More money on Graphics Or Cpu ?

[flat26]

Hi

im about to build a new system which will mainly be used for gaming. Ive been reading alot of price guides benchmarks etc which have helped alot but id like some opinions when it comes to this. With the budget i have to keep when it comes to a CPU and VID card here are the options i have

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Processor AM2 Orleans 2.0GHZ 2000FSB 512KB L $148.75
Gigabyte 7900GT 256MB 256BIT PCI-Ex DDR3 TV-out DVI Video Card $456.75

OR

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core Processor Socket AM2 Windsor $254.88
7600GT DDR3 256MB 128Bit HDTV Dual DVI PCI-E Video Car $292.35

Id like to get the best performence but id like the rig to last a bit as well, by getting a single core processor am i severely limiting how long the rig will be decent ? ( as in next year will it struggle to keep up with new OS/ Games ? ) and also is it a waste getting such a high end video card with DX10 etc arround the corner ?

Oh and another possible option is to save a bit more and get
Intel Core 2 DUO E6300 1.86GHz 1.06GHz FSB 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 $331.00
with the 7600GT but the motherboard for a conroe costs heaps here ie +$150 over a Am2 motherboard and looking at the benchmarks vs the 3800+ im not sure if its justified..... also dont think i want to wait any longer : )

Thanks

(P.S Prices are New Zealand $ )

 

[Geomagick]

If its mainly used for gaming then spending the extra money on graphics makes sense. I don't know if your budget will stretch to it but an ATI X1900XT would tide you over quite nicely. A dual core chip is certainly not required for gaming at the moment but is likely to become more useful in future years. At least with going to AM2 you have some sort of upgrade path in the future.

 

[alimoalem]

is there a website you can make purchases at? and what country are you in? other ATers might know of cheaper places for you to shop at.

you won't be restricting yourself too much in gaming with a single-core. i would go with the first choice if you solely do gaming but i think getting the 3200+ with a 7600GT would be the best solution. you'll have some money saved up for a future purchase.

btw, what cpu/graphics do you currently have?

 

[Powermoloch]

First of all...what you're expecting in terms of performance ? especially the size of the resolution you're planning to be playing on ?

 

[tparker1]

Prices have dropped considerably here in States but I think You would be better off balancing your Videocard with CPU to keep Bottlenecks at bay.

I would definetely buy dualcore because games will very soon be using the technology and you don't want to be that far behind .

The X2 5000 is 315.00 over here the only thing i don't like is the way they number these processors anymore,I think a 4800 is a 2.4 Ghz Cpu and Games have a recommended CPU size makes it hard for some to figure out.

If you could afford it the Conroe is the way to go the E6300 is really cheap but I would want one of the versions that has 4 mb of L2 cache and 1066 Fsb.I just ordered the E6600 and it was 318.00 plus they have Motherboards for them at 120.00,Adda X1900 Videocard and 2 gb of corsair memory and You will have a PC that will last for a while .If you can't afford the E6600 get the E6300 and then overclock it they do a great job overclocking.

AMD is going to have better CPU's around Christmas right now Intel has the Conroe which is a 65nm Core and that makes a big difference it disapates the heat faster than a larger core.

Good Luck and if You want a Conroe get them quick everyone I know is buying them and mine should be in today or tomorrow.I can hardly wait.

 

[flat26]

<<<<is there a website you can make purchases at? and what country are you in? other ATers might know of cheaper places for you to shop at. >>>>

New Zealand


<<<<btw, what cpu/graphics do you currently have? >>>>

actually im building it for someone who uses a laptop


<<<<Prices have dropped considerably here in States but I think You would be better off balancing your Videocard with CPU to keep Bottlenecks at bay. >>>>>

Would a 3200+ be a BIG bottleneck when using a 7900gt ? Assuming the rest of the system such as RAM etc are addiquate ?

<<<<First of all...what you're expecting in terms of performance ? especially the size of the resolution you're planning to be playing on>>>>>

i doubt anything much more than 1024x768 will be used unless he gets him self a big lcd screen, Pretty much the performence needed is to play Games at a decent/good performence level for as long as possible before more upgrading is required

im not sure if i can archive that with a better cpu or better vid card pretty much or am i completly off balance with the options ive chosen ? i know the 3200 Overclocks well so i figure the only thing is the Dual Core .....

*Hope that makes sense*

 

[Rike]

Originally posted by: flat26

i doubt anything much more than 1024x768 will be used unless he gets him self a big lcd screen, Pretty much the performence needed is to play Games at a decent/good performence level for as long as possible before more upgrading is required

im not sure if i can archive that with a better cpu or better vid card pretty much or am i completly off balance with the options ive chosen ? i know the 3200 Overclocks well so i figure the only thing is the Dual Core .....

*Hope that makes sense*

At that resolution, the 7600GT will be just fine for the vast majority of games. Your second setup in your first post will work fine.

 

[JBT]

1024x768??? bleh... I would still go 7900GT imo Dual core barely makes any difference for games Esspecially since the 7900GT is twice as fast as a 7600GT.

 

[w00t]

that is alot to pay for those processors after the pricecut they went down quiet a bit

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: w00t
that is alot to pay for those processors after the pricecut they went down quiet a bit

he is in New Zealand....