Long term / future upgrades

Nickhtafc · 20 Sep 2008 at 11:01

I'm basically trying to decide which PC to purchase between 2 on offer by OC.

They are both on offer until the 24th and seem to be a really good spec overall.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-070-OK&groupid=43&catid=1270&subcat=&name="Ultima%20OC%20GTX%20260%20SLI"%20Intel%20Core%202%20Quad%20Q6600%202.40GHz%20@%20QX6950+%203.00GHz+%20Quad%20Core%20DDR3%20System

and this one ...

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-108-OK&groupid=43&catid=1270&subcat=&name="Ultima%20OC%20HD%204870%20X2"%20Intel%20Core%202%20Quad%20Q6600%202.40GHz%20@%20QX6950+%203.00GHz%20Dual%20Core%20DDR2%20System

I am swinging towards the first option as it is DDR3 compatible and once everything goes that way, it would save me changing the mobo etc?

What do people think?

Thanks

jimmy29 · 20 Sep 2008 at 11:33

I would go for the latter. 4GB DDR2 > 2GB DDR3 and the 4870X2 will give better results overall than a 260 SLI setup.

Nickhtafc · 20 Sep 2008 at 11:35

Jimmy, what if I took the upgrade option to 4GB DDR3? Make any difference?

Cheers

jimmy29 · 20 Sep 2008 at 11:44

Sure you would see some benefit, but it isn't worth the extra cost imho.
The future proofing argument is also a bit thin because the new Intel systems will be triple channel and there could be matching issues.

Nickhtafc · 20 Sep 2008 at 11:48

I've got no idea what's coming onto the market in the future to be honest, I thought that DDR3 was the latest RAM development and that was the way things were headed.

EsaT · 20 Sep 2008 at 12:19

No sense to invest DDR3 for future proofing, it's much too expensive currently and when you can really benefit from it price has dropped lot and also speed has probably increased.

Nice misleading ad... Yorkfield has more L2 and other tweaks so overclocked Kentsfield isn't even close to same thing.

redballoon · 20 Sep 2008 at 12:34

EsaT said:
Nice misleading ad... Yorkfield has more L2 and other tweaks so overclocked Kentsfield isn't even close to same thing.

Only the higher end, more expensive ones have more L2.

EsaT · 20 Sep 2008 at 13:14

redballoon said:
Only the higher end, more expensive ones have more L2.

I wouldn't call Q9450 or Q9550 exactly as expensive high end models.

redballoon · 20 Sep 2008 at 14:21

Nope, but both are certainly higher end and more expensive than the Yorkfield Q8200 and Q9300...

The ad would only be misleading if a clocked Q9450 blows away a clocked Q6600. It doesn't.

Nickhtafc · 20 Sep 2008 at 19:46

If I go for the ATi powered machine, is it worthwhile upgrading the DDR2 to 8GB? Its an £80 option.

jimmy29 · 20 Sep 2008 at 19:49

I wouldn't, 4GB is plenty for the time being.

Namistai · 20 Sep 2008 at 22:27

Nickhtafc said:
I've got no idea what's coming onto the market in the future to be honest, I thought that DDR3 was the latest RAM development and that was the way things were headed.

Basically, the new Intel CPU is on the way and it's thought that the memory controller will be tri-channel. Meaning that you'd need a 3 stick set of RAM, so the dual setups of today are not going to cut the mustard. Add that to the fact that DDR3 is currently so expensive it means that DDR3 today is no more future proof than DDR2.

Advice above is generally on the money imo

Nickhtafc · 20 Sep 2008 at 23:26

Thanks for the advice.

So is the general consensus that the Ati machine mentioned above is a good spec and ok in terms of value for money?

Cheers