Cheap LGA775 Upgrade

[DaveK]

Hey guys, since my PC stopped working a few weeks ago and I'm unable to pinpoint the cause I've decided to just replace the parts that are most likely the cause which are the CPU, RAM and mobo. I just want to get some input from other users if there's any better alternative components, preferably from Scan.

I'm looking at an Intel Q8300, Asus P5QLD Pro and 2x2GB Corsair XMS2. I don't have access to a PC much so I can't do proper research into the parts or other components so I thought it would be quicker hearing what others have to say.

I'll be looking to overclock to at least 2.8GHz up from 2.5GHz, other than that I'm not looking for any features in particular.

 

[qubit]

S775 is a dead format and the CPUs are very slow compared to modern ones. Get an i3 or i5 based system, which will blow the socks off this S775 system and won't cost any more.

Also, you may wish to wait for the next gen CPUs which are around the corner, but what's right and wrong here isn't hard and fast.

 

[Red_Machine]

+1

Don't bother with buying into socket 775. Hell, I'd say don't even bother upgrading a socket 775 rig. Just go 1155 with a Sandybridge Core i5.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

yea for the cost of the above you should be able to swing 4gb DDR3 H67 board anda i3 2100 or i5 2400 which would be be massive improvements and similar in price.

 

[qubit]

Also, I'm not so keen on Scan. Whenever I've bought stuff off them, the boxes are always badly damaged, like the product has been kicked all over the warehouse like a football and the item itself has been damaged sometimes, too. :shadedshu

I get most of my stuff from www.novatech.com who always give me excellent customer service.

Retailers to be avoided at all costs are Dabs and Overclockers.

 

[LagunaX]

They sometimes sell the i3-2100 for a little over $100 and an H61 or similar mobo will be $50 or less. $50 will also get you 4gb to 8gb of DDR3 if you can find a deal.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

If your low on cash but need a fast enough working system for games then I suggest an i3 processor. the processors are fairly cheap at under £100 and they can overclock to 4-4.2Ghz with a little effort.

If you have enough money, Id recommend going with a 2500k setup

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

even without overclocking an i3 2100 will slaughter a Q anything even overclocked in games, but an i5 2500k would be the best investment for long term,

 

[Deleted member 74752]

775 is not dead if it still runs. Good low budget rig to be had especially if you already own some of the components. Look here for a good 775 mb and cpu's if you decide to go that route... http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149123

 

[xenocide]

775 is not dead if it still runs. Good low budget rig to be had especially if you already own some of the components. Look here for a good 775 mb and cpu's if you decide to go that route... http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149123

Buying the parts second hand definitely would make S775 acceptable, but it was implied he wanted a new system. If that's the case, it means buying everything retail, and at that point soing S1155 is going to be the most cost-effective.

 

[TC-man]

Hey guys, since my PC stopped working a few weeks ago and I'm unable to pinpoint the cause I've decided to just replace the parts that are most likely the cause which are the CPU, RAM and mobo. I just want to get some input from other users if there's any better alternative components, preferably from Scan.

I'm looking at an Intel Q8300, Asus P5QLD Pro and 2x2GB Corsair XMS2. I don't have access to a PC much so I can't do proper research into the parts or other components so I thought it would be quicker hearing what others have to say.

I'll be looking to overclock to at least 2.8GHz up from 2.5GHz, other than that I'm not looking for any features in particular.

Hi,

If you are buying a new cpu, motherboard and memory modules, then consider newer hardware rather choosing EOL products which are relatively expensive and have a low performance per watt ratio when comparing to newer generation hardware.

So you can go for an upgrade (depending what kind of budget you have) with an Athlon II X4 or Phenom II X4 (BE) quad core, a decent AMD 870/880G motherboard (certain models can be upgraded via a bios to support AMD's next-gen Bulldozer) with OC features and 4GB ram.

Or you can go for an upgrade with Core i3 2100, a P67 or H67 motherboard and 4GB ram.

 

[scaminatrix]

Yup, i3 2100 can be had for £100 and performs better than the Q8300. You can even get the i3 cheaper if you get one second hand.
Also, DDR3 is cheaper than DDR2 generally, so you can take the tenner you save on RAM and put it towards the mobo.
That'd leave you about £60 for your mobo.

 

[qubit]

Yup, i3 2100 can be had for £100 and performs better than the Q8300. You can even get the i3 cheaper if you get one second hand.
Also, DDR3 is cheaper than DDR2 generally, so you can take the tenner you save on RAM and put it towards the mobo.
That'd leave you about £60 for your mobo.

That sounds like good solid buying advice.

It's sounds incredible that a later gen CPU with only 2 cores and HT can outperform an older gen one with 4 and no HT, but it's true.

 

[DaveK]

I priced some parts for a Core i3 system, it's a bit more expensive but you guys say a dual Core i3 system is better?

What about the Core i3 2100, Asus P8P67 LE Rev 3 and 2x2GB Corsair Vengeance?

 

[scaminatrix]

lol I'l try again

BO!

http://www.dabs.com/products/asus-i...3-2100---4gb-ddr3-memory--7J0Z.html?q=i3 2100

Same price as what you were going to spend on the Q8300 setup give or take a couple of quid.

FYI: I managed to delete my last post; dunno how, think my fingers are just too quick

 

[BarbaricSoul]

even without overclocking an i3 2100 will slaughter a Q anything even overclocked in games

Crazy, you've been giving good advise for the most part, but I have to disagree with you here. At stock, my q9650 goes back and forth with the 2100, as can be seen here. A I3 2100 will not slaughter all C2Q cpus.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

Q9650 is about the same as my phenom II 965 at 4ghz

in most games the i3 2100 will rape that Q series due to better IPC and core limit to 2 cores per game

a Q9650 highly overclocked will do better hes looking at a fucking Q8300 which performs WORSE then a 5 year old Q6600 this is a no brainer i3 2100 wins lol hell if he cant go that route

get an i3 540 + P55 overclock the thing they hit 4.3-4.5ghz and in all honesty when gaming a 4.3ghz I3 540 on the older P55 socket goes toe to toe with a 3.8ghz Phenom II 965, ive been there and done that

there is always data to prove one side right or the other in this case

buying an EOL mobo with DDR2 ram, and an old Q8300 would be a waste of money for the OP and in general wouldnt help him second hand Q9550 and Q9650 still go for outragous sums of money, and new they still cost more then a Sandy Bridge chip

so ill concede your correct but show me where the OP can get a Q9650 + decent board + ram for a better price then a 2500k + P67 + DDR3 system thats the point here hes looking retail at retail prices, there is NOTHING that will touch the i3 2100 in the same price category.

for shits an giggles comparison of the similar price performance of the Q8400 + i3 2100
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/89?vs=289
no way in hell will overclocking a Q8300 give him the price performance of the i3 2100 which at a later date he could swap to a 2500k if he goes P67 and then truly get performance that shines.

 

[qubit]

a Q9650 highly overclocked will do better hes looking at a fucking Q8300 which performs WORSE then a 5 year old Q6600 this is a no brainer i3 2100 wins lol hell if he cant go that route

Not only that, but the Q8300 doesn't even support virtualization. :shadedshu

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

well theres also the core usage vs ipc to look at

Dragon Age will scale across 4-6 cpu cores notice the 4 core Q8300 is still 30% slower then the I3 2100 which is 2 cores 4 threads, IPC makes a big difference in alot of games, more so then core count does,

only games that benefit from cores where a Q9650 can hold its own

Bad Company 2
GTA IV
Supreme Commander
Far Cry 2
Dragon Age Origins but again look at the 30% difference IPC makes over 2 real cores vs hyperthreading.


even then pit the Q9650 vs an I5 2500k in a similar priced and speced build it just gets dominated, Intels older cpus are still great if you can score one cheap but again this is retail were talking about, in retail the outdated shit still costs more then the parts that are faster and new to market lolz

 

[qubit]

Intels older cpus are still great if you can score one cheap but again this is retail were talking about, in retail the outdated shit still costs more then the parts that are faster and new to market lolz

This is what really pisses me off. This stupid pricing prevents one from getting a bargain. For example, I wanted to upgrade my PC from a dual core to E8500 to a quad something, but don't have a lot of money to spend. So I looked at what CPUs are still available for S775 and no shit, they cost a lot more than an i5 something. :shadedshu

Prices were something like, i5-2500K £160 and a Q9550 was £240. Madness.

Result: I've stayed with what I've got and just upgraded the graphics card to a GTX 580. Although my CPU is old, it's still potent and plays all the latest games very well.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

This is what really pisses me off. This stupid pricing prevents one from getting a bargain. For example, I wanted to upgrade my PC from a dual core to E8500 to a quad something, but don't have a lot of money to spend. So I looked at what CPUs are still available for S775 and no shit, they cost a lot more than an i5 something. :shadedshu

Prices were something like, i5-2500K £160 and a Q9550 was £240. Madness.

Result: I've stayed with what I've got and just upgraded the graphics card to a GTX 580. Although my CPU is old, it's still potent and plays all the latest games very well.

you can pick up secondhand Q9550 from ebay for £80-150

 

[qubit]

you can pick up secondhand Q9550 from ebay for £80-150

eBay, sure. But I'm comparing new with new here. That £80 should be for a new Q9550, not a second hand one.

Also, these second hand parts will likely have been overclocked and more importantly significantly overvolted, which will damage them - used and abused, basically. Plus they'll probably be old steppings. In short, I'd avoid buying used computer parts unless I got them from a trusted source, such as a friend.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

i avoid used unless it comes from TPU

and if were gonna talk used here what about a used Q8300 for 40-50 quid lolz

or a used I5 540 or i5 750those should be in the same price range as a used Q9650 will be, so its a moot point. there still better and similar cost,