CPU or Video card

[sleeeper]

I am building a budget PC for a friend that wants to do 3D graphics. Is it better to have a faster CPU or Graphics Card?

 

[Snorkius]

Graphics.

<b>wooooow <font color=red> Killer Klowns </font color=red> ... from <font color=blue>outer space</font color=blue>... HOLY SH¡T!</b>

 

[P4Man]

Is it better to have a better engine or suspension ?
The answer: its best to have balance. its just as stupid to match a 9800XT with a Duron as it is to spend money on a P43.2C with a FX5200 (for gaming)

= The views stated herein are my personal views, and not necessarily the views of my wife. =

 

[endyen]

What do you mean by 3D graphics? What software does your friend use? What is the staring point?

 

[Snorkius]

CPU

<b>wooooow <font color=red> Killer Klowns </font color=red> ... from <font color=blue>outer space</font color=blue>... HOLY SH¡T!</b>

 

[BigMac]

sleeepers silly question

I am building a budget PC for a friend that wants to do 3D graphics. Is it better to have a faster CPU or Graphics Card?

snorkius' first answer

Graphics.

snorkius' second answer

CPU

LOL you are such a great help snorkius.

You must be an "old hand" to get away with this kind of humor but I like it.


ps sleeeper: why is it a silly question? Because it's impossible to answer without some proper context information.


BigMac

<A HREF="http://www.p3int.com/product_center_NWO_The_Story.asp" target="_new">New World Order</A>

 

[TheRod]

We need more details! A budget PC for gaming or not?

If your friend wants to play today's and future games, you can't build a "budget" PC that will perform well in games.

I think the minimum for gaming (I include decent performance in upcoming games) is XP2400+/XP2500+ or P4C 2.4GHz with a Radeon 9600 PRO/XT or FX5700.

So basically, I would say it's better to buy a GOOD video card with an average CPU. And by the way, XP2400+ and P4C 2.4 GHz are not bad at all in games.

I have an XP2400+ with a Radeon 8500 LE 128 Megs and I run most of today's games not so badly. Of course, I would really like to have a Radeon 9600 PRO/XT or FX5700... But, I wait for Doom 3 and HL2 to buy a new video card.

--
Would you buy a GPS enabled soap bar?

 

[Snorkius]

...it's impossible to answer without some proper context information

.... silly questions deserve silly answers...

<b>wooooow <font color=red> Killer Klowns </font color=red> ... from <font color=blue>outer space</font color=blue>... HOLY SH¡T!</b>

 

[blackphoenix77]

I think graphics, but CPU is good too. Graphics card is important, as well the CPU. If you're gonna pick one, either get the CPU or Graphics card.

My Rig:
AthlonXP 2000+ 1.677ghz
GeForce Verto FX5200 128mb DDR
Maxtor 7200RPM 80GB, Stock 40gb
Kingston 384MB DDR
Cendyne 52x24x52 CD-RW
Lite-On 4x DVD-RW
Go EMachines...

 

[addiarmadar]

AGP is first priority

Barton 2500+ @ 2200mhz (10x220 vcore @ 1.8)
Asus A7N8X Dlx 440 FSB
1gb Geil GD pc3500 Dual Channel (2-3-3-6)
Segata 80gb SATA 8.5ms seek
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro(420/720)

 

[sleeeper]

I did not realize my post was so vague. My friend is an artist and wants to try his hand in 3D graphics. I am unsure of the software but talking to coworkers maybe stuff like 3D studio max, lightwave, or bryce. Basically, he wanted a faster computer built but for as little money possible. I am guessing integrated video is out of the question so is it better to have a DX9 graphics card or faster than 2500+ processor?

 

[Carnivore]

This newly posted thread may answer some of your CPU questions.

http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=168861#168861

 

[redface]

I think you need both.
but put more money into the CPU.
P4C in this case.

A fine day!

 

[FUDDER]

> Is it better to have a faster CPU or Graphics Card?

Neiter really matters, its all a question of having the perfect mouse ! Overclock the mouse refresh rate to 180 Hz and its precission to 1600 dpi, and you'll have a killer workstation !

I am severly limited in what my mind can perceive.