video card vs cpu

[Kraeoss]

ok was doin some reading on a comparison about how nowadays your video card is the defining factor as to the general performance of your rig. where is the optimal area better cpu or better gpu ?

[Philosophical45]

it's more a fact of the gpu being the more important component when coming to gaming and not the performance of your pc. If you are doing alot of pc gaming, you will need to look at getting a pretty good graphics card and a decent cpu(not the fastest or best). If you are doing more cpu dependent pc usage or you aren't gaming at all, you may benefit of having a pretty good cpu and a mediocre graphics card(since you're doing no gpu intensive work on your pc).

now with respect to a graphics card giving you more performance in things other than gaming, that will lie in the hands of two new platforms, CUDA and CTM. CUDA, nvidia's platform and CTM, ATi's platform, are both geared towards using the processing power of current gpu's to do usual cpu bound work on a pc. For more information on that, just google CUDA or ATI CTM.

[Arcmanov]

Hmmm...couldn't have said it better myself. 

My main rig is for gaming only.  Laptop is for 'work',
so that you'll find I'll spend quite a bit more on GPU(s) than CPU.  Plain and simple.

You want to make sure that your CPU does not hinder the performance of your GPU, especially
if its in the 8800/3800 and up category.  It has been proven time and again that using a lesser
CPU does in fact have a significant effect on framerate.

In my experience, any dual-core CPU with a base speed of at least 2.2 GHz and up will do.  For now.

[Kraeoss]

and as to affordability of my pocket i feel i'll invest in a 5000+ x2 and a hd 3850 till meh money tree start yeilding. or a 4600 if things tight

[TriniXaeno]

hahha @ money tree start yielding. Not a bad choice at all.