Recommendations for upgrade

[djphatic]

Hi

Ive finally had enough with my SATA problems and looking at the option of upgrading my system, mainly CPU/Mobo/RAM and using everything else from my current machine which includes:

Leadtek Nvidia 7900GS
Auzentech X-Mystique Sound Card
Atheros Wireless PCI Card
Hauppauge WinTV Nova-T PCI
3x Samsung HD501J 500GB (SATA)
3x Optical DVD/Writers (2x IDE, 1x SATA)
Seasonic S12 430W Silent ATX2.0
Akasa Eclipse 62 Case
Scythe Ninja-PLUS Rev B Heatpipe Cooler

Id really like to spend as little as possible at the most £200-£250.

I am not really interested in paying extra for SLi/Crossfire availability or dual LANs (seeing as im on wireless) and firewire as I dont use them, but not to say avoid if its all at a reasonable price. Id really like to avoid a motherboard with a nvidia chipset as i found out with my current nforce4 board, theyre driver support is very poor.

So I think really I am looking at core2duo CPU, an intel P35 mobo and 2-4GB RAM (I intend to reinstall vista). Though the mobo must be compatible with the scythe ninja hsf and not have any silly chipset fans as I like my system to be silent.

I mainly use the PC for multimedia and browsing but do the odd gaming now and then; which I know my gfx isnt the greatest but I can update that at a later time. I dont really plan to overclock as its something ive never done before though having read about how well core2duo's overclock its something I may do eventually but its not essential.

Im rather baffled by choosing the right memory speed to match the processor/mobo which is going to get the best performance for value.

Also would my PSU be adequate or would I need a bigger PSU for core2duo setup.

Any help is greatly appreciated, also open to suggestions to an AMD rig.

 

[djphatic]

Thanks for your recommendation, having had a look I have a few questions:

Would it not be better to get a Gigabyte P35C-DS3R for a couple of quid extra which would probably last longer in terms of upgrades as it supports DDR3 and new 45nm processors?

Any particular reason for suggesting the Geil ram over OCZ or G.Skill which are around the same price?

Taking my budget to the max I could consider a E6550, would it be worth it? Only 133mhz than the E2200 but has 4MB cache and a FSB of 1333mhz.
Would you RAM still be good enough with a E6550.

Thanks

 

[djphatic]

thanks for your help. Ive gone with the following in the end

Intel Core 2 Duo E2200 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.20GHz (800FSB) - Retail £48.99 1 £48.99
Gigabyte GA-P35C-DS3R (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 & DDR3 Motherboard £66.99 1 £66.99
OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-6400C5 Dual Channel Vista Gold Series DDR2 (OCZ2G8004GK) (Deal Product) £49.99 1 £49.99

 

[djphatic]

just double checked that memory and its operating voltage is 2.1-2.2, think the gigabyte mobos boot at 1.8 default voltage so you might have problems booting.

Im sure that is gonna provide me with a eventful installation. The geil ram states 1.9V-2.0V Power Supply, so might not have been any better off anyways.

Will have to wait and see.

 

[djphatic]

Thought I would bring this post back to life rather than starting a new one.
Ive just upgraded my GFX card to a Leadtek 8800GT 512MB.

Not had much time to test it all out yet but will the power supply be suffice, even with an overclock on the CPU?

I can salvage some dvd drives if that is going to avoid getting a new PSU.

 

[djphatic]

i only tried world in conflict last night which ran but didnt find the performance any better than with my 7900GS, if not worse. Stuttering gameplay every so often when moving the camera and some tearing, but that is probably down to drivers + vista.