Upgrade time - help please

[ChrisD.]

I want to upgrade my CPU, Motherboard and RAM. Once I've done this, the current bits will go into another PC.

Is it worth going for the i7? Or will the i5 give me enough grunt? Or is it worth a jump to AMD (I am very behind in terms of technology at the moment). What, and how much RAM? And which Motherboard? I used to be into overclocking but my Q6600 just sits at 3GHz quite happy and cool with my custom WC setup.

Unsure of budget, probably £300 or so, obviously the less the better and I would like the best bang per buck I can get.

There is a chance I can get a CPU out of a works server if that helps? They are mostly G5 360's with Quad Core's in them, can't remember the exact CPU.

 

[stulid]

Your basketProduct Name Qty Price Line Total
AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 955 Black Edition 3.20GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail £129.24
(£109.99) £129.24
(£109.99)
Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3H AMD 890GX (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard £104.99
(£89.35) £104.99
(£89.35)
OCZ Reaper Low-Latency 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 12800C6 (1600MHz) Dual-Channel (OCZ3RPR1600C6LV4GK) £82.99
(£70.63) £82.99
(£70.63)
Sub Total : £269.97
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £9.50
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £48.91
Total : £328.38

thats about the best price/performance.

the motherboard supports crossfire at 8X/8X and has SATA and USB 3.0.

the ram has really low timings.

 

[ChrisD.]

So AMD chips are now as good or better than Intel chips?

 

[stulid]

So AMD chips are now as good or better than Intel chips?

they have more future upgrade ability about them.

the intel i3/i5 socket 1156 is being replaced by a socket with one less pin, 1155.

and intel i7 socket 1136, are due to be replaced next year.

this doesn't mean they will actually maybe stop making chips for the sockets straight away, but AMD next cpu's called Bulldozer are rumored and a AMD slide has been leaked showing that it will still be AM3 compatible.

 

[ChrisD.]

OK thanks.

Am I likely to see an improvement in everyday usability? Or would I be better off buying something like a SSD and waiting a year?

 

[stulid]

if you can keep your Q6600 for longer and overclock it more, then do it.