£525 - Upgrading my PC

Kemik · 21 Feb 2007 at 17:24

Hello all,

I'm stuck between buying a PS3 and upgrading my computer. I've not seen any pc games that I'd really like (bar Crisis & HL2: EP2) that's coming out this year and I don't really play that many PC games right, simply because there aren't any that gets me addicted like CS: Source did.

I dual booted my pc the other day to find my main hard drive has a bad sector so it's expected to die at any random moment it feels like which is nice to know. I could claim it on Seagate Warranty but we'll have to see.

Current Spec

AMD 65bit 3700 (the older socket, not sure on the #)
2 x 512Mb Crucial /w silver heat spreader DDR + 1GB Basic Crucial DDR
ATi X1800XT 256Mb RAM
Gigabyte GA-K8NE motherboard
2 x 200GB SATA Seagate Hard drives

I basically want to upgrade everything bar the graphics card (because it's a pretty good one) and the hard drives. I might get a Smaller, higher performance hard drive for my primary when the current one dies, but don't include that in the price list.

Looking for an Intel setup because that seems to be the "leader" for performance atm. Possibility of a small amount of overclocking. I have an NZXT case so I have fans (and dust) a plenty.

Thanks in advance! Feel free to give a suggestion on which I should pick (upgrade vs PS3). I can do a minor PC upgrade (such as just processor and motherboard) later in the year when I have more cash if I have to. I won't be using Vista within the next 6 months.

P.s. Please don't buy a more expensive version of something just because you may have a bit of budget left over and it only gives a tiny performance boost.

steve258 · 21 Feb 2007 at 19:04

E4300 + Freezer 7 pro + Geil / OCZ 2Gb PC6400 + P5N-E + BFG 8800GTS 320Mb.

Can't go wrong really, spend the rest of cash on a GTX / a better CPU or save it towards that PS3 or on PC games. Don't forget you will get some cash back for selling your current rig.

If you want small overclock just raise the FSB slightly to 266Mhz and you'll have a 2.4Ghz C2D, plenty enough for anything really.

melbourne720 · 22 Feb 2007 at 09:11

For an alternative spec see below:-

Scythe Ninja Plus Rev.B Heatpipe CPU Cooler (478/754/939/940/AM2/LGA755)
(£35.24)

G.Skill 2GB DDR2 NQ PC2-6400 (2x1GB) CAS5 Dual Channel Kit
(£99.86)

Intel Core 2 DUO E6300 "LGA775 Allendale" 1.86GHz (1066FSB) - Retail
(£119.84)

Gigabyte GA_965P_S3 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
(£70.49)

Total : £335.12

Running the system at 400 MHz FSB with the RAM in sync would give you 2.8 GHz with the 7x multiplier.

schnipps · 22 Feb 2007 at 10:22

steve258 said:
E4300 + Freezer 7 pro + Geil / OCZ 2Gb PC6400 + P5N-E + BFG 8800GTS 320Mb.

Can't go wrong really, spend the rest of cash on a GTX / a better CPU or save it towards that PS3 or on PC games. Don't forget you will get some cash back for selling your current rig.

If you want small overclock just raise the FSB slightly to 266Mhz and you'll have a 2.4Ghz C2D, plenty enough for anything really.

Dont really agree with that, really dont think he needs a new graphics card, he says he doesnt game loads and tbh the 1800xt is a good card, cant see the point whacking 200 quid out on a 8800 at the moment, i would concentrate on spending the cash on system alone then look at graphics again in 6 months.

Grab the Gigabyte S3 board, samea as the DS3 apart from solid caps or something, basically the same board, then choose a conroe and grab some 6400 ram, thats it really, i doubt i would even bother getting a different cpu cooler as the stock one is fine for overclocking, my C2D 6400 is fine at 3.2 on stock cooling.