• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

Finally upgrading from LGA 775....

Z

Zallek

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jan 12, 2004
Messages
449
So I built my current system in late 2007 and have only upgraded the cpu and gpu's since then in 08. I've only just recently began to feel like I need a little more speed.

Current specs are;
Q8200
8GB Ram
2x eVGA 260gtx 216s
eVGA 780i FTW Mobo
Corsair TX750W PSU

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Its my general service PC - gaming, photoshop, video editing, web and email.

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
$500-$600 Canadian, including shipping. I generally shop at NCIX, but live near a Memory Express

3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
I need a CPU, RAM, Mobo and a case depending on cost.. I'm currently in ATX, would like to move to mATX if its within budget.

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
I'll be reusing my PSU, at least 1 GPU, all my harddrives and my OS/peripherals.

6) Will you be overclocking?
Unlikely

7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
My widescreen died (thats not included in this build) but my old working resolution was 1680x1050, looking into a 1920x1080 monitor.

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Within six months, I'm not looking to top of the line components so that shouldnt be an issue.

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video (as a backup or main GPU)? UEFI? etc.
SLI would be ideal, but since I'm looking at downsizing to mATX it might not be an option anymore. At least 2 USB 3 ports would be sufficient, and at least 1 SATA 3 port.

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
I'll be using Windows 7 64-bit Pro

I feel like all I want to do is maintain my current performance with the ability to upgrade later on. Being strapped to DDR2 is what has kept me from upgrading due to my situation, also I havent really felt like I needed much more in terms of power. I don't play the most demanding games, mostly things like Dead Space 2 and older so far.

I have been doing a little more encoding than usual lately, so I have been noticing the performance there being saturated. As well as photoshop feels sluggish with my RAWs being upwards of 30mb now.
 
If you really must have SLI, you will need a Z87 board. The cheapest mATX Z87 on NCIX is the Gigabyte Z87M-D3H ($115 after MIR). Unfortunately, it has some pretty poor reviews on Newegg so the next step up is the $150 Asus Z87M-Plus or $160 (after MIR) MSI Z87M Gaming.

Since Z87 is OC capable, it doesn't make sense to get anything less than a 4670K ($260). You'll have overclocking headroom should you decide to in the future.

The RAM options on NCIX are horrendous. They don't even show voltage, and most of the cheaper kits are 1.65V. The cheapest 2x4GB 1600MHz CL9 kit at 1.5V are these Corsair Vengeances ($90) with tall heat spreaders.

That puts you at $500. I'll leave the case suggestions to someone else since I haven't built in mATX much.


edit:
I didn't see any mention of an SSD. What do you think about dropping the chipset down to H87/H81 and the CPU to an i3 to squeeze in an SSD if you don't already have one? Although I'd say it's a better idea to upgrade everything else to the best you can get for now and get an SSD later.
 
Last edited:
On the topic of the SSD, I currently don't have one but will eventually get a medium-ish sized one later down the road for my OS and speed apps. I'll be using a 1TB internal drive with my server box hosting my media to my devices and this computer.

How are AMDs options currently? I've read good things about the FX 8320, and its essentially half the price of the 4670k. SLI isnt mandatory, however I do have 2 260 GTX cards. I can retire one and upgrade later.

-edit-

I suppose the FX isnt *half* the price from NCIX.. I thought somewhere I saw it for $130, must have been USD or something. Either way, hows it stack up?
 
Honestly I don't have any problems with FX chips. I think they have terrific value, and they can all be overclocked. The one issue is that they run hotter than Intel chips so I'd recommend a decent aftermarket cooler ($30-$50).

Can you provide some more details on your usage scenarios and the programs you use before I recommend an FX?
 
Photoshop/Premier CS6, I'd like to dabble with Vegas Pro as I look into other options for my editing. My primary usage is editing RAWs and video from my 7D, and I play my old collection of video games. The newest game I have is Dead Space 2 which my computer handles just fine as it is. I re-encode my media with Handbrake. I feel like I lack the cpu horsepower my programs require.

On occasion I compile C# code.

Hopefully thats enough to get you going again :) I appreciate the help thus far!
 
Your usage scenario sounds like a good fit for an 8 core Vishera. Single threaded performance will be around that of an i3 but multi-threaded performance for your non-gaming purposes should approach that of an i7 (especially handy for Handbrake)

The only potential problem is that there are no mATX AM3+ boards with the 990X or 990FX chipset which is needed for SLI. They can hybrid Crossfire with chipset graphics when using a Radeon, but that's not relevant to you.

There are only 2 options on both NCIX and MemoryExpress, both of which are extremely inexpensive, so I've went with the top end Vishera.
CPU: FX8350 ($220)
Mobo option1: Gigabyte 78LMT-USB3 ($55 after MIR, $60 after MIR on MemoryExpress)
Mobo option2: Asus M5A78L-M ($50 after MIR)

The Gigabyte is the obvious choice since the Asus lacks USB 3.0. I would not recommend anything more than a mild overclock on this board though. This puts you at $275, a good $130 under the Intel route. At this point, depending on the case you choose, a few dollars should be put toward a CPU cooler.
 
Last edited:
PCPartPicker This is what I've come up with, with your input as a full system. Is the SSD of decent quality? I've never ventured into that area yet either.

Its over budget, but like anything... Thats bound to happen. I don't feel like I can cut any corners anywhere, and if thats the system I want then I'll find the addition funds for the overage.

Hows that look to you?
 
Not that great:

You want to aim for single 8GB RAM sticks since that will give you the most flexibility and cost-effectiveness for future RAM upgrades.

Although....

Zallek said:
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Within six months, I'm not looking to top of the line components so that shouldnt be an issue.
Click to expand...
You're planning way too early. A lot can change in the computer hardware (in regards to pricing, availability, and value) world in a month let alone a six month period. If you want an up-to-date build list, please come back when you're 1-2 weeks away from buying and ask for advice then.

With that said, the main..I guess the word is "issue".. I have with that setup is the fact that it's a 760G mobo. To me, it's just maddening to see that particular chipset in use considering how out of date it is even in comparison to AMD's current mATX FM2 mobos. Especially the storage subsystems. While I understand that right now that's pretty much your best bet for an AMD 8-core mATX setup, it's still quite sad to see that nonetheless considering that just a few years ago that the market did have more up-to-date mATX AMD AM3 mobos out.
 
Honestly, six months is a long time in this world, but I'm looking to break out of a build from 5-6 years ago. I feel like I'd be completely satisifed aiming for 'current' tech now, and buying essentially old tech in 6 months. At least I'll know what I need to look for.

As for the mobo, I've got no idea about the chipsets these days. The last mobo I bought was my 780i, and even though it wasnt the best its definitely served me well.

Sticking to full ATX, what would you suggest chipset, and otherwise, for the FX 8320/8520 cpus? I've got an ATX case I could reuse, so that'd cut down on my overall cost as well at that point.

I'm more than willing to be flexible, and I'm completely aware of how things'll change over six months - but I do know what I find today, won't be completely unavailable in six months for purchase, used or otherwise.

Thanks again for the opinions and suggestions! Keep'em coming :D
 
Last edited:
The 760G was something I was hesitant about too, but the options are just so limited. 20 PCIe lanes is fine for most uses, and I think the OP can live without SLI on mATX. The biggest drawback is a lack of SATA III.

With full ATX, you'll want a 990X or 990FX chipset. These feature SATA III. The 990X supports 1x16 or 2x8 PCIe lanes for SLI/Crossfire, while the 990FX supports 2x16 or 4x8 PCIe lanes.

Your options on NCIX:
ASUS M5A99X Evo R2.0 ($108 after MIR) - 990X
Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3 ($114 after MIR) - 990FX
ASUS M5A99FX Pro R2.0 ($139 after MIR) - 990FX
MSI 990FXA-GD65 V2 ($141) - 990FX

Both Asus boards have 6 power phases to the CPU, the Gigabyte has 8, and the MSI has 10. Featurewise, the Gigabyte has the superior ALC889 audio codec vs the ALC892 in the rest. The Asus boards should have the best auto-overclocking capability (the Dual Intelligent Processors work well on Z87 at least),

A new case would be ideal since you probably don't have USB 3.0 on the old one.
 
A new case would be ideal since you probably don't have USB 3.0 on the old one.
Click to expand...

You're right, this case doesnt have external USB 3.0 ports on it.
With the current state of AM3+ matx boards, I almost feel compelled to stick with the ATX form factor. I'll live for now with no external USB 3 ports, but I feel like its a lot less of a cluster if I just rid my thoughts of the mATX for now.

I'll check the links, but at a glimpse can you briefly describe the difference between the 990X and 990FX chipsets other than the PCIe lanes?

Again, I greatly appreciate all the advise :)

-Edit- Also, what do you mean by power phases?
 
CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($166.98 @ Newegg Canada)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Seidon 120XL 86.2 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($80.00 @ Vuugo)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($144.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: Kingston HyperX 10th Anniversary Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($104.92 @ Amazon Canada)
Storage: Crucial M500 240GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($139.98 @ NCIX)
Total: $636.87 With SSD
Total: $496.89 Without SSD

Heres a suggested ATX build, and I feel I could make do even without the SSD for the time being as it'll get me out of the rut that I'm currently in with my LGA 775 system, and should hold the door open long enough to get some use out of it.

It almost seems silly to get an unlocked cpu and not overclock it.. But in the territory of 8 cores, it doesnt look like I have much choice. Is the 990FX chipset (more importantly, this mobo) fairly friendly when it comes to overclocking? I haven't done it in ages, and my current rig is only sporting a 600mhz auto-overclock.

I may have convinced the wife to let me pull the trigger sooner rather than later, but time will tell on that front.. haha
 
I don't think there is a difference between 990X and 990FX other than the PCIe lanes. Note that they are PCIe 2.0, so SLI bandwidth on 990FX is equivalent to 2x8 PCIe 3.0 lanes on a modern Intel board. The chipset itself should have nothing to do with overclocking potential.

You should pass on the M500 because it is among the slower SSD's. The relatively low IOPs issue (on the 240 GB and lower capacities) was addressed with the new M550 released this week.

I'd still take 2x4GB of RAM over 1x8GB. 8GB is plenty to start, and you get dual channel operation. The 1x8GB route is only a good idea if you plan on 32GB of RAM in the future, which is excessive for 95% of users imo.

I don't know why PCPartsPicker came out with a higher price for the Gigabyte board I linked (it's the same one). The FX-8320 is 500MHz slower than the FX-8350, which is justified for the price difference, but I'm sure you can reclaim that speed by overclocking the 8320.

The number of power phases is partly responsible for stability with overclocking. The more phases there are, the less stress there is on the board. Personally, I'd feel comfortable pushing an OC if a board had 8 phases and good reviews (provided that cooling is adequate).
 
Sounds good, I'll talk things over with the wife but so far I think the deal is sealed.. I may end up paying slightly more since I'm going to buy everything thru memory express (its a 40 minute drive from my place) but I'll save the difference compared to shipping to my middle of nowhere address.

As far as a case upgrade goes, I was looking at the HAF Evo/XB (Their descriptions appear to be exactly the same?) or a new 690 - which appears to sport USB 3 ports in place of my USB 2's. All 3 are $100, so thats within budget still. Size wise it may not be optimum, but I figure I need to just get out of the LGA 775, and mATX simply doesnt offer what I want at this time.

For cooling, I think I'm going to try out the stock cooler and go from there. If it gets too ridiculous under load I'll probably just grab a Noctua NH-D14 and be done with it until I venture back into watercooling.

Unless you have suggestions about those two future paths, I'll just say thank you for your help - its been extremely informative and I greatly appreciate it.

-Edit-
I think the reason you got a different price than what my PartsPicker did was because your link is from NCIX US, so conversion and whatever else is applied :)
 
Last edited:
Hmmm....here's another option:
$330 CAD - Intel Core i7-4770 CPU
$90 CAD - Asus B85M-G Intel B85 Motherboard
$90 CAD - Kingston HyperX Red 8GB DDR3 1600 RAM
----
Total: $510 without SSD

The platform is a bit more up-to-date, will use up less power, and generate less heat than the AMD platform. All of that and you also get better performance for your planned usage. With that said, you can't overclock the above setup and it does not come with a 3rd party HSF. But the stock HSF is enough (assuming your part of Canada is the cold part). Though if you need/want a 3rd party HSF later on, I recommend this as a minimum:
$35 - Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo HSF
 
I was looking at that 212 Evo as an alternate to the Noctua, just havent gotten that far yet. Does the 4770 support HT? And if it does, does HT work as efficiently as 8 separate cores for tasks such as encoding and video/photo editing?

Also, how much less power and heat are we looking at? My Q8200 runs under load at a chill 89C, although its never been a cold cpu.. my old E4500 was luke warm compared to this one. I'm not afraid of heat, noise or power usage at the moment. My current system is a tank in all three regards due to its age.
 
The Core i7 4770 CPU does have HT. Every single desktop Core i7 CPU has HT FYI. The Core i7's greater IPC performance combined with HT allows it perform faster than an AMD FX eight-core setup in many multi-threaded applications as seen here:
http://anandtech.com/bench/product/836?vs=698

Granted I'm using a Hyper 212+ right now but my 4770K (the overclock capable version of the Core i7 4770) at stock speeds rarely exceeds 45C at load. Right now it's idling at 34C.
 
If you go with the $500+ budget, the i7 is doable, but the FX route is still a more cost effective one. You're saving around $130, and the performance difference is not worth that much imo (increasing spending by 30% will not get you 30% more perceivable performance), especially if overclocking. It's up to you, but I'd go with FX to cut costs. I highly doubt you'll be able to tell the difference in end usage, they will both be leaps and bounds ahead of your C2D. Any savings should be put toward a cooler + SSD.
 
rastaban said:
If you go with the $500+ budget, the i7 is doable, but the FX route is still a more cost effective one. You're saving around $130, and the performance difference is not worth that much imo (increasing spending by 30% will not get you 30% more perceivable performance), especially if overclocking. It's up to you, but I'd go with FX to cut costs. I highly doubt you'll be able to tell the difference in end usage, they will both be leaps and bounds ahead of your C2D. Any savings should be put toward a cooler + SSD.
Click to expand...
How'd you get a $130 price difference between my setup and the OP's latest planned setup without the SSD? It's a $80 price difference from my understanding.

In any case, IMO, if there's still a good chance you can afford to upgrade to a better cooler and SSD later on, I'd go with the Core i7 since it's a lot harder from a cost-effectiveness standpoint to upgrade a CPU and mobo later on.
 
The $130 savings came from comparing to the $510 proposal.

FX8320 - $175
Gigabyte board - $115
2x4GB RAM - $90

Total is $380, pretty good value I'd say.
 
I'm going to go with the FX build, the value just can't be beat for similiar performance. The wife may have also approved an earlier purchase date... Love it :D

Thanks again from both of you :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top