Pairing This MB with which CPU?

[IronMac]

Hi all,

I am planning on buying one of my best friends a new motherboard for his b-day, specifically a Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P ATX. It's gotten very good reviews, can be overclocked and, best of all, it seems to be pretty good if you want to install OS X in your computer. My friend is more of a Linux geek though...go figure.

I see that Newegg has it paired with a Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600.

It looks like a good deal but I'd like to know if I should bump that up and, if so, to which CPU? If I don't bump it up, maybe I can also purchase a few gigs of ram for him. Budget is around $500 or so.

His main use for the comp would be games, Linux, websurfing, email and so on. I don't think he's a heavy-duty gamer...he seems to like those old DOS games but he will be getting StarCraft II when it comes out. Thanks all!

P.S. Man, I hope Newegg allows delivery to addresses other than what is on the credit card.

[Mistro]

Q6600 is a solid CPU. You can probably find a good deal on the BST forums. If your budget is 500 or so for just the CPU/MB, that's quite a bit :) I would throw in some ram in there too. TD has some good deals on 4gb OCZ memory once in a while.

With $500 you could always go more or less all out, but then it's a matter of balancing cost/performance vs. the actual usage.

EDIT: As for the shipping, most of the time it will take a tiny bit longer since they need to do a bit more background checking if the address is different.

[terrybear]

skip intel you can get a Phenom II X3/X4 setup for around $500. And you'll get MORE pc for the money hands down.

[IronMac]

LOL! Yeah, you're right, I could go i7 but that's wayyyyy overkill.

He needs a new system and I want to make sure that he's got a good platform for a few years. He's no stranger to building systems.

[IronMac]

skip intel you can get a Phenom II X3/X4 setup for around $500. And you'll get MORE pc for the money hands down.

Thanks but I will stick with Intel primarily because of the possibility of him hacking OS X on to the machine. :D

[LeeBear]

I see that Newegg has it paired with a Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600.

It looks like a good deal but I'd like to know if I should bump that up and, if so, to which CPU? If I don't bump it up, maybe I can also purchase a few gigs of ram for him. Budget is around $500 or so.


I'd definitely bump the CPU up to a Q9550, its only $30 more ($250 to $230) then the Q6600 at newegg, gives you a faster CPU at stock and overclocked and uses less power.

-LeeBear

[Oversized Rooster]

The Q6600 is a dead and outdated CPU. It has been so for over a year (just like dual core CPUs in general). You should at least pick up a Q9550, Q9650 or Phenom II 920 CPU. There is just no reason to invest today in old 65nm-based Kentsfield CPUs. They generate too much heat and do too little work relative to modern CPUs.

You are buying a 2006 car in the year 2009.

[Silver Bullet]

Intel Q9550 - $249 (pricecanda (http://www.pricecanada.com/p.php/Intel-Core-2-Quad-Q9550-Quad-Core-BX80569Q9550-525315/?matched_search=BX80569Q9550))
AMD Phenom II X4 940 - $218 (pricecanada (http://www.pricecanada.com/p.php/AMD-Phenom-II-X4-940-Black-Edition-Quad-HDZ940XCGIBOX-593451/?matched_search=HDZ940XCGIBOX))

IMO the Q9550 for $30 more is a better deal and a better chip. All things considered it will probably only cost you (or your friend in this case) an extra $50 to make up the intel system (being as only the motherboard and cpu will be different) and you'll have a faster system overall.

[IronMac]

Ok, thanks everyone. Will order for him asap.