Making concessions...GPU or CPU?

[spaceman]

ok,putting together a limited budget desktop for gaming.
for the interim this will be an xp box
would you go with a 2600xt/8600gt and a single core budget cpu
or would you go with something like a 7600gs and spend the extra on dual core?
I know this is somewhat of a game specific case by case basis...but in general terms...if you had to do one or the other?

 

[nismotigerwvu]

why single core? unless you are buying used the difference shouldn't be much (and even then its still not worth it)

 

[spaceman]

Originally posted by: nismotigerwvu
why single core? unless you are buying used the difference shouldn't be much (and even then its still not worth it)

i have a hard budget to work with.
a dual core is almost twice the price as a single core am2 cheapie.

 

[MarcVenice]

holy moly, don't expect to be really gaming on anything of that. Buy used instead ? Buy an xbox 360/ps3 instead ? Wait a little longer till you've got 500$ or so ? For 500$ you can put together a 'decent' budget gaming rig, but if you are contemplating between single/dual core and 7600gt or 8600gt, then you're only going to dissapoint yourself ...

 

[spaceman]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
holy moly, don't expect to be really gaming on anything of that. Buy used instead ? Buy an xbox 360/ps3 instead ? Wait a little longer till you've got 500$ or so ? For 500$ you can put together a 'decent' budget gaming rig, but if you are contemplating between single/dual core and 7600gt or 8600gt, then you're only going to dissapoint yourself ...

i dont really see how im going to be dissappointed.
im not looking for bleeding edge mind you, just something better than my notebooks.

i was very content with my old s754,x1300xt,1.5gb of dd3200..desktop...

i like rts by and large, and an old game i havent played is new to me.
a x360, ps3...blah..had both and both collected dust.
i cant play rise of nations or aoe3 on either, or an old game of daikatana..

 

[MarcVenice]

Allright, well if it's RTS you love, then err, you need both hehe. RTS games do like a lot of CPU power, it's inpossible to buy a abit ip35-e for 70$ and a e2180 and OC it or something ? Then, for the videocard, IF possible, get a ati HD3850, it's not out yet, but it should be lot of GPU power for little money. Whats the budget if I may ask ?

 

[spaceman]

500
for
mem
cpu
hdd
mb
gpu
mouse
kb
psu

 

[jcgamo88]

7600gs will treat you well. In my experience with it I've done medium settings on medium resolutions and had 40+ fps on anything from WoW, to Zero hour and Tib wars. Mind you the 7600 was paired with a P4 2.8Ghz with hyperthreading. So a pseudo-dual core and a 7600gs did just fine. A cheap dual core AM2 ($59 or so) should be a decent setup for you. I've seen 3800+ X2's OCed to 2.3 ghz without much work.

But as for a keyboard and a mouse, don't you have any left over from your previous desktop? Regardless that aspect should only be about $30 max for something acceptable.

Actually, not more than 1 month ago I had to configure two builds for ~$400 before shipping, system tower and internal components only. I was able to include 1gb ddr2(XMS2), 7600gt and a 4000+ (2.1ghz) for $413. For $6 cheaper a 3800+. The best part was that I didn't really have to sacrifice much if any quality for the components. Both have been used with the previously mentioned games also and worked quite well.

 

[MarcVenice]

First of all, 7600gs pretty much sucks by nowadays standards. And why buy one when 110$ buys you a 1950pro, with some luck of course. Anyways, check out my post, you'll see you can do a 500$ build quite easy. If you drop the 'expensive' Intel mobo and the Intel CPU, for a cheaper AMD mobo and a x2 3800+ you might even save more money.

I think you can still get good deals on this ram: http://forums.anandtech.com/me..._key=y&keyword1=hp+ram

so let's say 30$ for 2gb.
mobo gigabyte ds3l for 85$, or 70$ if theres a new rebate on the abit ip35-e
50$ for 160GB HD
75$ for CPU e2140
10$ mouse
10$ Keyboard
58$ for psu, corsair 450vx, although antec earthwatts 500w might be had cheaper somewhere else.

Still need a case or not ? If not, then this totals to 318$. That leaves 182$ for a videocard. Not bad. I suppose you can quite easily get away with a 1950pro for 110$ or less, leaving money for a case if need be, and perhaps pay 15$ more for a e2180 instead of a e2140. If you wait till the 19th you might be able to get a ATI HD 3850 for less then 180$. If you wait till blackfriday, some of the aforementioned products could be had for even less. Good luck.

 

[Roguestar]

Dell outlet and get a low-end package, or get a used PC.

http://www.dell.com/outlet/