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Budget Upgrade

R

Requiem

Limp Gawd
Joined
Nov 11, 2004
Messages
208
The main reason I'm looking to upgrade is that my current system can't handle the multi-tasking I do. I often have photoshop, matlab, lots of browser windows, excel, and some word documents going at once and my current system isn't cutting it. I have an E6750 at stock on a DS3 with an 8800GT and 2 gigs of RAM with a Corsair 550VX. As far as gaming, I plan to play both Skyrim and Diablo 3 (1920x1080 likely), but I won't be able to play them until late december. I'm trying to decide between 3 options as far as upgrading goes.

1. Keep current system but buy 2 more gigs of DDR2 for cheap and overclock the 6750. Should allow me more multi-tasking room and then I can upgrade later when I have time to play Skyrim and Diablo 3.

2. Get a 2500K plus an inexpensive motherboard combo at Microcenter along with 8 gigs of cheap DDR3 and use my 8800GT until I can play Skyrim, at which point I can get a new video card.

3. Go for the above except with a new video card. I'm not too sure about which one I'd want. Would like to spend around 200$ for the video card, but I have a hard time justifying this right now when I won't really be playing any games for the next 4 months.

I would like to reuse my 550VX with any upgrade, so if that's not possible I'll probably just wait a bit longer until I really really need an upgrade. I have no problems with overclocking and will be using 64 bit Windows 7. I'd like to keep the price as low as possible, buying at the max performance/price ratio. Basically, I'm wondering whether it's worth waiting for video card updates/price drops over the next 4 months and what type of card will be necessary for my gaming needs.

Thanks!
 
Option 2. You'll appreciate more ram and a new CPU right now, and there's not much point waiting unless you want LGA 2011.
Wait for next gen vid cards. Might need a new PSU at that point too, depending on what card your resolution dictates. What resolution do you plan to use btw?
 
I'd say option 1 if you can't afford option 2. If you can afford option 2, definitely that.
 
Kueller said:
Option 2. You'll appreciate more ram and a new CPU right now, and there's not much point waiting unless you want LGA 2011.
Wait for next gen vid cards. Might need a new PSU at that point too, depending on what card your resolution dictates. What resolution do you plan to use btw?
Click to expand...

I usually use a dual monitor setup. The main one is 1920x1080 and the other is 1280x1024. All gaming will be on the larger monitor. I think I will go with the second option. As far as motherboards go, things seem to be more complicated than last time I upgraded. I need a motherboard with at least 1 PCI slot but I don't care about crossfire or SLI or onboard sound or firewire. I just want a board that I can overclock a bit but I really don't care about expensive features. I'm going to try to pick up the 2500k/mobo combo at microcenter. Which low budget aftermarket cooler is recommended for the 2500k? I'll also be buying a new HD and I'm deciding between this Newegg bare drive for 49.99 and this microcenter drive for 49.99.

Thank you!
 
I recommend this HSF:
$28 - Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus HSF for LGA 1366 and LGA 1156

HDD wise, definitely the Samsung hands down.
 
Danny Bui said:
I recommend this HSF:
$28 - Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus HSF for LGA 1366 and LGA 1156

HDD wise, definitely the Samsung hands down.
Click to expand...

I concur with Danny. Option 2 if you can afford it, and I also suggest you look into both of the above recommendations. I have the F3, two friends of mine have the F3. It's a good drive and very quick for a mechanical HDD.
 
Option 2, you should be able to reuse your power supply as well unless it's a OMGWTF video card, but for a budget system, a AMD 6870 should be able to do what you want to when the time comes.
 
Unless you really need the features of the Z68 chipset, I recommend going with the MSI due to its higher quality.
 
Requiem said:
Now my only question is regarding motherboards. I like both this MSI board and this Biostar board. Any suggestions or should I ask in the Motherboard forum? Thanks!
Click to expand...

I see no problems with either board. MSI generally is considered to be of higher quality, however having just put together a system with a Biostar H61MU3 a couple nights ago I found it to be more than adequate in terms of getting the system up and running. I can't vouch for overclocking on Biostar, but I found OCing on my MSI P67A-G45 to be easy if you use the automatic OC feature or the UEFI. Software OC from the desktop was not as easy as it should be. Also for everyone reading this, the price of the boards goes to $70 before $10 MIR on the Biostar and $85 before $20 MIR on the MSI when combined with a 2500k (which is $180, all prices before tax.)
 
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