Tax Refund Coming Soon! Need advice!

P

Paperbag_Writer

Poster
Joined
Dec 20, 2008
Messages
120
So im using my upcoming tax refund to build a new pc and i could use some advice. Should i go core 2 duo or core 2 quad? i know the Intel 8xxx series is smoking fast, but would going quad future proof my pc a bit? Also ive noticed that modular power supplies are more expensive, so is the neatness they provide worth the premium?

Also ATI or Nvidia? i know the 4000 series is suppose to be really good but ive only ever had Nvidia.

(BTW i have ZERO experience with AMD so let me know if you think that would be better!)

Thanks.
 
Well, the truth is (and its a sad truth) that game companies just don't seem to want to use multiple cores. Sure, there were some demos at E3 and other stuff like that where big companies like EA showed off their latest multi-core alpha games, but it's going to take a long time in my opinion for a game to ever use 4 cores, when we don't even see games using TWO cores today. I have a quad myself (Q6600, 2.4ghz Kentfield) and I haven't had any problems. It's not the bottleneck at all, the bottleneck for any of my computers has never been the CPU, but rather than the graphics card. If you have the money, I'd say get a slightly less powerful CPU and a more powerful GPU. That being said, I multitask a lot, and often run bunches of programs behind the scenes, thus making a quad-core useful. I also do a bit of 3d modeling and so rendering is twice as fast with a quad core than a dual since rendering is one of the few things that can use more than 1 core. However, if you're just going for raw power, a quad-core isn't going to help too much over a dual core, even if games do come out with support for quad-core in the future. It's still going to be the graphics card that's the bottleneck most likely.

Whooo, that was a long rant. Hope it helps!

Oh, and I have no clue what ATI is like, I've also always used NVidia. Neither do I have any experience with AMD, but they're always releasing chips on par with Intel's previous generation, they're finally getting around to quad cores while Intel's got the fancy i7 stuff. I've also heard stories about AMD that were bad, but then again, I've never used it so don't take my word for it.
 
all depends on how much $$$$ you want to spend..
I have built gaming rigs from 600 too 2500 for ppl.
 
Definitely get a quad core CPU, because it will, as you said, future proof your PC.

I've used both ATI and nvidia, and ATI runs cooler, quieter and more efficient, but nvidia was typically more powerful (until the 4000 series was released.)
 
AMD Phenom II is definitely great. Esepcially for gamers that are always looking for better value. In some cases Phenom II (the fastest version with 3.0 GHz) was able to out run SOME of the applications on benchmarks when pitted against Intel's iCore 7 parts. BUT do remember that it did get it's butt handed by some of the older Inter Quad core Extreme editions as well.

The only reason I would not recommend getting the new Phenom just yet is the fact that AM3 socket mobos are not out yet. Which means you do not have the choice of using DDR3 (Intel iCore 7 does). I am personally waiting for those motherboards before doing an upgrade myself.

Far as nVidia vs ATI, they are both great, if you want the ABSOLUTE fastest card and have money to burn nVidia is way to go. If you want to save a few bucks but still get GREAT frame rates ATI is the way to go. Do remember that 4750 does not lag behind the GTX 280 by much.

We keep hearing that the Quad Core is the future and in sense it is, BUT we also see that both Intel and AMD using their new quad core fabrications to create just dual cores. Quad core I'm sure will be the standard but we can never be sure when that they'll come, we can predict it but if you're building on a budget, dual cores will get the job done until the world fully moves onto quad cores and hex cores and octo cores.
 
Intel has better stress testing then AMD, its better for your $$ but for everyday gaming, and regular work, it wouldn't be notice-able..

I personally perfer Nvidia over ATI, I went through two of my old ATI's (they replaced it once), both cards blew up after about 2 months of use, playing no more then CS:S. I now have a BFG Nvidia 8600 GT (got it for free from a friend) and have had NO issues whats so ever. It never over heats, the drivers and tools found for nvidia are great, etc etc.
 
it all comes down on What you want sure i could say get this or that but you got to look at the Facts sure the core i7 is easy to Overclock and it smokes all the quadcores in the world right not but I would go with the Phenom II as ive used AMD and never had a problem with it but thats me sure you can get a UBER fast duel core but how long will that last??? 2 years? 1 year? 6 months?? you never know so i would recommend a quad but now it comes to Core i7 or Phenom II?? o0o0o0o the choices :\ so lets look at this starting with the core i7 920 its stock 2.66GHz and ive seen people Overclock it to 4.2 and up on air alone within 10 min and all said and done thats SMOKEN fast but for gaming you MIGHT see a small increase in preformence maybe, maybe not depending on the rest of your rig but the starting point for the 920 is 300$ but that doesn't include the new tripple channel ram your gunna need or the motherboard and all in all a new core i7 system you looken at a min of 600ish and up so thats my rant for the i7 and now for the Phenom II. ok the Phenom II is made by AMD like any CPU it can be OC'ed maybe not as much as an intel chip and right now for the top of the line Phenom II its only like 300$ and if you use ATI GPU's you make a spider system i think its call were all the parts are made by AMD and is spose to run better together so maybe going Phenom II with a 4870X2 could out preform a core i7 with a 4870X2 you never know but what it rlly comes down to is what you like. Nvida? ATI? this is what I would recommend, if you are gunna but a Nvida vid card go with Intel as a chipset and if you go ATI for a vid card make a AMD system but what it comes down is what you want but always remember this :D ---> Nvida = POWER. ATI/AMD = Cheaper but still AMAZING



wow BIG rant LOL



EDIT: lol forgot to talk about modular power supplies :D ok so this is the quick run down. neet case = better air flow. better air flow = cooler computer. cooler computer = better preformence. so to rap it up its EASY to do cable management depending on the case you buy even with a normal Power supply but a Modular one could also be worth it cause if you dont need Said cord you can take it off so less wires = easy cable management. so if you like me and LOVES a neet clean case get a Modular but if you dont care just buy a non-modular PSU and hid all the unused cables and problem solved and some advice to all who read this take some time one day look in your case if you see wires all around take the time to organize it you never know it might look rlly nice ill post a pic of mine as and example :D


ok the 2 pic are of my computer with a NON-modular PSU and its good but it would look WAY better if i had a Modular one


100_0857.jpg

|
|
this one is the other side VARY little room for cables but i manage

100_0858.jpg


what it comes down to is do you have the cash i would recommend a modular PSU but if you don't got the cash for it then get a reg one it doesn't matter


for an example of MESSY cable management look at the links

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m178/Tyrannusstaghelm/001-2.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s145/Coreyhm1/DSCF2659.jpg
with some time and a modular PSU it would be Clean and something that you would be like look at that awesome-ness and to top it off it keeps the computer's airflows really good and in some cases it could drop the temp by 5-10 Celsius just but hiding wires
 
Last edited:
Evil-Jester said:
it all comes down on What you want sure i could say get this or that but you got to look at the Facts sure the core i7 is easy to Overclock and it smokes all the quadcores in the world right not but I would go with the Phenom II as ive used AMD and never had a problem with it but thats me sure you can get a UBER fast duel core but how long will that last??? 2 years? 1 year? 6 months?? you never know so i would recommend a quad but now it comes to Core i7 or Phenom II?? o0o0o0o the choices : so lets look at this starting with the core i7 920 its stock 2.66GHz and ive seen people Overclock it to 4.2 and up on air alone within 10 min and all said and done thats SMOKEN fast but for gaming you MIGHT see a small increase in preformence maybe, maybe not depending on the rest of your rig but the starting point for the 920 is 300$ but that doesn't include the new tripple channel ram your gunna need or the motherboard and all in all a new core i7 system you looken at a min of 600ish and up so thats my rant for the i7 and now for the Phenom II. ok the Phenom II is made by AMD like any CPU it can be OC'ed maybe not as much as an intel chip and right now for the top of the line Phenom II its only like 300$ and if you use ATI GPU's you make a spider system i think its call were all the parts are made by AMD and is spose to run better together so maybe going Phenom II with a 4870X2 could out preform a core i7 with a 4870X2 you never know but what it rlly comes down to is what you like. Nvida? ATI? this is what I would recommend, if you are gunna but a Nvida vid card go with Intel as a chipset and if you go ATI for a vid card make a AMD system but what it comes down is what you want but always remember this :D ---> Nvida = POWER. ATI/AMD = Cheaper but still AMAZING



wow BIG rant LOL



EDIT: lol forgot to talk about modular power supplies :D ok so this is the quick run down. neet case = better air flow. better air flow = cooler computer. cooler computer = better preformence. so to rap it up its EASY to do cable management depending on the case you buy even with a normal Power supply but a Modular one could also be worth it cause if you dont need Said cord you can take it off so less wires = easy cable management. so if you like me and LOVES a neet clean case get a Modular but if you dont care just buy a non-modular PSU and hid all the unused cables and problem solved and some advice to all who read this take some time one day look in your case if you see wires all around take the time to organize it you never know it might look rlly nice ill post a pic of mine as and example :D


ok the 2 pic are of my computer with a NON-modular PSU and its good but it would look WAY better if i had a Modular one


IMAGE
|
|
this one is the other side VARY little room for cables but i manage

IMAGE

what it comes down to is do you have the cash i would recommend a modular PSU but if you don't got the cash for it then get a reg one it doesn't matter


for an example of MESSY cable management look at the links

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m178/Tyrannusstaghelm/001-2.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s145/Coreyhm1/DSCF2659.jpg
with some time and a modular PSU it would be Clean and something that you would be like look at that awesome-ness and to top it off it keeps the computer's airflows really good and in some cases it could drop the temp by 5-10 Celsius just but hiding wires
Click to expand...
Wow, that messy PC looks exactly like mine. :(
 
Hmm......short and sweet. You should get the quad core CPU because it will in fact, future proof you're computer. Also, I have personally used ATI only, and I recommend it.
 
Hey thanks for all the input guys! Ive decided I'm definitely gonna go quad core, and im leaning towards an ATI Video card. It seems that the 4000 series is the better value when it comes to price versus performance. I'm not exactly sure what my budget will be, probably around 800-1000 dollars and i'd like to put together something that will last me a couple of years (not counting the occasional GPU upgrade). I've already got a decent case, and i have a monitor that im not in love with but will do for now. As for power supplies, i havent decided if im gonna go modular or not. The one i have currently is not, and i HATE having all these extra cables stuffed to the side.
 
if you do go ATI go with an AMD CPU and get the new top of the line one onlt 300$ at 3GHz and will last a few years to come
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top