Budget Gaming Computer (Around $1200-$1300)

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I assumed he was going to include $250ish nice LCD monitor to the budget. Honestly to me the Q9550 is nowhere near 2x faster then the q6600 so it's 2x cost isn't justified and he was much better off just saving the money and putting it into other components or saving it for the new processor or mobo upgrade. When I evaluate buying decisions between two products I look at the performance % differance compared to the price % difference. Sure they can't match up at times and it is often harder to identify the exact performance %, but in this case I think its pretty clear. Especially since your telling him to put a lot of money into one of the highest end quad cores when the i7s are just around the corner ( they obviously won't be feasible for a recommendation for some time )

Also saltynay with the cheap q6600 at $180, I would start recommending it for gaming PCs as well and not C2Ds, because it is more future proof. The q6600 can be pushed to 3.6 ghz if you put the effort, and some games are already starting to take advantage of quad core ( GTA4 ). Sure a C2D would be a better recommended processor for a purely gaming PC as this is, but with a much shorter lifespan compared to a Q6600 in terms of being future proof.
 
the q6600 is gonna be a much better processor than the q9550 in terms of value... the only thing the yorkie has over the kentsfield is a bit of cache and its 45nm (the extra cycles doesnt matter because they'll OC about equally... 4GHz+ on either if you really try)... the cache only really helps in smallish benchmarks (eg SuperPi loves cache) and the 45nm helps out with heat and thus OCing, but with the G0 revsion of the q6600 and the extra .5 multi it has over the 9550 OCing comes easy to the q6600... you'll be able to hit between 3.6 and 3.8GHz 24/7 with either of them if you've got good cooling and some know how... so with all things considered the q6600 is much more cost effective than a q9550 and it will best a dual core in just about any task in 3-6 months time
 
Newegg.com - Acer X223Wbd Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 2500:1 - LCD Monitors
Newegg.com - Logitech G5 2-Tone 7 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Laser 2000 dpi Mouse - Mouse
Newegg.com - NZXT TEMPEST Crafted Series CS-NT-TEM-B Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases
Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS2 DHX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
Newegg.com - Sunbeam CR-CCTF 120mm "Core Contact Freezer" CPU Cooler - CPU Fans & Heatsinks
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives
Newegg.com - SABRENT CRW-UINB 65-in-1 USB 2.0 Internal Card Reader w/ USB 2.0 Port supports SDHC/VISTA - Card Readers
Newegg.com - LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner - CD / DVD Burners
Newegg.com - ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards
Newegg.com - Saitek PZ30AU Black 104 Normal Keys 4 Function Keys USB Wired Standard Eclipse Keyboard - Keyboards

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100257L Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
or
Newegg.com - EVGA 896-P3-1265-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Average
$1150 Before Mail & Rebates with GTX 260 216
$1100 Before Mail & Rebates with HD 4870
$980 After Mail & Rebates with HD 4870
$1040 After Mail & Rebates with GTX 260 216
 
the q6600 is gonna be a much better processor than the q9550 in terms of value... the only thing the yorkie has over the kentsfield is a bit of cache and its 45nm (the extra cycles doesnt matter because they'll OC about equally... 4GHz+ on either if you really try)... the cache only really helps in smallish benchmarks (eg SuperPi loves cache) and the 45nm helps out with heat and thus OCing, but with the G0 revsion of the q6600 and the extra .5 multi it has over the 9550 OCing comes easy to the q6600... you'll be able to hit between 3.6 and 3.8GHz 24/7 with either of them if you've got good cooling and some know how... so with all things considered the q6600 is much more cost effective than a q9550 and it will best a dual core in just about any task in 3-6 months time

exactly and when you factor that all in + the fact the Q9550 cost almost a whopping 2x more then a q6600, then I can't see why anyone would recommend the Q9550 over the Q6600 except to crazy enthusiasts with much higher budgets.
 
Newegg.com - Acer X223Wbd Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 2500:1 - LCD Monitors
Newegg.com - Logitech G5 2-Tone 7 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Laser 2000 dpi Mouse - Mouse
Newegg.com - NZXT TEMPEST Crafted Series CS-NT-TEM-B Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases
Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS2 DHX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
Newegg.com - Sunbeam CR-CCTF 120mm "Core Contact Freezer" CPU Cooler - CPU Fans & Heatsinks
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives
Newegg.com - SABRENT CRW-UINB 65-in-1 USB 2.0 Internal Card Reader w/ USB 2.0 Port supports SDHC/VISTA - Card Readers
Newegg.com - LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner - CD / DVD Burners
Newegg.com - ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards
Newegg.com - Saitek PZ30AU Black 104 Normal Keys 4 Function Keys USB Wired Standard Eclipse Keyboard - Keyboards

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100257L Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
or
Newegg.com - EVGA 896-P3-1265-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Average
$1150 Before Mail & Rebates with GTX 260 216
$1100 Before Mail & Rebates with HD 4870
$980 After Mail & Rebates with HD 4870
$1040 After Mail & Rebates with GTX 260 216

where's the CPU on that?? add $179 for an OEM q6600 and you're all set... sweet system with either the Core 216 or the 4870... i'd personally go for the 4870 because you'll have the option to go CF with that board
 
the q6600 is gonna be a much better processor than the q9550 in terms of value... the only thing the yorkie has over the kentsfield is a bit of cache and its 45nm (the extra cycles doesnt matter because they'll OC about equally... 4GHz+ on either if you really try)... the cache only really helps in smallish benchmarks (eg SuperPi loves cache) and the 45nm helps out with heat and thus OCing, but with the G0 revsion of the q6600 and the extra .5 multi it has over the 9550 OCing comes easy to the q6600... you'll be able to hit between 3.6 and 3.8GHz 24/7 with either of them if you've got good cooling and some know how... so with all things considered the q6600 is much more cost effective than a q9550 and it will best a dual core in just about any task in 3-6 months time

The Q6600 is still a decent valuse but it is unlikely one of the recent batches will do 3.6ghz. Most of them have pretty bad VID's and just don't overclok like they used to.
 
The Q6600 is still a decent valuse but it is unlikely one of the recent batches will do 3.6ghz. Most of them have pretty bad VID's and just don't overclok like they used to.

heh mine was one of the first g0s and I still haven't OCed mine to 3.6 ghz and don't know if I really ever plan too. Right now I'm keeping it at 3 ghz cause its 100% stable ( prime and ortho tested ) and its voltage is stock
 
dont buy the GX2, get the GTX 260 core 216 instead, its pretty much like a GTX 280, 280 is a bit better but the price difference is pretty big
 
dont buy the GX2, get the GTX 260 core 216 instead, its pretty much like a GTX 280, 280 is a bit better but the price difference is pretty big

yeah +1 you always want to go with newer generations not older...unless they offer a super good deal
 
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