Advice On Processor, RAM, MoBo...

[xow]

I'm looking to buy a new Processor, MoBo and RAM.

I have a limited budget of ~€250 and I'll be using a GeForce 6800GS. (old, i know)

On the processor I'm going for Intel and since I mostly want to play games, I'm going with the C2D. The E8200 seems like a good choice, but a little too expensive, so i looked at the E7300/E7400. Is the performance difference between the E8200 and the E7400 significant?

About the RAM, is 4Gb of DDRII 800MHz better than 2GB of DDR3 1300MHz?

Thanks for your time, and feel free to suggest different Processors, and also RAM and MoBo.

Edit: I don't plan to OC anything

Edited December 2, 2008 by xow

[ToneKnee]

I have a E6600 and it works great for, no complaints! :) 4GB of DDR2 800Mhz would be better than 2GB of DDR3 1300Mhz. Also, DDR3 is only available to the new i7 platform I believe...

[J400uk]

DDR2 is thw way forward. You can currently get 2GB 800MHZ sticks for ?15 each shipped on play.com. DDR3 is very expensive, and only worth it if you are gettin an i7 rig.

For ?220 (after you have spent ?30 on 4gb ram) you could get an E7200 and Gigabyte P35 with money to spare, and round up with a very capable system.

HTH

[xow]

Is the E7200 a better choice than the E7400?

[+PeterUK MVC]

Is the E7200 a better choice than the E7400?

Not unless its a lot cheaper.

Get the E7400 as for a board a low end Gigabyte GA-EP43-DS3L or Asus P5QL /-E or Pro will do fine.

[RAID 0]

Can you squeeze a Q6600 into your budget? I don't know how much they are in other countries.

[xow]

Can you squeeze a Q6600 into your budget? I don't know how much they are in other countries.

I can't :p

Still, I thought Dual Cores were better for gaming...

[J400uk]

You probably could actually get a Q6600 for that money

- RAM http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/5399823/PNY-...ry/Product.html x2

- CPU http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131950

- MOBO http://www.ebuyer.com/product/148800

?236.49 inc free delivery, so thats leaving money left over to buy a better heatsink or something

[RAID 0]

I can't :p

Still, I thought Dual Cores were better for gaming...

Well, depends on how far you overclock the quad. If you can get it (the quad) to 3+ GHz, it's better... because you have two more cores and usually more cache. I went from a dual to a quad with no other upgrades and everything was faster; FPS in games, loading time went down... pretty much everything was faster. I will never go back to a dual core. It's quads and up from here on out.