Stepped spec check

Mirage · 23 Feb 2007 at 07:21

I'm finally going to upgrade from my 2500+M Barton, NF7-S, 1GB GeiL, 6800GT, 430W True Power to a C2D system.
The spec I'm looking at is:

Asus P5N-E SLi nForce 650 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard (£82.24)
GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (£117.49)
BFG GeForce 8800 GTS OC 320MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) (£199.74)
Intel Core 2 DUO E4300 "LGA775 Allendale" 1.80GHz (800FSB) - Retail (£112.79)
Corsair HX 520W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Compliant PSU (£70.49)

Total : £593.26

Since I can't afford to do this in one go I'm going to getting an asrock motherboard that supports my current gfx/ram in between upgrading.

Firstly, should I go for a E6600 instead.
Secondly, do you think my current PSU could handle the new rig.
Lastly, would I see much of an improvement going for a 640MB 8800 over the 320MB model.

Cheers.

hp7909 · 23 Feb 2007 at 07:37

Mirage said:
Firstly, should I go for a E6600 instead

Yes if you don't plan to overclock & can afford it?

Mirage said:
Secondly, do you think my current PSU could handle the new rig

Is that an Antec? 8800 range of cards require two (2) PCI-E power connectors which I doubt that PSU has? Besides 430W is below recommend 450W/500W.

Mirage said:
Lastly, would I see much of an improvement going for a 640MB 8800 over the 320MB model

What res do you (want to) game at? Though, I'm sure the 320MB can still handle a high res.

Mirage · 23 Feb 2007 at 09:33

Yes if you don't plan to overclock & can afford it?

I do plan to O/C, I've read that the 4300 is a good overclocker & value for money?

Is that an Antec? 8800 range of cards require two (2) PCI-E power connectors which I doubt that card has? Besides 430W is below recommend 450W/500W

Yea it's Antec, I'm gonna play it safe and go for the Corsair, cheers.

What res do you (want to) game at? Though, I'm sure the 320MB can still handle a high res.

1280x1024, native res. Rarely hook the PC upto the 32".

Thanks for your reply

hp7909 · 24 Feb 2007 at 08:09

Then go for either the E4300 or E6300 with some serious cooling (like this one).

8800GTS 320MB should handle that res fine (see here)

Mirage · 24 Feb 2007 at 10:35

Cheers hp7909, going to order the CPU & asrock mobo next week