$500 to Upgrade...thoughts?

T

tom0610

n00b
Joined
Apr 16, 2008
Messages
22
I'm thinking about upgrading my current computer with some more updated parts...here's what I'm currently using:

X2 4400+
7800GT
2GB DDR PC-3200
500W PS

Thinking of upgrading that to this (Newegg links):

E8400
8800GT
2GB DDR2 PC2-6400
Gigabyte Mobo

Gonna carry over the drive, PS, HDD, and sound card. Not planning on going SLI cause by the time I want to upgrade there will be a card vastly superior.

All in all this will cost ~$530...a lot cheaper than when I first built this rig. How do these parts look? How much of a performance gain am I looking at?


Thanks
 
What brand/model is your PSU?

Depending on what monitor/resolution you're running and what titles you want to play you may be better served just replacing the 7800GT with an 8800 GTS 512MB or similar for now, and holding out on a new platform until Nehalem (and a new socket -- LGA 775 is on the way out at the end of this year, beginning of next year).
 
I wouldn'r change nothing in your upgrade list, just add a good HSF to go insane with the e8400.
It's a really good upgrade, you'll see much performance difference between the two rigs, principally if you take the 8400 over to 3.8Ghz.
 
Especially at current prices, I think it's worth getting the 8800GTS over the GT for the cooling.
I don't know how well that memory overclocks, but you might want to consider DDR1000 if you're overcloking your processor.
 
What brand/model is your PSU?
Click to expand...

I don't remember specifically, but it's a 500W Seasonic.

Especially at current prices, I think it's worth getting the 8800GTS over the GT for the cooling.
Click to expand...

Depending on what monitor/resolution you're running and what titles you want to play you may be better served just replacing the 7800GT with an 8800 GTS 512MB or similar for now...
Click to expand...

Why the 8800GTS over the GT? I had thought the GT was a faster card, and in most cases, cheaper.

...holding out on a new platform until Nehalem (and a new socket -- LGA 775 is on the way out at the end of this year, beginning of next year).
Click to expand...

Hmm...what's the story on the next generation of chips? I haven't really been keeping up, but the chip I was looking at has gotten unbelievable reviews, and has the highest rating of any product I've seen on Newegg.



While I do some gaming (mostly WoW and some FPS), I do other stuff like photo/video editing, so I was thinking the upgrade from the processor would be very noticeable.

Oh and I'm running a 22" Westy @ 1680x1050.
 
Why the 8800GTS over the GT? I had thought the GT was a faster card, and in most cases, cheaper.
Click to expand...

The 8800GT beats the 8800GTS 640MB card. It does not beat the 8800GTS 512MB version which came out later with some improvements.
 
I would just go for the 8800GTS 512MB. Pretty cheap nowdays. The MSI NX8800GTS 512MB is only $225 upfront and $195 after rebates. This should give you an average of 5 - 10 fps increase over that EVGA 8800GT card. BTW, I have that EVGA Superclocked video card. It's pretty good. But, I now wish I have an 8800GTS 512MB now instead of it.
 
I would just go for the 8800GTS 512MB. Pretty cheap nowdays. The MSI NX8800GTS 512MB is only $225 upfront and $195 after rebates. This should give you an average of 5 - 10 fps increase over that EVGA 8800GT card. BTW, I have that EVGA Superclocked video card. It's pretty good. But, I now wish I have an 8800GTS 512MB now instead of it.
Click to expand...

You're talking about this right?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127325

The main hesitation I have is MSI vs. EVGA. I've had EVGA in the past and loved it, and I hear their tech support is amazing (and OC'ing doesn't void the warranty).

Still think that would be worth it?
 
Yeah, I understand your point though on the tech support and warranty. You can't go wrong with that EVGA 8800GT card. so.. in answer to your question if it's worth it, not really actually. Although MSI 8800GTS is faster but, the tech support and warranty is probably better with EVGA as opposed to MSI. Plus, that 8800GT is good already for that 22" lcd. Overall, your setup looks solid man.

tom0610 said:
You're talking about this right?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127325

The main hesitation I have is MSI vs. EVGA. I've had EVGA in the past and loved it, and I hear their tech support is amazing (and OC'ing doesn't void the warranty).

Still think that would be worth it?
Click to expand...
 
HardwareGuru said:
Yeah, I understand your point though on the tech support and warranty. You can't go wrong with that EVGA 8800GT card. so.. in answer to your question if it's worth it, not really actually. Although MSI 8800GTS is faster but, the tech support and warranty is probably better with EVGA as opposed to MSI. Plus, that 8800GT is good already for that 22" lcd. Overall, your setup looks solid man.
Click to expand...

Awesome, thanks for the advice :)

One last thing I've thought about is switching the DDR2 800 for either 2GB of faster RAM (DDR2 1066) or 4GB of the same speed ram (DDR2 800) for $15-20 more...worth it?
 
The 8800 GTS 512MB is faster than the 8800 GT 512MB. It has 128 SPs to the GT's 112 SPs, a far superior dual slot cooler that allows it to load under 60C as opposed to the 8800 GT's often 90+C temps, and its core, memory, and shader clocks are higher. Oh, and it OCs better too. The 8800 GTS 512MB is far and away the better card.
 
RAM speed only matters if you plan on performing a major overclock. With DDR2 800 RAM, you could push the motherboard's FSB up to 400MHz (YMMV), which is more than enough for most meager CPU overclocks.

If you could afford it, getting more RAM is the better choice. But, in order to fully utilize 4GB or more RAM in your system, you need a 64-bit operating system. (Otherwise, you'll only have between 3.2GB and 3.5GB of "usable" RAM.)
 
LoL. hey this is funny, last night I was going to post a reply saying: "Would you consider this EVGA 8800GTS card instead of that MSI 8800GTS?" Now I see you have listed the EVGA 8800GTS card. It's good that you did get it.


BTW, can you verify what Seasonic 500W PS you have? I am pretty sure it will be good as Seasonics PS is pretty good. Do you have this Seasonic 500W?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151040

tom0610 said:
Alright, well I did a lot of comparing and researching, and this is my new list of parts...

EVGA 8800GTS
4GB DDR2 800
(same Mobo)
(same processor)

Main reason I went for the GTS is that it's only $40 more, and cooling seems to be the big issue...hearing of 90+ temps on load on the 8800GT concerns me...
Click to expand...
 
Just checked back in to order the parts, and the e8400 is out of stock at newegg :mad:

Any idea how fast they update their stock?
 
$180 for a Q6600 Quad Core CPU is a stunning deal. You simply can't go wrong with this purchase.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top