How to Proceed Now

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sacase

n00b
Joined
Feb 14, 2005
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17
Back in the day I used to be a real big computer enthusiest. This was the pre-pentium days. Since then I have built several systems for myself but I never put much effort into them as long as I could play games decently. Now, I am older and I have more time and money on my hands so I built a new system by lurking on these boards (my old system was a socket A). What I didn't realize was the amount of choices that there are out there, so in my hurry to build a system I made a couple mistakes.Currently my system is as follows and I am sure you will see where I screwed up.

Case: Antec 900
MB: EVGA 680i LT
CPU: E6600
GPU: EVGA 8800 GTS 320
Memory: 4 GB Kingston HyperX 800 DDR2 6400
Cooler: Scythe Ninja
DVD: Lite on DVD writer
Sound: Xfi Gamer
HD: Think it is a WD 320 GB HD
OS: Vista Ultimate 32 bit OEM

Note: I bought the wrong memory the first time so I have some unused Corsair Dominater 2 1066 Laying around. Yes I know I could have sent it back but I got lazy and forgot.

Ok now I do have the intention of building another system in the next couple months since the GF is open to playing some MMO's with me.

So with that said how should I proceed? I was thinking about going out today and gettin a 8800GTX Ultra Since I was kinda mad that I could not run games on the highest settings on 1600X1200. But I am not 100% sold that I should do it or if I should just suck it up and wait. But if I do get it, I can always pop it in the Rig I am going to build for the GF since she is not stuck on the eye candy like I am.

I also thought about gettin Vista Ultimate 64 bit, because I have 4 GB RAM and the 32 bit version cannot use all of it and MS is won't allow me to upgrade to the 64 bit since it is OEM. So I am thinking about just calling the 32 bit version a loss and sucking it up and picking up the 64 bit version. But I may have to purchase ANOTHER OS for the new system I build since MS is being dumb about the OEM stuff.

I also thought about Grabbing a Q6600 Quad Core, but I am not sure if it is worth it or not. Last night I made my first attempt at OC'ing and it came out pretty well, I didn't do anything drastic since I am new to OC'ing but the CPU is running at 2.9 GHZ

So I guess what I am asking is the smartest way of proceeding and wasting the least amount of money, while keeping in mind the fact that over the next 6 months I will be putting together another system for the GF.
 
sacase said:
I also thought about gettin Vista Ultimate 64 bit, because I have 4 GB RAM and the 32 bit version cannot use all of it and MS is won't allow me to upgrade to the 64 bit since it is OEM. So I am thinking about just calling the 32 bit version a loss and sucking it up and picking up the 64 bit version. But I may have to purchase ANOTHER OS for the new system I build since MS is being dumb about the OEM stuff.
Click to expand...

I don't where you got this information from, but YOU CAN upgrade to x64. All you need is a 64bit install DVD. I did this a few weeks ago using my 32 bit Ultimate license. It activated fine.
 
I tried to do the online upgrade and it said it couldn't be found so I called MS about it and they said I could not upgrade and that it would not recognize the key since it was OEM. But I will see about getting a 64 bit DVD and trying it.
 
Whats the budget for the GF's rig?
Whats included in that budget?
How's Vista + X-Fi goin? hehe

Depending on your budget for the GF, you may want to consider giving her your current system and picking up a nice quadcore system for yourself. You can keep some things, like your 4GB of RAM, and give her the Dominators.

Keep in mind, the new NVIDIA cards are coming out soon (November), so you may want to hold off for now.
 
enginurd said:
Whats the budget for the GF's rig?
Whats included in that budget?
How's Vista + X-Fi goin? hehe

Depending on your budget for the GF, you may want to consider giving her your current system and picking up a nice quadcore system for yourself. You can keep some things, like your 4GB of RAM, and give her the Dominators.

Keep in mind, the new NVIDIA cards are coming out soon (November), so you may want to hold off for now.
Click to expand...


Honestly I really don't have a budget for it as I am going to get it done over the next couple months. So I will say around $1500. But I planned on salvaging parts that I was going to upgrade on my system to help build hers. So for hers I just need the Case, MB, CPU, GPU, HD, DVD, and PS. If I upgrade my GPU on mine then I can toss that in hers. The HD and DVD are minor costs so I am not even worried about that at all. If I upgrade my CPU then I will just need to get her a MB. So really I am looking at the Case and Power supply and I will probably upgrade my PS so I can eventually run 2 8800 GTX's in SLi or two of the new ones when they come out. I will probably grab another EVGA 680i for her though. But I am not in a money crunch at all, if I want it I can get it as long as I feel it is worth it. I have no problems getting a $650 GTX but I refuse to spend $1000 on a CPU. Not sure I want to give her my system since I have some....umm....questionable material and some incriminating eveidence on there :D and I would hate to have to reinstall and patch everything. LOL

With reguards to the X-Fi on Vista....I haven't noticed any issues with it.....yet. But the drivers are old as hell I wish they would update them.
 
Not sure I want to give her my system since I have some....umm....questionable material and some incriminating eveidence on there
Click to expand...

So... give her your machine minus the hard drives and give a new one with a clean install.
 
Heh, sounds like you might as well give her your system and build yourself a new one. Just delete any incriminating evidence. :p

You'll need AT LEAST a resolution of 1920x1080 to even see the benefits of an SLI config. SLI is only worth it if you need more performance than the best single card solution. You don't need SLI to game at 1600x1200 with high detail. Your limiting factor right now is your VRAM (video RAM). Your card only has 320MB. You'd be better served by the 640MB or the GTX and its 768MB. And no, adding another 320MB GTS will not give you 640MB VRAM, you'll still be limited to 320MB (thats how SLI works).

No need for a 680i SLI board if you don't even need SLI. Just stick to a P35 board, since it runs cooler and OC's better.

$180 - Abit IP35-Pro
$285 - Q6600
$500 - 8800GTX
$130 - Antec P180
$100 - 520W Corsair
$80 - 320GB 'cuda.10
$50 - Tuniq Tower 120
$30 - DVDRW SATA
==========
$1355 + tax and shipping

Re-use your Kingston or Dominators.
 
enginurd said:
Heh, sounds like you might as well give her your system and build yourself a new one. Just delete any incriminating evidence. :p

You'll need AT LEAST a resolution of 1920x1080 to even see the benefits of an SLI config. SLI is only worth it if you need more performance than the best single card solution. You don't need SLI to game at 1600x1200 with high detail. Your limiting factor right now is your VRAM (video RAM). Your card only has 320MB. You'd be better served by the 640MB or the GTX and its 768MB. And no, adding another 320MB GTS will not give you 640MB VRAM, you'll still be limited to 320MB (thats how SLI works).

No need for a 680i SLI board if you don't even need SLI. Just stick to a P35 board, since it runs cooler and OC's better.

$180 - Abit IP35-Pro
$285 - Q6600
$500 - 8800GTX
$130 - Antec P180
$100 - 520W Corsair
$80 - 320GB 'cuda.10
$50 - Tuniq Tower 120
$30 - DVDRW SATA
==========
$1355 + tax and shipping

Re-use your Kingston or Dominators.
Click to expand...

I like that. I will get a 680i though and give her my system because I am eventually going to want Sli since once I get the system how I want it I will upgrade the monitor then get the Sli card so I will want to retain the option of putting Sli in. I didn't want to have to reinstall everything for her but oh well I will just put the hard drive in my new one and use it as a storage drive.

Also, is the Raptor worth it? for my machine that is, her's it doesn't matter since she won't be that picky.
 
If you're goin SLI, get the eVGA 122-CK-NF68-A1... its the only way to SLI.

Raptors aren't very cost effective. Newer PRT drives have become so fast, that the performance difference between them and the raptor no longer justifies the raptors price premium...

78MB/s: WD Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB, $160AR
65MB/s: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS 320GB, $80
65MB/s: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3300620AS 300GB, $60
52MB/s: WD Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB, $70
112MB/s: RAID0 'cuda's, 600GB total, $120 (ICH9R on P35-DS3R)

As you can see, the 'cuda is twice the size and half the cost, for nearly the same performance. Stick them in RAID0, and you've got an even more cost effective solution. While you can't beat the Raptors seek time, is 4ms really worth that price premium to you?
 
agreed with enginurd, 2x the storage for about the same price/speed as single 150gb raptor 10k HD.
 
Thanks a lot everyone for the advice, especially enginurd, I just wanted to avoid any more costly mistakes if I could, but I am sure I will make more. Especially since I am now learning about Oc'ing. I fully expect to fry something in the near future.

So now my only choice is should I get the GTX today or the Q6600? LOL
 
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