Upgrade check

[PR.]

Hi all, I’ve decided it’s time for a bit of a spring refresh on my main PC and I wanted to upgrade some of the components and also make my first steps at overclocking.

I currently have an Intel E6600 running at the usual 2.4 GHz, with the standard Intel cooler. My current motherboard is the EVGA 680i which I’ve had for about 14months and not had any problems with. However I found the bios on the EVGA confusing when it came to overclocking and my great mate Kainz couldn’t understand it either. I did get the speed up to 2.7 GHz as a test but temperatures were already in the mid 60s under light load, so I set it back to standard. I suspect the issue is partly to do with airflow and partly my shoddy fitting of the heatsink.

I am looking at ordering the following components:

• Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme CPU Cooler - £31.71
• Noctua NF-S12 800RPM 120mm Silent Case Fans (x4) - £56.36
• GeForce 8800 GTS - 512Mb + Crysis - £211.49
• CoolerMaster Stacker 832 - £159.79
• Noctua NF-P12 1200rpm CPU Cooler fan - £14.09
• Abit IP35 Pro - £129.24

My questions are; is it really worthwhile replacing the motherboard? Will I get a better overclocking experience using a newer Abit motherboard? I’m still using my old (2005) Enermax Noisetaker 485W PSU, will that still be sufficient for the 8800GTS?

Any other pointers would be welcome

Thanks

 

[Kainz]

Soth is g***!

Ok now that's over, the PSU should be upgraded. 485w is ok but imo with an 8800 you're pushing it. Look at a sub 800w beastie if you can. Still not too sure about the mobo, sure you can't get better? The cooler is enough for even the quad cores so you're sorted there, and the case will last ages with the amount of space it has.