Focus on GPU or CPU?

scriblesvurt · 26 Jan 2008 at 20:00

Hello,

Trying to build a new system and don't really know that much about it! I'm looking to spend around £200 - £250 Decided to go with AMD as I have always had AMD. Will mostly be using it for Second Life and Games. Just got a new TFT which I run @ 1440 by 900 and wont be getting anew one or bothered about HD!

What should I focus my money into? CPU or GPU?

I have found a palit 8600GT 256mb for £46 notes.. Will this card be ok?
Was thinking of going with the

AMD 5000 + black edition or (4800 much difference for the 18 quid?)
2 gig ddr2 800mhz ram
Gigabyte GA-M52S-S3P (rev 1.0) Can't find any reviews of this MOBO
and probably a palit 8600GT.

Would it be better to get a 4800 CPU and spend more money getting a:
256MB PowerColor HD 3850 £105?

Any advice much appreciated! Saved ages for this and don't want to mess it up! :-)

jak731 · 26 Jan 2008 at 20:01

are you overclocking the CPU?

if intel is an option,

Your basket
Product Name Qty Price Line Total
OCZ 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C4 Dual Channel Platinum Revision 2 XTC Series DDR2 (OCZ2P800R22GK) £21.99
(£25.84) £21.99
(£25.84)
OcUK Value IP35 Pro Intel P35 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £49.99
(£58.74) £49.99
(£58.74)
OcUK ATI Radeon HD 3850 Pro 512MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail £94.99
(£111.61) £94.99
(£111.61)
Intel Core 2 Duo E2200 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.20GHz (800FSB) - Retail £49.99
(£58.74) £49.99
(£58.74)
Sub Total : £216.96
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
City Link Parcel Next Day (Delivered Mon-Fri)
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £8.95
VAT is being charged at 17.5% VAT : £39.53
Total : £265.44

the CPU will easily OC to at least 3GHz.
the OCUK 3850 has more memory so will be better at higher res and maybe newer games that has textures needing more memory

Ben M · 26 Jan 2008 at 20:05

scriblesvurt said:
Hello,

Decided to go with AMD as I have always had AMD.

personally I'd go with intel, because they are better.

jak's spec looks good, I personally would replace the 2200 with a 2180+ a good cooler though

jak731 · 26 Jan 2008 at 20:09

there is little price difference between the 2 and with the higher multiplier, i would prefer the e2200 over the e2180. although what you said about getting a good cooler is true, depending on how much the person wants to OC.

scriblesvurt · 26 Jan 2008 at 20:17

Thanks Very thougher reply! So i'm guessing you guys would really go for the 3850 then. I don;t really know anything about overclocking but fancy having a go. How would this setup compare to a AMD 4800?

Thanks,

S

jak731 · 26 Jan 2008 at 20:19

at stock the e2180 or 2200 will be just about the same, when OC'ed it will blow the 4800 away.

if you need help OCing there are enough people here to help you

Ben M · 26 Jan 2008 at 20:35

jak731 said:
there is little price difference between the 2 and with the higher multiplier, i would prefer the e2200 over the e2180. although what you said about getting a good cooler is true, depending on how much the person wants to OC.

Oh yeah, only £4 haha. I went on the basis that the difference would be the same as the cost of a cooler

2200 all the way then, but it's worth a few extra quid for a cooler

pegasus1 · 26 Jan 2008 at 23:45

jak731 said:
are you overclocking the CPU?

if intel is an option,

Your basket
Product Name Qty Price Line Total
OCZ 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C4 Dual Channel Platinum Revision 2 XTC Series DDR2 (OCZ2P800R22GK) £21.99
(£25.84) £21.99
(£25.84)
OcUK Value IP35 Pro Intel P35 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £49.99
(£58.74) £49.99
(£58.74)
OcUK ATI Radeon HD 3850 Pro 512MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail £94.99
(£111.61) £94.99
(£111.61)
Intel Core 2 Duo E2200 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.20GHz (800FSB) - Retail £49.99
(£58.74) £49.99
(£58.74)
Sub Total : £216.96
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
City Link Parcel Next Day (Delivered Mon-Fri)
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £8.95
VAT is being charged at 17.5% VAT : £39.53
Total : £265.44

the CPU will easily OC to at least 3GHz.
the OCUK 3850 has more memory so will be better at higher res and maybe newer games that has textures needing more memory

You dont need PC 6400 ram if you go for a CPU with a high multi, an E2180 for example at stock fsb on its 10 multi will give you 3.3ghz with PC 5400 at stock speed.

jak731 · 27 Jan 2008 at 01:51

until this week only changes, i think the OCZ ram is some of the cheapest 2x1GB kits available, so thats why i spec'ed it.

pegasus1 · 27 Jan 2008 at 09:52

jak731 said:
until this week only changes, i think the OCZ ram is some of the cheapest 2x1GB kits available, so thats why i spec'ed it.

I know its more expensive but i would go for;
OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-5400C5 Dual Channel Vista Upgrade Gold Series DDR2 at £52, i think this would allow a better upgrade path.