Budget split for new CPU/GPU/MB

[Gaz{M}]

1) If building a new PC from scratch, with X amount of budget, how would you split it among the 3 major components: CPU, GPU and Motherboard?

eg: R3500 = R1000 CPU, R1500 GPU, R1000 MB

or would you go: R1500 CPU, R1000 GPU, R1000 MB

2) If you had an extra R500, would you spend it on the CPU or the GPU?

3) It seems that most CPU's can be easily overclocked, so even a low-end intel C2Duo can be bumped to 3.4 Ghz+. So does that mean spend R1k on CPU and as much as possible on the GPU?

4) Would a R2500 GPU be held back by a overclocked budget Dual core CPU?

 

[EtienneK]

Well, my split is usually:

R1500 CPU, R3000 GPU, R1000 MB and R2000 RAM.

Don't know if that really helps you

 

[FarligOpptreden]

Well, seeing as your budget is X, I would spend it as follows:
CPU: 0.3X
GPU: 0.4X
MB: 0.1X
RAM: 0.2X

 

[crysis]

I disagree there abit, unless you are overclocking. Expensive ram isnt very important. you wont notice much difference in games. Same with MB. Id put my most into gpu and cpu, like this:

CPU: 0.3X
GPU: 0.5X
MB: 0.1X
RAM: 0.1X

 

[EtienneK]

I disagree there abit, unless you are overclocking. Expensive ram isnt very important. you wont notice much difference in games. Same with MB. Id put my most into gpu and cpu, like this:

CPU: 0.3X
GPU: 0.5X
MB: 0.1X
RAM: 0.1X

I'll never buy cheap RAM again! I've had too many sleepless nights with my games freezing

 

[FarligOpptreden]

I disagree there abit, unless you are overclocking. Expensive ram isnt very important. you wont notice much difference in games. Same with MB. Id put my most into gpu and cpu, like this:

CPU: 0.3X
GPU: 0.5X
MB: 0.1X
RAM: 0.1X

Dude, the purpose of my figures was to mock the "X budget" thing a bit. I just made up some arbitrary numbers to add up to "X". If I read through them now though, they do actually make some sense...

 

[Gaz{M}]

Dude, the purpose of my figures was to mock the "X budget" thing a bit. I just made up some arbitrary numbers to add up to "X". If I read through them now though, they do actually make some sense...

It's people like you that just make the world worse.

 

[Ryansta]

1) If building a new PC from scratch, with X amount of budget, how would you split it among the 3 major components: CPU, GPU and Motherboard?

eg: R2500 = R1000 CPU, R1500 GPU, R1000 MB

or would you go: R1500 CPU, R1000 GPU, R1000 MB

2) If you had an extra R500, would you spend it on the CPU or the GPU?

3) It seems that most CPU's can be easily overclocked, so even a low-end intel C2Duo can be bumped to 3.4 Ghz+. So does that mean spend R1k on CPU and as much as possible on the GPU?

4) Would a R2500 GPU be held back by a overclocked budget Dual core CPU?

Nice maths

 

[Brawler]

I built this rig up a few months ago for dirt cheap and it handles everything pretty well @ 1680x1050.

E5200 2.5Ghz @3Ghz (easy oc, the E5200 can go way higher) R1000
Gigabyte G31 R600
Kingston 4GB DDR2 800 (2gb x2) R700
HD4850 with arctic cooler R2100

R4400 for a decent upgrade.

 

[Gaz{M}]

Thanks to the others for the replies.

So the consensus is, spend more on the GPU.

 

[Gaz{M}]

I built this rig up a few months ago for dirt cheap and it handles everything pretty well @ 1680x1050.

E5200 2.5Ghz @3Ghz (easy oc, the E5200 can go way higher) R1000
Gigabyte G31 R600
Kingston 4GB DDR2 800 (2gb x2) R700
HD4850 with arctic cooler R2100

R4400 for a decent upgrade.

That's a good recommendation - I was thinking along those specs. The E5200 does seem like the best CPU bargain at the moment.

Is a decent PSU needed or are you using a stock one for overclocking?

 

[crysis]

I'll never buy cheap RAM again! I've had too many sleepless nights with my games freezing

Doubt thats because of the ram. Plus, most ram has life time warentees.

 

[Keeper]

pour as flippen much as you can into the gpu, then cpu, then mobo, and buy ram as you go...

if you need more ram, you can just add, and they are cheap.

but gpu is most important.

 

[Brawler]

That's a good recommendation - I was thinking along those specs. The E5200 does seem like the best CPU bargain at the moment.

Is a decent PSU needed or are you using a stock one for overclocking?

I got the Gigabyte Superb Power 550w, was around R600 and its working very well. You can run a system like that on just about any PSU without the GPU, add any decent GPU and you will need something with a bit more oomph.

 

[Browser]

I would put the most into the motherboard as it will have to last the longest while other things are upgraded and the least on RAM, RAM is so cheap even for decent DDR2 and I've still got a pair of very old Kingston Value RAM that's never given any trouble. Though getting some RAM that's slightly better than you need is a good idea, especially if you want to overclock.

If you're a gamer spend more on the GPU than the CPU.

 

[killadoob]

Well, my split is usually:

R1500 CPU, R3000 GPU, R1000 MB and R2000 RAM.

Don't know if that really helps you

2k for memory holy cow , 4 gig of ddr 2 800 is not even 800 bucks.

 

[EtienneK]

2k for memory holy cow , 4 gig of ddr 2 800 is not even 800 bucks.

Yeah, but my next upgrade will probably be DDR3.

 

[cocococo]

I'm also looking to upgrade now. I don't know what your budget is but it seems the best i'm going to be able to do for 7500 (incl monitor) is: ASUS Intel G31 (830), 4850 (2300), E7300 (1350), 4gb ddr800 (600), 22' samsung 2232gw (2400).