Upgrade current setup or build new?

[duucfho]

Hey guys. I have a budget of about $750 (US). But I dunno if I should spend it on either a new system or upgrade my current. I don't keep up much on component/overclocking news until i'm ready to build, so I dunno what's hot in the DIY world since early 2007 (when I built my current). All I know is, my components were pretty expensive back then, and $750 would barely have covered the CPU, RAM, and GPU (I paid $190 for 2GB of RAM??? ). Seems like prices are much more reasonable these days.

Here's my current setup:

• Gigabyte 965P-DS3
• Intel Core2Duo E6400 overclocked to 3.2GHz
• Thermaltake Ultra 120 Extreme
• 4GB Patriot Extreme PC2-6400
• EVGA 8800GTS 320MB
• OCZ GameXStream 700W
• Antec Nine Hundred
• 1TB WD Caviar Black
• Windows 7 x64

I really only use my PC for gaming, and currently play SC2, TF2, LFD2, ME2 (I guess I like sequels ). I have dual 19" LCD, so my resolution requirements are pretty low at 1280x1024.

Should I spend my money on upgrading my current setup with maybe a Q8400/9550, better GPU, and a 24" LCD? I could probably squeeze out another year or so on it.

Or would my money be better spent on a new system? I could reuse the case and probably the PSU.

Thanks!

 

[bastage]

Upg your CPU, Video card & PSU & call it a day with money to spare..

 

[E4g1e]

Upg your CPU, Video card & PSU & call it a day with money to spare..

It's more complicated than that. Only version 3.3 of the GA-965P-DS3 supports any 45nm CPUs at all. More than likely, the OP has only version 1.0 or 2.0 of that motherboard, which does not support any of the newer 45nm CPUs at all even with the latest BIOS version. This is a hardware limitation.

To the OP:
Which version number of that GA-965P-DS3 do you have? If it's version 1.0 or 2.0, you're very much stuck with your current CPU unless you happen to get a Core 2 Quad Q6600 used. The E8xxx and Q9xxx series CPUs will not work at all with those versions of that board.

 

[Dangman]

You're pretty much looking at a new CPU + mobo + RAM + GPU + PSU at this point. I just had that exact same CPU + mobo setup and I just upgraded to the AMD Phenom II X3 720 CPU. Yes it's only a tri-core but it made a huge difference in BFBC2 and FO3 for me.

However if you can find the Q9550 for around $160 to $170, then it'll be a good buy depending on whether or not you have the Revision 1.0 of that Gigabyte motherboard. The old 1.0 version does not officially support the Q9550 whereas the Revision 1.3, 2.0, and 3.3 do support the Q9550 officially. Same goes for any 45nm based quad-core you find.

I would also recommend replacing the PSU as well since that PSU is only capable of safely providing 500W of power under real world conditions. Even then it's not that good.

EDIT: Could have sworn the 1.3 and 2.0 revisions had support for the 45nm CPUs.

 

[Actuary]

EDIT: Could have sworn the 1.3 and 2.0 revisions had support for the 45nm CPUs.

They do.

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2314#

 

[E4g1e]

They do.

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2314#

Actually, Version 2.0 only supports early steppings of certain 45nm dual-core CPUs - and only through overclocking. (In the case of the E8400, only stepping C0 is supported at all in Version 2.0 of that mobo - but almost all "new" E8400s remaining on reseller shelves are of the later E0 stepping, which is not supported at all in Version 2.0 of that motherboard - only Version 3.3 supports that stepping of that CPU.) Version 1.3 does not appear at all on Gigabyte's North America web site. Version 1.0 does not support any of the 45nm or FSB1333 CPUs at all.