AMD vs INTEL (Gaming PC)

[ayushvista]

I have a confusion in selecting processor.
Actually I want to make a Gaming PC which can run crysis, GTA4 etc. high end games with High details. I have a Benq V2400 LCD monitor connected through HDMI cable and currently having Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66 Ghz CPU OC to 3.10 Ghz, eVGA nForce 780i SLI 775 A1 Version (132-CK-NF78-A1) Motherboard, Antec 650 WATT PSU, Antec P182 Cabinet, Seagate 1 TB HDD, 8 GB Corsair DDR2 800 Mhz RAM (4x2GB), 2xNvidia 9800 GT (Palit 1 GB) Graphic card on SLI mode. I am running Genuine Windows Vista x64 SP1 OS. All the drivers are updated till date.
Here my problem begins. I have just purchased GTA4 Retail. When I play this game on High resolution the game doesnt run smoothly and after 1 min the PC gets hanged. Right now I am running this game on 1024x768 Resolution, the game is running smoothly but with very bad graphics as I am having 24" monitor (1920x1200).
So I am planning to build a new PC. My options are as follows:
Processor: AMD Phenom X4 9950 (2.6 Ghz) / Intel Core 2 duo E8400 (3.0 Ghz)
MotherBoard: AMD - MSI K9A2 Platinum V2 / INTEL - eVGA nForce 780i SLI 775 A1 Version (132-CK-NF78-A1)
Graphic CARD: AMD - 2 x Palit Radeon HD 4870 1GB DDR5 on Crossfire / INTEL - 2 x Zotac GeForce 9800 GTX 512MB DDR3 on SLI
RAM: 4 x OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 Value Series 2GB (Total 8GB)
Cabinet: Antec Nine hundred Gaming
PSU: TruePower Quattro™ 1000 Watts
OR
Cabinet + PSU: Antec Sonata III Lifestyle cabinet 500 WATT PSU
Monitor: Benq V2400W 24" LCD Monitor
HDD: Seagate 1TB HDD
Keyboard: Logitech G15
Mouse: Logitech G9
Speakers: Logitech Z-5500 Digital Speakers
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer

Please help me selecting the best CPU and GPU for my best gaming experience.

 

[desiibond]

Right now, I would go for E8400 or Nehalem.

It's better if you wait for another 3-4 weeks.

nvidia released new cards which will initiate heavy price cuts from ATI.

AMD's phenom II will initiate price cuts in Nehalem.

 

[ayushvista]

I have already bought E8400 and AMD Phenom X4 2.6 , and both mobo also. All these componants which I told you are already bought by me.
The only thing I havent bought is Palit HD 4870 1 GB GPU, which is in stock and I can buy it any time. I have two cabinets : Antec Nine Hundred Gaming and Antec Sonata III. Sonata III already has 500 watt PSU and for Nine hundred I have bought 1000 Watt PSU. I want to use Antec Nine hundred cabinet for my Gaming PC.

Please guide me which CPU should I use for my Gaming PC.

 

[sakumar79]

Only for low/mid end rigs where you dont want to spend on a graphics card will AMD be a better solution than Intel (since IGP of AMD mobos are much better than those of Intel mobos). Since you are going for a high end rig with separate gfx card, it is definitely better to go for Intel....

Arun

 

[SenthilAnandh]

Rockstar have recently released a patch for GTA4. Try using it. Remove all your drivers, new ones too and then re install the drivers again. Disable the SLi and see the performance.
If you have bought the original version means try mailing rockstar, they will provide some soulution.

This should help, if it doesn't you have other choices open.

Simple choice buy a xbox 360 and connect it to your monitor and enjoy the game.