Soleron on 16 December 2009
What are you using the computer for? Any CPU-intensive apps (e.g. video encoding)? Which games and at what resolutions/settings? And what's your budget?
For example, if your CPU work is limited to office tasks and web browsing, you don't need a quad and you certainly don't need an i5. Something like an X3 720, which is $50 less than the E8400 and performs the same in most CPU tasks. Spend more on the GPU for gaming - maybe a 5770 or 5850.
Or, if you are doing a lot of video encoding, go for the i5 750, and spend less on the GPU.
So it depends on your answer to my first questions. Either way though, you can do better on price or performance than the E8400.
