Which CPU / Graphics card?

[Guv]

I'm after a new cpu and graphics card and have about £140 to spend on them both.

What's the best combination of these 2 components I could get for the price?

I was looking at an Intel Core 2 Duo cpu and a PCI-E Nvidia graphics card but am open to any suggestions. I could get a different motherboard to take an AMD processor if they're any better, but the budget remains the same for the cpu/gfx card.


thanks

 

[millsy888]

Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 "LGA775 Allendale" 1.80GHz (800FSB) - Retail £66.99
(£78.71) £66.99
(£78.71)
OcUK GeForce 7600 GT 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail £55.99
(£65.79) £55.99
(£65.79)
Sub Total : £122.98
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
City Link Parcel Next Day (Delivered Mon-Fri)
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £8.25
VAT is being charged at 17.5% VAT : £22.97
Total : £154.20



and your probably better off putting this in the general forum

 

[Snapshot]

C2D CPUs come up frequently in the members market as people upgrade. You should be able to pick up an E6300 or E6400 for at most the price of a new E4300. Same with the graphics card. The 7600GT that millsy888 recommended is an excellent choice and plenty of people are upgrading to 8800 cards.

 

[millsy888]

C2D CPUs come up frequently in the members market as people upgrade. You should be able to pick up an E6300 or E6400 for at most the price of a new E4300. Same with the graphics card. The 7600GT that millsy888 recommended is an excellent choice and plenty of people are upgrading to 8800 cards.

my bad didnt realise OP had enough posts to enter MM.

To OP definatly start on the MM on that budget

 

[Guv]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll keep a look out in the MM as well.

How much better would the following processor be over the E4300?

Intel Core 2 Duo E6320 "LGA775 Conroe" 1.86GHz (1066FSB) - Retail

I realise it's £33 ish more new, but the FSB is faster and has 4mb cache and if I could find one in the MM for a reasonable price it may be worth it.

Or if I couldn't find one in the MM would I benefit by getting that processor and say a GeForce 7300 gfx card?

Also I'm assuming the retail packs come with a HS/fan?


thanks again

 

[Snapshot]

The E6320 is so new I doubt you'll find one in the MM. It depends on what you're running whether the increased cache is worthwhile. It is for me and I'd go for the E6320 over the E4300 every time but I'm not overclocking. Yes, the retail packs come with HSF. The standard Intel cooler is fine for stock speeds and mild overclocking.*

Again the 7600GT is well ahead of the 7300 and is worth stretching for. You could drop to a 7600GS if necessary.

*But I see from another thread you've just ordered an ACF7P so it doesn't really matter. Good choice.