Hardware upgrades

[sanofi]

My current specs are:

X2 4400 (non AM2)
1Gb Corsair Ballistix
Some Abit mobo
BFG 8800GTS (320Mb)

I'm just wondering what a good upgrade would be, I'm assuming a new CPU (like a Core 2 will need a new mobo aswell as new RAM)?

 

[truebluecfc]

You have a Budget in mind?

 

[sanofi]

Not really, I'm open to any suggestions from different price ranges.

 

[truebluecfc]

Intel Core 2 Duo E2140 "LGA775 Conroe" 1.60GHz (800FSB) - Retail
£41.99
£49.34 inc VAT

EVGA nForce 650i Ultra (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
£54.99
£64.61 inc VAT

GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit
£49.99
£58.74 inc VAT

£146.97
£172.69 inc VAT

Cheapest upgrade route I'd take, E2140 like most of the C2D chips will overclock a fair amount, although not the greatest overclocking motherboard, it should allow for an overclock of around ~2.4-2.8GHz maybe even more, which will still be extremely quick.


Intel Core 2 Duo E2160 "LGA775 Conroe" 1.80GHz (800FSB) - Retail
£47.99
£56.39 inc VAT

Asus P5K SE Intel P35 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
£64.99
£76.36 inc VAT

GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit
£49.99
£58.74 inc VAT

£162.97
£191.49 inc VAT

This spec has more overclocking potential with the higher multiplier on the cpu and a P35 Motherboard which should allow a overclock of ~3-3.2GHz fairly comfortably, making it probably on the best 'bang for buck' specs.

Notice that I haven't added a cpu cooler to either of the specs which would probably be advisable, cheap option would be a;
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket LGA775)
£14.99
£17.61 inc VAT

or something more beefier such as a;
Scythe Ninja Plus Rev.B CPU Cooler (Socket 478/754/939/940/AM2/LGA775)
£24.99
£29.36 inc VAT

would be fine.


Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 "Energy Efficient 95W Edition" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) - Retail
£159.99
£187.99 inc VAT

Abit IP35 Pro (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
£114.99
£135.11 inc VAT

Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme CPU Cooler (Socket AM2/LGA775)
£43.99
£51.69 inc VAT with a 120mm fan of your choice.

Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 PC2-6400C4 800MHz Dual Channel Kit
£76.99
£90.46 inc VAT

£395.96
£465.25 inc VAT

Probably the best overclocking potential setup you can get, with a "Energy Efficient" Quad, the best Air cooler and the Ballistix RAM which can overclock to speeds of 1000+MHz.

Hope this gives you some ideas, theirs obviously a fair price gap between the first two specs at the latter so if you want any ideas for something in-between i can do that.

 

[Tetras]

I'm just wondering what a good upgrade would be, I'm assuming a new CPU (like a Core 2 will need a new mobo aswell as new RAM)?

I'd just upgrade to 2GB of RAM and leave it. You can play all the games out at reasonable detail levels with that rig but the 1GB RAM will let you down.