Would I notice any difference....

DublinDude · 20 Jan 2010 at 13:37

My current setup:

Asus P5Q
Q6600
HD 4870
OCZ Gold Edition 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-6400C5

I really wanna upgrade everything (purely because I am a snob) but the recession tells me that for now maybe just videocard and memory.

So in terms of memory I was thinking of maybe Corsair Dominator 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 XMS2 PC2-8500C5. But would I notice a difference at all?

Or am I best of waiting for a bit and upgrading to I7, appropriate mobo, DDR3 memory etc

Thanks in advance!

pastymuncher · 20 Jan 2010 at 13:50

It is extremely doubtful if you would notice any difference at all by getting faster ram. Even for overclocking PC2 6400 will be good for at least 3.6Ghz on your Q6600.

stulid · 20 Jan 2010 at 13:50

You wont notice a thing, it will allow a higher overclock, is your CPU running at stock speeds?

Even if you have a mild overclock your memory will be fine/could always set the memory divider to kept it running close to spec.

Your CPU is still a good one, so maybe upgrade graphics card.

stulid · 20 Jan 2010 at 13:51

not sure what you could upgrade too, 5850?

paradisiac · 20 Jan 2010 at 13:56

you havent really said what you use the pc for, unless i missed it.
basically, if you have to upgrade because you have the bug, then an i3/i5 system would be better for gaming, if you are video editing/rendering then go for an i7. or any amd equivialants but i know nothing about amd cpus these days.

setter · 20 Jan 2010 at 13:58

A new video card would be a better upgrade tbh, pc 8500 ram would only become beneficial if you were looking to overclock substantially.

DublinDude · 20 Jan 2010 at 14:00

stulid said:
You wont notice a thing, it will allow a higher overclock, is your CPU running at stock speeds?

Even if you have a mild overclock your memory will be fine/could always set the memory divider to kept it running close to spec.

Your CPU is still a good one, so maybe upgrade graphics card.

Yea I was just thinking graphics card for now! My 4870 has been acting up a bit lately anyway!

stulid said:
not sure what you could upgrade too, 5850?

Yea thats what I am looking at at the moment! or maybe the 5870!

paradisiac said:
you havent really said what you use the pc for, unless i missed it.
basically, if you have to upgrade because you have the bug, then an i3/i5 system would be better for gaming, if you are video editing/rendering then go for an i7. or any amd equivialants but i know nothing about amd cpus these days.

Oh it would be mainly gaming and general use! I am not sure an i3/i5 would provide a significant performance increase over the Q6600 or am I wrong?

stulid · 20 Jan 2010 at 14:03

5870 if you can afford it, but a 5850 offers just as good performance for a more reasonable price

stulid · 20 Jan 2010 at 14:07

Sure a i5 maybe faster, but not enough to make you go WOW!

paradisiac · 20 Jan 2010 at 14:07

DublinDude said:
Oh it would be mainly gaming and general use! I am not sure an i3/i5 would provide a significant performance increase over the Q6600 or am I wrong?

no it wouldnt be a worthwhile upgrade, UNLESS, like i said, you have the upgrade bug and fancied a change, then these would be better than shelling out on an i7.

DublinDude · 20 Jan 2010 at 14:10

stulid said:
5870 if you can afford it, but a 5850 offers just as good performance for a more reasonable price

Yea not happy with the 4870 at all at the moment! Awful problems with shadows in GTA4.

Is the the 5870 worth the extra money over the 5850?

DublinDude · 20 Jan 2010 at 14:11

paradisiac said:
no it wouldnt be a worthwhile upgrade, UNLESS, like i said, you have the upgrade bug and fancied a change, then these would be better than shelling out on an i7.

Thanks, I see you have an i7 yourself! How do you find it? What did you upgrade from?

stulid · 20 Jan 2010 at 14:13

Worth the extra, not really, how big is your monitor?

DublinDude · 20 Jan 2010 at 14:17

stulid said:
Worth the extra, not really, how big is your monitor?

Its 24"

paradisiac · 20 Jan 2010 at 14:23

DublinDude said:
Thanks, I see you have an i7 yourself! How do you find it? What did you upgrade from?

i upgraded from a Q8300, which i had for about 5weeks.
i noticed a huge difference in video rendering, and gaming feels a little smoother, but i put that down more to having DDR3 1866 and a fresh install of windows.
IF you were doing stuff other than gaming then i would say its a great cpu, but for gaming purposes i would save the cash, get an i3/i5 setup and spend the money saved on a better gfx card, if you feel the need to upgrade. if you dont really care but just want some improvements then maybe a gfx card or 2 would be your best option.

stulid · 20 Jan 2010 at 14:24

5850 for that size.

Admiral Huddy · 20 Jan 2010 at 14:55

Nothing wrong with an overclocked Q6600. I still have mine with a 8800GTX and still cuts the mustard. I am holding out to see Fermi -v- ATI as I'm in no rush to upgrade.

Is there any reason you are so intent on the i7. Don't get caught in the number trap. i7 1366 isn't always > i5 1156

read here

If you in an upgrade mood, i'd opt for the 5850/5870 bu don't expect the difference to be heart stopping. Games aren't exactly stretching the technology at the moment. Partly the reason why older cards are die hard.

evoyear · 20 Jan 2010 at 15:01

not much difference for the money, save and go i7

paradisiac · 20 Jan 2010 at 15:03

evoyear said:
not much difference for the money, save and go i7

why? what actual gains in gaming terms would he get from an i7 over an i5 with a better gfx card for the same money?

DublinDude · 20 Jan 2010 at 15:09

Admiral Huddy said:
Nothing wrong with an overclocked Q6600. I still have mine with a 8800GTX and still cuts the mustard. I am holding out to see Fermi -v- ATI as I'm in no rush to upgrade.

Is there any reason you are so intent on the i7. Don't get caught in the number trap. i7 1366 isn't always > i5 1156

read here

If you in an upgrade mood, i'd opt for the 5850/5870 bu don't expect the difference to be heart stopping. Games aren't exactly stretching the technology at the moment. Partly the reason why older cards are die hard.

Well I am also considering i5 now that I read its fairly decent! But that would require new motherboard and memory!