New Build Opinions please

[jeffconnors]

OP here...once or twice a month is about right. And you are right, a choppy experience will create lack of interest so then I have an overpriced email checker. Someone else recommended the E4500 and the 3850 video card over the 8600GT card. I looked at tomshardware video comparison and the 3850 is way above (in speed? resolution?) the 8600GT. I wanted to limit my costs: the 8600GT XXX is $80 and the 3850 is $149, but the 3850 is probably worth the extra investment (?)

Opinions?

 

[krnmastersgt]

Well as for GPUs it depends on how long you plan on using this system before you can deem any card a worthy investment, I personally only use the 8600 GT XXX since it can handle what I play at decent res until the GF9 series is out so the 85 I paid for the card is worth it to me. I deem something as a good investment based on the price you paid, how much you'll use it, possible resale value later, and of course how long you're going to use it.

 

[Martimus]

Actually the X2 5000+ is slightly faster at stock speeds (http://www23.tomshardware.com/...&model2=883&chart=435) and it does overclock pretty well. However, there really isn't an upgrade path for it, as it Overclocks about the same as the fastest AMD chips (if you get a Black Edition processor - which are the same price), so you could never really upgrade to a better processor (unless you go Phenom, I guess). For that reason, the e2180 may still be a better buy if you ever plan on putting a better chip in there at some point.

 

[NamelessMC]

Have you guys even verified that he will in fact over-clock? If he's not going to over-clock, AMD might be better for him. Just make sure he's willing to over-clock.

 

[jeffconnors]

Originally posted by: NamelessMC
Have you guys even verified that he will in fact over-clock? If he's not going to over-clock, AMD might be better for him. Just make sure he's willing to over-clock.

I will OC the processor. The C2D 4500 and x2 5000 BE are only about $25 apart now so thought the 4500 may be the better way to go now. I'm going to wait a few more days until the latest Nvidia cards are introduced to see what video card would be the best for me. I'd like to keep the card under $100 but understand that having a good video processor is very important for gaming.

 

[krnmastersgt]

The 2600XTs on newegg are about $100, nice core clocks and 512 mb of memory, very nice price/performance ratio if you ask me, would have gotten it if I wasn't such an nVidia fanboy and found it sooner xP.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: aussiestilgar
MB: Gigabyte DS3L
Pro: Intel E21x0
Overclock it to 3.0GHz with an Arctic Freezer 7 and you'll be running like the wind.

AF7 is good for moderate over clocking.......for more radical over clocking a Tuniq tower or any of the Thermal Right heatsinks.. Ultar 120 extreme....XP--120...SI 120........almost all are good with over clocked CPU`s!!