Which Intel Processor?

[Breegle]

Hey guys,

I'm trying to build a gaming PC on a budget. Graphics card will most likely be midrange (~8600GT), and I'm wondering how fast a processor I will likely need to play the latest games at playable frame rates. So what I need to know is:

- how big a performance boost I will get from going from E4500 (2.2GHz) to E6550
- if the difference between E6550 and E6750 is significant
- if quad-core is just overkill or if it's genuinely useful (I may be creating software that could make use of the multiple processors).

Thanks for any help,
Breegle

 

[error8]

First of all the 8600 GT is not a midrange card, is a low end and is mostly not able to play all the recent games at playable frame rates with high to maximum quality settings in mind. When it comes to games, the videocard is the most important and on the second place you have the CPU. If you want to play all the latest games you should choose at least an ATI 3850 video card. The cpu like I said is not that important so I would get the E4500 and overclock it. It's so easy to squeeze some 600-700 more mhz from it.

 

[zsdersw]

I'd suggest getting a 9600GT instead of the 8600GT.. it's claimed to be twice as fast as the 8600GT.

The recommendation from most other people here will be to buy a cheap processor, a good HSF, and overclock it. IIRC, the multiplier on the 6550 isn't desirable for those seeking significant overclocking. The 6750 is better in that regard.

As for quad-core, it depends on the games you're going to play.. and whether any of the games coming out over the life of the computer will be taking significant advantage of it.

 

[DSF]

For what it's worth, I've got an E4500 and played through Crysis with no issues. I have mine overclocked to 2.93GHz, which was a piece of cake. At that speed it'll trade blows with an E6750.

I'm 95% sure the E4500 will handle Crysis fine even at its stock 2.2GHz, but since I have the day off for a snow day, I'll turn my overclock off and run through a level just to make sure if you ask nicely. The E6550 isn't worth the $50 price increase for its marginal gain over the E4500.

As for quad core, it's not currently worth it. My personal opinion is that you'd be better served by buying a quad core when games actually take advantage of them, at which time there will be more advanced quad core chips than what we have now.

 

[Breegle]

At the moment I'm getting the impression that E4500 is the way to go, which I'm pretty happy about. I'm a little nervous about the idea of trying to overclock it, though since there seems to be such a lot of success and the Intel Core Duos have got a reputation for being very overclockable with their low temperatures, I may be tempted to give it a crack.

Also thanks so much for pointing me at the 9600GT; I didn't even know the 9-series had come out. It seemed like only yesterday the 8-series emerged. The 8600GT looked on par with my current 7600GT, so the idea of getting double the graphics card for just £100 is awesome.

And to DSF: pretty pretty pleeeease?

 

[brencat]

Definitely spend the money on a good graphics card over the processor. You can get an 8800GT for under $220 now, and an 8800GTS (G92) for ~ $260ish.

I personally wouldn't go quad if the PC is primarily for gaming. And if you're not overclocking, I'd choose the new E8400 with the 6M cache for ~ $20 more over the E6750 with 4M cache. Avoid 7x multiplier CPUs like the E6550.

If you are willing to overclock to save money, then E4500 is the way to go for sure

 

[Denithor]

Brencat +1

As long as you can get a C2D chip running at ~2.5GHz or higher the CPU is not a limiting factor in gaming. Video card is much more important.

Here is the general line-up arranged by power. Pricing pretty much follows this trend as well, unless you can find a stellar deal somewhere.

8600GT < 8600GTS << HD3850 < 8800GS = 9600GT < HD3870 < 8800GT < 8800GTS

Right now, the best deals for the money are the HD3850 (US$150) and the HD3870 ($190) although you can sometimes find a great deal on an 8800GT (~$200 after MIR).

Just for reference:
Anandtech comparison of 8800 series vs 3850/3870
Anandtech review of 9600GT <-- Why didn't they include the 8800GS in this!?
Comparison of 9600GT/8800GS/HD3850

 

[DSF]

Yeah, the stock E4500 was fine for playing Crysis. Enjoy!

 

[Breegle]

DSF: Thanks very much, that's sealed it for me. I'm definitely getting the E4500 and saving some cash. I can take a suck-it-and-see approach; I'll use it at stock speed, and if it isn't up to scratch I'll overclock it.

Also thanks to everyone who gave me video card advice, I definitely won't be getting the 8600GT. I'll go digging for which will be best for the price, and maybe it'll spring another topic in the Video Cards and Graphics subforum.

EDIT: I don't know how to close the topic so I'll just leave it.

 

[twistedlogic]

Not sure how much of a difference this would make in performance, but you could ditch the E4500 and go with a E21XX, and save you $50. The E21xx will should overclock to 2.8Ghz with little effort at won't be that far behind the E4500 @ 2.8Ghz. Then later on when prices are lower, you could either make the jump to Quad core or 45nm, or both.

Then with the $50 you saved on the CPU you could go with a nicer GPU. Say the 8800GTS 512 for ~280. The 8800GTS has a dual-slot cooler that shouldn't be as loud as the 8800GT's cooler.

option 1:
E4500 ~ 125
8800GT ~ 220

option 2:
E2160 ~ 75
8800GTS ~ 280

Either way they should be pretty darn close in performance, but option 2 should be more silent.

 

[devilchrist]

I have the 6750. I'm having OC issue because of the HIgh FSB required to OC with only 8X multiplier. cpu is fine but i dont' think NB can handle that much FSB oc on p35.

I'd go with 4500. good <$100 P35 board. so you can always upgrade later to the E8xxx series chips.

with e4500 at <$100 it's a good deal and i'd say better than the e21xx because of more cache.
I just got email from Microcenter. E4500 is 99$

 

[twistedlogic]

Originally posted by: devilchrist
with e4500 at <$100 it's a good deal and i'd say better than the e21xx because of more cache.
I just got email from Microcenter. E4500 is 99$

Wow, for $99 the E4500 is a no-brainer over a E21xx.

The E4500 is what I settled on as I just couldn't do 1M cache and didn't think that 4M cache was worth the extra $$$.