Need to upgraded CPU, MOBO, RAM. Advice needed.

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[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Dec 2, 2003
Messages
1,597
So I've been out of the game for a bit and back when I was hard into computers it was all about 939 and AM2 and the quad core LGA775 was only a dream..

Anyways, computers been acting up and a new HD didnt fix it so its time for that upgrade I've been wanting.

I currently have.

DFI Lanparty Ultra-D
A64 3800+ x2
2 x 1GB PC3200 Balistx
EVGA 8800GTS 640MB
WD Raptor 150 and a 500GB SATA

I am going to keep everything else, but I just need a new mobo cpu and ram for the upgrade, and possible a new PSU if my Antec True Power 480W won't cut it.

680i, P35 all these new chipsets overwhelm me. The only graphical upgrades I'd be doing later would be adding another 8800GTS or whatever so I need SLI. Other than that nothing real necessary.

So I need a recomendation for a new motherboard and CPU. I was thinking a Q6600 but I don't know what MOBO would work well?

I don't want to spend more than $800, and thats Canadian. I'll be shopping from www.ncix.com but newegg links or product codes will work to. :D

Cheers.
 
What size monitor do you have? The Ultra-D isn't an SLI board, so why do you need an SLI board this time? SLI is only needed for high resolution 3D rendering. So, if you have or plan on getting a 1920x1080 LCD or higher, and want to game on it at native resolution, then keep SLI as an option. Otherwise, theres no need for it. There should be a single card solution that can still handle a 1920x1080 (or 1920x1200) LCD screen, and it should be more cost effective than an SLI setup. SLI as an upgrade path isn't worth it unless, again, a large LCD is in the future plans.

So, you're buying a new vidcard and new HDDs, too?

I'd suggest selling your old parts to help offset the cost of the new system. You could get a nice chunk of change for those parts on eBay (or a bit less at the FS/FT forums; but you'll be helping fellow forum members).

What features do you need in motherboard? If you don't need Crossfire/SLI, stick with a P35 board. If you don't need anything fancy, the Abit IP35-E and Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L (if you need legacy ports) are your good-but-cheap options (they can OC great w/ better chipset cooling). If you need RAID, the GA-P35-DS3R is good and has 8 SATA ports, but the MSI Neo2-FR has better cooling for the chipset/mosfets (though you're sacrificing 3 SATA ports). If you need Firewire, the Asus P5K fits the bill. If you want/need both RAID and Firewire, check out the Abit IP35 non-pro, if you can find it in stock (typically $120 - $25MIR). The higher end boards are the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3P, DS4, Asus P5K-E, and the crowd favorite, Abit IP35 Pro.

PSU Suggestions:
http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/showpost.php?p=1590883&postcount=193
http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1460
http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103
PSU FAQ: http://www.jonnyguru.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1036

The crowd favorite PSU right now is the Corsair 520W for any single vidcard system.
 
Two 20.1 1680x1050 LCD' of which I just game on one at 1680x1050. I just game on one of them, however, some day I'll get a 37+ LCD for my computer. Just gotta deicde on a DVI to HDMI cable or DVI to DVI.

I need RAID, firewire would be a good option to keep open. Onboard sound I dont need but it seems everything comes with that these days. More USB ports on the back the better, no need for WiFi.

I am keeping only my WD Raptor 150 and my WD 500 and the PCI-E EVGA 8800GTS 640. I plan on getting another WD 500 and running a RAID 0 or 1. I had two Maxtor 250's in RAID 1, but those crapped out on me, AGAIN|! No more Seagate/Maxtor for me.
 
Is that "someday" for the 37" sooner rather than later? or more like a year or so from now? This will affect the mobo decision.
 
if I see a good one on sale for under thats 32-37 under 1K I might jump on it but I spend enough money on other things... : ( i am happy with my dual monitor setup. i like the viewsonic 2025WM and I might look into a bigger LCD if I don't go the way of the LCD TV type setup.

anyways, done some research. ABIT IP35 sounds solid and has RAID which I will need because I know I'll get another SATA before a new video card or LCD. Quad Core E6600 for the CPU and a TT Ultra 120 to cool it. Then I need some good memory to overclock that SOB. DDR2 is cheap, but the I gotta look into the new timings and overclocking the newer Intel chips. Any recommendations on a good 2 x 1GB kit?

I am happy with my video card and I want to atleast get another year or two out of it. I opted for the 640 over the 320 and it should help me off down the road. Crysis like theres no tomorow, but the CPU is holding me back.
 
The Westy 37" is on sale at newegg.com, $880 + tax (free shipping) with an $80MIR.

The E6600 is a dual core... you want the Q6600, and you want it from Clubit.com, since they guarantee the G0 stepping. And you'd want to cool it with a TR Ultra120 eXtreme and a Scythe S-Flex 120mm fan. "TT" is typically short for Thermaltake (Tt), and the old Ultra120 isn't as good as the Ultra 120 eXtreme.

You don't need good memory to OC an intel chip, almost any ddr2-800 memory will do (at least until the 1600mhz fsb qdr chips are out). You won't notice the difference between CL4 and CL5, unless you're running benchmarks (and even then, its negligible), so don't pay a huge price premium for lower latency. For a Q6600, all you need is DDR2-800, and here's why...

/*------------- <cut n paste> -------------*/
Formulas for Intel platform @ 1:1 settings: (base FSB speed is SDR, or single data rate)
c x [Base FSB speed] = CPU speed (c = CPU Multiplier)
2 x [Base FSB speed] = RAM speed (DDR: double data rate)
4 x [Base FSB speed] = FSB speed (QDR: quad data rate; Effective FSB speed)

On Intel platforms, running the RAM higher than a 1:1 ratio with the CPU is, for the most part, useless, so don't bother trying to do so. If the BIOS does it for you, just let it. All you need is a 1:1 config, though. Here's some possible clock speeds (as always with OC'ing, your results will vary):

Q6600: 9 × 266 = 2.4Ghz, DDR2-533 << STOCK speeds
Q6600: 9 × 333 = 3.0Ghz, DDR2-667 << Nice OC
Q6600: 9 × 378 = 3.4Ghz, DDR2-756 << Good OC, near max for B3 stepping
Q6600: 9 × 400 = 3.6Ghz, DDR2-800 << Great OC, near max for G0 stepping
/*------------- </cut n paste> -------------*/

$42 - OCZ Gold 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-800 OCZ2G8002GK ($20MIR)
$45 - G.Skill 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-800 F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ
$46 - A-DATA 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-800 ADQVE1A16K ($10MIR)

Playing Crysis... its not just the CPU holding you back... the GTS 640 isn't as good as the newer cards (GT 512MB and GTS 512MB), and even they have a hard time playing Crysis.
 
Other boards you may consider instead of the IP35-Pro would be the DFI LanParty P35 Dark P35-TR2S and Gigabyte P35-DS3R/DS4. The MSI P35 Neo2-FR is also a great buy at $100 AR ($120 shipped) at Newegg right now. It's pretty much a MSI P35 Platinum with a few (non-essential) features removed.

Why 2x1GB when the 2x2GB kits are so cheap right now? You're paying about a $10 premium for 2x bigger sticks, average. Prices are down to $60-70 AR.
 
Update -

Ordered the stuff today.

:D

Item Description Part # QTY
Price

Ext. Price
Mushkin XP PC2-6400 4GB 2X2GB DDR2-800 CL4-4-4-12 240PIN DIMM Dual Channel Memory Kit
26793 1 $133.99 $133.99
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad Core Processor LGA775 Kentsfield 2.40GHZ 1066FSB 8MB Retail Box
22211 1 $255.99 $255.99
Abit IP35 Pro ATX LGA775 P35 DDR2 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 3PCI SATA2 RAID Sound GBLAN 1394 Motherboard
24630 1 $199.81 $199.81
Thermalright ULTRA-120 Extreme 6 Heatpipe Cooler LGA775 Heatsink *Fan Not Included*
23531 1 $64.98 $64.98
Noctua NF-S12-1200 120MM Ultra Quiet Cooling Fan 1200RPM 81M3/H 17DBA Molex
21012 1 $18.99 $18.99

Should be good. Gonna rip appart the current stuff after I save my data and have confimation that the goods are one the way . :D
 
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