Need cpu/mobo

[TheNapkin]

my budget is $250-$300.

current specs:

ati 4850
4gb ddr2 ram
650w psu

I've had bad experiences with AMD, so I'd prefer Intel.


I was thinking along the lines of an E8400/E8500 or a quad core. I'm not too good with hardware, so I wouldn't know. I just need something to rip BC2/TF2 apart. :P

Thanks

[iLevi]

Motherboard
Cpu
What I'm gonna build.

[joemtnbike]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...1&name=1333MHz

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131347

Under $300

Originally Posted by iLevi

Cpu+mobo combo dual core i5
Cpu+mobo combo quad core i5
These will both rip tf2 apart for sure.

that is a DDR3 board. OP specified DDR2 RAM

[iLevi]

Originally Posted by joemtnbike

that is a DDR3 board. OP specified DDR2 RAM

Oops, you're right.

[joemtnbike]

Originally Posted by iLevi

Oops, you're right.

I did the same thing and had to edit my post.

[TheNapkin]

thank you both for the suggestions. I can't decide between the E8500 now or an intel quad core. Reason being, I heard some dual cores out perform quad cores. Should I get a quad or stick with dual core? haha

also joemtnbike, that mobo wont work with my ram. my ram is 800, the one you listed i think is 1066?

[joemtnbike]

Originally Posted by TheNapkin

thank you both for the suggestions. I can't decide between the E8500 now or an intel quad core. Reason being, I heard some dual cores out perform quad cores. Should I get a quad or stick with dual core? haha

also joemtnbike, that mobo wont work with my ram. my ram is 800, the one you listed i think is 1066?

For your budget you will want to go with Dual core. If you want a Quad that performs as well you will need to go up to Q9550 or better.
Most games still don't gain an advantage with quad core anyway.

It will still run DDR2 800 it just also supports faster RAM as well.

[iLevi]

Originally Posted by joemtnbike

I did the same thing and had to edit my post.

I did so too.

[TheNapkin]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103675

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-618-_-Product

but also, what about this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-696-_-Product

any real difference?

is it also true amd runs 10 degrees hotter than intel? is there any intel cpu equivalent to this at a good price?

thanks

[joemtnbike]

Originally Posted by TheNapkin

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103675

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-618-_-Product

but also, what about this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-696-_-Product

any real difference?

is it also true amd runs 10 degrees hotter than intel? is there any intel cpu equivalent to this at a good price?

thanks

the difference is in the TDP on the processors. The 95W AMD will run cooler than the 125W AMD

I have an AMD PhenomII x4 940 That I OC to 3.6GHz and an Intel E8400 Dual Core that I OC to 3.8GHz.

Both generate about the same amount of heat and both perform about the same.(in both synthetic benchmarks and real in game experience)

I can't comment about how they produce heat at native speeds but either will be fine.

the Intel can handle higher temps than the AMD.
Both are good choices.

For the $$ you save the AMD setup is a good choice and you get Quad core which gives you a bit of future proofing as games and programs start to take advantage of more than 2 cores.

Motherboard: EVGA 111-CD-E630-TR LGA 1156 Intel H55
Processor: Intel Core i3-530 Clarkdale 2.93GHz 4MB L3 Cache
Memory: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333

[TheNapkin]

Originally Posted by TheTempest

Motherboard: EVGA 111-CD-E630-TR LGA 1156 Intel H55
Processor: Intel Core i3-530 Clarkdale 2.93GHz 4MB L3 Cache
Memory: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333

I like that build, but I don't think my case can use micro atx mobos. Can you recommend another? :S

ty

[lo3.explicit]

any atx case can use matx motherboards

Originally Posted by TheNapkin

I like that build, but I don't think my case can use micro atx mobos. Can you recommend another? :S

ty

And, unless you want the new Pentium or whatever (which sucks/not worth it), you'd have to go a little over budget to get an ATX motherboard.

[TheNapkin]

ok so I'm either going with TheTempest's build, or:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131393
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115131

and keep my ddr2 ram. Any thoughts? I can get the extra $44 easily if I go ddr3. I just want to know what I should do.