Cost effective upgrade e8600 or i7?

[cl0ck_ed]

Hi, I am into gaming and general computer use with internet and itunes etc. Wanting to spend some money to upgrade my pc. I want a cost effective upgrade for the above perposes.

Looking at upgrading my cpu or entire system.

Current spec:

Asus commando P965 (775 socket)

E5200 4ghz

4gb ballistix 920mhz, 4-4-4-12

hd4870 512mb

Water cooling etc..

Ok, what cpu is best for gaming and casual use? E8600 or i7 920?

Any other cpu upgrades people recommend? Think i will go 2nd hand fro c2d's and brand new if i7. Is i7 worth the investment atm for just gaming?

Look forward to your views.

 

[lasher]

Are you saying your current spec isnt enough for casual gaming and itunes?

I would have said a decent dually like you have and 4gb stapled with your 4870 should be giving you some pretty good frame rates.

On the other hand if .. like most of us on here you feel the need to adopt the latest then if you check out some of Webbos reviews on the I7 kit then that will soon put a nice hole in your wallet and maybe a few framerates on your games.

the I7 920 DO stepping is a spanking chip atm, saying that coupled with some RAM and a decent mobo that will be an expensive upgrade.

Hi, I am into gaming and general computer use with internet and itunes etc. Wanting to spend some money to upgrade my pc. I want a cost effective upgrade for the above perposes.

Looking at upgrading my cpu or entire system.

Current spec:

Asus commando P965 (775 socket)

E5200 4ghz

4gb ballistix 920mhz, 4-4-4-12

hd4870 512mb

Water cooling etc..

Ok, what cpu is best for gaming and casual use? E8600 or i7 920?

Any other cpu upgrades people recommend? Think i will go 2nd hand fro c2d's and brand new if i7. Is i7 worth the investment atm for just gaming?

Look forward to your views.

 

[cl0ck_ed]

haha, yeh getting gd frame rates on my games but just fancy an upgrade, the 6mb wolfdales offer 10% increase in gaming clock for clock, and an e8600 would be nice for 4.7ghz ish which would be the same performance as my chip at 5.2ghz lol. Therfore a e8600 @ 4.7 should bag me 30% performance gain if my calcs are right. Fancy doin abit of watercooled benching aswell tbh. What do you think a e8600 is worth 2nd hand? Would it hold its value well as its the last and best c2d?