I'm buying a gaming rig from Dell and I have some extra money to spend on better hardware. Which is more important for gaming: updating my processor from a C2D E6600 to a C2D E6700 or going from 2G to 4G of RAM? I'm running the Vista OS. Thanks.
Which is more important?
- Thread starter OSUCowboy
- Start date
- May 13, 2003
- 13,704
- 7
- 81
In gaming? The video card. What version of Vista are you going to be using, because not all of them can access 4g of RAM, IIRC. My $.02...
Like Fullmetal Chocobo said, better video card. The 2gb - 4gb ram probably won't be of any use to you right now. And the E6600 I think could probably just be OC'ed instead of paying the few extra bucks for the E6700. I haven't really read up on the C2D's and overclocking though so I have no clue how they perform. But usually people ugprade memory/graphics and just OC their CPU a bit to get what they need out of it.
I already have the maximum video card allowed for the computer (1GB NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GX2 Dual). I'm not sure what version I'll have, it's the available upgrade from XP Media Center Edition.
- May 13, 2003
- 13,704
- 7
- 81
Is this machine going to have the stock cooler on there? Because I haven't heard nice things about it. I'd spend some of that money on a good after market cooler, provided it doesn't void the Dell warranty or anything...
bamacre
Lifer
- Jul 1, 2004
- 21,029
- 2
- 61
No, no, no. Don't get the 7950 GX2. No DX10 support.
Config it with the cheapest video card they offer. Then replace it with this...
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=321103
Edit: Which model are you looking at?
happy medium
Lifer
- Jun 8, 2003
- 14,387
- 480
- 126
Bill Brasky
Diamond Member
- May 18, 2006
- 4,324
- 1
- 0
This gets my vote. The 8800gts is just a little bit faster than the 7950 GX2, while being 10 bucks cheaper. Plus the g80 architecture has far superior image quality, and dx 10 support.
2GB of ram will be plenty, and you can get more later if you really need it.
DirectX is a programming interface written by Microsoft, and used by game developers. Vista ships with the brand new version, DX 10, but your hardware must support DX 10 to use it. The two 8800 cards are the only ones that support DX 10 at the moment. The catch is that no games have been released that use DX 10, but that will change in 2007, I believe. Basically, there is no reason to get a 7950 GX2, when the 8800gts is faster, has more features, and is 10 bucks cheaper.
I agree getting this card would be my best option, but I can't promise the Dell PSU is powerful enough. Is the 7950 GX2 really all that bad? Assuming I can't upgrade to the 8800?
Bill Brasky
Diamond Member
- May 18, 2006
- 4,324
- 1
- 0
Actually the 8800gts use slightly less power than the 7950 gx2. That's not true for the gtx, however.
And ya, he's needs to build this thing himself.
bob4432
Lifer
- Sep 6, 2003
- 11,726
- 45
- 91
it is not that the 7950 gx2 is that bad, but at this time and with you having vista on the machine which will support dx10 (which the 7950 gx2 won't) it is a bit outdated. when ms rolls out the dx10 support for vista you won't be able to utilize those features because the 7950 gx2 doesn't support dx10, only dx9 where a 8800gts or 8800gtx does support dx10 but needs more power, the the concern for the power supply.
Definitely get the 8800gts. Don't let Dell gouge you for yesterday's hardware. Bastards.
2 GB is plenty for any gaming system right now. 4GB only comes into play when you edit HD video or do heavy audio recording.
Would really suggest diving in and building your own though. So much more flexible...
~MiSfit
2 GB is plenty for any gaming system right now. 4GB only comes into play when you edit HD video or do heavy audio recording.
Would really suggest diving in and building your own though. So much more flexible...
~MiSfit
how much are they charging for it?
you could build an
E6600
8800GTS
2GB RAM
2x500GB HD
680i mobo
$200 case
$150PSU
for ~$2k
you could build an
E6600
8800GTS
2GB RAM
2x500GB HD
680i mobo
$200 case
$150PSU
for ~$2k
ViviTheMage
Lifer
E6600 - $308
680i mobo - $250
2x1GB DDR2-667 - $200
8800GTS - $460
(2) 500GB HD - $150 x 2
subtotal - $1518 + $200 case + $150 PSU = 1868
shipping - ~$30 (including case)
Don't forget Windows, though. Although there's a lot of fat you could trim from that system... For example, if you're willing to OC:
E6300 - $180
P5B - $135
2x1GB DDR2-800 - $200
eVGA 8800GTX - $650
74GB Raptor - $140 after MIR
WD WD5000KS - $160 after MIR
Samsung SH-S182D/NEC ND-3550A/Pioneer DVR-111D - ~$30
Corsair CMPSU-520HX - $120
AC F7P - $16
subtotal - $1637 after MIRs, before case and shipping
680i mobo - $250
2x1GB DDR2-667 - $200
8800GTS - $460
(2) 500GB HD - $150 x 2
subtotal - $1518 + $200 case + $150 PSU = 1868
shipping - ~$30 (including case)
Don't forget Windows, though. Although there's a lot of fat you could trim from that system... For example, if you're willing to OC:
E6300 - $180
P5B - $135
2x1GB DDR2-800 - $200
eVGA 8800GTX - $650
74GB Raptor - $140 after MIR
WD WD5000KS - $160 after MIR
Samsung SH-S182D/NEC ND-3550A/Pioneer DVR-111D - ~$30
Corsair CMPSU-520HX - $120
AC F7P - $16
subtotal - $1637 after MIRs, before case and shipping
Yes, I priced up a NE cart for $2,044.48 after shipping.
PM me your email address and I can email you the cart.
With a machine this expensive you might want to consider building your own. It's not as difficult as you may think it is, just consider it, read up on some guides. I read mcbegon's guide before building mine and it was perfect.
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