Refreshing sytem, advice?

Maximos

2[H]4U
Joined
Feb 13, 2006
Messages
2,612
Hi guys.

It looks like I will be upgrading the three main parts of my rig: CPU, RAM, and video card.

I've got my 9800GX2 on the way. Within the next week or so, I intend on getting the CPU and RAM. I was looking at the E8400. I want 8GB RAM. What would be some good RAM to get the E8400 up to a solid 3.7 - 4.0+ GHz?

Thanks.
 
dont go with 8gb of ram. i have the same board and cpu( you are getting) you have and couldnt get too far OC with 4 sticks at 2gb each. Drop down to 4gb (2x2) and you should get farther.
 
What PSU do you have? What is the goal for this upgrade? Better gaming performance? Better rendering?
 
What Rydawg said... using 4 sticks with any current board will limit your OC, due to the added stress on the MCH.

To reach 3.7Ghz with an E8400, you'll need 463Mhz FSB SDR. To reach that speed FSB on your DS3L, you'll need additional cooling for your NB heatsink, so pickup a 40mm fan or something. Then you'll need some DDR2-800 RAM that can OC, or pickup some G.Skill DDR2-1000. They've got a 4GB kit for $85. Get two of those if you want 8GB, but you'll be sacrificing some clock speed (~ 200-400Mhz? YMMV).

With that said, you don't need a CPU upgrade... gaming at higher resolutions, namely 1920x1200, is more GPU bound. Are you getting a 24" soon? If not, that GX2 might not have been worth the money.
 
I got the GX2 to pretty much future proof myelf. I am sticking with this monitor for quite a while, IPS is great. I think it would be smarter if I waited and see how my rig does with the GX2 first, before I upgrade anything else.
 
Video cards are the fastest depreciating components in gaming systems, simply because of how fast new parts keep showing up. So, with video cards, you can't buy for too far into the future. You're better off spending less for what performs best now and a little into the future, rather than spending more now, so it will last longer into the future. Another reason for this is because we cannot predict the future. This is all my opinion, so feel free to disagree. :p
 
Where di you get a 4870x2 at, seeing how they arent out yet.... Also where did you buy it at 300 bucks, ill take 4 at that price
 
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