Info needed for games machine

[Gabriel Knight]

Hi all

Im looking into making a games machine/pc to run high quality/demanding pc
games. What is the best cpu to use as Ive heard that some games dont like
cpu's that are dual core/multi task as the games are not designed for them.
What is the fastest cpu out there with front side bus and cache best for
games? I know PCIE is better than AGP so the cpu has to be able to run a
mobo with PCIE. And what is the fastes type of ram to get in 1gig/2 gig
sticks?



Thanks All
GK

 

[SteveH]

Hi all

Im looking into making a games machine/pc to run high
quality/demanding pc games. What is the best cpu to use as Ive heard
that some games dont like cpu's that are dual core/multi task as the
games are not designed for them. What is the fastest cpu out there
with front side bus and cache best for games? I know PCIE is better
than AGP so the cpu has to be able to run a mobo with PCIE. And what
is the fastes type of ram to get in 1gig/2 gig sticks?



Thanks All
GK

Why not check out what is available in ready made top end gaming rigs first,
and see what parts the manufacturers use in those. This wil give you some
idea of what you should be looking for at least.

SteveH

 

[Dave]

Hi all

Im looking into making a games machine/pc to run high quality/demanding pc
games. What is the best cpu to use as Ive heard that some games dont like
cpu's that are dual core/multi task as the games are not designed for
them.

It's not that the games don't like them, games will run just fine on them.
However, the 2nd core isn't used much for games. So each "core" needs to be
pretty powerful all by itself. That point is moot however as anything you
build today should have multiple cores regardless of what you intend to use
it for. After all, you wouldn't buy a model T as a commuter vehicle in
2008...

What is the fastest cpu out there with front side bus and cache best for
games?

The core 2 extreme series processors. At a reasonable cost though, you
should look at a core 2 duo somewhere around e8400 or e8500.

I know PCIE is better than AGP so the cpu has to be able to run a mobo
with PCIE.

No worries there. Any current processor will gladly sit in a board with a
PCI Express graphics slot or two.

And what is the fastes type of ram to get in 1gig/2 gig sticks?

Depends on the motherboad chipset, and if the mainboard manufacturer uses
all the capabilities of that chipset. BUT you should be building with P35
or X38 chipset and it looks like those boards want DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500).
So I would suggest you start with exactly TWO of the following:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146719

 

[Fred]

Hi all

Im looking into making a games machine/pc to run high quality/demanding pc
games. What is the best cpu to use as Ive heard that some games dont like
cpu's that are dual core/multi task as the games are not designed for
them. What is the fastest cpu out there with front side bus and cache best
for games? I know PCIE is better than AGP so the cpu has to be able to run
a mobo with PCIE. And what is the fastes type of ram to get in 1gig/2 gig
sticks?

FWIW the highest scores on 3DMark06 are being achieved by QX9560 cpu's
coupled with Radeon HD 3870 x2 graphics cards.
Highly overclocked and watercooled of course.