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Time for an Upgrade

Joined
Feb 29, 2008
Messages
311 (0.05/day)
Location
Tempe, AZ
System Name GAMING BEAST
Processor i7 920
Motherboard EVGA X58 SLi
Cooling Noctua NH-U12P 120mm
Memory 6gb OCZ Gold DDR3 1600
Video Card(s) Sapphire HD6850
Storage 2x640gb WD AALS Matrix RAID 0/RAID 5 (180mb/s, 7.2ms Access)
Display(s) Acer X233Hbd 23" Monitor (1920x1080)
Case Antec Three Hundred
Audio Device(s) N/A
Power Supply Corsair TX-750
Software Windows 7 64-Bit
Benchmark Scores 3DMark06 (9600gt): 12,567 3DMark06 (HD4870): 16,587 3DMarkVantage: P4740
Okay, so here's the deal. Built the computer a little over a year ago now, need a little more umpf so I don't fall to far behind everyone else. Specs are in my spec sheet on the left. I play MMORPG video games daily, as well as do heavy graphic and cpu intensive programs creating maps, as I'm a cartographer. I haven't kept up with the best of the best news really bc of work/school keeping me busy, so I still have some reading to do but thought It'd be nice to get a head start on where to look. Here's some comments about what I have since I built it and what I want going forward:

1. After overclocking and setting up a year ago, the idle temps were 44, 44, 39, 38 approximately for the cores, high 60s stress tested 100% cpu. First of all, noticeable difference in the cores, which leads me to believe the cooler isn't 100% seated properly. Resat and same problem, so it needs to be lapped. Never got around to it, and with the new technology out there, I may as well buy a new cooler and lap that. Here's another interesting fact, computer runs 56 56 48 49 idle now with high 60s (closing in on my max) when only pushing 25% cpu (about my max for my gaming, haven't stress tested since it's been running this hot because it will most likely sky rocket temps). I've kept the dust out fairly well, so I don't think it's that, however it has gotten quite hot here in AZ, but it was just as bad in the Winter, so don't know whats up. So basically, what's a good cooler to get these days?

2. Memory needs to be upgraded. It's slow, overclocks poorly, and only have 4GB, of which I utilize almost all of it daily.

3. Video card is artifacting and couldn't get a chance to send it in before the warranty was up because I needed to use the comp everyday for work/school. Plus it's way behind the competition these days anyways. Need an upgrade, only one card because of what the mobo allows. Pretty much anything is better than this these days, shoot me something cheap but powerful.

4. Anything else you guys would recommend? Those are the big things that I can remember off the top of my head. Case/hdd/mobo/psu all seems gtg still.

Budget: $300 (Approx $200 for video card, $50 for cooler, $50 for memory) :rockout:
 
1: that may not be that it needs to be lapped at all, but sometimes the sensors are messed up so you will have to do what is called calibrating the program to make up for the temperature sensor's error, i do not know how to do this though. And as for your idle temps rising is possibly your thermal paste, i also built my pc to the left in specs(save i had a 8800GT,RIP) about a year and half ago (last jan) and my idle temps were 36-38 at my oc, however bout a month ago they climbed to 45-48, then to low 50's. Replaced the TIM and temps are back to 36 idle.
2: -----
3: HD 4770 is more powerful than the 9800GT/HD 4830, if you oc can match the HD 4850/GTS 250, and it is cheap, only $100 bucks. ah but i see you said $200 for card, so GTX 260 core 216 FTW man

recommend this
Zotac GTX 260 core 216
idk if it's the 65nm or 55nm but the 65nm i heard overclocked better anyways so no biggie either way.

Memory:
G.Skill PI Black 2x2GB 4-4-4-12 timings 1.8v. they'll oc very nicely
Cooler
Xigmatek Dark Knight S1283 this is one of the most common coolers now, very good for it's price, kinda the AC Freezer Pro 7 of 2008-09 only with better temperatures.
 
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