Computer Building Help needed

[moriltheheg]

Hoping to receive some advice from the more knowledgeable folks here. I've been putting off upgrading my pc for a year or more, and now I've discovered I might as well just gut it and replace about everything.

My main question is which of these 2 processors I should go with:

AMD Phenom II X2 555 Dual Core Processor 3.20GHz, Socket AM3, 6MB Cache, 2000MHz (4000 MT/s) - http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicati...TD&recordsPerPage=5&body=#ReviewStart

AMD Athlon II X4 635 Quad Core Processor 2.90GHz, Socket AM3, 2MB Cache, 2000MHz (4000 MT/s) - http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5719248&CatId=4919

Either one would be mounted on this mother board with the following back-up:

ASUS M4A78T-E Motherboard http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicati...TD&recordsPerPage=5&body=#ReviewStart

Corsair XMS3 4GB DDR3 RAM 1333MHz - http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6613461&sku=C13-1005

Western Digital Caviar Black Hard Drive 500GB - http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4914330&csid=_21

or

Hitachi Hard Drive 500GB - http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6091097&CatId=2459

Along with my old Geforce 9500 vid card and 550W Power Supply. I pretty much just want to play my usual games again that my current pc can't really run, L4D2, TF2, SC2, and CS:S without lagging, and have the ability to upgrade when I've got more cash to throw at my system.

Again, any advice or help is appreciated, I'm pretty much clueless on specific specs. Thanks mates.

 

[sir-drek]

Most of the games you mentioned will run fine on 2.9ghz regardless of core count, and since multi-core processing is the 'in' thing, a lot of multi-threaded programs and games are taking advantage of this.

CPU, I'd do the quad.

Motherboard and ram are decent. Although AM3 socket boards have had a lot of trouble with 1333mhz ram. (When I say a lot, I mean that ram has an 80% chance to be just fine, but %20 failure rate is pretty bad which is why I say 'a lot')

For the HDD's the WD has a larger cache so I'd choose it but honestly 500gb isn't nearly the best bang-for-your-buck, I picked up a 1tb hitachi for $49 a few weeks ago.

Lastly, shop around, go to canadacomputers.com, tiger, ncix, etc and get the best prices before you buy.

 

[.44 caliber]

Once BJ gets here he'll tell you to throw 100 fans on it to maintain a 15 deg load temp :|


jk


quad core has added support in css and L4d now not to mention you'll notice a HUGE difference when multi tasking heavily in windows.

I went from first gen athlon x2 dual core to a intel i7 quad core. There diff there is massive but I think that even you would appreciate the diff between your two chosen procs.

 

[OG buckshot jr]

Choose whatever just make sure to cool the FUCK out of it LOL just kidding haha

On the real, id have to choose the dualcore over the quad. Heres why:

6mb cache over 2mb is a HUGE difference in real-life, everday computing, and even bigger in gaming. Im going on the assumption that your building for games and media, and not for running microsoft office along side 22 other msn apps.

99% of games dont take advantage of 2+ cores anyway, not even new ones. I think photoshop is one that does lol

If you can find a quad with min. 6mb cache, then get it cause youre future proof, but if not, i recommend higher cache dual.

Edit: about hdd's and shit.

check seagate 7200 rpm with either 16mb cache or 32mb cache (depends on size of hdd your buying). they have best bang for buck, and high reliability.

 

[47]

go intel. x58 boards are like 200+ now. i7 cpu = 300.

 

[moriltheheg]

Thank you guys.

I've been doing some reading and apparently you can unlock the dual-core Phenom into a quad-core, my mobo should support that as well. I think that's all I'll need.

I didn't even know about about ncix, I was just comparing CC and tiger, been plowing through their catalog all morning..too much bloody reading..