Q6600 or E8400
also

Newegg.com - EVGA 384-P3-N853-AR GeForce 8800GS Superclocked 384MB 192-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

or

ZOTAC GeForce 8800 GTS 320mb | ZOTAC 8800 GTS 320MB | ZOTAC Geforce 8800GTS 320 MB | Nvidia Geforce 8800 GTS



thanks guys!

The quad vs. dual debate is getting a bit old now...if you want a good spread of performance in all applications, multithreaded or otherwise, get a quad core. If you run a small number of applications regularly or nothing that is properly multithreaded, get a dual core. Personally I like versatility, so I went for a quad.

As for the graphics cards, they are much of a muchness really...they both have the same number of shaders; I believe the GS is clocked higher....but it has a narrower memory interface. Avoid both of 'em, and get a 9600GT or 8800GT 512mb instead.

Well after looking at your video card choices I'm gonna say buy whatever Intel C2D cpu you can afford and still get a 512MB 8800 GT or better card with. This 8800GT is the lowest priced one at the Egg with 512 MB.
Newegg.com - ASUS EN8800GT/G/HTDP/512M GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Almost every new game out and all the Good ones coming really need a card with at least 512 MB on-board. And the 8800 GT is the sweet spot for price per performance and almost every C2D out there can handle the card without bottlenecking. And when you get some more cash you'll just need to buy a good heatsink and OC the cpu for another cheap upgrade.

Quote: Originally Posted by reflux The quad vs. dual debate is getting a bit old now...if you want a good spread of performance in all applications, multithreaded or otherwise, get a quad core. If you run a small number of applications regularly or nothing that is properly multithreaded, get a dual core. Personally I like versatility, so I went for a quad. As for the graphics cards, they are much of a muchness really...they both have the same number of shaders; I believe the GS is clocked higher....but it has a narrower memory interface. Avoid both of 'em, and get a 9600GT or 8800GT 512mb instead.

Best cpu for Source engine games and COD4? and I've seen benchies on that EVGA 8800GS getting 7 fps lower than a 8800GT in crysis (which is a game i'll be playing but don't really care on maxing it or high frames i'm not gonna go competitive with it so why care that much)

and EDIT: i'm on a budget and don't have enough for a 8800gt and the 9600 only gets 200 more points is 3DMark06
so it's either a choice of the GTS or GS

Quote: Best cpu for Source engine games and COD4? and I've seen benchies on that EVGA 8800GS getting 7 fps lower than a 8800GT in crysis (which is a game i'll be playing but don't really care on maxing it or high frames i'm not gonna go competitive with it so why care that much) and EDIT: i'm on a budget and don't have enough for a 8800gt and the 9600 only gets 200 more points is 3DMark06 so it's either a choice of the GTS or GS

That heavily overclocked GS might score higher than the GT in some scenarios, but crank up the resolution and it'll fall over. I wouldn't buy a card with less than 512mb VRAM these days....Slaymate speaks the truth.

3dMark 06 is hardly a representative test of graphics card performance...the CPU makes a huge difference; believe me, the 9600GT is a superior card.

Here's your solution:

Newegg.com - BIOSTAR V9603GT52 GeForce 9600GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - CPUs / Processors

Newegg.com - BUFFALO Firestix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

Newegg.com - Thermaltake M9 VI1000BWS Black SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases

Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX 450W ATX12V V2.2 Power Supply 90 - 264 V UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC Class B, TUV, CCC, C-tick - Power Supplies

Newegg.com - SCEPTRE X20WG-1080P Black 20.1" 5ms(GTG) Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 Built in Speakers - LCD Monitors

Newegg.com - PNY VCG96512GXPB GeForce 9600GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Newegg.com - APEVIA CF12S-UBL 120mm Case Fan - Case Fans x2

Newegg.com - ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - CPU Fans & Heatsinks

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-EP31-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P31 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards


879 Shipped. Any thing better for cheaper?

Quote: Originally Posted by reflux That heavily overclocked GS might score higher than the GT in some scenarios, but crank up the resolution and it'll fall over. I wouldn't buy a card with less than 512mb VRAM these days....Slaymate speaks the truth. 3dMark 06 is hardly a representative test of graphics card performance...the CPU makes a huge difference; believe me, the 9600GT is a superior card. Here's your solution: Newegg.com - BIOSTAR V9603GT52 GeForce 9600GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Thanks for the Support. The truth is hard for some people to believe. Especially when they start talking 3DMark06. Here's what I know about 3DMark06 and the New 3DMark Vantage. And I have a ton of scores for alot of CPU's and Video Cards that are public.

ORB - Compare
ORB - Compare

I'm sure the 9600 GT is also a good card. I just haven't actually touched one yet. I will and when I do I'll probably recommend it also.

Edit: My only complaint about your choices now is the Power Supply. 450 watts may work but your going to make it work at above 80% effiencey to power everything and have some headroom for expansion. With a new C2D system anything less than a 600 watt unit is just a problem in waiting. I'll look at different unit. Give me a few minutes.

I've never tried a BFG Power Supply but I might try this one.
Newegg.com - BFG Tech BFGR650PSU 650W ATX 12v 2.0 / EPS 12V Power Supply 115/ 230 V UL, CE, FCC CLASS B - Power Supplies

I'm using a CoolerMaster PS and I haven't had any problems. Mine is 1250 watts though.
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power RP-650-PCAR 650W ATX from factor 12V V2.01 Power Supply 115/ 230 V Safety Nemko, TUV, cUL, CE, BSMI, FCC, CCC - Power Supplies

This one is $25 more than your choice but it's a real Winner :-)
Newegg.com - PC Power & Cooling S610EPS 610W Continuous @ 40°C EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, cUL, CE, CB, TUV - Power Supplies

Quote: Originally Posted by Slaymate This one is $25 more than your choice but it's a real Winner :-) Newegg.com - PC Power & Cooling S610EPS 610W Continuous @ 40°C EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, cUL, CE, CB, TUV - Power Supplies

I was about to recommend that one ... I just picked it up for my new C2D / 8800GT rig.

-godling

This combo on the egg is pretty nice

Newegg.com - OCZ SLI-Ready Edition 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

get the 1066 SLI ram for 47$ and get the 8800GT 512 for 160ish After $70 in MIR's

That PSU is killer for that price, I'm buying one this week.

couple other good deals...
Coupon Codes, Promotional Codes and Discounts at CurrentCodes.com

actually a ot of them.

Quote: Originally Posted by nemwhaa Q6600 or E8400 also Newegg.com - EVGA 384-P3-N853-AR GeForce 8800GS Superclocked 384MB 192-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards or ZOTAC GeForce 8800 GTS 320mb | ZOTAC 8800 GTS 320MB | ZOTAC Geforce 8800GTS 320 MB | Nvidia Geforce 8800 GTS thanks guys!

One other factor some people might not consider...POWER consumption

If you pay your own electric bill, that is one factor to consider, over a 1 year period, if you leave your PC on all the time, the savings will add up. If you don't the environment and whomever pays the bill will certainly thank you!

Flat out..the 65NM Quad is going to be a power hog, think of it as a 6 passenger SUV that gets 12MPG, vs a 45NM E8400 that is more like a Corvette, tons of power for gaming, But can sip along at the gas station with 25MPG on the highway...but only carries 2 passengers.

The situation only gets worse when you OC a Quad...at full load, stock it sucks down 200 watts, and OC'd to a mild 3.3GHZ, how does 260 watts (GO stepping) and 277 for the B-3 grab ya!

AnandTech: Intel Core 2 Q6600 G0 Stepping: Cheap Quad Core Just Got Better

Your power requirements (PSU) go up to where a 500 watt power supply is going to be running at max load when your gaming, kinda like driving to work everday at 120MPH when the car tops out at 120MPH, it's not gonna last very long (Your better off in a car that can do 150MPH, so it doesn't have to strain so hard)

On to the video cards, the 9600GT is also a "Good Performer" in the power consumption dept. It uses a smaller process to manufacture the GPU then the 8800 series of cards...again reducing your electric bill, and reducing the size of a power supply you'll need.

Having 512MB of ram cannot be overstated as previously mentioned umpteen times by my esteemed associates

If your pinching pennies right now, the 8400 and 9600GT is going to be the winning combo for a miser that likes to have his cake and eat it too.

Yes...a Quad and a 8800GT will give you better synthetic scores (3D-06) but have a look at game framerates of todays most popular titles, it's not going to be a ton better.

Here is what they had to say about Crysis (Probably the toughest game on hardware on the shelves) in a 8800GT Vs. 9600GT shootout.

Quote: Both the MSI N9600GT 512M OC and GeForce 8800 GT 512 were playable at the exact same in-game settings in Crysis. The MSI N9600GT 512M and GeForce 8800 GT allowed us to play with a Shader Quality of “High” and the rest of the settings at “Medium”

[H] Enthusiast - MSI N9600GT 512M OC==

Also, if you have a SLI board, adding a second 9600GT down the road (If need be) will outrun a 9800GTX in most games!

One last thing, if you do find you need a "Quad" core down the road, the 45NM versions that are on the shelves right now are vastly superior in terms of power consumption, and are due for some healthy price cuts soon, and probably even more when the new Intel Nehalm CPU debuts later this year.

You have to reach 4.4GHZ on the new 45NM Quads to draw that same 260 watts as the old 65NM Quad...at 3.4GHZ, it consumes a miserly 77 watts, and an amazing 36 watts load and 7 watts idle at 2.4GHZ

If a 45NM quad is so miserly, you can bet the dual core version is even better!