Mobo/RAM Advice Please

Mechanicus

Mechanicus

Mechanicus

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Joined
30 Oct 2007
Posts
161
I know there is a thread about what to buy, but my needs are quite specific due to budget and current parts.

I currently have a computer which is in the middle of being upgraded:
Windows XP Home/Vista Premium Dual Boot
BFG 8800GTS (640mb) OC2 Version
Asus A8R32-MVP Deluxe SKT939 RD580 Crossfire ATX
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ socket 939 Dual Core 2.2ghz 512kb and 512kb Cache
2GB DDR PC2700 333MHz CL2.5 RAM (UNMATCHED PAIR!)
Seagate ST3160812A 160GB 7200RPM IDE (Storage)
Maxtor 7200RPM IDE 120GB (XP Boot)
Hitachi 400GB 7200RPM SATAII (Vista Boot)
Corsair HX 520W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Compliant PSU


I want to eventually get a new CPU, motherboard and RAM, but I only have the money for a new motherboard and RAM at the moment.

So my plan was, to get a motherboard that can take DDRII Ram, and also supports my current CPU, but has the potential to be upgraded to a better CPU (either a better X2 or a Quad). I plan on getting 4GB of DDRII RAM.
There is no guarantee that the money for the CPU will be coming any time soon, so waiting and saving up to get it all is not really an option.

So, my question is - what motherboard and RAM would you suggest in this situation?
 
problem you have is you're currently socket 939, whereas the newer amd processors are am2, and the current processor is a decent 939 dual core.

what budget do you have, we can maybe work in something to the budget to help.
 
Well, I have a budget of about £350 for everything, which includes the CPU.

What do you think of this lot - will they work well together, and with my various HDs/GFX/PSU?:

ocukcartup0.jpg


I haven't done any overclocking, and I have no idea how to go about it, but once I have all of these parts I might consider learning. Are they good for overclocking?
 
didnt notice any details of a cd/dvd drive as most mobos only allow 2 ide devices to be connected up straight to the mobo.

maybe look at the G.Skill 4GB DDR2 PQ PC2-6400C5 (2x2GB) memory instead of the ocz.

seen good things about the mobo so the combination should be a good introduction to overclocking when you decide to have a go.
 
What you have specified there will be absolutely fine, you could drop the AS5 from your basket though, the Freezer 7 Pro comes with MX-2 paste pre-applied and that is arguably better than AS5 anyway. You could also pick the OEM model of the CPU if you wanted so that you don't end up with a spare heatsink and fan, note however that you would get a one year warranty on the CPU rather than three but if, like most, you overclock the warranty is a moot point.
 
I have an HP DVD R/W and an AOpen DVD drive - but the AOpen can be removed, because it's hardly ever used. Infact I only have it there because my other DVD drive broke and I damaged the facia panel when I was modding the case so I put the AOpen in there to cover the hole :)

The AOpen and HP drives are connected to 1 IDE cable as master/slave (respectively), as are the 2 IDE hard drives.

The Hitachi is plugged into a SATA port, even though it's SATAII, because this mobo doesn't have SATAII :)

As to the RAM, why do you suggest that one, other than the price?

Thanks Semi-Pro for the tip on the paste and the OEM - with those 2 removed, and the RAM replaced for the G. Skill one, it's taken about £25 off the total :)
 
Now you can spend those £25 on new faster SATA2 dvd burner with lightscribe(if u want lightscribe) :) Then sell those old optical drives on bay to get some money back. :)

If u dont need quad u can get one of E2xxx and oc to ~3GHz, you'll save another £100+
The quads aren't fully supported yet in games and by the time they will u can pick up Q6600 for half the price. :)
 
Well, as gaming is mostly what I do (and I usually ramp up the RAM-heavy settings), along with some Photoshop, so I want good and plentiful RAM.

Why do you suggest the E2XXX series?
The most expensive one I could find is this one. at £58 - will this really be an upgrade from my 4200+ AMD X2?
 
If you look at my system, i get 12200ish in 3dmark06, last night i run crysis benchmark (1280x1024 on high, no AA) got avg of 41.6fps which i think is good enuff for a while. So you might be lookin at more with 4gb ram. Don't think theres much diff in our gcards.

Never had amd but i do think e2xx will be faster. Someone plz tell me if i'm wrnog. ;) You can quite easily oc this chips to 3ghz+.
There's a thread somewhere in oc section for this chips.
 
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Despite it being cheaper, I've pretty much stuck my fingers in my ears, sung "lalalalalalala I can't hear you", and decided upon the E6600 'LGA775 Conroe'.
Mostly because more than 1 review I have read says that they have upgraded from the 4200+ and it is a marked improvement.
 
:D
Q6600 is definetly better chip so you not gonna regret it and your photoshop work will benefit as well.
At the end of the day you got all you wanted for your budget.

What you did bout your IDE disks, optical drives???
 
I think this may be what I have decided upon.

basket2yl7.jpg


It's got an alright motherboard, and enough RAM for most things nowdays (which should be a huge improvment over my unmatched 2gb DDR). It's got the most used Intel CPU on OcUK, and a good fan for OC'ing. I added a SATA drive so the only things using IDE should be the 2 hard drives.
 
I did originally want to go with the quad, but if what you said earlier is true, and quads aren't fully supported in some games, then I would rather not take the risk.
 
I said that cos i thought you could save good money going for cheap dual core. For that money i'd get quad. Theres no risk to be taken with quad core in games, prolly i should have said they not fully utilised(not suported) atm.
 
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