Getting a Powerhouse Gaming PC for $656 –Full Crysis Capability

[ssj12]

Grampy said:

ssj12 said:
there are 2 issues with that custom built computer.

A. Better Parts vs Price

B. Overall Longevity


For about the same price of a 4400+ you can get an e4850 and have less heat with more performance. An 8800GT is fine and dandy but you can get an 9600GT or 9600GSO for a cheaper price.

Longevity, how long do you want the PC to last you. Adding the parts suggested would make it a more suitable environment for hardware because the processor is putting out 30-40 degrees less heat. Heat can shorten a PC's lifespan up to two years.


As for buying a PC, buying ibuypower PC off NewEgg would be cheaper thn the other.

Thanks for the suggestions. I don’t disagree with your reasoning. The E8450 at 3.Ghz would be a faster chip but I personally did not see a computer so equipped at this price range. There was one with E8400 (2.8) GHz but it was $ 960. New Egg is a big site and I may have missed one.

My experience with the 4400+ is somewhat limited and, they are reputed to have higher temperatures. I have not personally found it a problem in large tower cases. If it was, I would definately install larger fans. Usually if you are buying a commercial unit adequate ventilation and heatsinks are usually designed in.

(And before I get fraged again I used New Egg exclusively just because they are a good dealer with a very large selection and I can’t possibly comparison shop the whole internet.)

The 9600 GT is indeed, on sale, about $30-40 cheaper but according to comparative testing at Tom’s Hardware you would take a 15-29% hit in performance that probably doesn’t  justify the savings

CRYSIS

8800 GT 512MB	9600 GT
1280x1024	Medium	44.5	1280x1024	medium	34.9
1280x1024	AA4X+AF8X	28.8	1280X1024	AA4X+AF8X	25.0
1600X1050	MEDIUM	33.8	1600X1050	MEDIUM	26.2
1600X1050	AA4X+AF8X	21.8	1600X1050	AA4X+AF8X	18.4

 “Still as tough as ever on graphics cards, Crysis wasn't especially kind to the 9600 GT, which in all cases was behind the HD 3870. (Bizarrely, the Radeons seem not be especially handicapped by the antialiasing in Crysis, though we should make it clear that the game is pretty much unplayable on all of these midrange cards with antialiasing on). The 9600 even came in behind the 8800 GT 256 MB without filters, despite the fact that the latter fell apart because of its frame buffer once antialiasing was enabled. The 8800 GT had a comfortable lead over the 9600 GT here, of between 15 and 29%.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-geforce-9600-gt,1780-13.html

The ibuypower model is cheaper and in fact that manufacturer has unusually inexpensive models overall. Personally I’ve never owned one but among my professional associates who have, have experienced some reliability issues that make me reluctant to recommend them. If your experience has been better let me know.

 

 opps, I didn't mean the E8400, grant it is a good choice, I was meaning the Athlon X2 4850e. I put the e in the wrong place,

 Still you didnt say anything about the 9600GSO which is the 8800GS bascally.- nevermind it sucks. lol