Upgrading System to i7

S

StangMan04

Limp Gawd
Joined
Apr 9, 2006
Messages
234
Here are my current specs.

E6400 @ 3.2ghz
P5B-Deluxe Wifi
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC2-6400PHU2-2GBHZ
EVGA GTX260 216 Core
2005FPW
OCZ Gamexstream 700w
Scythe Mine Cooler

I intend on getting a i7 920 for my birthday.

I know I have to upgrade my motherboard and RAM. Any recommendations for RAM and motherboard? I hear the EVGA board is popular. Should I upgrade my power supply or should I be fine? I might try to overclock alittle but not push the cpu much. Also what is a good cpu fan as well. Price is not a big issue, just nothing ridiculously expensive.

Also I have a Centurion 5 tower. Any other good tower out there that is alittle bigger. The GTX260 is hog and I have run out of space for my hands lol.
 
There are some questions for you in the Sticky thread by Danny. Please answer those questions, along with this one:

What do you hope to accomplish with this upgrade? What do you want the end result to be? eg. better gaming performance, better video encoding performance, etc.

No, you probably don't have to upgrade your PSU, but be sure not to throw too much at it. The GXS700 is notorious for having out of spec ripple at high loads. Bigger than C5's? CM RC-690.
 
enginurd said:
There are some questions for you in the Sticky thread by Danny. Please answer those questions, along with this one:

What do you hope to accomplish with this upgrade? What do you want the end result to be? eg. better gaming performance, better video encoding performance, etc.

No, you probably don't have to upgrade your PSU, but be sure not to throw too much at it. The GXS700 is notorious for having out of spec ripple at high loads. Bigger than C5's? CM RC-690.
Click to expand...


I use my PC for primarily gaming. Do you recommend a different PSU due to the GXS700's issue with ripple? I will OC alittle probably to 4ghz. I prefer to air cool. I am running Windows XP 32bit. I am going to be running single video card for now. I have never ran SLI so I don't know if that would be a good thing to test or not being a n00b in that department.
 
StangMan04 said:
I use my PC for primarily gaming. Do you recommend a different PSU due to the GXS700's issue with ripple?
Click to expand...

Dunno about Enginurd but I would recommend getting a new PSU. If you're planning to overclock, there's a good chance you'll go near the 500W safety threshold on that GameXStream PSU. This is a good/excellent alternative:
PC Power & Cooling S75CF 750W PSU - $110

Case wise, the RC-690 is bigger than the Centurion 5 and is a good case all around.

Oh and please answer Enginurd's question. Also please answer my price question from the sticky thread. People have different definitions of "expensive" you know.
 
A new PSU recommendation would be determined by the rest of your parts. Most single vidcard systems won't even use 500W, in which case, you can keep your GXS700. If you start needing more than 500W, then yes, you'll need to change your PSU.

Now, please answer the questions from the sticky.
 
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Gaming

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
No more then $1000 to upgrade

3) Where do you live?
Richmond,Va (this matters y?)

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.
Motherboard,CPU Cooler,Case,RAM

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.

EVGA GTX260 216 Core
2005FPW (will upgrade later)
OCZ Gamexstream 700w (possibly upgrade if required)

6) Will you be overclocking?
Yes

7) What size monitor do you have or plan to have?
Listed Above

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Within 30 days.

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
Never used any but prefer if the option is there in the future

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license?
Windows 32bit.

What is the benefit to running 64bit over 32bit. I am a n00b to that.
 
What exactly do you need then?
edit .. Got ninjaed

2. It matters because the US of A is but just one of hundreds of countries in the world.

Build is extraordinarily simple:
i7 920 $290 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202
Pick your own mobo $200-$300
G.Skill 6GB 1333 $140 (The 1600's price got raised if anyone's wondering) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231223
Pick your own case
TRUE, Noctua NH-U12P, CM V8

The "benefit" is using more than 3GB/3.5GB of ram that 32bit systems are limited to.
And fyi, switching to i7 isn't going to do anything for gaming.
 
lowteckh said:
What exactly do you need then?
edit .. Got ninjaed

2. It matters because the US of A is but just one of hundreds of countries in the world.

Build is extraordinarily simple:
i7 920 $290 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202
Pick your own mobo $200-$300
G.Skill 6GB 1333 $140 (The 1600's price got raised if anyone's wondering) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231223
Pick your own case
TRUE, Noctua NH-U12P, CM V8

The "benefit" is using more than 3GB/3.5GB of ram that 32bit systems are limited to.
And fyi, switching to i7 isn't going to do anything for gaming.
Click to expand...


Yeah I don't expect outstanding results by any means. But I have had this system for about 3 years and its about time to upgrade a few components. And I figured I upgraded my video card from a 7900GTX to a GTX260 so I figured the CPU was due. I don't mind paying for the 1600 RAM due to I am not paying for the i7 since it is a birthday present. And if I want to go to 64bit do I basically have to go to Vista or are Windows XP 64bit available? I see this on newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116378
 
Danny Bui said:
Don't bother with XP 64bit. Vista 64bit is actually a little better supported than XP 64bit yet costs $40 less.
Click to expand...


okay. I was reading how Vista 64bit seemed to be better. (until Windows 7 is released)

I think I am going to get:

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188039
Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231236


Just curious about a CPU Cooler. Which seems to be the favorite for the i7's?
 
StangMan04 said:
... Just curious about a CPU Cooler. Which seems to be the favorite for the i7's?
Click to expand...
lowteckh listed the three favorites, in order of preference, too...
lowteckh said:
...
Build is extraordinarily simple:
i7 920 $290 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202
Pick your own mobo $200-$300
G.Skill 6GB 1333 $140 (The 1600's price got raised if anyone's wondering) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231223
Pick your own case
TRUE, Noctua NH-U12P, CM V8

The "benefit" is using more than 3GB/3.5GB of ram that 32bit systems are limited to.
And fyi, switching to i7 isn't going to do anything for gaming.
Click to expand...
 
StangMan04 said:
Sorry, I was looking for a link. I should have been more specific. Any reason newegg does not carry the TRUE cooler?
Click to expand...

Not enough supply for their demand? Just get it from one of the other retailers.
 
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