Mid-range quads

aaron333 · 9 Jan 2010 at 21:33

I'm going to build a new PC soon enough and need to decide on the basis of the system.

Being an Intel fanboy the natural choice would be the Q82/3/400 CPU's. AMD have the PII X4 940 to offer but i'm really not too sure.

Is there much difference between them?

It'll be used for work, WLM/MSN, facebook, ect. Nothing overly demanding.

easyrider · 9 Jan 2010 at 22:47

aaron333 said:
It'll be used for work, WLM/MSN, facebook, ect. Nothing overly demanding.

Then why get a quad?

GizmoTheMogwai · 9 Jan 2010 at 22:58

If it's purely for browsing and light apps, then a e5300 would be a good choice.

golwg · 9 Jan 2010 at 23:05

Getting a quad now is still a good idea as you never know when you will use the full capacity of it. If you want a quad, get one. Prices are very good at the moment too. Be pointless getting anything else!

easyrider · 9 Jan 2010 at 23:08

golwg said:
Getting a quad now is still a good idea as you never know when you will use the full capacity of it. If you want a quad, get one. Prices are very good at the moment too. Be pointless getting anything else!

I hope you are not suggesting the OP build a new PC based on S775?

golwg · 9 Jan 2010 at 23:17

AMD seems like a good route to take. S775 is definitely not worth entertaining! Thought you would know that Easy?

easyrider · 9 Jan 2010 at 23:21

golwg said:
AMD seems like a good route to take. S775 is definitely not worth entertaining! Thought you would know that Easy?

I would have thought a

I3 530 and gigabyte mobo for 175 quid would be the ticket.

No need for GFX and will run all the OP needs flawlessly

easyrider · 9 Jan 2010 at 23:23

golwg said:
AMD seems like a good route to take. S775 is definitely not worth entertaining! Thought you would know that Easy?

Then why say?

golwg said:
Getting a quad now is still a good idea as you never know when you will use the full capacity of it. If you want a quad, get one. Prices are very good at the moment too. Be pointless getting anything else!

golwg · 9 Jan 2010 at 23:28

easyrider said:
I hope you are not suggesting the OP build a new PC based on S775?

Then why ask?

reflux · 9 Jan 2010 at 23:29

Socket 775 is out. Quads are a waste of money for those uses. I'd go for an i3 and cheapo mobo personally.

easyrider · 9 Jan 2010 at 23:40

reflux said:
I'd go for an i3 and cheapo mobo personally.

Finally someone with sense

golwg · 9 Jan 2010 at 23:52

Might be a waste of money to you but i think quad is the way to go. As prices are great why choose anything else.

You can get a superb setup with AMD too. If the OP wants to go the quad route, and he has the money, then i say go for it!

How much ram have you got in your PC easy? 4gig? Why 4gig? PC doesn't use that much does it! You still have the ram there though!

aaron333 · 9 Jan 2010 at 23:56

easyrider said:
Then why get a quad?

Because I can? Funds allow so why not?

Plus, I might play *some* pc exclusives. But for the majority of games, my PS3 would play them.

Ok, so S775 is out of the question

I'm looking to make this PC Futureproof. I know there is no such with, with technology coming thick and fast but I believe a quad would allow me to do so.

golwg · 10 Jan 2010 at 00:00

I agree aaron333.

If you want a quad then get one. AMD do some nice CPU's and are worth checking out.

easyrider · 10 Jan 2010 at 00:01

aaron333 said:
Because I can? Funds allow so why not?

Plus, I might play *some* pc exclusives. But for the majority of games, my PS3 would play them.

Ok, so S775 is out of the question

I'm looking to make this PC Futureproof. I know there is no such with, with technology coming thick and fast but I believe a quad would allow me to do so.

Then get a quad.

Maybe you should have said that in your opening post.

I specced a pc based on the usage you stated in the opening post.

You said

"It'll be used for work, WLM/MSN, facebook, ect. Nothing overly demanding"

Thats why I never specced a quad. I still think a i3 530 will be fine for your needs. Yu can always drop a quad in down the line if you ever need it.

easyrider · 10 Jan 2010 at 00:02

golwg said:
How much ram have you got in your PC easy? 4gig? Why 4gig? PC doesn't use that much does it! You still have the ram there though!

4GB ram is very easy to max out.

Try running some memory intensive apps some time

golwg · 10 Jan 2010 at 00:03

More cost again if he decides to 'drop a quad in down the line'.

Just get a quad now and be done with. You want one so get the best you can afford. Let us know what you plump for.

aaron333 · 10 Jan 2010 at 00:09

easyrider said:
Then get a quad.

Maybe you should have said that in your opening post.

I specced a pc based on the usage you stated in the opening post.

You said

"It'll be used for work, WLM/MSN, facebook, ect. Nothing overly demanding"

Thats why I never specced a quad. I still think a i3 530 will be fine for your needs. Yu can always drop a quad in down the line if you ever need it.

Yup, should have done. And I'm partially with you here, on average a higher clocked dual performs as well as a quad in gaming.

I'll keep you posted on what I do decide to go with.

liquidex · 10 Jan 2010 at 04:27

Think you might as well step up and get an i5 750 if you are going for a quad instead of thinking of an i3. Only £40 more for the step up in performance.

Otherwise if you want to save monies then maybe an Athlon X4. That will still be easily good enough for what you want to do. Either go all out or go cheap