Yearly Upgrade

[Lonz]

I'm starting to think about my yearly upgrade, and was wondering what the wise OCUK forums have to say about it.

I was hoping to make it last until the AMD Quads and nVidia 9800's appear around November (apparently), but I've got a new 22" monitor and my X1900XT isn't really coping at its native 1680x1050 resolution.

My current rig is:

- 4800+ @ stock.
- X1900XT.
- XMS DDR PC3200 2x1GB Corsair RAM.
- A8R-MVP Motherboard.
- Akasa 480W PSU.

It's alright for things like CSS and BF2, I'm just concerned about how it copes on say Flight Sim X, which even brings a top of the range system to it's knee.

If you all thought it was the right time to upgrade, or whether I should hold out a little longer, or buy a stop-gap upgrade to keep me going for a few months, I'd love to hear your opinions.

My budget is around £1000 for what could essentially be basically a new PC, excluding case and hard drives.

Any suggestions/recommendations?

 

[toxic]

get yourlself a quad core Q6600 (OC it to 3Ghz+)....a decent P35 mobo...4Gb ram and an 8800GTX.....SORTED! £750 maximum.

And I wouldnt call that a stop gap! I'd be super surprised if AMD beat the intel Quad core performance!

 

[sahjin]

yeah so would i... that sounds like a great plan... overclock the hell out of the Q6600 (G0) and that would be an awesome rig

 

[Lonz]

Any recommendations on what RAM I should be looking at, especially to overclock that CPU?

I've heard the IP35 Pro Mobo's have a good reputation...

 

[toxic]

Cheap....

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-058-GL

This will get your CPU to at least 3.2Ghz ...1:1. Ive got it and mine goes way over 400Mhz 1:1 4,4,4,12. Currently got my quad at 3.5Ghz, 438FSB 1:1

More expensive....

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-013-GS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=813

Higer overclocking potential..but even more expensive
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-093-CR&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=817


The Gigabyte P35 boards are good, Ive had two and no problems with them. Using a DS3P at the moment. Also heard the Abit P35 boards is good also. Depends on how much you want toi spend. I would say £100 will get a good board unless you want hundreds of additional features that you probably wont use anyway.

 

[sahjin]

yeah they are all good ram... i am using OCZ at the moment... but if you have 1000 quid, maybe try to get some better stuff...

 

[Bennah]

2GB of Corsair 6400 C3's

Superb stuff. Loved it! Tight timmings are the way to go

 

[toxic]

2GB of Corsair 6400 C3's

Superb stuff. Loved it! Tight timmings are the way to go

Ye..but its mightily expensive stuff...and for the performance improvement yo get with it...IMO a waste of money. 4Gb of that would be over £600...far better buying an SLi Mobo and 2 x 8800GTX's!!!!!

 

[Servo]

Crucial Ballistix would be my choice, they overclock very well, (even the 5300) and their Rma is second to none.

I sent some 3200 back on Monday, and they returned two new sticks first thing Thursday morning. Can't fault them, superb service.

I've had no problems with my 5300 ddr2. (touch wood)

 

[Lonz]

I would have thought my 480W Akasa PSU would struggle for this setup, surely?

And does the IP35 Pro...
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-135-AB

...support the 1066Mhz Ballistix you mentioned?