Trade GPU for better CPU?

[Latsabb]

Hello, I am currently looking into building a new system for myself.

I game a lot, and do some minor video encoding, but nothing major. My main plan is to build this rig for gaming. Anyway, my question is this:

Is it worth it to reduce the quality of my video card to get a better CPU, and/or vice versa? I am currently looking at getting a q6600 and a GTX 280, which cost a combined 595 dollars at newegg. However, I could chop the GTX 280 down to a 260, and get a q9550 for a combined 510 dollars. This would leave me with a better CPU, and 85 bucks left over for an aftermarket cooler, or maybe some extra ram, but with a slightly worse GPU.

What do you guys think? I was thinking that the GTX 280 will do me better, because games are graphics intensive, and that the q6600 will deliver enough power to handle a single card and not bottleneck. However, I could be wrong.

Also, would it be worth it for me to get 8 gigs or ram, rather than 4? And yes, I have Windows Vista Ultimate x64. It would be 2x2gig or 4x2gig. I keep hearing a lot of back and forth about using four sticks rather than two, but I just don't know who to believe!

Thanks for any help you can provide me with!

 

[Proximon]

Are you a multitasker or do you play games you know will make use of 4 cores?

If not, go with an E8400.

 

[Latsabb]

Are you a multitasker or do you play games you know will make use of 4 cores?

If not, go with an E8400.

I don't multitask all that often, and pretty much just game. I know that currently there are not a lot of titles that are multi-threading, but I dont see myself buying another computer for 3-4 years, so I figured I would just grab the quad, and suffer a bit in the beginning for the payoff later.

I had been looking at the e8500 though, but decided that I wanted a quadcore.

Anyway, my original question still stands. Would it be worth downgrading my video card to speed up my processor? Based on the above statements of course though.

 

[aevm]

Right now you're better off with E8500+GTX 280. 1 year from now, I have no idea. 4 years from now, even harder to predict. The game developers are already trying to support quads better. They've been trying for about 2 years now, with Microsoft's FSX the only real success. If you're the optimistic type and believe they will succeed in the next 4 years, then get the Q9550. If not, get the E8500.

The difference between 4GB and 8GB of RAM is rather small in games. On the other hand, RAM is cheap, we're talking about a $50 difference. You decide.
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2008/07/08/is-more-memory-better/5

 

[Proximon]

Different game titles require a different balance of CPU and GPU speed. RTS and MMORPGs will appreciate the extra processing power for various reasons, at times.

Let's say you play a wide selection of games from several genres. In that case, and for the next 3-4 years, you need at least an overclocked Q9550.

What I'm saying is you are much better off figuring out an upgrade path. Get a C2D today and upgrade it when you need to.

 

[Latsabb]

Ok, so it is safe to say that you two are agreeing that it is worth it to sacrifice a bit in the CPU department to get a boost in the GPU?

Oh, and thanks for that link about the ram. I will reconsider getting four dimms, and think about getting two sticks of 4 gigs rather than the 4 dimms of 2 gigs.

 

[aevm]

Two sticks of 4 gigs EACH? I think that's very expensive. At newegg 2x4GB costs 4 times more than 4x2GB.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...DR2-800+8GB&Ntk=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=

Did you mean 2x2GB?

I agree with Proximon. An E8500+GTX 280 is very hard to beat these days. You can upgrade the CPU to Q9650 or Q9550 in 2011, probably under $200, if the games available at that time will need it.

 

[Latsabb]

Two sticks of 4 gigs EACH? I think that's very expensive. At newegg 2x4GB costs 4 times more than 4x2GB.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...DR2-800+8GB&Ntk=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=

Did you mean 2x2GB?

I agree with Proximon. An E8500+GTX 280 is very hard to beat these days. You can upgrade the CPU to Q9650 or Q9550 in 2011, probably under $200, if the games available at that time will need it.

The kits of 2x4gig are expensive, but there is a single stick made by gskill that is 100 bucks, and I can just get two of those. So yes, it will be double the cost, but I wont take a performance hit. Once again, this is just a hope at future proofing on a bit of a budget. There is no game out there that will need 8 gigs of ram, but I can use the ram for a lot more years, even after my next upgrade. (assuming that I do not need ddr3 of course)

I will reconsider going with the e8500 though.

 

[Proximon]

Even aevm himself was pushing quads a bit more 6-8 months ago

We really thought it was all going to fall into place and multi-core was just the way things would be, but now we're becoming more cynical. The programmers will have to show us the apps and games first.

Legion Hardware has done a series of articles called "CPU scaling with the XXX" where XXX is some higher end video card:
http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=775&p=15

http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=807

If you look at the actual numbers they put up, and think about the cost of the various CPUs, I think you can make a good decision for yourself with that info.