E6420 vs 5600+

[Vixen]

I'm considering a pre-built system, and I've found two around the same price, with the only difference being the processor. I have no plans to overclock, I just want something that will play my games smoothly. Between the E6420 and 5600, which is better, and how significant is the difference?

 

[Vixen]

So the E6420 is a faster, better performing chip than the AMD? I won't be upgrading this system at all, at least not as far as changing the processor.

I'm looking at £410 for a pre-built system with the E6420 (with 2Gb PC5300, X1300pro, vista premium), does that sound reasonable?

 

[Vixen]

If your looking to play games smoothly then I wouldn't be buying a system with a X1300 in it. They aren't even comparible to a 6600GT. Ofcourse this is entirly dependant on what games you are speaking about, but don't expect more than 40 on HL2.

Can't see any decent pre-builds for your price range, building it not an option?

The main thing I play is WoW, which just isn't running on my current pc because the graphics card is getting old and dying. As I'm still running agp, it's only worth getting a new card if I replace everything else with it. My current card is a 9800pro, and before that I was running a 6600, so I'd figured the x1300 should be about equivalent to those.

I've had a lot of problems with pcs I've built/had built for me, and I just don't know enough any more to support one myself. I'd rather get a pre-build and know that someone else is there if things go wrong.

Would I be able to upgrade the graphics card to something like http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-059-OK&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=912 without any problems with vista? I know it doesn't like hardware changes, but I don't know how much can be changed.

 

[Vixen]

Yeah you could but it save you the money from buying 2 gfx cards if you built it yourself. It would be worth learning imo + you have the support from people here.

The X1300 is about 60% of a 6600GT.

How does the x1300 compare to a normal 6600? The one I had in my old pc wasn't a GT, and it ran all the games that I wanted.

Thanks for your help btw .

 

[Vixen]

The x1300 is a good for nothing card. Before you opt for pre built, why dont you try & price up a custom system, its not that hard to do & there is lots of help online & here.

My last few systems I've had, I've built myself or my ex built for me. I've struggled to get the help I needed for previous problems, and now I just really want something that someone else has to fix.

My current system is my boyfriends old one, which is a 3800, 1GB pc3200 and a dying 9800pro.

 

[Vixen]

Don't forget no matter what pre-built system you buy none of it will include software support. I don't know if that's what you were refering to when you said you just want someone else to have to take care of it.

As for the choice of CPU I'd have to say go with the AMD an X2 5600 is a very fast chip at it's stock speed, mind you if this system is a pre-built from a small manufacturer they may upgrade the E6420 to an E6750 after the price cuts, if this was the case then I'd go with the Core 2 CPU.

X1300 card it not worth the IC's it's made from imho, it will probably be the same speed or slower than your 9800 Pro, can you not find one with even a meagre 8500GT or 7600GS?

Software I can handle. My last pc had lots of weird problems, like a hard drive disappearing, which I asked lots of people about, but they said it would be impossible to fix without physically being there and testing it all themselves.

For Intel, the E6420 is the max upgrade. As far as graphics are concerned, the next card they offer adds £100 to the cost, or there isn't even a choice to upgrade.