2 Years Away Would Like A PC Technology Update

willwoll100

willwoll100

willwoll100

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Joined
7 May 2004
Posts
35
Hello everyone

I've been off the scene for about 2 years now but I'm now looking to build a new system. The problem is that I'm obviously out of touch of what stage the whole PC culture is at technologically speaking.

To give you an idea of how far behind I am here's my current spec:

P4 3.2 HT
Gigabyte 8KNXP Mobo
ATI 9800pro
2 gig DDR400 RAM
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 7.1
160 gig Maxtor Diamond Sata HDD
Enermax PSU, not sure of power output

Out of the above components I'll probably want to change the mobo, cpu, gfx card and RAM. Now what I'd like is advice on whats what nowadays, mainly the CPU's thats around. Now I'm going to try and get back into gaming along with a bit video encoding as well as CAD, FEA and CFD work. I'll be running XP Pro with it.

Thanks in advance

Will
 
For gaming and video coding you definitly want a Q6600. Give me a budget and ill spec you up.

Hopefuly before billy as he keeps stealing all the spec ups grrr :P
 
Quad cores are the new hotness and you'll definitely want one. The best chipset value ATM to go with Intel's quads is P35.

How much are you looking to spend on your upgrade? I'll spec you up. :)

EDIT: GAR! :p
 
Around about £400-£500 if more is required then I can spend it but for what I'll be using it for I think that should be enough. I'm not just interested in having a spec from you guys its what the technology is about now for the CPU and Mobo as before it was all clock speed
 
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This would blow you away:
asdfat2.png


I could always trim it down to fit your budget but you'd take a rather large hit to the GPU. How roomy is your current case?
 
Can you strech that more? Really your looking at 650-700 if you want to get a GTX in it and they really are amazing cards. but could go to a GTS if you want. The new GTS's come out look to be powerful.


:EDIT: <<< hates billy


YOu missed out a case billy :P thats what i was stock on deciding when i came back here to get a bigger budget grrr.



Hey i saw that ninja edit to add in the question about the case billy! You forgot really :P
 
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I can stretch to however much I like within reason but for what I'd use it for I have to draw a line somewhere.

Billy you must be like a prayer mantis waiting for people to post help on specs :D

I've currently got a Lian Li case which is quite roomy
 
Heres my spec, if you wait a couple of weeks the new GTS's will be out and they will be very powerful and a lot more powerful then the 2900pro. How big is your screen?

If you overclock the pro you can get it to 2900XT speeds but the GTS will overclock past the GTX speeds if your lucky. The new GTS's will be a smalelr die and will overclock even more. expect them to be amazing overclockers!


:EDIT:

Billy... you forgot the artic silver... how is he going to stick his heat sink on?

ocuk550.jpg
 
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My spec is better billy and you know it:P

Re read my new edit to add in the other info.

The GTS already overclocks to GTX speeds which is more then the PRos overclocking to XT speeds. Plus the new one will be a smaller die with more of those point thingys making it even more powerful. I may get one instead of a GTX and overclock it to a GTX.

Also you forgot to add artic silver so he cant stick his heat sink down :P
 
It's an Enermax but can't remember the power output I can remember that it's between 400 to 450W I think.

My screen is a diddy 17" this will be increasing soon after this upgrade.

So to compare the old P4 3.2 to these 'new' CPUs what's the main difference?
 
The difference between your P4 and the new Core 2 duos and quads is huge. The c2ds are very overclockerble a 1.6ghz can be overclock to 3ghz on its stock cooling (not possibel with the quads as they run twice as hot). The clock speeds in relation to pentiums mean nothing as they are far faster even when having a lower clock speed then the pentiums.

The P35 mobos are the latest with the x38s being n extension really but not worth you looking at them for what you want. The P35s overclock the intel chips beautifly and staberly. My personal favourite (and many others) is the Abit Ip 35 pro. But i think this is out of your price range. The gigabyte would still make a good choise for overclocking your quad core on it.

The quad core will allow you to do your encoding a hell of a lot faster and with the new games such as crysis coming out and ut3 which should be looking to take advantage of the quad cores your set well for gaming.

I sound like a sales man :)
 
So Dave, do we know for sure that the Tuniq DOES NOT come with heatsink sauce pre-applied? I find it shocking to imagine such a situation nowadays. I haven't bought one that didn't have some on there or in a tube in the box in many years now.
 
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