300$ Computer Upgrade

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kenprescott21

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 13, 2008
Messages
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I'm looking to drop 300$ ->400 on a upgrade within the next week around 5/15. Computer is primarily used for crysis/wow/cs:source, windows media center, and photo editing.

Specs are as follows:
Windows 7 Build 7000, I also have 7100 on a dvd, is it worth it to install?
26" Westinghouse l2610nw @ 1920 x 1200, & 17" Widescreen Westinghouse
Ahanix D-vine 5 HTPC Case
e5200 @ 3.5
Gigabyte EP45-UD3P
4G G. Skill Ram @ DDR2 800
640 & 500G WD Hdd's
Hauppaugge WinTV 1250
2X HIS Radeon 4830 @ 644/990

A few things that bug me. The screen on the front of my case is a old model, with no drivers available. I would like to get that working. The remote that came with my 1250 tv tuner will not open WMCenter, it crashes/errors out when the green button is hit. Those two problems bug me a little.

What I think i need to do for an upgrade, is getting a 4890 should be about the same performance as my 4830's but as one card.

Maybe a i7 920 w/ a mobo is a option too. My harddrives are about 50% free so those are fine. Maybe a memoryt upgrade but that would come with a mobo too.

I can get the e5200 to almost 4.2G but the case wont allow for proper airflow to cool it. So 3.5 is good unless i go to the new i7.

What's recommended?
 
What exactly are you looking to upgrade? Also, what power supply are you using?

i7 Option

$280 - i7 920
$190 - MSI X58 Pro ($20 rebate)
$90 - 6GB G.Skill DDR3 1600
$235 - Radeon 4890 ($20 rebate)

TOTAL: $795 before taxes, shipping, rebates

As you can see, the above build is already over your budget of $500. Perhaps the following will do:

Quad-Core Option

$220 - Q9400
$235 - Radeon 4890 ($20 rebate)

TOTAL: $455 and you get to keep your current RAM and motherboard (both of which are still good)

Dual-Core Option

$168 - E8400
$235 - Radeon 4890 ($20 rebate)

TOTAL: $403
 
I would go the Quad-Core Option mentioned above, with your E5200 already at 3.5 the E8400 wouldn't be worth it imo. Your mb does max 16GB ram, drop another 4 in there and just get the 4890. I would also consider a fresh install of the Win 7 RC1, it might resolve some of your WMC issues.
 
Last edited:
Shane_c82 said:
I would go the Quad-Core Option mentioned above, with your E5200 already at 3.5 the E8400 wouldn't be worth it imo. Your mb does max 16GB ram, drop another 4 in there and just get the 4890. I would also consider a fresh install of the Win 7 RC1, it might resolve some of your WMC issues.
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My Power supply: 550W Crossfire/Sli Ready
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153059

How much real world performance would the quadcore bring over a dual core for the software i listed? How does the 9400 oc? Wouldn't the q6600 get some higher oc's because of its multi?

I could probably sell both 4830's and the e5200 for around 170 total, so going the quad route id be spending about 285$. Thats not bad. $40 for another 4 gigs and i'm good to go eh?
 
A Quad Core upgrade would be ideal since more games and software are utilizing the multi-cores. The Q9400 cpu can overclock pretty good as shown here. Also, there is a Q8400 quad which is similar to the Q9400 Quad cpu but, it has 4MB of L2 cache as oppose to 6MB L2 cache on the Q9400. Also, no virtualization technology support on the Q8400 quad if you care for that. Other than that, specs are similar at 2.66ghz per core, 1333mhz FSB and both cpus have a multiplier of 8. There is a combo deal on newegg for the Q8400 + Sapphire Radeon HD 4890 1gig for $420 ($20 MIR on the video card)
 
The TR2 line from thermaltake isn't typically that great. There's only 34A on your combined +12V rail, yet other, good quality 550W PSUs have 41A at least. I can't find any good reviews on that PSU. :\

For crysis/wow/cs:source, windows media center, and photo editing? Not much real world performance difference with those games/apps. Q9400 OC's to around the same level as the Q6600, but the Q6600 has reached EOL.

If you want better gaming performance, go with the HD4890.
 
That power supply should be fine for any upgrade you're looking at.

As mentioned, real world performance really won't be a whole lot, not enough to spend $200+ on the cpu. I would keep your E5200 and just buy another 4 gigs of ram and the 4890.
 
Upgrade just the video card. End of story. You don't need 8gigs of ram.
 
Need 8 gigs of ram? Probably not but it might make things feel a little snappier until a more obvious upgrade path is available.
 
No he should save his money or spend it on something more useful/rewarding in his life. The videocard is his best upgrade option right now.

He should hold out on the CPU until Intel releases the Core i5 and AMDs counter punch. Either one will require him to get a new motherboard as well but I'm confident the extra cost for that will be worth it.
 
mutantmagnet said:
No he should save his money or spend it on something more useful/rewarding in his life.
Click to expand...

I think the op can decide that for himself, I was merely making a suggestion that 8 gigs may help him make his comp feel a little faster without spending a lot right now and enabling him to save for a cpu/mb upgrade down the road. I don't know how much stress he puts on his comp so maybe he doesn't need it.

personally, computer upgrades are useful and rewarding to me :D
 
Shane_c82 said:
Need 8 gigs of ram? Probably not but it might make things feel a little snappier until a more obvious upgrade path is available.
Click to expand...

I don't really notice a difference between 8 and 4GB of RAM with the apps/games he's running, with the exception of photoshop (assuming thats what he uses for photo editing).
 
The TR2 line from thermaltake isn't typically that great. There's only 34A on your combined +12V rail, yet other, good quality 550W PSUs have 41A at least. I can't find any good reviews on that PSU. :\
Click to expand...

AFAIK, the TR2 550 RX is basically a modular Thermaltake version of the Corsair 550VX, which is a pretty good PSU. I have no idea about the 12v rail discrepancy though.

Edit: Gah, that actually describes the Purepower RX, not the TR2. I have no idea then. :\
 
Falling Anvil said:
AFAIK, the TR2 550 RX is basically a modular Thermaltake version of the Corsair 550VX, which is a pretty good PSU. I have no idea about the 12v rail discrepancy though.

Edit: Gah, that actually describes the Purepower RX, not the TR2. I have no idea then. :\
Click to expand...

Actually, the TR2 550 RX is CWT made as well, just like the Corsair 550VX. However it seems like they're based on different platforms if that TR2 RX only has 34A on the +12V rail. While the CWT made Corsair 550VX is an excellent PSU, HardOCP's reviews of the CWT made Xigmatek PSUs have shown that the rebrander (Corsair, Xigmatek, etc) still plays an important part in selecting, designing and developing PSU specs. Considering that the Xigmatek CWT made PSUs didn't do too well under testing and Thermaltake's reputation with the TR2 and Purepower line of PSUs, I wouldn't trust that Thermaltake TR2 PSU either.

With that said, the TR2 RX should be enough for the Dual-Core Option that PC_User recommended. Other than that, too many unknowns about that TR2 550 RX for me to recommend using with any higher-end parts without a proper review.
 
Its a TR2 RX 550PP. Thermal take but branded under that Best Buy name.

It is indeed a combined 34 on the 12v rails. This is the closest to a review for the ps i could find.
http://www.hardcoreware.net/reviews/review-338-4.htm

Im thinking about going down to best buy and test driving a 4890. If i like it, ill get another one and crossfire. But, chances are my pwoer supply wont be able to handle two of them badboys eh?
 
kenprescott21 said:
Im thinking about going down to best buy and test driving a 4890. If i like it, ill get another one and crossfire. But, chances are my pwoer supply wont be able to handle two of them badboys eh?
Click to expand...

Hell it can barely handle one HD4890, let alone two if the amperage rating is correct. And we're assuming that it can provide its rated 34A on the +12V rail when there is absolutely no evidence that it can do so.
 
Danny, recommend me a power supply in the $100 range. I'll just ditch the 550w, the two 4830's and snag a new ps and a 4890, maybe two. If i mod the htpc case, i can get the 5200 @ 4.1G so it couldn't possibly bottleneck. (Case mod would be to cut a opening in the top above the cpu heatsink with another fan and have that exhaust right out the top. that way 1X 120 will cool the ram and the bridges, 2x 120 for the proc, and 1 120 blowing through the graphics cards)
 
Two 4890s versus one 4890 makes a lot of difference. If you're planning on running 2 x 4890 in CF, then I would suggest at least a Corsair TX850.
 
kenprescott21 said:
Danny, recommend me a power supply in the $100 range. I'll just ditch the 550w, the two 4830's and snag a new ps and a 4890, maybe two
Click to expand...

Best PSU in that $100 price range for your planned setup are these PSUs:
$110 - PC Power & Cooling S75CF 750W PSU
$120 - Corsair 750TX 750W PSU

Either of those PSUs will be enough for HD4890 CF.
 
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