Upgrade advice

tommo

Gawd
Joined
Dec 12, 2004
Messages
950
Howdy,
I've been on AMD rigs since the thunderbird so I'm way behind on intel. I've decided to jump ship since AMD is sinking.

My rig right now is:
a64 venice 3000+, 1gb ddr400, 6600GT AGP. It's getting very outdated.

So far, I selected these parts below, trying to keep costs down.

I want the most bang for my buck, especially because I want a good power supply -
I plan to overclock this as much as possible. I figure I'll spend a maximum $700.

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 PC6400
$84.99


ASUS P5B-E LGA 775
Item #: N82E16813131070 $144.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E4300
Item #: N82E16819115013 $114.50

Subtotal: $344.48


EVGA 512-P2-N548-TX GeForce 7600GS 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
109.99

I've read a bit about the new Nvidia cards (>6 series) and I can't decide what video card to buy.

So, the point is, is the e4300 the best processor for the price right now? Also, what video and what PSU should I choose? TLDR's welcome. Thanks guys.
 
I would move away from the expensive corsair memory. There's nothing *wrong* with it, but you don't need it. I picked up 2GB of Gskill PC-6400

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098

For that price a couple weeks ago, it rocks.

e4300 is an excellent chip. I have mine at 3.0GHz (p5b-deluxe, with that memory, stock intel cooler) at 1.325V. 9x333 FSB. minimal effort.

Video card? There's plenty out there better than a 7600.
7900s are all over the place. x1950xt's are under $200, and are pretty good.

Power supply, I'd go with a Corsair HX 520 or 620. Simply rocks.
 
AMD is not necessarily "sinking" but at this time it has lost the "high-performance" crown to the C2D setup.

Personally, I would try to hold off until Penryn comes out. That will drive down the current prices, as well as offer you new options. I've heard that you will be able to get a quad-core setup for around $300.

If that pans out to be true..

If you can, try to hold out until late July (tentative release date that I have heard).
 
Thanks for the fast replies.

Seeing that I don't need a new PC right now, maybe I should hold off for quad core... but I'd like to play 2142 without it skipping around the place, and regular maps on CS:Source. If I keep things cheap now, I can sell the new parts when quad core comes in and offset the upgrade.

Anyways, thanks again.

I think I'll take your advice mwarps. I just wonder, what games do you play and what FPS /quality you get? I want something that'll get decent frames in HL2 + mods, and BF2142.
 
bump.. anyone else have advice? or mwarps would u like to reply?
 
It matters for how long you wanna play bf and hl2?
If your not gonna move to the next gen games this fall (unreal 3)
then you dont need a crazy cpu or video card.
You can easily use 4300 as when the patch for multicore support on halflife 2 comes out the game is gonna run alot faster. If your gonna stick to those games for more then a year then go with 4300 and get your self a x1950 video card. Youll run those games like a champ.

I was playing counter strike and bf2 with my athlon 3500 and x800 pro video card at 1680x1050 no problem. Now with 4300 cpu, 1950 video card and patch for multicore it gonna run more then double as fast.
 
I only play Supcom and SimCity4. I'm of no help in that arena, sir.
 
thanks again, does anyone have anything to say about the XFX 8600GT? I'm thinking about that one.
 
Ok I jumped the gun and ordered the system :D $611 total

1 Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 Allendale 1.8GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E4300 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115013
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy $114.50
1 XFX PVT84JUDF3 GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814150230
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $129.99
1 CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 520W Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817139001
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $129.99
1 ASUS P5B-E LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131070
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $144.99
1 G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231098
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $83.99
 
Ok I jumped the gun and ordered the system :D $611 total

1 Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 Allendale 1.8GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E4300 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115013
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy $114.50
1 XFX PVT84JUDF3 GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814150230
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $129.99
1 CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 520W Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817139001
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $129.99
1 ASUS P5B-E LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131070
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $144.99
1 G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231098
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $83.99










nooooooo jumped too soon.

i would swap out that 8600, RMA it when you get it, benchies arent as good as thwe other geforce 8s, if you can, scrap up a hundred dollars more and get the GTS, you will thank yourself for doing it
 
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