Which CPU should I choose?

[Vleesie]

Hi,

I am considering to buy a new PC, because my recent one is really becoming too slow to play the latest games, and in general it's also showing problems.

My budget is around €1300-1400 (= 1650-1770 $).
I use my PC mainly to play games, but I don't exaggerate. I want to play games like Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty, ... which I can only play at very low FPS and very bad graphics at this moment.
I also use my PC for multitasking.


I don't know which one would be the best for me, also considering which one would have the best possibilities looking at the future.

Here are the ones:
- Intel Core i7-920 @ €289
- Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 €189 / E8600 @ €269
- Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 @ €269 / Q9650 @ €319

If I take the i7-920, I'll also have to choose an expensive motherboard (P6T Deluxe, ..). Choosing a motherboard is also a difficult one for me, because I don't know much anything about those.
Some examples of good motherboards with each of those CPU's would be helpful

And last but not least, I don't know which GPU to choose. In my opinion, a GTX 285 (680MHz / 2500MHz) would be overkill, because I only have a 22 inch screen. So that would take me to the GTX 260, which is available in an overclocked version: 675MHz / 2304MHz. It is also €90 cheaper than the GTX 285.


What's your opinion on this?

 

[EstebanOC]

Well I'd choose the i7, because it's future proof since future cpu's will be made for those motherboards. But offcourse if you're not an upgrader like me ( I change one part at a time ).

if you're not an upgrader I'd actually choose the q9550 and overclock it to 3.6ghz. that way you have a lot of budget left for that gtx285 and even some pci cards for better sound ect ( trust me it's worth it ). for motherboard I'd choose the p5q ( any version )


don't choose a dual core because quad cores are going mainstream this year which means an increased support for quads in games

 

[Vleesie]

Well I'd choose the i7, because it's future proof since future cpu's will be made for those motherboards. But offcourse if you're not an upgrader like me ( I change one part at a time ).

if you're not an upgrader I'd actually choose the q9550 and overclock it to 3.6ghz. that way you have a lot of budget left for that gtx285 and even some pci cards for better sound ect ( trust me it's worth it ). for motherboard I'd choose the p5q ( any version )


don't choose a dual core because quad cores are going mainstream this year which means an increased support for quads in games

I don't change one part at a time, but I could consider doing that
However, if I choose the Q9550 I won't have more budget than when I choose the i7. It only costs €20 less where I want to buy it (I'm building a customed PC).

Concerning the motherboard, why the P5Q?
Also, it doesn't support SLI, which is needed if I want to add another GPU later on.

 

[EstebanOC]

I don't change one part at a time, but I could consider doing that
However, if I choose the Q9550 I won't have more budget than when I choose the i7. It only costs €20 less where I want to buy it (I'm building a customed PC).

Concerning the motherboard, why the P5Q?
Also, it doesn't support SLI, which is needed if I want to add another GPU later on.

the motherboards for the i7 cost a lot right now ( 300 bucks or more ), while the p45 motherboards are around 100 bucks these days. For sli I'd suggest the p5q pro version ( also one of the best overclock boards around ).

And actually for graphic card I'd take the hd4870, has same performance as the 260gtx but costs 100bucks less and in crossfire they only cost 100 bucks more then the 260gtx but offer performance better then the 295gtx

 

[Vleesie]

the motherboards for the i7 cost a lot right now ( 300 bucks or more ), while the p45 motherboards are around 100 bucks these days. For sli I'd suggest the p5q pro version ( also one of the best overclock boards around ).

And actually for graphic card I'd take the hd4870, has same performance as the 260gtx but costs 100bucks less and in crossfire they only cost 100 bucks more then the 260gtx but offer performance better then the 295gtx

Hmm, that's a nice idea.
Where I'm going to buy it, the HD4870 costs €199 (Memory speed: 3700 MHz, Chip speed: 800 MHz).
I think that will be the one I'm going to buy, in combination with the P5Q Pro motherboard.
Later on I'll still be able to add another HD4870 in Crossfire.

With the motherboard and GPU set, only the CPU remains. I think I will take the Q9550, or is the Q9660 worth the additional €50?

I have 2 more questions:
- What is the difference between the P5Q Pro and other more expensive P5Q motherboards?
- Would a 4GB DDR2-800 Memory be satisfactory? And what is better, 4 of 1GB or 2 of 2GB?


Thanks for your help.

 

[Vleesie]

Wrong post, needed to edit.
This post can be deleted.

 

[Vleesie]

This post can be deleted.

 

[EstebanOC]

Well it depends a little, trough unless you're gonna overclock to the max the q9550 is by far the better cpu for the money.

I would suggest to overclock the q9550 to 3.0ghz because there is no risk, since all you have to do is change the multiplier and nothing else because the q9550 can handle 3.0ghz with stock cooling and vcore easily.

btw the hd4870 even outperforms the 260 gtx overall. read this review:
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/powercolor_4870pcs/16.htm

btw that was with old drivers too, and prices have dropped a lot on the hd4870 aswell ( 200 bucks or less )

 

[Vleesie]

Well it depends a little, trough unless you're gonna overclock to the max the q9550 is by far the better cpu for the money.

I would suggest to overclock the q9550 to 3.0ghz because there is no risk, since all you have to do is change the multiplier and nothing else because the q9550 can handle 3.0ghz with stock cooling and vcore easily.

btw the hd4870 even outperforms the 260 gtx overall. read this review:
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/powercolor_4870pcs/16.htm

btw that was with old drivers too, and prices have dropped a lot on the hd4870 aswell ( 200 bucks or less )

Thanks, I'll read that review.

I have 2 more questions, as I have edited in my last post.

- What is the difference between the P5Q Pro and other more expensive P5Q motherboards?
- Would a 4GB DDR2-800 Memory be satisfactory? And what is better, 4 of 1GB or 2 of 2GB?


I really appreciate your help!

 

[EstebanOC]

Thanks, I'll read that review.

I have 2 more questions, as I have edited in my last post.

- What is the difference between the P5Q Pro and other more expensive P5Q motherboards?
- Would a 4GB DDR2-800 Memory be satisfactory? And what is better, 4 of 1GB or 2 of 2GB?


I really appreciate your help!

1)well the p5q pro has a lot more slots and better headsink which lowers the temperatures for your components quite a bit, it also has 2.0 pci express slots which will make your graphic card even faster then when it's inserted into normal pci express slot. Crossfire support for the hd4870 and a few other things that other p5q boards don't have

http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=2269&l1=3&l2=11&l3=709&l4=0
here's the full specifications

2) well it'll be enough and you don't need more than that, but these days ddr2 memory chips are very cheap and ddr2-1066 does have a noticable difference over ddr2-800.
as for the amount I'd choose 2x2gb dual channel ram UNLESS you can find a quad channel set of 4x1gb which will offer slightly better performance then dual channel, but mostly the price different isn't worth it.

I'd say take 2x2gb ddr2-1066 in dual channel with a latency of 5, will cost 60bucks. Corsair has the best quality of ram so try to go for them. avoid GEIL at all costs, since p5q boards have problems with them sometimes

 

[Vleesie]

1)well the p5q pro has a lot more slots and better headsink which lowers the temperatures for your components quite a bit, it also has 2.0 pci express slots which will make your graphic card even faster then when it's inserted into normal pci express slot. Crossfire support for the hd4870 and a few other things that other p5q boards don't have

http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=2269&l1=3&l2=11&l3=709&l4=0
here's the full specifications

2) well it'll be enough and you don't need more than that, but these days ddr2 memory chips are very cheap and ddr2-1066 does have a noticable difference over ddr2-800.
as for the amount I'd choose 2x2gb dual channel ram UNLESS you can find a quad channel set of 4x1gb which will offer slightly better performance then dual channel, but mostly the price different isn't worth it.

I'd say take 2x2gb ddr2-1066 in dual channel with a latency of 5, will cost 60bucks. Corsair has the best quality of ram so try to go for them. avoid GEIL at all costs, since p5q boards have problems with them sometimes

I had chosen a DDR2-800 (Corsair 4GB) because on the PC-building site, they say a DDR2-1066 memory doesn't meet the needs of the JEDEC-standard, so they will set it to DDR2-800 timings..
I am not going to build the PC all by myself, I'd rather let them do that

 

[Rick James]

920
Gigabyte Mobo
1600 DDR3

What more could you want?

 

[Vleesie]

920
Gigabyte Mobo
1600 DDR3

What more could you want?

That's nice too
But the Mobo doesn't completely support the Memory speed, does it?

 

[Rick James]

That's nice too
But the Mobo doesn't completely support the Memory speed, does it?

This board supports DDR3 up to 2000+

 

[Vleesie]

This board supports DDR3 up to 2000+

Alright

Does anyone know what the JEDEC standard includes?
Because at the site where I'm building my pc, it sais that a DDR2-1066 memory in combination with the P5Q Pro motherboard doesn't meet the JEDEC standards.

 

[iLoki]

as far as I'm aware, the JEDEC standard is the minimum specification the motherboard must be capable of supporting. If the motherboard supports higher than the JEDEC standard, there's nothing wrong with it.

(somebody please correct me if thats wrong)

 

[EstebanOC]

Iloki is right. btw ddr3 ram costs quite a lot, easily 200 bucks or more and you'll have to choose a more expensive mobo and processor aswell. and there will be no room for extra's.

what's your budget actually?

 

[Badbonji]

I think you should get an i7 920, it overclocks very well, multitasks better than any other cpu and when games become more multithreaded it will own the other cpu's

 

[Archer0915]

i7 as it will reap the extra cash you sew many times over and it will only get better as new CPU's are released for that socket.

 

[Vleesie]

Iloki is right. btw ddr3 ram costs quite a lot, easily 200 bucks or more and you'll have to choose a more expensive mobo and processor aswell. and there will be no room for extra's.

what's your budget actually?

My budget is around € 1300-1400.

Right now I'm hesitating between these two:
- i7 920
- GigaByte EX58-UD3R Socket 1366 (I assume this board is good enough?)
- Corsair DIMM 3 GB DDR3-1600 Tri-Kit 8-8-8-24 (Actually, I don't know anything about Memory.. Would this mem be alright?)

OR

- Q9550
- P5Q Pro Socket 775
- Corsair 4 GB DDR2-800 4-4-4-12


Another question: What are the standards for a memory, so that it wouldn't be a bottleneck these 2 configs?