Spec check:

[theforce]

Always wise to get a second opinion about stuff.
Want to upgrade since my PC is struggling in recent video games like Crysis, ARMA, Stalker at good resolutions. I also multitask a lot using Photoshop, Coreldraw and other proggies at the same time.

Currently have an X2 4200+ @ 2.6 / Abit AN8 / PC3200 4X512 Geil value ram and an x1800xl video card. Think the weak chain is my video card at the moment.

I can't decide between these two options:

1. CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 "Energy Efficient SLACR 95W Edition" 2.40GHz £150.39

2. Motherboard: Abit IP35 Pro (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £117.49

3. RAM: GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 £37.59

4. CPU cooler: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket LGA775) £17.61

+Delivery £27.55

Total: £350.63
or

1. CPU: AMD Phenom Quad Core 9500+ £152.74

2. Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA790X-DS4 AMD 790X (Socket AM2) £105.74

3. RAM: GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C4 800MHz £37.59

4. CPU cooler: Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro PWM CPU Cooler £14.09

+Delivery £29.50

Total: £339.66


From what i know the Intel solution should be faster at stock. What realistic overclock shall i be expecting from these processors on average? They are going in a decent case( thermaltake tsunami dream). So what do you guys think?

Think my PSU shall cope with the new hardware. Planning on getting a new PSU when i get my new video card waiting for the new line of cards to emerge before i will make a buy.

Thanks in advance.

 

[theforce]

Only way i will ever R.M.A anything from overclockers is if it's DOA since i am living in Cyprus so i 1 year or 2 it doesn't make much difference to me As for the heatsink...it shall never be used and will take space

Nope not getting one since i am not sure if my current PSU can take the strain so getting a PSU+video card aswell is off my budget this month. Will wait either for G92 or get a nice 3870 next month of February.