Which Upgrade Should I Go For?

[Flava0ne]

I want to upgrade my system, either get a 8GB (4x2GB) Corsair XMS2 Dominator DDR2 PC2-8500 Memory Kit or get a Corsair Extreme 32GB SSD and a Corsair Extreme 64GB SSD and running them both in RAID 0. I'm going to eventually do both one day, but I want to know which upgrade will really make more of a noticeable difference in my current setup.

 

[MKmods]

I wouldnt do either...Save ur money.
(if doing Raid0 Im pretty sure you need 2 of the same size Hdds or the larger Hdd is seen as the same size as the smaller one)

 

[Flava0ne]

Yeah, I know I really shouldn't. But I'm really itchin' to upgrade my system! LOL

 

[MKmods]

LOL, you already have a better system than 99.5% of the world....

Use the $ for H20 or a better case...

 

[Flava0ne]

LOL, you already have a better system than 99.5% of the world....

Use the $ for H20 or a better case...

Yeah, that's true!

I was thinking of getting the Cooler Master Cosmos S Chassis too.

But, which upgrade that I mentioned above will make more of a noticeable difference? (for future plans, like in the next year or two)

 

[MKmods]

look for a case with the PS on the top or two 120mm exhaust fans on the rear panel.

 

[Flava0ne]

look for a case with the PS on the top or two 120mm exhaust fans on the rear panel.

That's what I got now with my 3D Aurora 570. I don't like how the PSU is on top cause I can't hide the PCI-E cables and route them to the rear.

 

[MKmods]

But the Aurora has the silly sidways mounted Hdds (block almost all the incoming air).

The CM cases look cool and for some reason a lot of younger guys seem to like them but honestly the old Centurion 5 kicks the new cases butts.

 

[farlex85]

Out of those 2 the SSD is easily by far a bigger upgrade. You likely wouldn't notice a thing going to 8gb, the SSDs would be very noticeable. I'm not sure why you'd want a 64gb drive coupled w/ a 32gb drive in Raid 0 though as you'd lose half the bigger drive.

 

[Flava0ne]

But the Aurora has the silly sidways mounted Hdds (block almost all the incoming air).

Yeah, I actually completely removed the front intake fan because of that.

I'm also looking at the Corsair Obsidian Series 800D Chassis, but I can't find any retailer who sells it here in Canada.

Out of those 2 the SSD is easily by far a bigger upgrade. You likely wouldn't notice a thing going to 8gb, the SSDs would be very noticeable. I'm not sure why you'd want a 64gb drive coupled w/ a 32gb drive in Raid 0 though as you'd lose half the bigger drive.

I didn't know that getting two different sizes of SSD's and running them in RAID 0 would make me lose half of the bigger drive. You know what they say, you learn something new everyday!

 

[HolyCow02]

yea for RAID it is best to have to drives of the same size, or you lose whatever % of the bigger one. I feel the SSD's (but both the same size) would show you more than the memory.

 

[MKmods]

I have no experience with SSDs (too $$ for me) and I realize they are fast, but is using them in Raid0 necessary?

this is kind of like GPUs in SLI, the more entry level GPUs (slower) seem to work more efficiently (scale better) in SLI than the higher end cards.

 

[suraswami]

Like my friend MK said, I don't see any need for upgrade, but if you insist I would say sell those power hungry 88xx ultras and invest in 265 or better. That will give you better boost in games, you can wait for 1 sec to load a game vs gaining 30%+ FPS.

SSDs are just fancy bling blings.

 

[Flava0ne]

Like my friend MK said, I don't see any need for upgrade, but if you insist I would say sell those power hungry 88xx ultras and invest in 265 or better. That will give you better boost in games, you can wait for 1 sec to load a game vs gaining 30%+ FPS.

SSDs are just fancy bling blings.

Thanks for your input. I too also think that SSD's are way over priced and I'm thinking of not going that route anymore.

One question about the GTX 260 Core 216 55nm series, are they dual GPU video cards?

 

[a_ump]

i read all the posts and i agree that you should try to sell your ultras and purchase a GTX 275 or 2. the only dual gpu cards are GTX 295 and HD 4870x2. Upgrading your graphics is definitely the most beneficial option for your build. idk your budget but i'd go GTX 260 core 216 SLI or GTX 275/85 then SLI later on.
Gigabyte GTX 275w/ free CoD:WaW

EDIT: thought of something else but dunno if it's significant to you is that your power usage would be halved for the same performance and slightly better performance in some games with a GTX 275 or higher. less heat as well

EDIT2: here's a review comparing the 9800GX2(ultra SLI is = to it so use it for reference)and GTX 280. it's somewhat old and the GTX 280 won most benchies, and with newer drivers today i gaurentee it will outperform your ultra SLI. also GTX 275>GTX 280.

 

[Flava0ne]

i read all the posts and i agree that you should try to sell your ultras and purchase a GTX 275 or 2. the only dual gpu cards are GTX 295 and HD 4870x2. Upgrading your graphics is definitely the most beneficial option for your build. idk your budget but i'd go GTX 260 core 216 SLI or GTX 275/85 then SLI later on.
Gigabyte GTX 275w/ free CoD:WaW

If I get 2 EVGA GTX 285 1GB video cards and register them for EVGA's Step-Up program, will EVGA step me up to the GTX 295?

 

[farlex85]

If I get 2 EVGA GTX 285 1GB video cards and register them for EVGA's Step-Up program, will EVGA step me up to the GTX 295?

Evga will step up 1 card to 1 card. So you can just get 1 gtx 285 then step up to a 295.

 

[a_ump]

so you'd purchase 2 GTX 285's?(no need to put 1gb) then later down the road step up to 2 GTX 295's? sounds pretty sweet though i bet you'll be so satisfied with your GTX 285 SLI performance you won't even feel the desire to step up to GTX 295's lol. Hmm if only Nvidia was releasing GT300 within, what is the step up? 60 days?, then you'd be really set for next gen.

 

[joshiers8605]

I would get the ssd, considering how you already have 4gb of ram. put windows on that ssd, will make a very noticeable improvement

 

[Flava0ne]

so you'd purchase 2 GTX 285's?(no need to put 1gb) then later down the road step up to 2 GTX 295's? sounds pretty sweet though i bet you'll be so satisfied with your GTX 285 SLI performance you won't even feel the desire to step up to GTX 295's lol. Hmm if only Nvidia was releasing GT300 within, what is the step up? 60 days?, then you'd be really set for next gen.

When is the GT300 series supposed to be released? Because since mid 2006 till about early 2007, my 8800 Ultra's were the shiznit!

 

[JrRacinFan]

When is the GT300 series supposed to be released? Because since mid 2006 till about early 2007, my 8800 Ultra's were the shiznit!

I heard early 2010. Depending on how much you game I would say thats your next big step.

 

[a_ump]

they're not expected till at best late Q4 09, worst late Q1 2010