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First things first, filled this out just in case:
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Gaming, web browsing, movies/music, everyday use.
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
No real set budget, but I would like to keep it under $1000 or as low as possible without too much sacrifice.
3) Where do you live?
California
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
If I move to AM3: Motherboard/RAM/CPU/GPU/PSU
If I stay with 775: GPU/PSU
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
If I move to AM3: Case/HDD/ODD/Air Cooler
If I stay with 775: Case/HDD/ODD/Motherboard/RAM/CPU/Air Cooler
6) Will you be overclocking?
Definitely. Shooting for 3.6GHz or 3.8GHz.
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
23.5" 1920x1080
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Before the end of next month (July).
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
Ease of overclocking, CrossfireX, SATA 6GB/s, USB 3.0, possibly Core Unlocking.
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If so, what OS? 32bit or 64bit?
Yes, Vista 64-bit. Though I'm itching to pick up Win7 64-bit.
So I've been considering a socket 1156 build for my next system that I plan on keeping for a long time since I'm not entirely interested on another socket change my Intel. I'll make it clear that this is going to be used for heavy gaming, specifically Bad Company 2, Mass Effect 2, GTA IV, Fallout 3, Dragon Age, Just Cause 2, and upcoming games like RAGE, New Vegas, Crysis 2, Fable 3, etc). All was fine and well until I realized I don't initially need the horsepower of a i5 750 to play the majority of games when a three-core Phenom II will do just fine and can used the money saved for snagging a 5870. I even considered a i3 530, but the 890FX platform looks far more attractive.
Now at this point I'm sure we're all aware that 1156 is basically a dead end and that AM3's future is still up in the air. This combined with my previous revelation lead me to consider adopting AMD. So the big question(s)...strictly from a gaming/everyday use perspective, would it make sense to move from my E7300 at 3.2GHz to the X3 720 or should I just pony up the extra cash and get a X4 955? Or should I just push my E7300 further, pick up a 5870, and wait to see how Bulldozer and Sandy Bridge do? I do plan on CrossfireX down the road and if I do go AM3 and I do plan on overclocking, I would also consider the possibility of picking up a six-core Thuban processor later on.
Thanks for the help and sorry if my post is a bit convoluted.
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Gaming, web browsing, movies/music, everyday use.
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
No real set budget, but I would like to keep it under $1000 or as low as possible without too much sacrifice.
3) Where do you live?
California
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
If I move to AM3: Motherboard/RAM/CPU/GPU/PSU
If I stay with 775: GPU/PSU
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
If I move to AM3: Case/HDD/ODD/Air Cooler
If I stay with 775: Case/HDD/ODD/Motherboard/RAM/CPU/Air Cooler
6) Will you be overclocking?
Definitely. Shooting for 3.6GHz or 3.8GHz.
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
23.5" 1920x1080
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Before the end of next month (July).
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
Ease of overclocking, CrossfireX, SATA 6GB/s, USB 3.0, possibly Core Unlocking.
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If so, what OS? 32bit or 64bit?
Yes, Vista 64-bit. Though I'm itching to pick up Win7 64-bit.
So I've been considering a socket 1156 build for my next system that I plan on keeping for a long time since I'm not entirely interested on another socket change my Intel. I'll make it clear that this is going to be used for heavy gaming, specifically Bad Company 2, Mass Effect 2, GTA IV, Fallout 3, Dragon Age, Just Cause 2, and upcoming games like RAGE, New Vegas, Crysis 2, Fable 3, etc). All was fine and well until I realized I don't initially need the horsepower of a i5 750 to play the majority of games when a three-core Phenom II will do just fine and can used the money saved for snagging a 5870. I even considered a i3 530, but the 890FX platform looks far more attractive.
Now at this point I'm sure we're all aware that 1156 is basically a dead end and that AM3's future is still up in the air. This combined with my previous revelation lead me to consider adopting AMD. So the big question(s)...strictly from a gaming/everyday use perspective, would it make sense to move from my E7300 at 3.2GHz to the X3 720 or should I just pony up the extra cash and get a X4 955? Or should I just push my E7300 further, pick up a 5870, and wait to see how Bulldozer and Sandy Bridge do? I do plan on CrossfireX down the road and if I do go AM3 and I do plan on overclocking, I would also consider the possibility of picking up a six-core Thuban processor later on.
Thanks for the help and sorry if my post is a bit convoluted.
