$2,000 Upgrade Dilemma(s)

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EmceeSquared

Junior Member
Oct 28, 2006
3
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Aight folks, I'm a serious gamer who plans on playing BF 2142, C&C 3, and Crysis a lot over the coming months/years. Upgrading in the next few days.

Here's the proposed damage:
1. Asus P5W Deluxe
2. C2D E6700
3. 2 x 1GB OCZ Titanium Alpha 4-4-4-12 at PC6400/DDR800
4. 1 x ATI 1950XTX
5. 1 x 74 GB WD Raptor @ 10 K rpm
6. Scythe Infinity CPU HSF
7. Enermax Galaxy 850W PS
...The rest will be harvested and transplanted from my current system including my Audigy 2 and second HDD for large file storage.

And here are the issues for me:
1. D5W <--> P5B Deluxe
Will I want to go Xfire or Dx 10 in the next year?
P5B Deluxe seems to be faster for OCing (due to Bios update and CPU multiplier downward unlock allowing higher FSB) but D5W offers upgrade path to dual Dx9 or Dx 10 Cards. The latter would probably impact hardcore/hi res gaming more than a few hundred more MHZ in OCing on the C2D. Yet OCing the CPU is why I'm spending $430 on RAM! Any comments and is there such a BIOS update for the D5W deluxe?

2. E6700 <--> E6600
Trying for overclocking headroom - nothing is guaranteed.
I could save $200 w/ E6600 but with E6700 I'm investing in a higher likelihood of having an OC-friendly sample, right?

3. $430 for RAM...
My question is whether this is over the top for current mobos. Will my mobo crap out before my RAM while OCing. Also, will the lower latencies at lower OCs make a difference.

***If I go with E6600 and cheaper RAM I could use that money to go Xfire with 2 X1950XT's --- I'm seriously considering this.***

I really appreciate any thoughtful input on this = ).
 
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pkme2

Diamond Member
Sep 30, 2005
3,896
0
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Your last premise seems realistic. The prices for certain items are so overblown today. Your choice for gamecards make better sense to get now and look at mobos and RAM later especially if you do extreme oc'ing.

Use the money saved for future upgrades. Get what you need now and be happy.:)
 
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YoungGun21

Platinum Member
Aug 17, 2006
2,546
1
81
Get an E6600 and some low latency DDR2 800, but you don't need to spend more than $325 on the RAM. I think even $300 is too much, since you can get quality OCing ram for $275.

DDR2 800 the most you will need too, since you get a 9x multiplier you will hit 3.6ghz at only 400mhz FSB. Only until after 400mhz FSB is when you will begin stressing your ram, but any DDR2 800 can do atleast 900mhz, and I doubt you can hit 4ghz w/o some exotic cooling.

Keep the money you will save and then when DX10 cards are more availible like around beginning of Q2 of next year buy one of those instead of getting 2 X1950XTX's now.
 
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MegaVovaN

Diamond Member
May 20, 2005
4,131
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Yep. There is no such thing as "future proofing".
Upgrade when the prices drop a bit. $2k is alot of cash, and you can find a decent deal when games come out and don't buy hardware that JUST came out. wait a month or two. $3000 computer and $1000 computer will be both obsolete 4 years from now. So make your upgrade a conituous process.
 
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acegazda

Platinum Member
May 14, 2006
2,689
1
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While it is true that the e6700 is TYPICALLY the superior oc'er, everything is a crapshoot. I would still go with the e6600. My suggestion is to get a 7950gx2 (EVGA) now and you can use their step up program to get a dx10 card later. What kind of monitor do you have? SLi/xfire is only worth it if you have a 24"+ monitor.
On the RAM: there are ddr2-1000 RAM kits for less than those, I'm not sure why those are so expensive. Samsung tccd chips?
Everything else is solid, though for a single gfx rig, get an enhance 5150gh instead of the psu you have. The galaxy is good for dual gfx though.
 
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acegazda

Platinum Member
May 14, 2006
2,689
1
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you definetly don't need that much (50amps) for a dx10 card... you should know better dB. Figure ~30amps for a dx10 card, hopefully it will be less.
 
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dBTelos

Golden Member
Apr 17, 2006
1,858
0
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I know that. I suggested the 620W because it can run 2x x1950s. More flexibility. Wanted to do Quad-CF? Done. Low/Mid end DX10 SLi? Done. Any DX10 card? Done.
 
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dBTelos

Golden Member
Apr 17, 2006
1,858
0
0
The Hipro is alright, but you can do better for the money. And this is a $2K computer, I wouldn't be running it with a low quality PSU.
 
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EmceeSquared

Junior Member
Oct 28, 2006
3
0
0
Alrighty, some very thoughtful responses - much appreciated folks.
acegazda: I'm currently am on a 21" CRT hoping to upgrade to 30 " Dell LCD w/in 1 year. Also, that Step-up program u mention is very interesting...I wonder if I could just swap out the ATI for the GX2 within the same setup.

So far these are the changes I'm considering, reflecting your comments:

1. Asus P5W Deluxe ==> I retain the ability to go SLI/Xfire with Dx10, right? (not possible with p695 chip at full dual 8x PCIe)
2. C2D E6700 ($510) ==> C2D E6600 ($312)
3. 2 GB OCZ T Alpha ($430) ==> 2 GB Corsair 6400C4 ($300) @4-4-4-12
4. 1 x ATI 1950XTX, holding off on XFire
5. 1 x 74 GB WD Raptor @ 10 K rpm
6. Scythe Infinity CPU HSF
7. Enermax Galaxy 850W PS ==> I feel this is a good investment for Dx10 SLI/Xfire =0

Thanks so much again for all the responses. U guys have helped me resist the impulse to go all out for diminishing returns it seems. I welcome more thoughtful input concerning the above.
 
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dBTelos

Golden Member
Apr 17, 2006
1,858
0
0
A Galaxy 850W can't handle highend DX10 CF/SLi. Neither can a Corsair HX620W, which is why I recommend the Corsair. But both can handle the same componants (Lowend CF/SLi DX10, any single DX10 card, or any config. available today).
 
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EmceeSquared

Junior Member
Oct 28, 2006
3
0
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So u think dual Dx10 cards next year will require a kilowatt PSU?? I think ur point onthe corsair is to save $$ and not waste it on the Galaxy when it gets me nothing beyond a 620 Watter?
 
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