Upgrading My PC

ant2221

ant2221

ant2221

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25 Nov 2008
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hi, i have had my pc for about a year and for xmas i want to upgrade it :)

my current rig is:
Chip: E6600 2.4 ghz with stock fan
mobo: Asus p5b Deluxe
RAM: 2x 1gb ocz pc2 6400 Platinum
Graphics: Nvidia 8800 gtx on a 1280 x 1024 screen
Power: OCZ GameXStream 600w SLI
HDD: seagate barracuda 7200.10
Case: Antec 900
OS: vista home 32 bit (would 64 bit be better?)

the temperatures
i currently get never get above 54C cos that the alarm point, but i also rarely use all the fans on the 900. idle temps around 34C

CompInfo2.jpg

i have this Ai booster which helps overclock, but is it best to change the multiplier or the frequency?

What id like
my plan is to hopefully:
overclock my cpu to around 3ghz (i may need a new cpu fan - which is best?)
add more RAM - any opinions would be helpful
add 2 more 750gb hdd's - i think 7200.10 is good for this
possibly overclock my graphics card - i dont know where to begin with this
preferably id like to keep the cost down as i can then buy more beer :D
i have considered water cooling but i dont know if it can beat a good fan at the price i want

this would be my first time overclocking a system so any help would be greatly appreciated :)
 
thermalright ultra extreme black edition cpu cooler + 120mm fan
just get another packet of the RAM you currently have
 
Lukazoid said:
Don't overclock it makes the ram hot and is really quite difficult and makes no difference.
Click to expand...

Go troll elsewhere, RTM'd.

As for the OP, more RAM would be beneficial, although bare in mind you're on a 32bit OS so you'll probably only be able to use maybe 3.5gb of RAM if you go for 4Gb's

Your plan is sound, a better cooler will allow you to get 3ghz fairly easily, at the res the 8800 will be more than powerful, especially if clocked a bit :)

Your motherboard is more than adequate for overclocking, you have a good base there, you could easily squeeze more out of it without too much of an outlay.
 
i have a small problem with fitting more ram of the same type i have, that is the space, the space that the current ram takes (as it has these cooling bits on the side) makes it so i cant put more of the same stuff in. is there another type of ram that dosent have this problem or is it bes to buy same stuff but in 2x 2gb

i dont think the ram temperature is a problem as i think it is the coolest thing currently in my rig (based on a touch it and see approach - touching the side so no shorting)
 
to be honest, unless you are putting silly volts through ram modules the large heatsinks tend not to offer much, I myself have 4 packed ram slots with sticks having 2.2V through them and they are rock ste ..... BSOD.

I think it is generally recommended to use RAM of similar if not the same types, you can mix and match but I think the best method at the moment, if you're looking at more RAM is to get 2 sticks of 2gb, something like this. It's not too expensive.
 
Lukazoid said:
Erm I have a server case and my ram got hot. Think what it'll do in that cheap case.
Click to expand...

WOW! electricity flowing through silicon generating heat, my god! you've stumbled upon a breakthrough.

Of course ram gets hot, it's designed to do so. It's when it catches fire and burns your house down that suspicions are raised. I assume this happened to you and as such you are now paranoid about RAM temperatures?
 
ant2221 said:
i have a small problem with fitting more ram of the same type i have, that is the space, the space that the current ram takes (as it has these cooling bits on the side) makes it so i cant put more of the same stuff in. is there another type of ram that dosent have this problem or is it bes to buy same stuff but in 2x 2gb

i dont think the ram temperature is a problem as i think it is the coolest thing currently in my rig (based on a touch it and see approach - touching the side so no shorting)
Click to expand...

that ram should do the trick, it seems to be the same as what i have currently, just double the memore, and half the price of what i paid when i got my first lot lol
 
does anyone have any thoughts on vista 32 bit Vs 64 bit?
does it make gaming that much quicker? or is it just the option to add more ram to the system.

if i do go with 64 bit, is it a good plan to have vista running off its own hdd (about 80gb) all the games and programs running off of another (300 gb)?
 
I'm not sure games run noticeably better on either 32 bit or 64 bit vista, but it does give the option to use more ram, which future games will no doubt make use of.
 
ant2221 said:
What id like
my plan is to hopefully:
overclock my cpu to around 3ghz (i may need a new cpu fan - which is best?)
add more RAM - any opinions would be helpful
add 2 more 750gb hdd's - i think 7200.10 is good for this
possibly overclock my graphics card - i dont know where to begin with this
preferably id like to keep the cost down as i can then buy more beer :D
i have considered water cooling but i dont know if it can beat a good fan at the price i want
Click to expand...

Thermalright Ultra 120 with a decent 120mm fan (look at Yate loon and Sycthe fans) would make a great CPU cooler.

I would personally sell your current two sticks and just buy 2 X 2GB sticks, but it's up to you and depends on your budget.

Look at the Samsung F1 and Western Digital Carviar HDDs, they are both quick drives.

You should have no problems overclocking your graphics card if you ask for advice in the overclocking and cooling forum.
I'm not sure what the cooler is like on the 8800GTX so if you're serious and know that you'll be keeping the 8800 for a while, then it might be worth buying an after market cooler.

Watercooling is expensive and don't recommend it as it's your first time.
 
thanks, i have definatly decided on the Thermalright Ultra 120 (and the extreem is on offer this week :) ) and will get the Scythe S-FLEX 1600RPM Ultra Quiet 120mm Fan - 3/4 Pin with that.

i have had a closer look and i think i may be able to fit another set of ram in aswell, but i will get the 2 X 2gb sticks and add what i currently have if/when i go to 64bit vista.

my larger hdds dont really need the speed, there only for media. its more the price that is dictating those.

i will look into the OC 8800 further on that forum.

Thanks
 
has anyone any experiance of mounting a Thermalright Ultra-120 in an antec 900, the 2 items are not uncommon so someone must have had ago at it. my question is, do you need to cut the panel a tall to fit the cooler in?
my measurements say that it should fit, but it is sooooo close, i would like to confirm it as i like my case, its done me well.
 
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