Upgrades?

[Havoc]

Hi all,

Recently just got myself a job, and figured my rig could use a bit of upgrading. At the minute I'm running:-

• Abit IP35 Pro Motherboard
• Intel C2D 1.8 (Overclocked to 2.5)
• 2GB DDR2 800Mhz Corsair Dominator Ram
• ATI X1950Pro 256Mb
• 320GB HD 7200RPM
• 110GB HD 7200RPM

I'm quite pleased with the system, as it has done a good job for me over the past year or so, but I think now might be the time to get an upgrade. The thing is it seems balanced, and it has worked well but age is beginning to catch up with it, and I'm not sure where to spend the money. The PC is used for gaming, so maybe someone can enlighten me a little.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

a faster CPU(e8400 would be my recommendation, or a e7200 if you don't like the cost of the 8400) and a stronger video card like the gtx260 would do wonders for your performance. I would also look into getting a 24" widescreen monitor, you can get a decent 24" monitor for around $300.

 

[WhiteLotus]

agreed, a new dual core maybe an E8400, that would help reduce any bottle necks on the GPU later on - which i recommend an ATI 4850

 

[oli_ramsay]

Like barbaric says, I think the best upgrade would be a better GPU, as the PC's mostly used for gaming. Maybe something like the 4850/GTX260 or better depending on budget.

You could also get a better CPU is your budget can stretch that far (the E7200 seems to be the best price/performance CPU at the minute IMO, and could probably easily reach 4GHz).

 

[Havoc]

Okay, the E8400 is within my budget, just about. As with the 7200, I'm already clocking at around that speed, I know it won't be exactly the same, but will I really see that much of a difference?

As for GPUs I was eyeing up the 4870...

But you reckon GPU first, then CPU?

 

[oli_ramsay]

Yea, GPU 1st I reckon, and try to OC your CPU more until you can afford the e7200/e8400.

 

[mullered07]

a 4870 would make a hell of a difference in games vs your x1950pro, then just upgrade the cpu later, i realise you have it oc'd to around e7200 stock speeds but with a e7200 you could hit around 3.6 easy

 

[BarbaricSoul]

Okay, the E8400 is within my budget, just about. As with the 7200, I'm already clocking at around that speed, I know it won't be exactly the same, but will I really see that much of a difference?

As for GPUs I was eyeing up the 4870...

But you reckon GPU first, then CPU?

if you can afford the 8400, get it, it's higher amount of cache will give you better performance over the 7200. If you do get the 7200, you'll be able to OC it to around the same speeds you can get from the 8400(around the 3.8 to 4 gig mark on air). With todays high-end cards, you need a CPU of those speeds not to bottleneck the card. A 4870 first will give you a very nice performance gain over the 1950. A CPU clocked around 3.8 will give you everything the 4870 has to give.

 

[JC316]

Personally, I would go with the following.

E5200 It's a wolfdale core and overclocks to 4.0GHZ easy enough. It has less cache than the E7200, but it really doesn't make that much difference.

Since you said that the E8400 was just in budget, that leaves $80 left over for you to go with this 8800GS

That would give you a nice CPU and a nice graphics card since the X1950 is getting old.

 

[Havoc]

Okay, thanks for the input, Is the 8800 actually any good still? that aint new either. Budget isn't that much of an issue (within reason) I was gonna buy them separately.

 

[AsRock]

Just get a newer GPU this is were the main gain is going be. The 8800GT is a good card which i have seen are around $110-$160..

And what PSU do you use ?.

What games you play btw ?.

 

[oli_ramsay]

I think a 4850 should stand you in good stead, considering how cheap they are:

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/130...logy/radeon-hd4850-512-mb-gddr.html?srcid=867

http://specialtech.co.uk/spshop/customer/product.php?productid=6458

Plus a non-ref, pre-OCed one too
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/148952

 

[JC316]

Okay, thanks for the input, Is the 8800 actually any good still? that aint new either. Budget isn't that much of an issue (within reason) I was gonna buy them separately.

Ah ok. Yes, the 8800GS is a good card, still performs as good as a 3870 512, but there are better options out there, like the 4850.

 

[Havoc]

I personally dislike Sapphire Cards. That pre-O/ced 4850 looks pretty tasty mind.
What kinda perfromance gains am I looking at between a 4850 and a 4870?

As you may have gathered, I'm not an nvidia fan.

What games do I play? eeeh.. GRiD, Counterstrike Source, Unreal Tournament 3, Crysis, Test Drive Unlimited, Joint Operations, Command & Conquer 3, and it will be used to run Operation Flashpoint 2. When it comes out.

What PSU do I have? I don't think you wanna know haha. It's a 550W Unbranded, it's not modular or anything fancy, but at the moment it does the job for me. Will it be a problem?