UPGRADE REQUIRED - YOUR THOUGHTS

Viking44

Viking44

Viking44

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Joined
9 Oct 2011
Posts
25
Hi, I'm no OC expert, in fact I'm nothing of the sort. I have had my current build for a few years but thing I'm about due an upgrade. I have just fitted a new 256GB SSD drive - very happy but would like some information on the rest if possible.
I use my PC for normal internet and gaming, BC2 and BF3 soon. I currently have the following:

MOBO: Gigabyte Ga-P35-DS3R
Chip: Intel 2 Quad Core Q6600 2.4 Ghz @ 3.00 Ghz
6 GB Crutial DDR2 RAM
GFX: Gigabyte ATI HD5850

I was looking at either doing a package on MOBO, chip and Ram and maybe including a new GFX
Krypton Intel Core i7 960 3.20GHz @ 4.00GHz Overclocked Bundle
or
Krypton Z68 600i Intel Core i5 2500K 3.30GHz @ 4.60GHz Overclocked Bundle + FREE RED FACTION: ARMAGEDDON GAME
or
Krypton Z68 590i Intel Core i5 2500K 3.30GHz @ 4.40GHz Overclocked Bundle
with may be this:

MSI ATI Radeon HD 6870 OC HAWK 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card with FREE Deus Ex PC Game
Whats worth doing whats worth keeping

Budget £500

Thanks
 
Just seen this package - what you think?

Krypton Z68 590i Intel Core i5 2500K 3.30GHz @ 4.40GHz Overclocked Bundle

HIS ATI Radeon HD 6950 IceQ X Turbo 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card
 
You'll see a increase in performance coming from a LGA775 system to Sandy Bridge, as you'd like to play BF3 I'd recommend the 6950 as it's the most powerful card out of the lot :)
 
If you go with your second post including the ATI card you'll see a very big performance increase, is your RAM dual channel or tri? if it is tri you'll have to get some more since sandy bridge only supports dual channel memory if I'm correct??
 
I just came from a [email protected] last week. New build i5 [email protected] 8gb ram@1600mhz and the 2gb 6950

You will see a huge performance increase from the q6600. Same games my framerates are 30-40+ higher. Very good upgrade from the q6600. I already had the 2gb 6950 so I only had to spend £300 on mobo/ram/cpu from here, oh I also had the venom from the q6600 as well. I also managed to get £140 for my q6600, 4gb ram and mobo, no gpu and stock cooler. So was halfway there already.
 
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Viking44 said:
Just seen this package - what you think?

Krypton Z68 590i Intel Core i5 2500K 3.30GHz @ 4.40GHz Overclocked Bundle

HIS ATI Radeon HD 6950 IceQ X Turbo 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card
Click to expand...

Good choice, it's a nice board with a nice CPU and a sweet overclock. Plus, the graphics card is no slouch either, though personally I would go with this model or wait for the his iceq plus (here is a review of the 6970 using the same cooler).

josh3190 said:
is your RAM dual channel or tri? if it is tri you'll have to get some more since sandy bridge only supports dual channel memory if I'm correct??
Click to expand...

The Krypton overclocked bundles come with either 4GB or 8GB dual channel kits, so there shouldn't be any issues with the wrong RAM for the available memory channels.
 
danbt said:
That looks like.a.good deal. Ive heard.you.can unlock those graphics cards up to xx70 right?
Click to expand...

Probably not.

Newer stocks of the HD 6950 seem to have the extra shaders disabled at the hardware level so you're lucky if you get one which will unlock.

The Sapphire TOXIC is the only one with a decent chance of unlocking but these a priced at HD 6970 money now anyway so you might as well buy a HD 6970.
 
Thanks for all the replies so far guys, really helpful to an OC Infidel like myself, so far I'm liking the idea of the I5 package (which is dual ram not tri) and the 6950, might have a good weekend upgrade session,

does anyone know the height of the Corsair A50 fan, I have quite a thin case?
 
Thanks Stulid, I have just been reading other posts too, what PSU will runs this rig, currently I have a Enermax 600w! is this news good or bad to my wallet?
 
"in its day" lol now I feel I have a PSU which deserves to on the Antiques road show lol!

What the score if its not up to the job, will it damage the new gear, I'm also running the SSD and 2 other HDD off it?
 
It wont damage the gear, the PSU has good protection and over voltage control, its not a cheapie rubbish, you will experience random restarts, terrible performance.

But the items you are upgrading will use less power than the older gear, so if its ok now then it will be ok with the newer updates.

But you already have a 5850 and I dont see that being a upgrade going to a 6870 - http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/295?vs=290

Just swap out the CPu/RAM/board for one of the i5 2500K bundles.


Make a PSU the next stage after this then look at a bigger graphics card upgrade or even getting a second hand 5850 (£90?) for Crossfire.
 
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cheers, really appreciated. I have it all in the OC basket now:

Krypton Z68 590i Intel Core i5 2500K 3.30GHz @ 4.40GHz Overclocked Bundle with 8GB Ram
and
MSI ATI Radeon HD 6950 OC Twin FrozR III Power Edition 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card

just need to wait till I get home tomorrow to take the side of the case off, remove the huge side fan and see if I can fit the A50 cooler in, then its next day delivery ready for Friday - £600 for a new rig and another £200 to get the wife out shopping for Saturday so I can build it lol

Thanks Again
 
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