cpu/video choice

[Gabornski]

Hoping to finally complete a build this month. Have the rocketfish case and a 750W coolermaster. I don't have a set budget. More trying to find best bang for the buck. Only video/cpu intensive use will be gaming. To give you an idea how long I use a PC my present one I built back in 2001. Hopefully won't be so long this time but would probably be 3-4 years instead of the 1-2 years I would like it to be. Will a Q9300/HD4870 be worth the extra to keep me gaming for awhile longer than a Q6600/9800GT? Since the next intel line will require a new motherboard to upgrade I see myself upgrading video before CPU in the future. I know this subject has been the subject of many threads in the past but thought I would get your opinions as things stand for a build this month.

Thanks in advance

G

 

[videogames101]

The 4870 is perfect, but what are you planning on using the quad core proc for? If your just gaming, go for a faster duel.

 

[Gabornski]

Originally posted by: videogames101
The 4870 is perfect, but what are you planning on using the quad core proc for? If your just gaming, go for a faster duel.

I am expecting by the time I upgrade the cpu game developers with make use of all 4 cores. Not true?

 

[DSF]

Nobody can really say for sure.

My guess is that games will be better at using four cores in two years than they are now. The question is really what "better" means. In other words, how many games will take advantage of all the cores, and how much will it matter? I expect that dual cores will still be sufficient for gaming in three to four years even if they aren't the ideal.

But again, it's impossible to say for sure. I certainly don't blame anyone aiming for the long term for buying a quad core.

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: Gabornski

Originally posted by: videogames101
The 4870 is perfect, but what are you planning on using the quad core proc for? If your just gaming, go for a faster duel.

I am expecting by the time I upgrade the cpu game developers with make use of all 4 cores. Not true?

This month? Not likely. Go with a faster dual core and the ATI 4870.

 

[Gabornski]

Originally posted by: Roguestar

Originally posted by: Gabornski

Originally posted by: videogames101
The 4870 is perfect, but what are you planning on using the quad core proc for? If your just gaming, go for a faster duel.

I am expecting by the time I upgrade the cpu game developers with make use of all 4 cores. Not true?

This month? Not likely. Go with a faster dual core and the ATI 4870.

Sorry, was not very clear. I meant the next upgrade after this. Since I probably won't upgrade again for more than 2 years. Thinking maybe a year from now I would be glad I went quad. But I read some other topics that noted the other 2 cores being used would need to give better performance than the higher speed of the dual cores. I keep going back a forth so maybe just get a E8400 and get a quad later if it really starts to make a difference in a couple of years. Things change so fast should probably go with what we know now, not what might be down the road. Thanks for the replies

 

[OverVolt]

I would vote against Quad core for a gaming rig.

 

[Roguestar]

Get something like the E8400 now and then a cheap Q9550 when their prices are down in a year's time.