Yes e8500 is better. My HTPC has an E8500 and a GTX 460, it's fine for console ports, Dirt3, F1, and some older racing games, COD games, Starcraft 2 (although 4v4 can get choppy at end game when everyone has max units), even Crysis 2 at 720p runs ok. I haven't even bothered to try BF3 since my Q9650 struggles with it. Do you already have a socket 775 system that you are upgrading? If not there are certainly better options out there for a new build.