Yet Another Upgrader Seeking Advice

B

Blu_Haze

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 3, 2005
Messages
173
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Primarily gaming, however a little bit of everything else as well.
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
Total? Probably around $1200, however I would like to spend as little as realistically possible. Around $600 would make me feel good about it.
3) Where do you live?
Ohio, unfortunately.
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.
Everything besides the case and sound card. I'm mostly looking for core components right now though, accessories can come later.
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
Soundblaster X-Fi XtremeMusic. That's pretty much it.
6) Will you be overclocking?
Yes, however not immediately. I will overclock after I see the current performance and how much I need to squeeze out of it.
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
I have an LG L226WT 22" widescreen LCD. 1680x1050 native.
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
ASAP
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
Nothing special
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? 32bit or 64bit?
Will be upgrading to Windows 7 64bit
Click to expand...

Anyway, yes, it's another one of these threads. However, I've already done most of the homework myself, and I'm simply in need of some critique before I take the plunge. What I'm really looking for is the absolute best performance I can get, while spending as little possible on it.

Here's the situation: My computer is horribly out of date. It's still running an AMD Athlon XP 2600+, 2GB of mismatched memory, and an XFX 6800XT, which isn't even PCI-E. It's AGP.

So obviously everything has to go. Right now I'm just focusing on the core parts to get something up and running. Later on I can add the other accessories as I go. Here's what I've got going so far:

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

Mobo: ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131402

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

Hard Drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Optical: ASUS Black 24X DVD+R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204


So far, before the combo deals and rebates it's up to just shy of $600. I did not list a GPU because I have access to a used GeForce 8800 GTS, assuming it still works properly. If it does work properly I was considering using it for a little while to keep the costs down and to see what will be coming out in the near future. If it doesn't work however, I'm most likely looking at a new Radeon HD 5770.

I would appreciate any opinions people have on this setup, especially seeing as how not upgrading for so long makes this a huge deal to me. Every time I had the money for it, something in life happened. Oh well, I got more than I expected on my tax return this year so I'm finally doing it.

Also, assuming that the 8800 GTS functions properly, I would like to hear feedback on whether or not you believe it would badly bottleneck the CPU, and if so would it be so much that a GPU upgrade is worth it right now regardless? Or should I try to go with the 8800 GTS to try to save a bit on the final cost until the new GPUs come out?

Thanks in advance.
 
Last edited:
Subbed. I've been looking for a nice upgrade like this too... except my desktop is a 2500+ and Radeon 9000 Pro =D
 
Well which 8800GTS are you talking about? There's three different versions.

Also, there hasn't been much word of new GPUs coming out.
 
Depending on the game, that GTS 640MB will allow for low to medium settings. Really depends on what settings you're looking for in settings for games.
 
Danny Bui said:
Depending on the game, that GTS 640MB will allow for low to medium settings. Really depends on what settings you're looking for in settings for games.
Click to expand...

I would want medium at the very least, if not even high on most everything other than the couple that give the biggest performance drops (shadows, FSAA, etc). The "Ultra" settings I couldn't really care less about in most games, so long as it still runs well and I'm not having to sacrifice everything to get to that point.

Maybe I'd be better off springing for the HD 5770 now...
 
Blu_Haze said:
I would want medium at the very least, if not even high on most everything other than the couple that give the biggest performance drops (shadows, FSAA, etc). The "Ultra" settings I couldn't really care less about in most games, so long as it still runs well and I'm not having to sacrifice everything to get to that point.

Maybe I'd be better off springing for the HD 5770 now...
Click to expand...

Yeah for medium settings at least, the HD 5770 would be the best choice
 
I agree, upgrade the vidcard now. Although, compared to your current card, that 88GTS.640 would be MUCH better, lol. Since you have it for free, why not try it first?

Oh, and I've got a 955 and 890GX for sale in my FS thread (both NIB). ;) PM me if interested.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top