Upgrade or New System???

[Vinnilling]

Hi y'all,
My rig's less than a year old and already it appears that it's time for an upgrade. My favourite game, Supreme Commander is pretty much unplayable.

Original pre-packaged system; mobo is an Intel D946GZIS with a Intel Pentium D 820, 2x1gb DDR2 Kingston PC2-5300 (333mhz), 450watt PSU, 7950GT and Vista 32. Unfortunately from what I can tell, this mobo is not PCIE 2.0, only 1.0a and from what I've read on this site, it is not overclockable. I really should have done my homework before I bought this heap.

I'm considering 2 upgrades.
The 1st is dropping in the fastest cpu I can get for that board, which according to Intel's website is an E6700 Core2duo.

The 2nd upgrade would be to get a 8800GTS 512mb.

My questions are:
a) Would these 2 upgrades boost my system to a respectable level? ie: will I be able to play SC and Crysis (med detail )?
b) Both upgrades will total around $800.00 Maybe I'd be better off putting the cash towards a new rig? ie: new case, psu, mobo, quad cpu, 4 gigs fast ram, Nvidia? ATI?
c) If yes, I'd like to try to build one myself for around $2000 - $2500 that's OC'able. Any suggestions?

I'm new to OC'ing and this would be my first build so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Btw, this site rocks!
Thanks,
V

 

[Vinnilling]

Revision on my build price. Checking some other threads on this site it looks like $2000 is way overpriced. Wheew!!!! Maybe more like $1000 - $1200 ??? I already have a good DVD burner and monitor.

Thanks again,
Vince

 

[reverze]

If I was in your shoes, I would go for option B try to sell of that rig and just build a whole new setup..

 

[cdawall]

just pick up a mobo and oc both your cpu and gpu med in crysis isnt to hard i play med/high on a lower end rig

 

[choppy]

+1 you got a decent setup, buy a nice p35 mobo and your good to go

 

[cdawall]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130128

should be enough to take you PD up were it can play games better

 

[Vinnilling]

Thanks for your replies guys.
I like that board Cdawall! Looks like it's compatible with quads too. A little future-proof?
A few more questions if you don't mind....
Is it possible to OC the D820? If so, around what % increase could I expect?
Also, I don't know if existing my ram is very fast. CPU-Z says the following... is that good? Can I OC it? Extra cooling? (currently just has ducted stock fan)
Looking at that board, it looks like I can use my 2 old sticks of ddr2 and 2 new sticks of ddr3. Is this a good idea?

Thanks again!
V

Chipset & Memory
Northbridge Intel 946PL/GZ rev. C1
Southbridge Intel 82801GB (ICH7/R) rev. A1
Graphic Interface PCI-Express
PCI-E Link Width x16
PCI-E Max Link Width x16
Memory Type DDR2
Memory Size 2048 MBytes
Memory Frequency 333.0 MHz (3:5)
CAS# Latency (tCL) 5.0 clocks
RAS# to CAS# (tRCD) 5 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 5 clocks
Cycle Time (tRAS) 15 clocks
Command Rate (CR) 1T

 

[Pyeti]

Any cpu can be overclocked (depending on the board). But to do so with pentium ds you'll need better than stock cooling and a better power supply

 

[cdawall]

you can do DDR2/3 cant be done together like u could have 2 sticks of ddr2 by themselves and then later by 2 sticks of ddr3 to replace the ddr2.

as far as ocing bigger PSU and a good air cooler should get 4ghz outta your chip maybe a gemini 2 or a thermal right ultra 120

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103026
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835109125

i would just get the gemini 2 and some quiet 120mm fans

 

[Vinnilling]

Thanks for the info guys.
I like your cooling solution Cdawall. Noise is definitely an issue with my current setup. Gets a little annoying for sure. I guess while I'm doing this, I should look at some bigger case fans too.

 

[cdawall]

i have a gemini 2 coming it should be at my house at some point in time today but no fans but ill be happy to tell you how it runs fanless if it shows up and i have a chance to install it

 

[JrRacinFan]

No offense Vinnilling but, unless you buy a really good cooler and have good airflow in your case the Pentium D 8xx series get VERY warm when overclocked.

I am just saying, if you do purchase the MSI motherboard, plan on getting a better cooler and thermal compound for your overclocking needs.

@cdawall

What are you planning on running the Gemini with? A64? I can just see you now living up the overclock. I am kinda afraid you will beat my SuperPI!

 

[cdawall]

at first that 3400+ i have been to lazy to install up until now but later on i should have a PD930 on a asrock ASRock 4CoreDual-SATA2 or ASRock 775Dual-VSTA whichever i can find cheaper

 

[JrRacinFan]

How much you buying the 930 for?


Sorry for jacking your thread Vinnilling. I do apologize.

 

[cdawall]

free its coming outta another PC in my house and im putting a C2Q in that machine

 

[hugz]

New System. Amen.

 

[Vinnilling]

JrR: No worries my friend. Where I'm at right now, any info is good info.
Cdawall: I would definitely be interested to know the results of your new cooling do-da.
Thanks again.

 

[cdawall]

well my cooler just showed up ill get some pics of the big thing in a little bit but for now just know it ways a bloody ton more than my old PSU!

 

[cdawall]

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=48599

here the beast is

 

[Vinnilling]

well my cooler just showed up ill get some pics of the big thing in a little bit but for now just know it ways a bloody ton more than my old PSU!

LOL. I can only frickin imagine the size of that thing!

Further to JrR's post, I'm now thinking that I "might" just opt to get a new mobo / cpu combo with a faster chip. Is it worth going quad at this point?

Cdawall: your specs show you have an AMD cpu. Are AMD's better for OC'ing??

Also, if I'm going to need extra cooling, should I go with a larger case? If I get a new case, I might as well get a new PSU.......... and on and on....
Where do I stop??!!

revision: I just saw your pics........ OMG.... Are those all heat pipes?

 

[cdawall]

i have an amd cpu cause it was cheap and played games well. i should have a PD930 soon enough which is just like your 820 but it runs a little cooler. as for ocing amds dont oc as high but in comparison with a PD or P4 the oc is better cause you get more performance, but the new C2D oc higher than the amds and have more performance clock for clock. as for the larger case its up to you when i post some pics of the cooler in my case im sure you'll see just how insanely huge this thing is.

and yes those are all heatpipes

 

[JrRacinFan]

@cdawall

Nice! q6600?

@Vinnilling

Kentsfield? Or possibly keep the PD820 and go with a P35/X38/780i, wait for a Yorkfield "??"

Dunno what your budget really will look like around February/March.

 

[cdawall]

looking at a xeon quad or a Q6600 havent decided yet

you guys think a thermaltake jungle 512 will be good enough to cool a lightly oc'd (if at all) quad core it keeps my PD 930 in the 40s with pwm enabled

 

[Vinnilling]

Kentsfield? Or possibly keep the PD820 and go with a P35/X38/780i, wait for a Yorkfield "??"

Dunno what your budget really will look like around February/March.

I've been looking at benchmarks for the QX9650... I'm sooo tempted to spend the bucks now for a Yorkfield. Yeah, it's a lot of coin but then I'd be future-proofing myself for some time. Would like an SLI board too. Maybe buy 1x 8800gts (or gtx) now and add one later. I donno... pay the mortgage, don't pay the mortgage... so many decisions... maybe I'll get a mb that'll support the QX9650 but drop in an E6850 for now. Maybe the 9650 will drop in price by the time I'm ready to upgrade again.