Choosing A Cpu And Gpu

[G-T-R]

I've been building a computer over the last couple of months and now just down to picking a cpu and gpu

Price isn't really a issue

And the computer is going to be used for games net music and photoshop

The 3 cpu I've narrowed it down to are

Q9650 3ghz quad

Q9550 2.83ghz quad

E8600 3.33ghz duo

The three graphics cards are

Gtx280-285

4870x2

Gx2

Would go for the gtx295 but because there new there still selling for a bit even second hand

Just want to know what you think

Cheers

[R31Nismoid]

E8400

Price of the E8600 doesnt dictate the gains, its nearly double a E8400. A E8400 will clock 4.0ghz on air with ease. Mine is 4.3ghz with a little bit of love.

Your not doing hardcore encoding, so a Duo Core all the way.

Two questions remain

What games are you playing?

What screen/resolution?

That said, wait a month or two if possible. The 4890 is coming soon and pricing will change

[G-T-R]

Playing new games like far cry 2, oblivion, call of duty

And gonna be playing on high def 1920 1080

[R31Nismoid]

GTX295 1.8GB - $820

4870x2 2GB - $729

GTX280 900mb - $500

4870 1GB - $350

4870x2 over a GTX280 really. Multi GPU vs Single there.

For the extra $220 you get a nice chunk, but then for the extra $100 you get again, a not-too-bad increase.

Some graphs using FarCry2

GTX280 vs 4870x2

http://www.guru3d.com/article/his-radeon-h...048mb-review/11

GTX280, GTX295, 4870x2

http://anandtech.com/GalleryImage.aspx?id=5495

And some others

http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-295-review-bfg/11

http://www.guru3d.com/article/palit-revolu...70-x2-review/10

http://www.guru3d.com/article/asus-geforce...iew-engtx295/11

Only issue is new released games ATI seem to lag behind for driver updates... so if your going to jump on a new game the week its out - NVIDIA, if you can wait a month, ATI

GPU's are a real nightmare to choose at the moment, i need an upgrade but im holding till the 4890 release to see where prices go and then see if the field filters out a little easier as each price increase offers reasonable gains.

To play FarCry2 etc @ a reasonable rate GTX280 would do it, 4870x2 do very well better, GTX295 very well also

[25GTT]

Yup as R31 Nismoid said, another E8400 convert here, still love it and happy with the cpu!

I am not as hardcore as R31Nismoid in the clocking but mine runs nicely at just 3.3 ghz (only a .3 ghz step up) but could do more when games actually require it.

So save the money and get the e8400 core, great overclocker and value for money!

I run farcry2 with a older 9800GTx card fine with most settings at optimal, i love the 4870x2 and if i had the money would get it, however, i still think it may be a little bit overkill for some of todays games though, i wish someone would actually bring out a game that could use its full capabilities.

Most of the games i am playing I am able to max out still on my old 9800GTX "most" not crysis though, that thing kills it :-)