Gaming Help with buying a computer.

[Ikki]

So, sup!

The thing is, my birthday is soon and I'm going to get a new PC with the money I had saved for my 3DS + some help from my mother.
I'm between a PC with an Intel i5 2500 processor and one with an Intel i7 2600. Both have the same general specifications except for the processor. One is $475 and the other one is $585

My question is, is the processor step up worth the 100 bucks?


Also, which graphics card should I get? I'm putting 1GB as a top since I don't really want a beast gaming computer, I want something that can handle what's out there and will handle some of the stuff to come.


Thanks in advance, wub ya

 

[Originality]

In short, the difference between the 2500 and 2600 is that the i7-2600 has HyperThreading (4 physical cores, 4 logical cores) whilst the i5-2500 does not (only 4 physical cores).

"1GB" in VRAM says nothing at all about how powerful the graphics card is. First check how powerful the power supply is, then look into the HD 5770 and GTX550 as a minimum (at least, if your budget allows... They're both lower mid-ranged graphics cards). If you can afford it, go for a HD6850 or GTX 560 Ti, which are very good mid-ranged graphics cards.

 

[tiggerlator]

If you want a card to handle some of the stuff to come, get a card with 2gb of ram. There is also a k version of both the 2500 and 2600 which has a unlocked multiplier for easier overclocking(making the cpu run faster)

 

[Originality]

Not many prebuilt PCs under $1000 will offer parts that allow for over clocking. In fact, they'll often use stock heatsink, budget motherboard, and a crappy case. Over clocking in that environment will only fry something.

 

[Ikki]

Thanks, guys.
I decided I'm going AMD

CPU: Phenom II x6 1090T
Mobo: ASUS M4A78LT-M
RAM: DDR3 4GB (1333)
PSU: Real 600w
Graphics Card: Ati Radeon HD5750
Hard Drive: 500GB SATA

Should I worry about the budget motherboard or will I be fine?

 

[Xoo00o0o0o]

IMO I would go for a 5770 not a 5750, not a huge difference but not much more expensive either

 

[Splych]

the PSU sounds questionable . doesn't really sound like reliable brand and isn't once i've heard of in my life .

 

[Ikki]

Oh it's not a brand. Some PSUs say they give x amount of wattage and it actually gives less.
We call it real when it actually gives what it says it gives.

 

[Splych]

question , is this computer pre-made or is someone gathering the parts to make a computer ?

if it's premade by a company , then you don't need to worry that much . i have old Dells [Optiplex GX280 and a Precision xxxx .] that are at least 3 years old and are still working . the PSUs aren't a problem . i just don't really remember what model the Precision is xD

 

[Ikki]

I tell the parts, they put it together.

 

[meornot0]

Thanks, guys.
I decided I'm going AMD

CPU: Phenom II x6 1090T
Mobo: ASUS M4A78LT-M
RAM: DDR3 4GB (1333)
PSU: Real 600w
Graphics Card: Ati Radeon HD5750
Hard Drive: 500GB SATA

Should I worry about the budget motherboard or will I be fine?

get the 1055t and oc it to 1090t specs, its very easy with that cpu.
Use the 20$ you save to upgrade the gpu to an amd 6850, is 140 at newegg.
Also, make sure you get the psu from a reputable company, we don't want any housefires, do we??
Everything else seems fine.

Edit: and make sure the reviews on your mobo are good.

 

[marcus134]

if you are to buy the M4A78LT-M, you should buy the M5A78L-M LX, it support the next generation of amd cpu and it's cheaper (on newegg)

if you are looking for a good psu and case combo, you can have a look at the Antec VSK2450.
A good 450w psu is more than enough for your spec.

Also, unless you're going to use programs that scales well across with multiple core (more than 4) or heavy multi-tasking, the phenom 955 will be as fast as the 1090.

 

[Ikki]

Alrighty, the mobo is okay judging by the reviews I found.

The final thing is gonna be

AMD Phenom x6 1055t
RAM 4GB DDR3 (Kingston)
500GB Hard Drive
ASUS M4A78LT-M
Sentey BX1 Case
ATI HD5670 1GB DDR5
700w PSU


I'm probably changing the PSU for one with lower wattage, I think that's pretty overkill.

Thanks again for the tips

 

[kevan]

Just so you know, if that AMD is the six core one, from what I have heard the Intels leave it in the dust, in other
words this one probally outperforms it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819115072

Correct me if im wrong but im pretty sure atleast the i7 2600k does.

 

[meornot0]

Alrighty, the mobo is okay judging by the reviews I found.

The final thing is gonna be

AMD Phenom x6 1055t
RAM 4GB DDR3 (Kingston)
500GB Hard Drive
ASUS M4A78LT-M
Sentey BX1 Case
ATI HD5670 1GB DDR5
700w PSU


I'm probably changing the PSU for one with lower wattage, I think that's pretty overkill.

Thanks again for the tips

DONT get the 5670 gfx card.

It is a last generation low end gfx card.

Get at least a 6790 for it to last several years.

 

[marcus134]

I'm probably changing the PSU for one with lower wattage, I think that's pretty overkill.
a poor 700w may be as strong as a good 500w

QUOTE(Ikki @ Aug 15 2011, 07:06 PM) Alrighty, the mobo is okay judging by the reviews I found.
ASUS M4A78LT-M

It may be okay but get the M5 variant for god sake, it's the same price and it's compatible with the next generation of amd cpu which will have up to 10 cores, also a second line of amd cpu with up to 12 cores is supposed to come out during 2012 and should be compatible with the M5 board.
Both M4 and M5 comes with the same socket, chipset and feature

 

[Ikki]

It is a good 700w actually.

And about the mobo, I'll check if they got the M5 variant in stock.

I don't think I'll go 10x unless I really have to though.

 

[Dangy]

Just so you know, if that AMD is the six core one, from what I have heard the Intels leave it in the dust, in other
words this one probally outperforms it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819115072

Correct me if im wrong but im pretty sure atleast the i7 2600k does.

I've heard the same thing. I used to be a big AMD fan, but I like Intel a bit more now.

 

[marcus134]

Just so you know, if that AMD is the six core one, from what I have heard the Intels leave it in the dust, in other
words this one probally outperforms it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819115072

Correct me if im wrong but im pretty sure atleast the i7 2600k does.

I've heard the same thing. I used to be a big AMD fan, but I like Intel a bit more now.

more or less true,
if you look at this firs benchmark, you'll see the phenom x6 1190t between a core 2 quad q9550 and a core 2 duo E8500
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/CPU/2
While in this benchmark, the phenom x6 1190t sits between a core i5 2400 and a core i7 920 ( and is 20$ cheaper than the said i5)
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/CPU/4

The reason: in the first benchmark,the score depended on the pure speed of a core, multiple core doesn't add anything to the score, In the second benchmark however the number of core has a serious impact on the score.

In real life, the same kind of problem arise, some software only depend on the processor speed while other software will take advantage of a higher number of core. Usually, when it comes to gaming (setting aside the fact that games are bottlenecked by the gpu and that either cpu will give the same result), core speed is more important than core count. If doing some video editing/encoding, core count is as important as core speed.