p4 3.6 system vs core2 duo e3600 system

[GeX]

hi guys and gals, wondering if anyone can offer me any help here.

my pc has packed up, and im quite skint. due to the age of my old one i need to replace the mobo, cpu, ram and gfx. I have gfx card lined up - but am unsure where to go re cpu, mobo and ram.

i'm tempted to go core2 duo based, with this bundle

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BU-036-OK&groupid=701&catid=339&subcat=

or, a friend of mine is upgrading his system and has offered me his old cpu and mobo for £100. this consists of a P4 3.6ghz with 2mb cache and an Abit NI8 SLI (LGA 775). then of course i've have to get some ram, like this?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-057-GL

So that'd cost me £266 for the e3600 setup, or £160 ish for the p4 setup. Is it worth me going to the e3600. I dont really use my system for games, but have recently begun playing with photo editing. The NI8 does not support the duo CPU's as far as i know, so that leaves any scope for future expansion out.

what do you reckon?

 

[steve258]

Both will be fine for your needs so it's pretty much down to how much you are willing to spend really. But the E6300 certainly performs better and uses a lot less power, not to mention the ability to upgrade to quad-core cpu in the future.

The E6300 would be a better investment.