Need recomendations on a core components upgrade

T

Talon

2[H]4U
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Apr 8, 2002
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I'm planning to upgrade my current X2 6400+/8800GTS build to something a bit more up to date, and am looking for recomentations on a solid motherboard, CPU, RAM and GPU setup between $300-400.

Deciding factors are:

Stability
Price
Quiet

Don't care about overclocking. USB 3.0 support would be a plus. What are the current FotM gaming combos?
 
Please answer the stickied "ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS FIRST!" so that we can help you better.
 
1) Gaming
2) $400
3) Philadelphia (Microcenter accessible)
4) CPU/Mobo/RAM/GPU
5) Corsair 650HX PSU
6) No
7) 1680 x 1050
8) Within a month
9) USB 3.0, Sata 6.0 preferred
10) Windows 7 Pro x64
 
Any chance of you being able/willing to reuse your DDR2 RAM?

EDIT: If you can't or don't want to reuse the DDR2 RAM, I recommend this setup:
$200 - AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition CPU + BIOSTAR A785G3 AM3 AMD 785G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
$54 - Patriot 2GB DDR3 1333 RAM
$170 - XFX HD-577A-ZNFC XXX Edition Radeon HD 5770 1GB PCI-E Video Card
---
Total: $425 shipped.

The HD 5770 is perfect for 1680x1050 gaming so that's the one part that I do not recommend changing at all.
 
I hadn't realized reusing DDR2 RAM was an option. I have 4 Gigs of Corsair XMS2 that I could reuse if it wouldn't impact performance that much.
 
Talon Blackrazor said:
I hadn't realized reusing DDR2 RAM was an option. I have 4 Gigs of Corsair XMS2 that I could reuse if it wouldn't impact performance that much.
Click to expand...

At this point AMD is your only viable option since the only Intel platforms which use DDR2 memory are of the now-moribund Socket LGA775 type (and the Intel i-series platforms all require DDR3 memory). Get an AM3 processor and an AM3-compatible AM2+ motherboard if you want to reuse your existing DDR2 memory. Some of the AM2+ motherboards can even support the new hexacore Phenom II X6 processors with the latest BIOS versions.
 
Well since we're now dealing with $400 split among the cpu, mobo, and video card:

$75: Gigabyte MA770-UD3, supports DDR2 and X6 procs if you ever want to in the future.
$170: XFX 5770

At this point, there's ~$150 left for the cpu. I personally would try to stretch it and get the 1055T for $200, but if there is no leeway in the budget I'd go with the 955 for $160, just make sure it's the C3 (95w) stepping.

Edit: I may be wrong about the wattage on the C3. Also, finding a DDR2 mobo with USB3.0/SATA3 is quite hard, I couldn't find any in my quick search.
 
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Now that you have roughly $400 spread out between three components, if you live near a MicroCenter, you can purchase an AMD Phenom II X6 1055T for $199.99 and then get a $40 discount on a compatible AM2+ or AM3 motherboard. With a Gigabyte, Asus or Biostar 785G-based DDR2 motherboard, the combo would cost you $239.98 plus tax. This, plus the XFX 5770 card ordered from Newegg, would put you at about $425 to $430 total. If you choose a Biostar TA785GE 128M motherboard (which MicroCenter has on sale for $69.99 minus the $40 combo discount), that will knock off another $10, making the total somewhere between $415 to $420 total. (And yes, I did check the Web sites of all three motherboard brands. All of the 785G AM2+ motherboards from those three brands sold at MicroCenter support the X6 1055T with the latest BIOS version.)

Be advised that none of the DDR2 motherboards sold at MicroCenter have USB 3.0 support built-in.
 
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