Futureproof?

[cmndr_andi]

+1 for the GPU + SSD option

If you are mainly gaming this will provide you with the best value for your £300. You could spend it all on a new i5 system (P55 board, i5 760, 4GB DDR3). But as you will have none of this "free" money left to buy a graphics card - the performance in games will be the same as it is now since almost all modern games are bottlenecked by the graphics card (especially if you are using a Q6600 CPU).

If you are having problems with your current motherboard then you are best sorting it out. Do you have any time left on your warranty? - they usually come with 3 years of cover.

 

[cmndr_andi]

Ignore - mistake post

 

[dannywilco]

If you are having problems with your current motherboard then you are best sorting it out. Do you have any time left on your warranty? - they usually come with 3 years of cover.

12 months with PC World on my refurb pc. Came as a complete and i don't have any of the original parts barring the proc and mobo.

I really want to (what you could call) an upgrade because then i know i can do my hermit act and vansih from the forum to prevent upgraditus and be confident knowing i wont have to upgrade for a couple of years, but the option of keeping with the Q6600 and OC'ing with a DAPPER new GPU it is also there.

 

[Big.Wayne]

I really want

You can spend your money how you "want" . . . but part of you has doubts so you made a post on a public forum putting it "out there" and we are telling you that you don't "need" this CPU/Mobo/Memory upgrade!

I think you was hoping we all would say "yeah mate go for it, night & day difference, yee haaay!" but sadly you got a dose of reality heh!

the option of keeping with the Q6600 and OC'ing with a DAPPER new GPU it is also there.

If you really got a £300 pound cheque that can *only* be spent on PC hardware then you lucked out! . . . if you actually want to game at high res then a 9800GTX is ok but not quite "Dapper" . . . . an SSD is still quite a luxury but I can't think of a better use of your funds? . . . apart from a monitor? . . . have you got a 24" monitor?

 

[dannywilco]

if you actually want to game at high res then a 9800GTX is ok but not quite "Dapper" . . . . an SSD is still quite a luxury but I can't think of a better use of your funds? . . . apart from a monitor? . . . have you got a 24" monitor?

Ive got a Syncmaster 22'' monitor and the 32'' TV if need be.

I think you was hoping we all would say "yeah mate go for it, night & day difference, yee haaay!" but sadly you got a dose of reality heh!

I actually thought it was a good idea, but now i just feel like a dumbass .
The letter i have states that ive been awarded the monies "For a PC Upgrade". When i was looking into replacing my 775 mobo and realising that its now quite old, i thought i'd missed a few tricks hence the want of an upgrade. And i thought that whilst im at point where i can because of this grant, then i could rather than be forced into it further down the line. But it seems my demands haven't surpassed technology yet.

 

[Ravenger]

I've just upgraded from a Q6600 to an i5 760 - a forced upgrade because of a chain of events that started with the purchase of a new graphics card.

Initially I didn't think it made much difference, but after using the new machine for a few days, I'm finding that Windows 7 seems faster and more responsive, games are running much smoother, though the framerates aren't gigantically more they're more consistently high with fewer dips.

You can always say wait for next technology, but if you do that you'll never upgrade.

Saying that I'm very impressed with the Q6600, it was the best hardware purchase I've ever made. Who'd have thought that 3 years later it's still a decent chip, more than capable of running modern games?

 

[PhoenixUK]

I've just upgraded from a Q6600 to an i5 760 - a forced upgrade because of a chain of events that started with the purchase of a new graphics card.

Initially I didn't think it made much difference, but after using the new machine for a few days, I'm finding that Windows 7 seems faster and more responsive, games are running much smoother, though the framerates aren't gigantically more they're more consistently high with fewer dips.

You can always say wait for next technology, but if you do that you'll never upgrade.

Saying that I'm very impressed with the Q6600, it was the best hardware purchase I've ever made. Who'd have thought that 3 years later it's still a decent chip, more than capable of running modern games?

I have a strange feeling that most of this feeling is more of a mental state of mind due to the fact that you know u've got a.new machine. If somebody suddenly swapped your rig while u're asleep and you didn't know it, you probably won't notice it that much. I guess that you have changed your gpu or hdds along with CPU ?

Windows isn't really going to be any smoother and if on q6600 game plays at 60 to 100 fps and on i5 it does 90 to 110 - no matter how you put it, its not any smoother on the latter

 

[Podmonkey]

I have a strange feeling that most of this feeling is more of a mental state of mind due to the fact that you know u've got a.new machine. If somebody suddenly swapped your rig while u're asleep and you didn't know it, you probably won't notice it that much. I guess that you have changed your gpu or hdds along with CPU ?

Windows isn't really going to be any smoother and if on q6600 game plays at 60 to 100 fps and on i5 it does 90 to 110 - no matter how you put it, its not any smoother on the latter

Depends how long since his last format and redo really. A new setup on the same hardware is always going to be more responsive because its not bogged down with all the crap that accumulates on your hdd over time. You just get used to it as it slowly changes and only realise on the next redo when it seems so much better.

 

[Ravenger]

Depends how long since his last format and redo really. A new setup on the same hardware is always going to be more responsive because its not bogged down with all the crap that accumulates on your hdd over time. You just get used to it as it slowly changes and only realise on the next redo when it seems so much better.

I didn't even do a reformat - I just ghosted my Windows 7 install and put that in the new PC, so that can't be the reason Windows seems faster.

Bear in mind I've gone from an old platform, with old chipset and memory to a modern board with faster memory and CPU.

There is a big difference in the more demanding games, plus there are other advantages with a newer PC.

I've now got an SATA hot-swap dock built into the top of the case, so backups are easy. The machine runs much quieter and cooler than the old one - the graphics card idles at 27 degrees. It was idling at 35 before, and never goes much above 60 even under full load.

So it's been a worthwhile upgrade for me. It's not just about gaming performance (though that's a big factor).

 

[Big.Wayne]

Hey Ravenger

sorry for the questions! . . .

I've just upgraded from a Q6600 to an i5 760 - a forced upgrade because of a chain of events that started with the purchase of a new graphics card.

What's this "chain of events" you speak of?

I've gone from an old platform, with old chipset and memory to a modern board with faster memory and CPU

What was your old platform btw? . . . a Q6600 and what Mobo & Memory? . . . overclocked?

There is a big difference in the more demanding games

How do you define "big difference"? . . . what resolution do you game at? . . . what games did you feel really showed improvements?

plus there are other advantages with a newer PC

Really? . . . like what?

So it's been a worthwhile upgrade for me. It's not just about gaming performance

How much did you spend on your "worthwhile upgrade"

 

[Dark_Angel]

Personally (I've got a Q6600) I'm waiting.

People *always* use the "but you can keep waiting and never upgrade" line, but sometimes, it's plan a bad time.

For me, a bad time is several months before a new gen of hardware is being released, especially CPU's. Buying an I5 / I7 rig now, and then the new stuff comes out in 6 months, and now you'll be in the same position as the Q6600 is to the I series.

I'd rather wait, and upgrade. But of course, that's just my take on it.

 

[Big.Wayne]

Hey Dark_Angel

couple of questions . . .

I've got a Q6600

How long have you had that processor? . . . what speed is it currently running?

I'm waiting

What would you say you are mainly waiting for?

1. New hardware that benchmarks much faster than your current hardware?
2. Your current hardware to not be powerful enough to easily deal with your tasks?
3. Consensus opinion that your current hardware is "Old tech" and you should upgrade?

I'd rather wait

 

[Dark_Angel]

Hey Dark_Angel

couple of questions . . .


How long have you had that processor? . . . what speed is it currently running?


What would you say you are waiting for?

1. New hardware that benchmarks faster than your current hardware?
2. Your current hardware to not be powerful enough to easiliy deal with your tasks?
3. Consensus opinion that your current hardware is "Old tech" and you should upgrade?

It's running at 3GHZ due to my Nforce MB. Had it a few years I'd guess. (not sure of the exact length of time).

I typically upgrade a few months after new tech has been released - assuming there's a noticeable upgrade from what I currently have.

I typically look at performance in apps which I use (in particular, Photoshop for example). I often don't worry so much gaming wise for CPU's, as most of it at higher res is going to be GPU dependant - but of course, I'll still factor it in, but it won't hold as much 'sway' as creative apps.

 

[darkwildchild79]

i will still with my original statement just want for the next line of technology and if you still want that i5 at least it would be cheaper when the new one comes out

 

[opethdisciple]

Having had my Q6600 rig for 3 years, the time has come to upgrade. In doing so, im going for an i5 build and just want to know if the i5 will last me the 3 years until the upgrade bug hits again?

At the moment im on a Q6600 with an Nvidia 9800gt, 4gbs of Kingston Hyper X RAM and this has quite happily dealt with everything ive thrown at it. New games (BFBC2, CoD's, Football Managers etc etc) and still plays at high settings without problem. I'm not an enthusiast, i just like my money going a long way. So in a round-a-bout way of asking, will my prospective i5 upgrade still play new releases in 3 years? The GPU im going for is something along the 5830 or equivalent Nvidia range.

Hmmm, I think you should hold off any purchases for the time being.

Wait for the Sandy bridge to come in 2011, it really isnt that far off.

 

[Ravenger]

Hey Ravenger

sorry for the questions! . . .

What's this "chain of events" you speak of?

Bought new graphics card (GTX 460 OC) and blu-ray drive to give old PC a new lease of life. Graphics card started clocking down under load, which I figured was due to the PSU as the temps weren't extreme, and removing the blu-ray drive did improve it.

Bought a Corsair 750w modular PSU, tried to mount in case, only to find that it's impossible to change the PSU without taking the motherboard out.

So decided to buy new case. When it arrived I was very wary about taking my current, fully working PC to bits just to put it in a new case. I have a policy of building a new PC every 3 years and passing the old one to my son, and as it's three years since the previous one I decided to build a new PC.

What was your old platform btw? . . . a Q6600 and what Mobo & Memory? . . . overclocked?

Asus P5K, 4gb DDR2. Not overclocked.

How do you define "big difference"? . . . what resolution do you game at? . . . what games did you feel really showed improvements?

Big difference to me means a consistent, smooth frame rate. I game at 1680x1050 with as close to max detail as possible. I'm not fussed about AA, unless I can enable it without a performance hit. I also play with vsync enabled, because I hate tearing.

Just Cause 2 has improved - it was fairly smooth before, but is now consistently smoother, especially in cities which were laggy before unless I turned down the detail level.

Bad Company 2 runs much better at max detail. It's a very CPU intensive game, so benefits from the extra CPU power.

The Heaven benchmark went from around 20fps with medium tessellation to over 30fps.

Metro 2033 runs smoother at max detail (without ambient occlusion).

Crysis runs a more consistently smooth framerate of around 40-50fps on max detail level on DX10.

Really? . . . like what?

The new motherboard supports SLI at higher PCI-E multiples than my old motherboard. It's also got many more USB ports.

The new case has a built-in SATA hard drive dock for backups, and everything runs much cooler due to cable management and better air-flow. It also has dust filters. The new case is mostly tool-less so it's easier to maintain.

How much did you spend on your "worthwhile upgrade"

Don't ask! It was around £700, but a lot of that is for future proofing, investing in decent PSU and case that make it easier to build and maintain a gaming PC. The only internal components used from the previous PC were the new blu-ray drive, graphics card, sound card and fan controller. Without those components I spent around £450.

I've still got the old PC too running an OEM XP license, with its original graphics card (8800 GTS 512), so I have two PCs capable of running modern games.

Oh and the original problem of the graphics card clocking down has now disappeared, and I can get a much more stable overclock, so I'm getting more out of that investment than I would on the old PC.

 

[MooMoo444]

Have a Q6600 sitting at 3.3 right now, it's handling everything I used it for, personally likely being held back by GPU rather than CPU.

As games and apps are becoming multi threaded, quads are becoming extremely nippy, and still able to battle with the higher ends..

Get your feet wet and overclock yours

 

[RizlaKing]

Normally i wouldn't advise the wait and see whats coming route because that can always be said all the time meaning you never actually buy anything i know someone who was going to upgrade four years ago and still hasn't thanks to his knack of buying a pc mag at the wrong times. That said though this time is different so much new stuff coming soon that buying now could end up being a bad idea in terms of money you spend now and what you get being possibly totally outclassed within a few months for the same amount of money. I also upgrade every 3 years or so and next june\july is upgrade time for me but i will wait a little if i have too for BD to be released so i can compare sandy and BD before splashing the cash.

 

[Big.Wayne]

Hello Ravenger

So you originally had this kit . . .

• Intel® Core™2 Quad Q6600
• Asus P5K
• 4gb DDR2 (speed?)
• nVidia® 8800 GTS 512
• Old PSU?
• Old Case?

And you were playing Just Cause 2, Bad Company 2, Metro 2033 and Crysis with the Core™2 Quad Q6600 running at stock alongside an nVidia® 8800 GTS 512 @ 1680x1050 . . . you had previously tried to clock the QuadCore up from 2.4GHz but couldn't get it stable? . . . you then decided the older nVidia card was getting a bit long in the tooth for the games you were playing so did your homework and shelled out £175 odd quid on a newer nVidia® GTX 460 OC . . .

You removed the old card and installed the new card but the

Graphics card started clocking down under load

So after some head scratching you decided it was most likely a PSU related issue so went and bought a £120 Corsair 750w modular PSU which after you purchased found out it wouldn't fit inside your case . . . you then decided to buy yourself a new case but when it arrived you were

very wary about taking my current, fully working PC to bits just to put it in a new case

I don't understand this bit? . . . why would anyone be "very wary" of transferring a system-core from one chassis to another? . . . why didn't you just carefully build this system

• Intel® Core™2 Quad Q6600
• Asus P5K
• 4gb DDR2
• nVidia® GTX 460 OC
• Corsair 750w modular PSU
• New Case

You could have immediately tested the new graphics card to see if the strange "clocking down under load" problem went away? . . . if it did and you figured the new Corsair 750w PSU solved the problem you may have also reached the conclusion that any previous problems you had trying to overclock the Core™2 Quad Q6600 up from its stock 2.4GHz may have also been caused by your previous flaky PSU? . . . How do I know you tried unsuccessfully to overclock the QuadCore before? . . . well I don't for sure but you say this

I can get a much more stable overclock

This leads me to suspect you did have a good go at overclocking but couldn't get it stable? . . . the reason you couldn't get it stable was either your overclock was to aggressive or was performed using incorrect setting or simply the old PSU really was not up to it? . . . there is no good reason I can see from your post why that chip couldn't run at 3.0GHz-3.2GHz?

What was your previous PSU and chassis BTW?

Another thing that strikes me as odd is your opinion of how much better your games run in your new system compared to your old system . . .

Just Cause 2 has improved - it was fairly smooth before, but is now consistently smoother, especially in cities which were laggy before unless I turned down the detail level.

Bad Company 2 runs much better at max detail. It's a very CPU intensive game, so benefits from the extra CPU power.

The Heaven benchmark went from around 20fps with medium tessellation to over 30fps.

Metro 2033 runs smoother at max detail (without ambient occlusion).

Crysis runs a more consistently smooth framerate of around 40-50fps on max detail level on DX10

Did it strike you at any point that most of the above improvements came from your new uBer GPU or? . . .

• nVidia® 8800 GTS 512
• nVidia® GTX 460 OC

You couldn't have got a good A>B evaluation right if the new GPU was "clocking down" in your old system . . .

And I'm 99% sure that any CPU processing deficiency coming from powering the system with a "stock" Intel® Core™2 Quad Q6600 would have vanished if you had only clocked that chip up!

You have not demonstrated to anyone who knows how to overclock that for the way you use your PC that the £450 odd you spent on a Intel® Core™ i5 760 + LGA1156 mobo + DDR3 memory has really helped you? . . .

The GPU was a great upgrade . . . the PSU sounded like it was needed although £120 is a bit rich . . . and the case is nothing to do with this thread really . . .

The long and short of it is . . . you appear to have spent £450 odd quid on something you didn't actually need (CPU/Mobo/Mem) and not only that you seem to have convinced yourself it was a good move!

I'm getting more out of that investment than I would on the old PC.

If dannywilco is able to clock his older chip up then he would be wise to do that and add in a nice new GPU for maximum bang-for-buck!

i just like my money going a long way

 

[3t3P]

I like this thread
I agree with the others to wait for the new platforms.

Just keep adding GPU power, it's what I did on my 'old' 775 system, but it's getting 22k In vantage so i'm happy nuff