$500 upgrade mobo and cpu

D

DeathDesigns

n00b
Joined
Dec 17, 2007
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Got a $500 budget to upgrade my cpu need suggestions as I am a noob since there are many many selections on cpus and mobos

Currently got a like 600 watt seasonic PSU
zotac 8800GT (nvidia gfx)
Antec 900 case
2 gb ddr2 800
(just the things to consider, I plan on adding in 2-4 gb ram past my $500 budget and a gfx card maybe next year like another 8800 gt or replacing it with 2 other gfx cards if games actually need anything past a 8800gt to run ;).)

I need a good cpu and mobo, thinking something like the MSI P45 Platinum but I am a noob to the fact of how sli works, I want to be able to in the future be able to run crossfire or sli, wait a year or so and see how prices look on gfx card (My 8800gt dropped $100 since feburary when I bought it) and either do a sli or crossfire config, but for now I have one 8800gt.

I seriously can not see myself needing ddr3 or a new nvidia 280gt or whatever for years to come down the road ;).
 
Anyone have any input on the MSI p45 platinum or Intel Quad Core Q9450, also I have never really overclocked before so any suggestions on a cpu that is easy to overclock?
 
DeathDesigns said:
I need a good cpu and mobo, thinking something like the MSI P45 Platinum but I am a noob to the fact of how sli works, I want to be able to in the future be able to run crossfire or sli, wait a year or so and see how prices look on gfx card (My 8800gt dropped $100 since feburary when I bought it) and either do a sli or crossfire config, but for now I have one 8800gt.
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No consumer-grade motherboard support both SLI and Crossfire. In order to use SLI, which is limited to Nvidia cards only, you need a motherboard using Nvidia chipsets. In order to use Crossfire, which is limited to ATI cards only, you need a motherboard using Intel chipsets. However Nvidia chipset motherboards are not as stable, reliable, or as cool running as their Intel chipsets. So unless you're using SLI off the bat, do not bother with an Nvidia motherboard.

Now what makes you think that you actually need a CPU/Motherboard upgrade? In fact, what CPU and motherboard are you using now?

Also what size monitor do you have? And what games are you playing now?
 
What makes me think I need an upgrade to both? Well I have a fake duo core from when duo cores were pretty new so basically its labeled duo core but its a single core at like 3.4 ghz, furthermore I have a motherboard that is like 2 years old I think and I would really like the option to put in two gfx cards in anywhere from 3-24 months from now :p. Plus working for the summer so got money to spend on an upgrade :\

I have two 24" CRT monitors that weigh around 90 pounds each, one is the HP A7217A and the other one is the same model but under sony's brand name. Both running at 1920X1200 and 85hz refresh

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128012
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116255 (As I said above its labeled as a duo core however its a single core running at 3.4 ghz)
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820609026 (gone down like 200 since 2 years ago, got it cause it had the lowest cas latency)
GFX Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500006 (Got it cause it was the cheapest and the highest specs in feburary, runs great and I measured it and it was like 11 inches long lulz)
 
DeathDesigns said:
Well I have a fake duo core from when duo cores were pretty new so basically its labeled duo core but its a single core at like 3.4 ghz

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116255 (As I said above its labeled as a duo core however its a single core running at 3.4 ghz)
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Wat are you talking about? If it shows up as single core in Windows it's only because you don't have the proper multiprocessor Kernel and HAL installed. Not because it's some sort of "fake" dual core processor :eek:


With that said you have a perfectly good mobo, no need to upgrade it. In your case the best upgrade path would be to buy a Q6600 + HD4870.
 
MM doesn't the fact that on the product page it says
"Intel Pentium D 945 Presler 3.4GHz 2 x 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Dual-Core Processor"
make it sound funny? Wow a pentium D with a 3.4 ghz dual-core? Must be 6.8 ghz, uh no... That would be amazing for 2 years ago

On a newer computer it will say "Pentium dual-core E2200(2.20GHz)"
 
Sorry to tell you buddy but you are wrong. Pentium D 945 most certainly is a dual core processor. A Pentium D 945 runs both cores at 3.4Ghz, just like a Pentium Dual Core E2200 runs both cores at 2.2Ghz. But an E2200 is much faster than what you have since it is so much more efficient. Comparing clock speed alone doesn't tell the whole story. It's unfortunate but it looks like you've been running on just half your CPU for the past 2 years because of a faulty Windows install :eek:

Edit - Just realized if you have a D0 stepping Pentium D 945 you may need a BIOS update for your board to fully recognize the CPU. Which could also be causing a problem in Windows recognizing your CPU as dual core.
 
I don't really care, I am not asking anyone to question my choice in choosing to upgrade.
I don't think anyone necessarily needs to upgrade rather its a Pentium 3 or a quad core but we do anyways.
 
You don't care that you could double the performance of your computer with a few simple fixes? Danny and I are only trying to help you get the most out of your current rig since it appears you aren't fully aware of all your options. Anyhow I can tell my opinion is not wanted so I'm just gonna butt out of this topic now.
 
DeathDesigns said:
I don't really care, I am not asking anyone to question my choice in choosing to upgrade.
Click to expand...

How rude to Toaster Oven. We're both taking time out of our day to help you and you respond like that?

And there are many legitimate reasons why one needs to upgrade. Yes, upgrading for the sake of upgrading is a good reason, it's not good enough. people upgrade when they feel that their CPU is too slow for their new apps or when a certain game requires a certain clock speed. Which CPU will be faster for video rendering? The Q6600 or Pentium III? If you value your time and computing experience and have the money to spend, definitely upgrade to a Q6600 if you're stuck on the P3.

And yes we are going to question your want to upgrade. This is a forum after all. You did come in here looking for advice. And we're giving you advice now.

DeathDesigns said:
furthermore I have a motherboard that is like 2 years old I think and I would really like the option to put in two gfx cards in anywhere from 3-24 months from now :p.
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Again, if you're not going SLI or Crossfire right off the bat, don't bother with either options. Read this quote on dual-GPU solutions:
Markyip1 said:
Just some info on SLI / Crossfire: It's absolutely not worth considering if a) you're gaming at a resolution under 1920x1200 (as you'll see no performance benefit over a single card,) and b) if you plan to buy one card now and another later. SLI / Crossfire as an upgrade path is usually a very poor idea, as by the time you're ready to get that second card, a new single card solution will likely be available that will outperform two of your older cards in tandem. Furthermore, there really is no cost benefit to the SLI Upgrade Route, as any additional cost in getting the new card can be easily mitigated in most situations by selling the original. By avoiding an SLI / Crossfire solution when it will not be of benefit, you gain a cooler running, simpler to maintain system and more importantly, access to a much better (and broader) selection of motherboards.
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Now, you don't really need to change motherboards depending on which CPU you want. But just for the sake of argument, what features are you looking for in a motherboard besides dual-GPU capability? RAID? Firewire? large number of SATA ports? etc.

And what are you doing with this PC? Video editing? gaming? etc.
 
Thanks, but I am only being rude because you are ignoring the point of this topic. I am not asking how to get the most out of my current PC because I have the money from my job to upgrade.

I will do mostly gaming, however, I will also probably start learning to do 3d which I know more power helps it out a bit. Mostly media though.

I have only been rude because no one has answered my question :p, which mobo and cpu should I get? I'd think the motherboard would be more important, but I guess I will never necessarily need the most of either.

I am now thinking that in the future I will crossfire as the recent events show that ATI will be producing higher end gfx cards for cheaper than nVidia will be. So yeah, for now it doesn't matter if its crossfire or sli compatible.
 
Ok, here's a list of recommended motherboards:
Gigabyte GA-EP43-DS3L Intel P43 Motherboard - $96
MSI P45 Neo3-FR Intel P45 Motherboard - $114
Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R Intel P45 Motherboard - $146
Asus P5Q Pro Intel P45 Motherboard - $150
DFI Lanparty DK X38-T2R Intel X38 Motherboard - $185
Gigabyte GA-X48-DS4 Intel X48 Motherboard - $225

Just to help you out: If you don't need RAID, more than 6 SATA ports and only need semi-decent overclocking, check out the DS3L. If you need 8 SATA ports, RAID, 4 PCI slots, and legacy ports, then get the Neo3-Fr. If you don't need more than 6 SATA ports but want RAID, firewire, a second PCI-E x16 port, a second gigabit port, support for 16GB of RAM, optional eSATA, and high overclocks, then get the DS3R. If you like the DS3R but need 8 SATA ports, want an onboard pre-installed fast booting Linux setup or don't need a second gigabit port, get the Asus P5Q Pro. If you want Crossfire with full x16/x16 bandwidth, get the Lanparty DK X38.

CPU wise, get the $200 Q6600 if you want the best bang for your buck and don't plan on upgrading your CPU for a few years. If you don't mind spending an extra $70 for a 7% performance increase and lower energy usage, get the Q9300. If you plan on upgrading your CPU in a year or so, get the E8400.
 
Just a note I completely second toaster ovens opinion that you don't need to upgrade your motherboard unless you're going directly to crossfire or sli, or you're going to sli your 8800gt immediately. I would say that your motherboard, a q6600, and a 4870 sounds great and is right at the 500 dollar price range you set. My old 965 express mobo overclocked and ran just as fast as my later p35 motherboards and almost the same as my x38(has ddr3 so can't completely compare).
 
I could never get my mobo to overclock... When I set the specs higher than default my cpu started running below the normal 3.4 ghz 0_o.
 
DeathDesigns said:
I have only been rude because no one has answered my question :p, which mobo and cpu should I get? I'd think the motherboard would be more important, but I guess I will never necessarily need the most of either.
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Ignorance is bliss. Toaster did answer your question. His answer was implied: You don't need a new motherboard. In fact, you don't even need a new CPU. If you simply want one, thats fine and perfectly understandable. However, the reasons you mentioned were simply incorrect and therefore Toaster had to correct you. While the corrections may be irrelevant to your decision of wanting a new CPU/Mobo, it still doesn't warrant rudeness. Just thank the man for correcting you and move on -- no reason to be rude about it.

its nice to be important... its more important to be nice
Click to expand...

DeathDesigns said:
I could never get my mobo to overclock... When I set the specs higher than default my cpu started running below the normal 3.4 ghz 0_o.
Click to expand...

That's probably because of EIST... enhanced intel speed step technology. Your CPU runs at a lower speed when its computing power is not needed. Once more processing power is needed, the multiplier/voltage spikes up to default speeds. This is done for energy savings and more efficient use of power.

I had more to say, but I'll just let Danny give you all the advice. Listen to him.
 
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