Looking for a new system

[TakalQc]

Hello Blind ^^

After installing Starcraft 2, I realised I needed a new system. My old HP desktop PC's not doing so good anymore...
So now, I'm decided to refresh my stuff a little bit, and buy a brand new system! What I am looking for, though, is not the PC of the year. In fact, I would buy a system similar to lelorien's, in terms of performance and especially of price.

I came to a local computer store, which has decent prices but limited stock, and after talking with one of the technicians, I came up with two processors in mind:

Intel Core 2 duo E8500 http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku= ... ture=Intel

Intel Core i5 650 http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku= ... ture=Intel

The Core 2 Duo looks slightly better in terms of numbers, but the i5 being newer technology kind of confuses me. Which of these would be a smarter choice?

***Also! This is what the technician told me, which I doubt to be true:

If I'd go with the 1156 chipset, it would be a better idea to go with this:

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku= ... ture=Intel

He told me that this lower clocked QUAD was better for gaming than the i5 DUO, and that the DUO was better fot usual desktop applications.
I have serious doubts about this. What do you think?

[Blín D'ñero]

Hello TakalQc.
He's right: go i5 750 Quad. Especially games with complicated AI, strategy games, but also physics; also Physx in software mode (some games only use that, for instance NFS:Shift), so even with an nVidia card quad cpu would be better. Newer games tend to be more and more multi-threaded. Anyone who upgrades PC now, and gaming and multimedia is important, should go i5 (or a little more expensive i7) quad.

[TakalQc]

Really? Quad?
That surprises me. You told the fake lelorien, when he bought his system, that a lower clocked quad was not a good choice for games compared with duo.

I guess that changed with technologies. It's been 2 years since you said that
The price of the i5 quad's not much higher than the 2 others, and if it's really a smart choice between these processors, I think I'd go for it!

The thing is...

Would a LGA1156 chipset system be much more expensive than a LGA775 chipset system? That's why I considered the Core 2 Duo, being LGA775.

Also, the technician at the computer store told me that a 500W PSU wasn't enough at all for a QUAD processor, which kind of makes sense. Is that right?

Thanks in advance ^^

[Blín D'ñero]

Yeah two years ago... but for performance in today's games, on Vista / Windows 7 things have changed dramatically.
For instance, a game like NFS:Shift that use software Physx
on E8400:

On i7 920:


RTS games put a similar load on the CPU. The more threads simultaneously, the more benefit from a quad.

In fact the LGA1156 system isn't much more expensive, but you start from scratch: new cpu, motherboard, RAM. Probably PSU too, because i doubt you already have a highly efficient high quality ATX 2.3 one.

The i5 750 consumes 90 W, when not overclocked. A videocard will draw more. Look at your whole system, and add some headroom. Don't let the system draw the PSU's full capacity constantly, so make sure it's heavier than strictly needed. And only buy quality brand PSU. See for instance Jonny Guru's review of Corsair HX850.

[TakalQc]

I've looked up a little and I came up with something like this:

CPU
Motherboard Not too sure about this
Case
RAM
HDD
DVD writer
Soundcard: maybe I'll put an Audigy in this

Now, did I miss something?
Ah, yeah! PSU (and maybe other parts )!! Well, since I have no idea what juice this system will take, I'll let you look at it and recommend me some

[Blín D'ñero]

And the videocard? Or two (SLI / Crossfire) in future?

That RAM you chose isn't compatible; you need DDR3 ram.

[Blín D'ñero]

Suggestion:

Motherboard: the one you chose is fine but basic and budget on the components. While the CPU you chose is not budget. And you want to enjoy your new pc for a long time, and being a gamer your type of useage will be intensive. Another reason that motherboard is not ideal might you later want to fo crossfire: the second pci-e is 4x.
This one: Asus P7P55D EVO is much better, and it conveniently has 2 legacy PCI slots for the audigy soundcard you want. After Mail In Rebate: $169.99 CAD
2 x Corsair XMS3 CMX4GX3M2A1600C7 4GB DDR3 2X2GB DDR3-1600 CL 7-8-7-20 Core i5 Dual Channel Memory Kit 2 x $124.99 = $250.- CAD
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB 7200RPM 32MB Dual Proc 3.5IN SATA Hard Drive OEM 5YR Mfg Warranty $65.- CAD. I would take two of them, for backup reason.
PSU: Corsair Professional HX650W 650W ATX 12V 52A 24PIN ATX Modular Power Supply Active PFC 120MM Fan After Mail In Rebate: $139.99 CAD if you stay single videocard. If you might want to go high-end crossfire later, better take the 750W

[TakalQc]

Ah, yeah, I forgot to mention. I will keep my Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 from my actual PC, and crossfire it one day.

Talking about Crossfire, I have 2 questions:
1-Is it possible to Crossfire two cards from different families? For example, a HD 4xxx and a HD 5xxx
2-Does the Crossfire offer a huge difference in graphical performances compared with a single card??

RAM: I though DDR2 worked on DDR3 motherboards >.< So the RAM you proposed is fine. I'll only take one 2x2GB pack though, for now.
Just one question: Is DDR3 that much better in comparison with DDR2?

Motherboard: I understand your point, and the P7P55D EVO looks like a great choice, but I'll take the PRO version instead. It's cheaper and not much different from the EVO version.

HDD: Backup reason?

PSU: I need you to answer my previous questions before

[Blín D'ñero]

Oh, will you stay with HD4850? Then you miss out on DX11. I initially thought you were going for full speed all the way for a top system. But i sense money is an issue. Sorry i misunderstood.
1. No, HD4xxx and HD5xxx cannot be crossfired. Try to find another (preferrably an identical) HD4850 and start crossfiring asap, you'll get the most out of your 'previous generation'.
2. Depending on which cards combination, a second one can give roughly 60% performance increase, in some games 80%, in some only 20. In the reviews you always see HD5870 crossfire hovering at the top amongst the other high end solutions.
DDR3 works differently. Besides, the P55 system works with much higher clockspeeds. You chose PC2-8500... well the set i suggested is common ddr3 and twice as fast.
Backup reason: a hddrive can always fail, so good to have your documents on another

[TakalQc]

Yes, I have a budget I do want a good system, but I have a price limit that I have to respect. That's why I try to reduce cost as much as possible

RAM: I found a similar RAM to the one you proposed: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php? ... omoid=1008
It really looks identical, in fact, but it's cheaper. What's the difference with this one: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php? ... omoid=1008 ?

HDD: I'll stick with one. I've never had one that failed, so I'll take the risk.

Crossfire: I've found two survivors (Geez! My card's already that old!!! Oo) to stack up with my actual Sapphire Radeon HD 4850:
Gigabyte 512MB
Powercolor 1GB
Would be be better to have the same exact model (the 512MB) or the 1GB would offer better performance ? (I guess the 1GB would, but we never know )