Want to upgrade, don't know the options much..

[xnox202]

To start off, I wanted a new system to upgrade myself from the AGP world to the PCI-E world. I'm much of a gamer, and I love overclocking too (Not just overclocking for highest megahurtz, but also for better performance per Mhz). But I'm just a college student, earning $140 per month.. seems like my options are really limited for my requirements.

I'm currently running the system in my rig. It's a hell of a system I must say but it's already too old. Because of this system too, I already loved overclocking (DFI O/C Options anyone?). But I made this system back 1 year ago.. and I want more for my gaming needs.

Since I'm a high-demanding gamer (wants all settings to the max and the highest resolution if possible) and also an overclocker, but really tight on budget, what setup would you recommend? I would only need suggestions for CPU+Mobo+RAM+Vcard only since I can take my PSU/HDD and etceteras from my old rig. Personally, the options for my upgrade are:

1) Option 1..
CPU: AMD Phenom 9850 Black Edition/AMD Athlon 5000+ Black Edition
Motherboard: ECS A780GM-A AM2+ Motherboard
RAM: Crucial Ballistix Tracer 2GB PC-8500 DDR2-1066 RAM Kit

2) Option 2..
CPU: AMD Phenom 9850 Black Edition/AMD Athlon 5000+ Black Edition
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H AM2+
RAM: Crucial Ballistix Tracer 2GB PC-8500 DDR2-1066 RAM Kit

Right, before you go commenting on why I chose the board with an IGP.. Well right now I can only upgrade my CPU/Mobo/RAM first and still be able to use the system because it may be awhile after I'll be able to upgrade to a better video card. After upgrading to a better video card (Aiming for the HD3850/HD3870 or the X2 if I can afford it as an upgrade and no I'm not Hybrid Crossfiring it, because they just can't. Just noting that down incase you're thinking that I'm intentioned for doing that) I also may upgrade the motherboard too.

Unless, there are better alternatives than my options here, then I greatly acknowledge to that suggestion.

And yes, I don't know anything from the Intel camp other than knowing their overclocking capabilities. How bout an insight for the Intel's budget combo which still overclocks for a gamer on a tight budget?

[xnox202]

^^

[unsmart]

what is your budget? It seems somewhat high from what you got listed.
If all your doing is gaming the CPU is kinda over kill for a budget system a dualcore would be fine. For the intel side a e2220 and P35 board will run about $200USD and be a nice upgrade[ after OCing] with the option of moving to 4 cores. You can also get a 2g kit of decent ram for around $50 and a hd3850 for $150. The prices are USD on newegg so I'm not sure what you can get where you are but it comes to around $400 here.

[erocker]

Go with the 5000+ since you're saving a ton of money right there. Finda a cheaper AM2 motherboard without IGP and get a 9600GT for the cheapest price you can find. Or if you want to go Intel get something like an E2200, a cheap P35motherboard, and the 9600GT, or hd3850.

[JrRacinFan]

Well like above, HD3850 + MSI 790X + 5000BE would be a very good upgrade and would last a little while for you. Would also have the option for an additional HD3850 in the future if wishing to do so.

Another look also, is a Foxconn P35A+HD3850+e4700. Same comments about that build as well. If your looking at some nVidia cards, look into maybe ... I dunno ... P5N-D or P7N-SLI.

[xnox202]

Ah yes, my budget is around $300 if I could have the combination I need by this month. By next month, my budget would already be $450. But I'm already too impatient to get a new system.

As for the Intel combination, what are the actual differences between the E2x00/E4x00 and the E6x00 and E8x00 ? Other than the caches.. what, do they perform like the latter clock for clock? If I would find a P35 board, I might be looking for the "flashy-est".. and still not knowing which P35 are the best bang for the buck.

Like this one: Gigabyte GA-P35-DQ6 (Intel P35)
http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles...?cid=6&id=2355.

That's expensive! Even some cheaper alternatives of the P35 is quite expensive too. But I do like the Abit's IP35, a little cheaper.. But is P35 going to be called as "Outdated" soon? P35 has been around for awhile now.

Same old story with the X38. But they are newer, and costs a little bit more. Are the X38 are better clockers for the same processor? I've seen quite, but most I read is the X38 doesn't clock better for the Quads than the P35. Most likely, if I'm going P35/X38, then I should be looking for ATI cards.

Onto AMD side, if I would get the 790FX, more like I'm saving a little bit more on the processor than Intel. I also like the idea of doing CrossfireX if I can afford it, since gaming needs alot of GPU power, ain't it? And don't worry about the monitor I'm having currently. I'll consider about it.

Impatience and tight budget, what a bad combination for a type of guy like me.

[francis511]

I read x38 s don`t show any real improvement over p35 s

[xnox202]

Maybe so, but I might also care less about benchmarks (though I love running Aquamark, SuperPI, 3DMark, PCMark just for fun), I might only actually looking for real-world performance differences. As far as gaming goes, I would like to see a good visual framerate experience and, quick loads. That is what I would want, in a possible budget setup. *thinking AMD*

[GameSinewPCs]

As configured on Newegg:

Gigabyte DS3L motherboard
Intel E2160 (OC'd to 2.9+Ghz) Processor
Xigmatek 92mm Rifle CPU Cooler
Palit 9600GT
2GB(2x1GB) Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 Cas 4 Ram

If you can reuse your Big Water, You save yourself about $30...and you're well under budget after MIRs.

Price after Mail In Rebates $303.96...about $12 more for shipping ($80 MIRs).

If you're OCing, intel is the way to go...even in this budgetary range.

[tkpenalty]

Originally Posted by GameSinewPCs

As configured on Newegg:

Gigabyte DS3L motherboard
Intel E2160 (OC'd to 2.9+Ghz) Processor
Xigmatek 92mm Rifle CPU Cooler
Palit 9600GT
2GB(2x1GB) Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 Cas 4 Ram

If you can reuse your Big Water, You save yourself about $30...and you're well under budget after MIRs.

Price after Mail In Rebates $303.96...about $12 more for shipping ($80 MIRs).

If you're OCing, intel is the way to go...even in this budgetary range.

Which DS3L?

[GameSinewPCs]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128059

[yogurt_21]

if you're going intel do it right, the 21xx and 41xx aren't worth it vs the amd counterparts, they'd need good memory to hit the clocks required to beat an amd at stock much less with an oc. 6xxx, 8xxx or quad if you're goign intel, and don't let fanboys tell you otherwise, my q6700 at stock is slower in load times and boot time than my fx-62. it's ocing that the quad takes the edge.

ps: the gigavyte ds3L is a great board for the money, plenty of oc headroom.

[GameSinewPCs]

...The Q6700 runs at 2.66Ghz stock while the FX-62 runs at 2.8Ghz. Thats roughly 5% faster clock speed, without taking into account that the Q6700 has an inferior bus infrastructure to the FX chip. In most stressfull aplications, the Q6700 with two cores disabled at stock speeds(let alone OC'd) will outperform the FX-62. If both chips were clocked the same, you would see an average of (roughly) 15% increase/clock speed in the Q6600/core versus the FX across a variety of different applications. A similar trend is found with the E2XXX series ableit they have less cache. An E2160 OC'd to 3.0Ghz will outperform an athlon chip running at the same frequency in most applications and it is about half the price. Not to mention, that corsair memory is excellent.

As a side note, a large portion of my builds are AMD, so I'm not really sure where you're getting a "fanboy" perspective from. AMD is indeed the way to go in this budget range if he will not be OCing, but frankly when OC'd...the Intel chips simply take over the price/performance even in that price bracket.

[unsmart]

heres a link to tom's CPU chart.
http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_20...=882&chart=424
It's very help full in sorting things out but doesn't take into account OCing ability of the CPU, witch Intel owns right now.
The x38 and p35 differ in PCI-e lanes the x38 has 2 x16 and the p35 has 1 x16 and 1 x4. If going Xfire the x38 is the better board and preforms as well as the x48.
The e2xxx,e4xxx differ only in cashe but have a lower FSB[800mhz]then other C2D[1066 up to 1600] so they OC easier. Intel uses a quad pumped FSb so at 800mhz your ram runs at 200mhz when set to 1/1 mem to FSB so with a e2180 clocked at 2g standard will be at 4g in 1/1 if using DDR2 800 which runs at 400mhz. Cashe isn't a huge factor in most apps but does boost performance around 3-10% in some.
Really going with ether AMD or Intels not going to have a huge impact in high rez gaming where your GPU will set the limit. AMD could use your help right now though and will most likely come out a little cheaper for a budget build.

[JrRacinFan]

Originally Posted by yogurt_21

if you're going intel do it right, the 21xx and 41xx aren't worth it vs the amd counterparts, they'd need good memory to hit the clocks required to beat an amd at stock much less with an oc. 6xxx, 8xxx or quad if you're goign intel, and don't let fanboys tell you otherwise, my q6700 at stock is slower in load times and boot time than my fx-62. it's ocing that the quad takes the edge.

ps: the gigavyte ds3L is a great board for the money, plenty of oc headroom.

No offense, I think you better check again. I have had nothing but great performance from this e1200. Lowest SuperPI acheived was 21 seconds w/800mhz ram 5-5-5-15 timings.

Granted there has been cases of when purchasing an e1x/e2x that are binned allendales vs deliberately crippled, which causes them to not overclock as well. They are a darn good chip for the price IF you get at least a decent board.

I would call them the budget overclockers dream chip or an intermittent performer while saving up for your quad.