Decent gaming CPU

[Pl8er 5,000+ posts]

Because I am a noob and dont want to have to even mess with overclocking. I simply want to assemble it and just make sure it stays dust clean and cool.


Over my head.

Yes no more then 150-160 for the power supply, or I have to skimp on something else.

I really dont think I need a quad core or 4gb of ram. I think a decent duel core and 2gb will be plenty. My dual core laptop runs almost all of teh above just fine, except it has shared memory...so gaming is difficult.

I agree that you don't need a quad core or 4gb but with prices being so low it only makes sense to get it. 4-core is 266 and 4gb of ram is only 100 dollars on newegg.

 

[Johnny Drama 5,000+ posts]

I agree that you don't need a quad core or 4gb but with prices being so low it only makes sense to get it. 4-core is 266 and 4gb of ram is only 100 dollars on newegg.

because if I buy the quad core and 4gb ram I would have to skimp on other items for one. For another reason win XP only supports 3gb ram IIRC so it would not be worth buying the extra. No vista on this machine please //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Basically my goal is a well build balanced system that I can game and video edit. One that is somewhat on budget.

Hell, if I cant decide on what to get, Ill just buy my friends alienware laptop and put the extra tword a new tv.

 

[silvercookie 5,000+ posts]

read 6th post.

 

[Bloodstalker999 10+ year member]

because if I buy the quad core and 4gb ram I would have to skimp on other items for one. For another reason win XP only supports 3gb ram IIRC so it would not be worth buying the extra. No vista on this machine please //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I am pretty sure XP supports 4gb but you got the right idea, I personally don't think that anything over 2gb of RAM is needed for anything besides video editing or major photo shoping. Even then you can still do it, but you may have to be a little more patient.

 

[sickofsoyo 10+ year member]

Exactly, I would capitalize while the prices are low, you may not need it now, but down the road, it could save you from upgrading.

look at the CPU charts at tomshardware. I can guarantee the Core 2's will out perform the AMD's and are right around the same price.

I do a lot of computer work building systems, including laptops, so believe me when I say you will have a lot less driver problems and such going with the Intel platform.

Windows XP will only see slightly over 3 gigs of ram, you wont get all 4, Vista will support 4+ gigs however.

 

[Pl8er 5,000+ posts]

Exactly, I would capitalize while the prices are low, you may not need it now, but down the road, it could save you from upgrading.
look at the CPU charts at tomshardware. I can guarantee the Core 2's will out perform the AMD's and are right around the same price.

I do a lot of computer work building systems, including laptops, so believe me when I say you will have a lot less driver problems and such going with the Intel platform.

Windows XP will only see slightly over 3 gigs of ram, you wont get all 4, Vista will support 4+ gigs however.

It is not based on just XP or vista, it is what bit system you are running XP 64-bit will run >3.25gb of ram but the 32-bit XP will only run 3.25 or less. You can still put 4gb of ram in a 32-bit machine, it just doesn't use it all.

 

[Pl8er 5,000+ posts]

I am pretty sure XP supports 4gb but you got the right idea, I personally don't think that anything over 2gb of RAM is needed for anything besides video editing or major photo shoping. Even then you can still do it, but you may have to be a little more patient.

I disagree. If your actually doing video/photo editing (which he said he was) 2gb is not enough anymore.

Running photoshop cs3 with numerous filters would take up to 5 minutes on the old computer (2gb X2 amd 4400) with the new system, it takes much less than 1 minute (not timed it).

Anyways, who has time to be patient?

 

[Pl8er 5,000+ posts]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127020 (abit motherboard)219 (100 dollar mail-in)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115018 (quad proc)260

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817159058 (PS)129.99 (had a combo deal of 31 off)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835186134 (cooler)21.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227199 (ram 4gb) 109.99

Subtotal: $711.96

Tax: $0.00

Shipping: $11.68

Amount Paid: $723.64

I'm currently running it (air cooled) at 2.66 with no issues.

 

[Bloodstalker999 10+ year member]

I disagree. If your actually doing video/photo editing (which he said he was) 2gb is not enough anymore.
Running photoshop cs3 with numerous filters would take up to 5 minutes on the old computer (2gb X2 amd 4400) with the new system, it takes much less than 1 minute (not timed it).

Anyways, who has time to be patient?

I agree with you disagreeing with me, I am kinda stuck in simpler times, I only use CS2 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif. How much of the loading time had to do with ram, What kind of HD were you using on your new computer compared to the old one?

IMO HDs are often overlooked when it comes to performance.

 

[Pl8er 5,000+ posts]

I agree with you disagreeing with me, I am kinda stuck in simpler times, I only use CS2 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif. How much of the loading time had to do with ram, What kind of HD were you using on your new computer compared to the old one? IMO HDs are often overlooked when it comes to performance.

Due to price contraints, I am using the same hard drives from the last computer in this one. Running dual 120gb SATA-I drives in RAID 0.

I want to add a raptor to her system in the near future.

I think that the loading time had more to do with the cores than the ram, but the ram does make a difference.

*snaps his fingers* was just clicking the links above and they are having a friggin sale on the ram I bought now *GRRRRR* 84 dollars for 4gb of ram after a 20 mail-in rebate? You can't beat that.

 

[Johnny Drama 5,000+ posts]

I disagree. If your actually doing video/photo editing (which he said he was) 2gb is not enough anymore.
Running photoshop cs3 with numerous filters would take up to 5 minutes on the old computer (2gb X2 amd 4400) with the new system, it takes much less than 1 minute (not timed it).

Anyways, who has time to be patient?

My laptop only had 1gb ram and I was running Sony Vegas Pro 8.0 and Gimp at the same time perfectly fine.

A 3.5gb .avi movie I made only took like 25 minutes to render to a USA 2.0 external drive...I still dont think Ill need 4gb.

Ill think about it though. I am also wanting to hear Jmac's opinions, I have complete faith in his opinions on CPUs.

 

[Bloodstalker999 10+ year member]

Maybe I should state I have an Associates Degree in Computer Science, so I may know a little on the subject. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[crunktimes.com 5,000+ posts]

I am building a similar system, I wanted something that could run PS for the next few years as well as play most of the newer games for now and in the near future.

So far I have a Gigabyte MB with the Intel P35 chipset, Intel 6750 Core 2 Duo, 4GB G.Skill (same price as your 2 GB, about $100 last week), a Radeon HD3580 and I am probably going to go with a WD 500GB HD on newegg for $104 and I just need to find a new case and PS and I am ready to go.

I was thinking of this combo:

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

PS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371001

 

[Johnny Drama 5,000+ posts]

I am building a similar system, I wanted something that could run PS for the next few years as well as play most of the newer games for now and in the near future.
So far I have a Gigabyte MB with the Intel P35 chipset, Intel 6750 Core 2 Duo, 4GB G.Skill (same price as your 2 GB, about $100 last week), a Radeon HD3580 and I am probably going to go with a WD 500GB HD on newegg for $104 and I just need to find a new case and PS and I am ready to go.

I was thinking of this combo:

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

PS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371001

$204 for that combo at the bottom seems like a good price. Thanks, Ill keep that in mind.

Is it sad that I remember when Ram was $100 a megabite?

 

[sickofsoyo 10+ year member]

It is not based on just XP or vista, it is what bit system you are running XP 64-bit will run >3.25gb of ram but the 32-bit XP will only run 3.25 or less. You can still put 4gb of ram in a 32-bit machine, it just doesn't use it all.

Yes that is true, I was just stating windows XP in general because not many people use XP 64 due to driver incompatabilities and such. I admit I havent looked recently at 64-bit XP so idk what compatibility is like now.