Looking for budget processor for gaming

[wARLORD246810]

Looking for budget processor for gaming; my current setup involves
an Intel DG31PR(LGA775 socket) main board
2GB RAM
9800 GT 1GB, but my current processor is embarrasing..
a Pentium Dual Core E2180.

I live in the Philippines.....

I wanna get the potential of my 9800 GT and some acceptable performance in Crysis and Mass Effect by upgrading my processor.

My budget is up to 5,500 PHP(our currency)

I'm most interested in the Intel Pentium Dual Core E5300 2.66 ghz which is 3500 PHP; but I am also interested in the:
Intel Pentium Dual Core E5400 2.7 ghz ...3700 PHP
Intel Pentium Dual Core E6300 2.66 ghz ...4000 PHP
Intel Pentium Dual Core E6500 2.66 ghz ...4160 PHP
Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 2.9 ghz which is ...5,450 PHP

My goal is to get something within my price range and VERY hopefully below 4,500 PHP that can run Crysis and Mass Effect at high with atleast 1152 pixel resolution with my current setup.

I am sorry for the inconvenience of makin u guyz think about the currency being in PHP but if you guyz refer, just post so and I can convert every one of those to USD...

Please and THank YOU! ALL help is HIGHly appreciated

 

[alyarb]

get the E5400 and try and find a motherboard that can overclock. sell the intel motherboard if you can.

 

[wARLORD246810]

get the E5400 and try and find a motherboard that can overclock. sell the intel motherboard if you can.

HUH? why shud I sell my mobo? for overclocking? maybe I will but not now, I am tight with my budget ryt now, for now lets concentrate on upgrading my processor.

Oh, and why do u say I shud get the 5400? elaborate...

 

[MustangSVT]

that should run mass effect fine.

imo, money is better spent on videocard for crysis.
what are the videocard prices like?

doesn't it run crysis ok with your current settings on medium?
if you can o/c your current one (perhaps a pin mod) you probably wont need a new cpu.

 

[wARLORD246810]

that should run mass effect fine.

imo, money is better spent on videocard for crysis.
what are the videocard prices like?

doesn't it run crysis ok with your current settings on medium?
if you can o/c your current one (perhaps a pin mod) you probably wont need a new cpu.

It's a year-old anyways so upgrading my CPU is kinda logical ryt now; besides, I am sure my 9800 GT 1GB is being bottlenecked by my stupid CPU
oh and the 9800 GT cost me 6,200 PHP

 

[Phil1977]

Well the more cache and the higher clock speed the better...

So just go by that and pick one that fits your budget!

 

[toyota]

E6300 is 2.80
E6500 is 2.93

I would probably go E6500 if you are not going to oc since its not much more money than the others. you will also need more ram if you are going to play Warhead and a couple of games. 2gb just will not cut it and you will get some notiecable hitching.

 

[wARLORD246810]

E6300 is 2.80
E6500 is 2.93

I would probably go E6500 if you are not going to oc since its not much more money than the others. you will also need more ram if you are going to play Warhead and a couple of games. 2gb just will not cut it and you will get some notiecable hitching.

oh, BTW sorry; he's right, E6300 is 2.8 ghz and E6500 is 2.9

well, I'll worry about the RAM later as long as the CPU will gimme med settings in Crysis in 1152 res with atleast 35 FPS

 

[hans007]

i had that motherboard and if i were you, pin mod the e2180 and see if it works. I had an e4400 on that board and it worked fine and i think the e2180 is the same with 1MB less cache (all you need is some tape, and a lot of time and a tube of electrical solder paint)

optionally if you can convinced someone to buy you a q8200 in america, and mail it to you that is also an option as you can get them used for about $100 on ebay or the fs/ft forum here. i know global priority to the philippines is not that expensive, my mom has sent stuff before through that for $20 ish.

i dont see the point in upgrading from a dual core , to another core 2 duo dual core so if you have to just save your money until you can get one.

 

[WinGeek]

I would never suggest you to go above your budget for the gaming processor, you may spend that money upgrading your CPU and save rest for the new upcoming games 😉

 

[Ancalagon44]

Get the E5300 and add extra RAM.

 

[wARLORD246810]

maybe I'll decide the RAM after buying the CPU, but thnx anyways...wat i will do is buy the CPU first then test Crysis then buy more RAM if performance seems to be lacking.
if ever, Another 1GB of RAM shud be substantial ryt?(only Ancalagon and Toyota shud answer, and don't forget to concentrate on the real CPU problem)

 

[Ancalagon44]

It depends on whether you have 32bit windows or 64 bit windows. 32bit windows doesnt really support 4 gigs of ram, in that case you might as well just buy another 1GB. If you have 64 bit windows, buy 2GBs more. No real reason for that to be honest, except that it might affect whether you are using dual channel mode for your memory.

The other thing you could think about is whether its worth doing a CPU and RAM upgrade at all. The reason I say that, is that you have an old motherboard. So, your upgrade options are limited. Instead of buying a CPU now, you could save your money for another few months or a year or so, and then replace motherboard, CPU, RAM and graphics card all at the same time. It will be a HUGE increase in performance, but yes very expensive. It would be a long time to carry on using your current PC, I know it isnt very fast, but the end result would be worth it.

Buy a better CPU cooler (quite cheap) and overclock your CPU for now. Will make it at least a bit faster.

 

[wARLORD246810]

OC'ing can't be done, atleast it can but DIFFICULTY with my DG31PR and I wud hav to buy some cooling stuff....

oh and I use XP...so 1GB indeed...

OH BTW, pls guyz don't forget to vote in the poll