Best upgrade? OR might as well do whole thing?

Kesler

Junior Member
Jan 3, 2008
14
0
0
Currently I have a Dell XPS 600 thats 3 years old.

3.4ghz Pentium 4
2x 7800GTX in SLI
2gb of ram
22" LG lcd

What would be my best bet to upgrade for gaming at 1680x1050? I play Hellgate, EQ2, TF2 mainly. Was wondering if its worth upgraging to a c2d cpu or new gpu? something in the E6750 / 8800 Gt ranges. or just building a whole new comp?

Thanks!
 

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
39,071
19,779
146
Without the service tag, I can only assume that the P4 is socket 478. Even if it's 775, chances are the mobo won't support a C2D. Just based on that, an entire upgrade is probably what you're looking at. Post the service tag so we can look @ what the system came with!
 

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
126
Originally posted by: Kesler
Currently I have a Dell XPS 600 thats 3 years old.

3.4ghz Pentium 4
2x 7800GTX in SLI
2gb of ram
22" LG lcd

What would be my best bet to upgrade for gaming at 1680x1050? I play Hellgate, EQ2, TF2 mainly. Was wondering if its worth upgraging to a c2d cpu or new gpu? something in the E6750 / 8800 Gt ranges. or just building a whole new comp?

Thanks!


To make it simple ,you need a new cpu (duel core). A 3.4 pent 4 will not push 2 7800gtx's.
In your case i'd upgrade my cpu. If you can. Call dell and ask them whats the fastest cpu you can pop in.
 

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
126
Originally posted by: ch33zw1z
Without the service tag, I can only assume that the P4 is socket 478. Even if it's 775, chances are the mobo won't support a C2D. Just based on that, an entire upgrade is probably what you're looking at. Post the service tag so we can look @ what the system came with!

I think it a nforce4 chipset which supports core2duo socket 775.
 

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
39,071
19,779
146
Originally posted by: happy medium
Originally posted by: ch33zw1z
Without the service tag, I can only assume that the P4 is socket 478. Even if it's 775, chances are the mobo won't support a C2D. Just based on that, an entire upgrade is probably what you're looking at. Post the service tag so we can look @ what the system came with!

I think it a nforce4 chipset which supports core2duo socket 775.

You can verify that by running CPU-Z and posting the results.
 

LOUISSSSS

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2005
8,770
54
91
chances are you'll need a new CPU/MB/RAM and if u have any money left new video cards although those are pretty good.
 

TemjinGold

Diamond Member
Dec 16, 2006
3,050
65
91
Originally posted by: happy medium
Originally posted by: Kesler
Currently I have a Dell XPS 600 thats 3 years old.

3.4ghz Pentium 4
2x 7800GTX in SLI
2gb of ram
22" LG lcd

What would be my best bet to upgrade for gaming at 1680x1050? I play Hellgate, EQ2, TF2 mainly. Was wondering if its worth upgraging to a c2d cpu or new gpu? something in the E6750 / 8800 Gt ranges. or just building a whole new comp?

Thanks!


To make it simple ,you need a new cpu (duel core). A 3.4 pent 4 will not push 2 7800gtx's.
In your case i'd upgrade my cpu. If you can. Call dell and ask them whats the fastest cpu you can pop in.

OP: While you're upgrading his cpu, would you mind upgrading mine too? :D

Sorry couldn't resist...
 

Kesler

Junior Member
Jan 3, 2008
14
0
0
Here is the CPU-Z of my system. Being able to just upgrade CPU currently would be great due to not having $1500ish I would like for a new system yet, and being able to upgrade that for now, then later doing rest with it would be awesome. Just want better FPS on higher settings to enhance my gameplay! Also looking at maybe getting COD4, so best results would be from....?

Number of processors 1
Number of cores 1 per processor
Number of threads 2 (max 2) per processor
Name Intel Pentium 4 650
Code Name Prescott
Specification Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.40GHz
Package Socket 775 LGA
Family/Model/Stepping F.4.3
Extended Family/Model F.4
Core Stepping N0
Technology 90 nm
Core Speed 3391.9 MHz
Multiplier x Bus speed 17.0 x 199.5 MHz
Rated Bus speed 798.1 MHz
Stock frequency 3400 MHz
Instruction sets MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, EM64T
L1 Data cache (per processor) 16 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
Trace cache (per processor) 12 Kuops, 8-way set associative
L2 cache (per processor) 2048 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
Chipset & Memory
Northbridge NVIDIA nForce4 SLI Intel Edition rev. A3
Southbridge NVIDIA nForce4 MCP rev. A4
Graphic Interface PCI-Express
PCI-E Link Width x16
PCI-E Max Link Width x16
Memory Type DDR2
Memory Size 2048 MBytes
Memory Frequency 266.0 MHz (3:4)
CAS# Latency (tCL) 4.0 clocks
RAS# to CAS# (tRCD) 4 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 4 clocks
Cycle Time (tRAS) 11 clocks
Bank Cycle Time (tRC) 15 clocks
System
System Manufacturer Dell Inc.
System Name Dell DXG051
System S/N BRVVM81
Mainboard Vendor Dell Inc.
Mainboard Model 0GC375
BIOS Vendor Dell Inc.
BIOS Version A02
BIOS Date 09/15/2005
Memory SPD
Module 1 DDR2, PC2-4300 (266 MHz), 512 MBytes, Samsung
Module 2 DDR2, PC2-4300 (266 MHz), 512 MBytes, Samsung
Module 3 DDR2, PC2-4300 (266 MHz), 512 MBytes, Samsung
Module 4 DDR2, PC2-4300 (266 MHz), 512 MBytes, Samsung

Always thought maybe CPU was bottleneck more than GPU, since I figured 7800GTX in SLI should at least still be reasonable, til I step to DX10.
 

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
39,071
19,779
146
"Northbridge NVIDIA nForce4 SLI Intel Edition rev. A3" link to someone's cpuz: link

you're in luck, should support C2D cpu's. Before you purchase, call Dell to verify though...they like to limit the machines to make you upgrade sooner.
 

Kesler

Junior Member
Jan 3, 2008
14
0
0
According to: http://www.dellcommunity.com/s..._date_ascending&page=1

People have received C2D's and have them in this computer running fine, couple even say they have been assured by Dell they work. Once I update my BIOS that is.

So CPU would definitely be my most beneficial upgrade? And which? E6850? Or Wait? Or Q6600? For gaming mainly. Apparently newest ones coming out soon are not surely supported by Dell.
 

Kesler

Junior Member
Jan 3, 2008
14
0
0
Ok i'm trying to decide between Q6600 and E6750 (or maybe 6850). Mainly for gaming, I've read the E6750 / 6850 would actually be better for gaming? About $80 difference between the two duals, quad costs same as 6850. Providing that is what would help me the most. I'd probably Oc a bit once I replace rest of the system.
 

BlueAcolyte

Platinum Member
Nov 19, 2007
2,793
2
0
E6750 definitely. Or Q6600. Or wait. Q6600 is most future-proof, but new quads come out soon. E6850 is overpriced considering OCing capabilities of E6750. Do not feel like typing complete sentences.