Deciding between two home builds

Computer Forum New Build / Upgrade Advice
1

Hello, i have one last problem. My friend picked out parts to build a computer with, but after some research i ended up switching around some things for a different build. My question is, which of these two is actually better? I will be using the computer for gaming and photoshop work.

My build:

Case - Newegg.com - RAIDMAX SMILODON Extreme Black ATX-612WEB 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case - Computer Cases

Mobo - Newegg.com - ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

Graphics - Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

PSU - Newegg.com - Thermaltake toughpower W0105RU 700W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

Processor - Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops
(Might get quad core instead)

RAM - Newegg.com - CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

HD - Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives

My friends build:

Case - Newegg.com - RAIDMAX SMILODON Extreme Black ATX-612WEB 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case - Computer Cases

Mobo - Newegg.com - Foxconn A7DA-S AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards

Graphics - Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-N975-AR GeForce 9800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

PSU - Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

Processor - Newegg.com - AMD Phenom 9850 BLACK EDITION 2.5GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops

RAM - Newegg.com - Kingston HyperX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

HD - Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives

So which one would be better for my needs? Also would a 2.5ghz quad be noticeably better for multitasking and system speed over a 3.0ghz duo? or would the quad not make a difference over the duo?

2

Here’s the deal. Your build would be MUCH better for gaming - and I mean MUCH. Your dual core there can EASILY overclock to 4 gigs on air. You will see far greater framerates for gaming with it.

Now for photoshop.. the quad core phenom is better I believe, as photoshop makes use of multi-threading now, doesn’t it? Now, what you want to do is weigh which is more important, gaming or photoshop.

Either way - I would go with the 4850 over the 9800GT. Especially if you went with the p45 board as you can run it in crossfire with another 4850 in the future. Now both cards would run at 8x, BUT, with two PCI-e 2.0 cards there is almost no difference between 8x and 16x modes.