[haloboy100]

Alright, so I'm thinking of updating my piece of crap rig for the upcoming Christmas.

Money isn't a problem, but i don't want to go much over 600 bucks.

The processor is 3 GHz with 4 MB cache, intel duo core.

The video card is a PCI-E nvidia 8600 with a 256 MB cache. I might get the 512 MB cache if I really need it, but i don't think I do, in an amateurs opinion.

The motherboard i'm not planning to spend much money on, I just want it to be able to support my processor and have a high buss speed and sound. As of now i'm not sure, but a nice reasonably cheap motherboard to keep up with the processor will do.

The memory i'll worry about later, as i have plenty RAM of my own. Thanks in advance for the freedback and help.

[CP5670]

Get an E6750 or E4500 instead and spend that extra $100-150 on a decent video card. There are a couple of new ones coming out in the next week or two. As for the motherboard, the IP35-E is a good choice for most people, cheap ($70-80), stable and highly overclockable.

[haloboy100]

alright, i'l switch the processor for the 6750. I can't tell the differance between nvidia GT or GTS/GTX cards, so i'm just going to go out on a leg here and try this one?. Or maybe I outta wait for the next couple weeks untill the good video cards come out. I'm in need of more proffesional opinion's here . I'm trying to stick with nvidia, i've had too many bad experiances with ATI cards.

[CP5670]

Avoid all the 8600 and 2600 cards. The 8800GT (somewhere between the current 8800GTS 640 and GTX) should be out on the 29th in the $250-300 range. There is another Nvidia card coming on November 12, which confusingly appears to be called an 8800GTS (but is most likely faster than the current GTX). The 2950 Pro (faster than current 2900XT, probably also $250-300) should be out some time during that period too.

[haloboy100]

ok. I'll wait then . thanks 

[colecampbell666]

Are you talking in Canadian or American dollars, 'cause those are pretty cheap.

...Wait a minute...We've got a stronger dollar!

[BloodEagle]

Avoid all the 8600 and 2600 cards.

Other than the interface, why?

[CP5670]

That chart doesn't show the actual number of stream processors. They only have 32 as opposed to 96 or 128 for the GTS or GTX. Check some benchmarks (Xbit has a good selection of games) to see the results of this.

The 8600GT is actually not a bad buy for a low end or non-gaming system, as you can get it for under $100 these days and it has all the video acceleration features, but it has no business being in the same setup as an E6850.

[haloboy100]

That chart doesn't show the actual number of stream processors. They only have 32 as opposed to 96 or 128 for the GTS or GTX. Check some benchmarks (Xbit has a good selection of games) to see the results of this.

The 8600GT is actually not a bad buy for a low end or non-gaming system, as you can get it for under $100 these days and it has all the video acceleration features, but it has no business being in the same setup as an E6850.

agreed.

Are you talking in Canadian or American dollars, 'cause those are pretty cheap.

...Wait a minute...We've got a stronger dollar!

That we do! wewt!