Cheapest processor that will run games at full speed?

[AtlasRedux]

I can run my games full speed but on native xDD (That's because of my video card) so for me my procesor is good enough.

I wouldn't bet on that.
Me and a m8 has identical systems, except he has a minimal weaker CPU and better GPU ( he has a GeForce 260GTX ).
Guess what, he has to play at lower resolution than me because of his weaker CPU, even though we're only talking 5-10% difference max here in performance.

[wagnas]

my c2d E6750 (oc'd to 3GHz) has been able to play pretty much everything i've tried so far, although these days, why not just go for an i5/i7?

I have a E6750 too, at 3400mhz. But still struggle with many games. Get slowdown regularly. Is that because I still run onboard graphics? Will any recent cheap card already improve my performance?

[boogerthe2nd]

Yes your onboard graphics will be slowing you down. A 9600GT will do nicely.

[Waro]

I'd go for the i5 750 too if I were in your shoes. Phenom II CPUs perform well, but not well enough against the i5.

[MrCacaface]

@wagnas, I also have an E6750 but at 3.2GHz with a MSI 8800GT OC. I think out of the 20 or so games i have the only one i cant run at full speed is Gran Turismo 4, and its really only slow when there is more than 2 cars on the screen. Ah yeah, tekken tag, and tekken 5 also run a hair sluggish at times. All the rest run WAY past their normal FPS. So i believe at 3.4, you should be getting better performance than me.

[wagnas]

Thanks. Is a 9600GT faster or slower dan a ATI 4650?

The ATI has 320 Stream processors and is newer technology. The 9600GT is dearer and has only 64 Stream processors, but is 256bit. For the rest many other specs are the same.

http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/Gra...=GeForce+9

http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/Gra...eon+HD4000

[Infel]

my c2d E6750 (oc'd to 3GHz) has been able to play pretty much everything i've tried so far, although these days, why not just go for an i5/i7?

I have a E6750 too, at 3400mhz. But still struggle with many games. Get slowdown regularly. Is that because I still run onboard graphics? Will any recent cheap card already improve my performance?

yup, onboard graphics is your problem here...
i'm currently running a HD3870 and i'm getting pretty nice speeds on most games

[Shadow Lady]

Thanks. Is a 9600GT faster or slower dan a ATI 4650?

Much faster (about 35-50% faster depending on the situation), it's faster even than a 4670. But you can see the price difference as well

[mackoyski]

I guess its because of the nvidia optimisations..

[Deepthroat]

How about buying a Core 2 Duo E4300 and then overclocking it to 2.7 - 3.0 GHz.

I have it too, you can overclock it up to 3.2 Ghz (so much isn`t really needed so i stay at 2.7)