CPU vs. Graphics Card for Gaming

[Awk76]

So would it be better in terms of playing games, on a gaming computer, now and in the future, e.g. Starcraft 2, Diablo 3 to have:

GTX 295 + Core 2 Duo 8500
4870 x1 + i7 920

I find even a Q9550 with the GTX 295 would work out to be cheaper b/c or the overhead associated with the more expensive MB and RAM that goes with a i7.



I"m looking at making this thing in the next 3 weeks, for gaming of course.

[decivox]

Originally Posted by Awk76

So would it be better in terms of playing games, on a gaming computer, now and in the future, e.g. Starcraft 2, Diablo 3 to have:

GTX 295 + Core 2 Duo 8500
4870 x1 + i7 920

I find even a Q9550 with the GTX 295 would work out to be cheaper b/c or the overhead associated with the more expensive MB and RAM that goes with a i7.



I"m looking at making this thing in the next 3 weeks, for gaming of course.

I would say go for the Q9550 with the GTX 295. Games are hardly using four cores, let alone 8.

[Awk76]

That's what I was hoping for. By your logic, going with the GTX 295 would you think the Q9550 or the E8500 would be the better bet? Dual core vs. Quad core.......Trying to buy a little gaming longevity this system.

[decivox]

Originally Posted by Awk76

That's what I was hoping for. By your logic, going with the GTX 295 would you think the Q9550 or the E8500 would be the better bet? Dual core vs. Quad core.......Trying to buy a little gaming longevity this system.

Get the quad, its actually what I am buying tonight. I was originally planning on getting an E8500, but they are basically the same price. The quad will be nice when more games start utilizing multi-core platforms, and it will be nice if you ever want to encode videos of you playing to up to youtube. The Q9550 also overclocks to 4Ghz+ like the E8xxx.

[Awk76]

Great! Thats what I'll be getting then. Thanks for your help!