Upgrade itch....

Parsley · 3 Dec 2009 at 06:00

Someone tell me my current Q6600 is sufficient and that I don't need to buy an i7 920 + motherboard + ram.

I game and use CAD a bit, so I don't really need i7 but dang that itch just wont... go... away.

Marine Iguana · 3 Dec 2009 at 06:04

I had the same feeling but with a q9550 only had it for year and now i have my i7 build, it can't be helped it's an illness

Parsley · 3 Dec 2009 at 06:06

Marine Iguana said:
I had the same feeling but with a q9550 only had it for year and now i have my i7 build, it can't be helped it's an illness

You're supposed to say don't buy it, not that you went ahead and did it yourself yourself!

SMAndy · 3 Dec 2009 at 08:40

Don't do it! a Q6600 at 3.8Ghz is awesome enough!

i7 would be a pointless spend of lots of money. Think about it... you'll have to buy everything again. Everything. Triple channel RAM is expensive enough without having to think about the expensive chipset on the motherboard, and the most expensive processor on the market currently, unless you get the low spec ones, which will be worse than your 6600.

Cold Fusion · 3 Dec 2009 at 08:54

I know just how you feel I'm having that itch at the moment. I currently have the system you see below and an uninstalled copy of Windows 7 sitting on my desk. I'm thinking if I install Windows 7 I'm going to have to downgrade the graphics on my games and those 5850's are rather purdy.

The thing stopping me is the cost and the fact to fully utilise the 5850 I'd probably have to upgrade the monitor and motherboard then i'd probably have to get new memory and a new CPU.

If i was to upgrade all of it, it would cost me about £700 when my last upgrade was in 2007.

To the OP i'd say go for the i5 setup, a lot cheaper and still good performance.

Parsley · 3 Dec 2009 at 09:01

SMAndy said:
Don't do it! a Q6600 at 3.8Ghz is awesome enough!

i7 would be a pointless spend of lots of money. Think about it... you'll have to buy everything again. Everything. Triple channel RAM is expensive enough without having to think about the expensive chipset on the motherboard, and the most expensive processor on the market currently, unless you get the low spec ones, which will be worse than your 6600.

Ah I am well aware it is a silly buy, but it is an itch that won't naff off unfortunately

and many hobbies are ultimately wasteful money wise! This has been nagging at me since last year, suprised I haven't already folded.

The 920 would be the chip I get and it isn't horribly expensive and when overclocked would outperform my Q6600. I would overclock the booteh off it once I had it as well... but yeah... around 550-600 quid for the processor, ram and motherboard, it would be a bit of a waste considering what I have at the moment.

Of course I could try and sell my current stuff...

Would a socket 1366 motherboard be reasonably futureproof or will that bite the dust after they've done their 6-8 core malarky? (which is really OTT for me).

SMAndy · 3 Dec 2009 at 09:10

Since you managed to get your Q6600 to 3.8, it suggests you'd be able to do similar wizardry with an i7.

If the itch won't go, no matter what is said, just give in and get it. You could always tell yourself that you want one, and keep an eye on the weekly offers until a part you want is reduced

Your PC is good enough for now, and that reduced cost is enough to justify it.

skippy2421 · 3 Dec 2009 at 09:15

Corran don't do it!!!!! think of what else all that money could be spent on. Plus do you really NEED an i7? surely the old q6600 is performing well.

is that what you was after

Parsley · 3 Dec 2009 at 09:44

skippy2421 said:
Corran don't do it!!!!! think of what else all that money could be spent on. Plus do you really NEED an i7? surely the old q6600 is performing well.

is that what you was after

SMAndy said:
Since you managed to get your Q6600 to 3.8, it suggests you'd be able to do similar wizardry with an i7.

If the itch won't go, no matter what is said, just give in and get it. You could always tell yourself that you want one, and keep an eye on the weekly offers until a part you want is reduced Your PC is good enough for now, and that reduced cost is enough to justify it.

I didn't do anything special, I was lucky with the Q6600 I obtained and it is on a very good motherboard so that helps significantly.

The telling me not to upgrade has worked... for now!