What processor -

[sastusbulbas]

For gaming/movies and all purpose home use, how do these four processors compare?

Intel Core i7 920 2.66

AMD Phenom II X4 940

Intel Core 2 quad Q6600

AMD Phenom X4 9950

At the moment AMD looks like the more affordable, it seems possible to get an AM2+ mobo and budget AMD processor and upgrade it to better components and later switch to an AM3 board?

Or is it just as well to stick with an AM2+ mobo with an AMD Phenom X4 9150e or a 64 X2 7750? Or a Q6600 and 775 mobo?

The 9159e does seem to be good value? and energy efficient which I assume would mean quiet?

What sort of performance differences will be noticeable over processors in the £60 - £100 range?

What is more bang for buck? Intel or AMD? I assume 4 core is more future proof and suited to al round multiple uses?

And is it better to stick with Intel/Invidia and AMD/ATI ?

Cmon guys I need ideas! I keep running around in circles with an up and down budget. (PS I seem to be drawn to the Gigabyte mobos?)

Cheers,
Steve

Edit,

What memory would be recommended for a Gigabyte GA-MA790XT-UD4P AM3/AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 940 Black Edition? And how would it compare to the Intel i7 920 with the same board?

 

[sastusbulbas]

What mobo and memory do you recommend with the E8400?

And what Nvidea is equal to the 4870 1 gig? I have been a little unimpressed with the constant driver updates with ATI, not to mention the way my system seems to lose these drivers every now and then.

I am assuming I would have to change my Hyper PSU as it only has a six pin connector (though this powers my 8 pin HIS 3850 agp ok)

Considering my most demanding games are C&C 3 and Red Alert 3, and that I would like it to be quieter and capable of smooth playback of rented Bluray what do I need?

How good is the AMD 9150e?

And do I stick with XP 32 bit for games? or Vista for Bluray? or go 64bit?

 

[sastusbulbas]

How quiet can I make such a set up?

I would like it to be quiet, and play Bluray as well as play the C&C titles.

To be honest I may end up running it through a plasma or projector and using it more for home cinema music and internet than gaming? Hence my interest in something that does all and suits all?

I am not sure if I want to overclock if it means more noise, as I already find my current computer too noisy.

Edit,

If two core is where it is at for games, why do magazines such as Custom PC recommend quad core cpu's in their budget and high end gaming machines?

 

[sastusbulbas]

To be honest it will probably reside in my old Gigabyte case, and when I am happy with it's noise level it will end up in a media PC type case amongst the audio equipment.

My wife wants this to be very quiet and very unobtrusive as well, and we are hoping to move away from a "computer desk" and maybe even a lot of the stereo equipment. Hence it is important that I can use it for 24/192 audio as well as Bluray at some point.