that coz it's way above my budget.

Thanks

 

[flaminggerbil]

Buy option one, sell the screen, get a 5850 instead of a GTX260 (which I'm fairly sure are out of production anyway).

 

[smn_1010]

i'm kinda stuck with Nvidia as i can't find any decent ATI cards in the market in my country...

 

[Misko195]

take second and buy 2gb DDR, btw take 5770 instead GTX260

 

[smn_1010]

but that means i have to pay additional money to get the 2GB on top of the $70. which will eat through my savings for a new GPU.....

again ATI is not an option, the best ATI card i could find here is a very old and crappy one....

 

[unknown_13]

Get the first one. Q8300 isn't bad. It's a good CPU, plus you won't have to pay for additional 2GB DDR3 RAM.

 

[Misko195]

Second one have better CPU, really better. You can buy this one and when you have money buy 2gb ram more.

Think good, you need 1tb HDD?

Ok, GTX260 is good card. But every next game will be make with DX11 and pixel shader ver.5.0 support.

 

[unknown_13]

Second one have better CPU, really better. You can buy this one and when you have money buy 2gb ram more.

Think good, you need 1tb HDD?

Ok, GTX260 is good card. But every next game will be make with DX11 and pixel shader ver.5.0 support.

Well 2GB is enough but not for heavy multitasking and gaming. If it'll suit his needs, OK then...

At the moment the only game that doesn't support DX9 is Just Cause 2. It'll be a while 'till games start to be DX11 only, when DX12 shows up, prolly in 3 years or so.

If in the place OP lives there are crappy and old ATI cards, then the GTX 260 is OK. If there were 5000 cards, then a 5770 would have been better.

 

[smn_1010]

ok, so in option 1 i'm actually paying for that huge space (which i don't really need), and in option 2 i'm paying for better performance, i see it now...thnxs

and sure i will get extra RAM soon, also it will allow me to SLI with 2 PCI slots as opposed to only one....

off-topic question: to do SLI, i know the cards should be the same model, but should they also be from the same maker?, for example i will need the other GPU to also be Palit 9600gt, or will any 9600gt card do? even with different memory, say 1 GB while i currently have 512 MB??

 

[unknown_13]

ok, so in option 1 i'm actually paying for that huge space (which i don't really need), and in option 2 i'm paying for better performance, i see it now...thnxs

and sure i will get extra RAM soon, also it will allow me to SLI with 2 PCI slots as opposed to only one....

off-topic question: to do SLI, i know the cards should be the same model, but should they also be from the same maker?, for example i will need the other GPU to also be Palit 9600gt, or will any 9600gt card do? even with different memory, say 1 GB while i currently have 512 MB??

If you'll get extra RAM, then go for option 2.

The cards need to be twins. Same maker, same GPU, same amount and type of RAM

 

[smn_1010]

If you'll get extra RAM, then go for option 2.

The cards need to be twins. Same maker, same GPU, same amount and type of RAM

ok i have decided that option 2 is better, and WOW thanks for clearing out that SLI thing coz today i was this close to buying a xfx 9600gt in preparation for SLI,, thnx again!

 

[Misko195]

You can go in Crossfire with another GPU (how 5850+5870), for SLI i don't know.
But is highly recommendet to be same GPU and brend.

If you want better performances go for option 2, and when you have money just buy 2Gb more Ram. You allways can upgrade system with more Ram.

GTX260 is a good card, go on youtube, with this card you will be able play most game in max. Just buy +2gb.

Good luck with new sys

 

[unknown_13]

Yes for Xfire it's a little different as Misko195 said.

A Q9550, 2GB DDR3 ( you'll add 2 more GB, won't you? ) and a GTX 260. For that low 14x9 res, it's going to be a great PC for the years to come. Even if you buy a monitor with 1080p res, you are still going to play upcoming games with high ( for those very, very demanding some settings on medium) settings. For current res. , every game at MAX.
Have good days with that PC

 

[smn_1010]

thanks for helping me decide

 

[unknown_13]

np mate

 

[flaminggerbil]

Are you sure you can get hold of a 260 though? I was sure they'd stopped making them...

It's a solid card, I've got an XFX one myself.

 

[Misko195]

Yes XFX and MSI is a very good brend. Take MSI if you think to overclock (have excellent cooling system, with 4 or 5 heat pipe and two fans) otherwise take XFX.