System check

InvaderGIR

InvaderGIR

InvaderGIR

Soldato
Joined
14 Jul 2005
Posts
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Bristol
Ok, my AM2 system is slowly giving up the ghost, so I'm thinking about upgrading. I'll head the Intel route as their chips are much better, but I don't know a great deal about bits these days.

The list I've come up with is...

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
Asus P5K3 Deluxe/WiFi-AP iP35
4GB (2x2GB) Corsair XMS2, CAS 4-4-4-12
768MB XFX 8800GTX
500 GB Samsung HD501LJ Spinpoint T166

I currently have 3x320GB drives, and everything else I'll need in my current system, I also have 2x1GB sticks of 4-4-4-12 Corsair. That lot comes in at just over £500, and I'd be looking to spend £550 or less ideally.

I noticed I could get the E8400 on the 45nm core at 3GHz, or for a little bit more the Q6600 on the 65nm core. Is Quad really worth the difference in temps etc. that the 45nm will gain? I know that not a great deal of stuff works with dual core, let alone quad, so quad seems a bit silly, especially when it's a lower clock and higher core architecture.

The motherboard I picked because it has WiFi (easier than a usb/PCI thing...have it on my current board too), and two GB network ports, as well as 6 SATA ports. I'll be filling all of the ports, 4xHDDs, 1xDVD and 1xFront bay.

The graphics, I know nothing about, it just seemed like one of the good ones, for not a great deal of money.

The RAM, 4GB is probably plenty, and I'd probably actually stick my current RAM in there as well to give it 6GB.

And the HDD is meant to be a quite and decent drive.

So, is my shopping list good or bad, and can anyone get me more performance for similar money (under £550)?

EDIT: Just realised I'll want a new PSU...so the amount of money will have to go to a max of £600. Also could do with a good silent cooler for the CPU. I play a few games, but not a great deal lately, but would like a system that can easily handle most games at 1400x900 (want a new screen, but it isn't as important as the system it's plugged into). I also like to watch HD content on my PC, which means it all has to be able to handle the content...current system does most stuff, but not all.

InvG
 
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Might as well get it out the way, obligatory recommendation of the Corsair HX 520w for the PSU.

Other than that it looks fine. The Wolfdales (45nm) are faster clock for clock than the 65nm CPUs they replace and getting 4ghz out of an E8400 isn't all that uncommon. Personally I'd buy the quad core but that is because I upgrade very infrequently.
 
I thought the Corsair PSU would be a good bet, but wasn't sure so didn't say anything. The 520 is modular isn't it? Having the Hiper Type R makes me love modular. :)

I've had this system since September '06, so I don't upgrade all that often, which means being out of the loop I don't see what are good chips and how many cores are sensible and needed.

I would go for the 45nm Quad, the Q9300, but then that's another however much, just for 45nm, and the bottom end one at that, which I can't see having a proper noticeable gain in performance.

With the 9 series of graphics out though, I don't know if the 88GTX is worth it, but then also do realise that the 98's are rather costly.

Current RAM is Corsair XMS2 4-4-4-12, 6400, 800MHz...same as I've been looking at for the upgrade....due to slowing down otherwise.

InvG
 
The HX series is indeed modular and highly thought of as well.

Dual core is still easily sufficient for most people unless you either multitask heavily or you have programs coded to take advantage of 2+ cores. I wouldn't bother with the 45nm Yorkfields at the moment, as far as I can tell they aren't clocking brilliantly at the moment and they are quite a bit more expensive.

Unless you are going for the 9800GX2 or you are getting the 9800GTX a lot cheaper than the 8800GTX then I would stick with the 8800GTX, it is still a very good card and easily comparable to the 9800GTX - in fact I think it beats it at higher resolutions due to a wider memory bus.
 
See, I know nothing on new bits. :D

I do like the idea of having the 3GHz from stock, as I do like to clock (current system doesn't like me to), but I also like to have something that's quick 'out of the box'.

I've heard the 8800GTS is good value for money, but it has less memory than the GTX, so seems pointless, especially with the prices I've been looking at, the GTS is higher than the GTX.
I can get the 768MB XFX 8800GTX, Extreme, 1900MHz GDDR3, 600MHz for just under £170, and all 9800's are a lot closer to the £200 mark, so the 8800GTX seems like a good option.

Also, what's a good quiet cooler for at Core2? Being an AMD person I don't know. :p

InvG
 
For coolers going cheap to more expensive - Arctic Freezer 7 Pro, Tuniq Tower and Noctua NH-U12P. The Scythe Ninja is also worth a punt at about £30 but it is a bit of a nightmare to fit by all accounts.
 
Any ideas on the mobo? Are there better for the price? I can live without WiFi, but need as many SATA ports as possible. :)

On the cooler front, I think I'll try the copper Ninja, looks like it should remove heat better (provided I have good airflow in the case).

InvG
 
Didn't notice the need for DDR3. :p

I think the DS3R seems like the better option, it has more SATA ports, and has more USB headers for front panel etc. It loses two on the back for it, but I've got 4 on my current one, so won't notice the difference. Only thing that they don't have that I'd like, is 2x network ports, but I don't need two, and if I do, as with WiFi, I can just buy an expansion card. :)

I just realised, there are loads of DS3 boards, I take it the GA P35 DS3-R is the better?

InvG
 
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