Recommend me some upgrades

[MrHood22]

Mobo: DFI Bloodiron

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153039

I'm looking to upgrade. My e2180(3.1ghz)/8800GT just aren't doing the trick for my 22"/17" (dual display), gaming, and DVD burning needs.

I'm thinking maybe a Q6600 (w/ xigmatek cooler) and a video card upgrade. Obviously the GPU must run on my PSU.

My needs:
-Gaming 1680x1050 (while having 17" @ 1280 x 1024 temps display, ect)
Basically i'd like to max out games at this resolution or come dam close. I'm not sure if that's asking too much. I'm playing Fallout 3, I will be playing Call of Duty: WaW, Left 4 Dead, and Empire: Total War.

-DVD Burning - I love to put my movies on DVD's and watch them on TV, i'm sure that quad core would do me wonders

-Overclocking - I guess the xigmatek is still the best bang for the buck?


I'd like the upgrades to be able to do the above AND not be over $400-$450 and not require me to upgrade other stuff (ie my PSU)

Thanks.

 

[SharpieFiend]

I think you're fine the way you are. If you really want to upgrade, a video card will make the biggest difference.

 

[MrHood22]

I think you're fine the way you are. If you really want to upgrade, a video card will make the biggest difference.

Well I know gaming at high resolution really depends on the GPU but i'm thinking about the Q6600 more for the DVD burning/encoding.


I can only run fallout 3 on medium settings and i'd like to bump them up a little bit.


GPU/CPU prices shoot down for black friday like everything else don't they?

 

[SharpieFiend]

Well I know gaming at high resolution really depends on the GPU but i'm thinking about the Q6600 more for the DVD burning/encoding.

I can only run fallout 3 on medium settings and i'd like to bump them up a little bit.

GPU/CPU prices shoot down for black friday like everything else don't they?

Since you answered so quickly...

If you have the money burning a hole in your pocket, then by all means spend it. It's your money, do what you want to with it. On the other hand, I think your CPU is fine, a quad isn't going to get you as much as you think it will. You're obviously not burning DVDs and gaming at the same time, so that's really not an issue. I'd personally rather have the $200 in my bank account then spend the money to save 30 seconds on a divx convert, but again that's a personal choice.

You'll get a great deal on a new LCD TV on black friday, but computer components are a different story.

 

[Dangman]

-DVD Burning - I love to put my movies on DVD's and watch them on TV, i'm sure that quad core would do me wonders

Well I know gaming at high resolution really depends on the GPU but i'm thinking about the Q6600 more for the DVD burning/encoding.

No. For DVD burning, it does not matter whether you have a quad-core or dual-core CPU. All that really matters is the DVD burner itself. Though if you're doing a ton of encoding (DVD to AVI files) or heavy multi-tasking (Gaming, burning DVDs, encoding video, six or seven browser windows open, music, and video playback, all at the same time kind of multi-tasking), then yes a quad-core would be a huge asset.

-Overclocking - I guess the xigmatek is still the best bang for the buck?

Yup

GPU/CPU prices shoot down for black friday like everything else don't they?

Not all GPUs and CPUs go down in price for Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Basically, no one knows what will be on sale till a couple of weeks before Black Friday when Black Friday websites start posting BF deals.

Anyway, the GTX260 should be a big stepup over your current 8800GT:
PNY VCGGTX260XPB GeForce GTX 260 896MB PCI-E Video Card - $240

 

[MrHood22]

Well what I meant by burning was the entire burning process. The act of burning doesn't take a long time (10 minutes max maybe) but the encoding part and "pre-burning" stuff that happens takes the longest time.

I'd really like to just be able to max out my games. I guess GPU is my top priority. Which GPU's would be a nice step up from my 8800GT?

Basically i'm trying to look out for deals in the next few weeks but I need to know what GPU's to look for. I'm pretty much set on getting a quad core in the next few months (most likely a Q6600) but in the next month or so i'd like to get a new GPU so I can max out the new games being released.

Just found this:

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/Best-Graphics-Card,review-31363-7.html

So does that chart look pretty up to date? I should be looking at a 9800GX2, GTX 260, and a 4870, correct?

 

[Dangman]

Well what I meant by burning was the entire burning process. The act of burning doesn't take a long time (10 minutes max maybe) but the encoding part and "pre-burning" stuff that happens takes the longest time.

Wait, what app you using the to encode and burn the DVD?

I'd really like to just be able to max out my games. I guess GPU is my top priority. Which GPU's would be a nice step up from my 8800GT?

Well like I said earlier, the GTX260 (192SP or 216SP versions) are a step up over the 8800GT. The HD4870 1GB is also a good choice as a replacement for the 8800GT. The HD4850 isn't that huge of an upgrade over the 8800GT. That Tom chart is pretty up to date and accurate. But I wouldn't bother with the 9800GX2. It's basically SLI on a single card. And not all games scale well with SLI.

 

[SharpieFiend]

The burning process has to do with the DVD drive more then the CPU. DVD drives are 'slow' in comparison to something like a flash USB drive.

As far as a GPU goes, you're looking at something like a 4850 or a GTX260. It just depends on how much money you want to spend, because both cards are perfect for your monitor.

 

[MrHood22]

Wait, what app you using the to encode and burn the DVD?


Well like I said earlier, the GTX260 (192SP or 216SP versions) are a step up over the 8800GT. The HD4870 1GB is also a good choice as a replacement for the 8800GT. The HD4850 isn't that huge of an upgrade over the 8800GT. That Tom chart is pretty up to date and accurate. But I wouldn't bother with the 9800GX2. It's basically SLI on a single card. And not all games scale well with SLI.

Ok so looks like the GTX 260 is what i'm looking for. I'm sure by the time i'm gonna pull the trigger it will be around the $200 range.

I use Xilisoft to convert it from AVI to MPEG2 (or w/e plays in DVD players) then I use Nero to burn it (nero vision i think). Converting 1 movie (with none in the queue) takes about 15 minutes which isn't bad at all. But when I put the movie in Nero to burn it has to encode or w/e for about an hour then it takes about 10 minutes to burn it. So the majority of it is CPU work (w/ 10 minutes of my DVD burner busting it out).

Is there a program that I can put the AVI in and have it converted/burned at the same time. My goal is to play it in my DVD player (aka on my TV).

I used to do it with some version of nero a while ago but I can't remember that version.