EggXpert

Here's my wishlist: http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=15751208

I'm building a new gaming rig but I'm not sure which processor/mobo combo to go with. I'm not really set on a particular motherboard, the ones I've included below are current combos with the processors I'm interested in. I'm no expert but the AMD looks like its better than the Intel but like I said, I'm no expert and I'm not sure which processor would go best with my setup.

 My primary concern with my new rig is gaming but I'd also be using it to do other, more basic things (surf the web, MS Office programs, etc.).

 In the list I have the following two combos:

 AMD

 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103471 with http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128394

and

Intel

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037 with http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128359

 I'm willing to reconsider either processor and I'm definitely willing to go with a different motherboard.

 Also, I've never had an AMD before, I've always had Intel but since this is the first build I've done in awhile, I'm considering all options.

 Thanks in advance!

why go with the older dated Am2+, for few bucks more:

ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail /AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ955FBGIBOX - Retail  , nice arse board, can get some DDR3 you coould use later (unless of course you're re-using some DDR2 ne.), plus with the BE, you can tweak out with the unolcked hammer. 

There's other combos with the CPU for less.

May be a stretch, but you're not far away from a Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I5750 . Budget mobo, and a kind mild Oc, 4-4.2ish, then you;d be doing some gaming.

Food for thought, realize its a it more, but it'll last yah a while.

But b/w the 2 you've chosen, I'd take the 8400, b/c it'll OC like a champ amd game great. Got an E8500 kickin at 3.8 gs and it games stabe sweet.

 

Penewah!

Phenom II X940 vs C2D E 8400, Phenom will be my choice and the overall performance will be better although E 8400 is very good at Gaming.

I agree, although unless you game at 1280x1024 you are more GPU bound anyway so get teh quad core, you won't regret it and it's a better long term solution.

I couldn't be more pleased with the power,speed and multi-tasking abilities of the AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz that I used on my last build.

 

 

If your willing to overclock, i would recommend core 2 duo simply because you can save alot by getting a cheaper 45nm chip like this and overclocking it to 3.8ghz+ (might have a bit less cache but it wont affect gaming much at all). But with a higher budget or if your not overclocking, then go with core i5 vs Phenom 2, price will be very similar, and i5 hands down beats P2. Either way, the AMD is a way better value over the E8400, so your still doing just fine. But i would consider an i5 build and compare prices, with a good combo deal the i5 might be the same price or even less.