Can I do this?

[bolaber]

Hi guys, this is my first post. Just wanted to say hi to everyone.

I built my computer a year ago with the following specs:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model
Microsoft Windows Vista 32-Bit Ultimate
GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Antec True Power Trio TP3-650 650W ATX12V Power Supply with Three 12V Rails
2x EVGA 320-P2-N815-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16

I was wondering if i could put in a new cpu (e8500) and add in 2 more gigs of the same ram. If not, what would everyone's suggestion be on the best route for upgrading?

 

[ch33zw1z]

Depends on the motherboard. Here's the link to rev 1.0 of your board, other revisions on listed on the page. find the one that's yours, and check out the link: CPU Support list and Memory support list, on the right hand side...you may just need a BIOS update.

 

[Qutlass]

I built just about the same system as you did with the exception of the Vid card and PSU. I just overclocked my E6600 2days ago to 3.34Ghz and i'm now working on the Vid card (8800GTX). This should hold me until the new CPU's are out later they year or early in 09.
However I was looking around on Gigabyte's site for and updated bios and noticed they had some beta bios on the site to support the 8400's and 8500's without any support from the company. Use at your own risk kind of thing. check around and see if anyone is having success with them.
Bios F13q is located here.


::edit:: I'm on Rev 3.3

 

[DSF]

What's driving the upgrade? An E6600 is still no slouch, and it's not a difficult chip to overclock. I would strongly consider doing so (and evaluating whether or not the CPU speed is the issue in the first place) before dropping the bucks for a new processor. If you do upgrade the CPU, I would go with an E8400 over the E8500. 166 MHz is not worth the price difference.

 

[McCartney]

My friend is using his 965P-ds3 with a q9300.
Works great.

 

[bolaber]

Qutlass, you make a good point. I think thats what I'm going to do. I'm going to overclock my cpu until the new line of cpu's come out and then just buy a new system. Currently, I dont really have any issues. However, I'm just crossing my finger hoping that Warhammer online would run smoothly on my comp with high enough resolution..

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: bolaber
However, I'm just crossing my finger hoping that Warhammer online would run smoothly on my comp with high enough resolution..

How high of a resolution you'll be able to play a game has nothing to do with processor speed. The higher the res., the more your framerates depend on your video card(s), and the less they depend on your CPU. Welcome to anandtech, BTW.

 

[bolaber]

what about my ram? should i get some more ram or leave it as is? More i read about my vid card, the more crappy i realize that it is.. damn.. lol

 

[Ratman6161]

Originally posted by: bolaber
what about my ram? should i get some more ram or leave it as is? More i read about my vid card, the more crappy i realize that it is.. damn.. lol

Just out of curiosity, Why do you thing an 8800GTS 320 is "crappy"? The other observation is that if you didn't think it was "crappy" before you started reading about it, then it sounds like it was probably meeting your need.

But...if you still think its crappy and want to give it away, I'd be more than happy to have you send it to me!

 

[TC91]

hmm you have 2 8800gts 320mb's, just wondering, are you running SLI (if you are, how well do the drivers work with it for you)? you do have an intel chipset though, which would be interesting if you got sli to work on it.