Advice needed - what needs upgrading?

Mr Muppet

Mr Muppet

Mr Muppet

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1 Jun 2005
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Location
Matlock
I'm looking to upgrade graphics card but realise that with existing rig i'll have to replace quite a few things as well especially if i want a high-end card.

Current spec is:
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.40GHz
ASRock 775 Dual VSTA
2x512mb Crucial DDR PC2700
Leadtek Geforce 6800GT 256mb
1x Western Digital 200Gb IDE HDD
1x Seagate Barracuda 250GB IDE HDD
1x Samsung DVDRom
1x NEC DVD Dual Layer DVD Re-writer
Antec Sonata (first model) case with 380w PSU

Question is what do i need to replace and what can i salvage? I'm assuming an 8800 (8600,8500) graphics card will a) fit and b) work within existing case,PSU, and mobo.

I don't see any reason to get new processor and i already have some DDR2 PC6400 memory kicking about. So what's the best option please?

Oh and please move if in wrong forum.
 
Sorry - forgot to add that budget is around £450. So looking for best value setup as it were. Ideally one that is suited more to gaming and video editing.

The memory i have knocking around is the GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit.
 
Well you can keep the CPU, HDD's and Optical Drives.

You have 2 X IDE & I assume the optical drives are IDE so I chose the P5N-E SLI.

Fantastic board with support for 4 IDE. It overclocks very well and is a very stable board.

f52409039.png


I would reccomend some good cooling for the case if you dont already have it as the 8800's do run quite hot.

I have the P5N-E and do quite a lot of video editing and have no probs even with gaming on my rig. 'Dirt' plays on high settings and thats with a 7900GS :)
 
Thanks for that Wiggins. Optical drives are IDE so that mobo would be good bet.

How long are the 8000 series grpahics cards? The Sonata case isn't that big inside - it just fits the 6800 GT which sits nicely behind the HDD bay.
 
i'd look at the 8800gts card(EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB £188),

fairly certain you'll need a new psu (Corsair HX 520W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Compliant PSU £69)

not sure if a 8800 will fit in that case so may need a new case (Antec P182 Super Midi Tower Case - No PSU £88).

to get the most out of the processor as well would look at a new mobo, due to ide wiggins mobo should suit.
 
Mr Muppet said:
dumb question alert!

Does the corsair PSU come with IDE and SATA power connections?
Click to expand...

The IDE lead runs from the motherboard to the HDD or Optical Drives and not from the PSU. Its the 4 pin molex connectors that come with the PSU that power the HDD or Opticals.

However, the SATA Power connectors do come with the PSU. Not sure how many though. Someone here will be able to tell you. :)
 
Having read some other threads do i actually need to get a new mobo - there's suggestions on here that 8800 would work, albeit slower - on the 775 dual vsta board. Would still need a new case and psu though. Is this correct?
 
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