Comtemplating new build vs. upgrading

[ewb0707]

I have been researching the pros and cons of upgrading my current system versus a new build. My current system was built by a local computer dealer (January 2005) and consists of:

Intel D925XCV Extreme MB
Intel P4 Extreme @ 3.4 GHz
SuperTalent 1GB (2x512MB) DDR2 533 MHz PC4300
Sapphire Radeon X600Pro 256MB
Hauppage WinTV-PVR-500MCE dual tuner TV card
HighPoint RocketRaid 1640
4 WD Caviar SE 160GB HDD's SATA150 connected as Raid 10
Antec HE500 PSU
Sony DRU-701A DVD Rewriter
Thermaltake black aluminum Shark tower case
Dell branded Sony Trinitron 19" CRT (probably >10yrs old)
running Windows MCE 2005
using onboard audio

This system was built to serve as both a high end gaming system and PVR (also have the Linksys Media Extender WMCE54AG). The media extender was always problematic communicating across a wired 100BaseT connection to the system and now collects dust.

My 14 yr. old son and I are ready to try upgrading this primarily for gaming, perhaps for use as a PVR (maybe Windows Vista Ultimate x64) and some photoediting with Photoshop. It seems from the threads I've read that the most system intensive game on the market now is Crysis, which we don't have and I don't think he wants. His most recent purchase was Star Wars: Empire at War which this system should easily accomodate but I think the GPU has just gone completely out in the last 2 days, hence a good time to upgrade.

My options, as I see it, are to just change out the GPU and add some RAM as long as my son isn't into the newest games. If I understand Intel's product pages, I don't really have the option of changing out the chip on this MB even though it is an LGA775.

The second option is to change out the mobo, CPU, RAM, GPU, new monitor (probably Dell 24" Ultrasharp), possibly reusing the case, PSU, HDD's, deleting the RAID card with SATA on a new MB.

I am not wedded to any particular brands but lean to Intel vs. AMD. If we choose the second option, here are my preliminary choices:
GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3P $149.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128083

SAPPHIRE 100221SR Radeon HD 3870 X2 1GB (512MB x 2) 256-bit GDDR3 $449.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102723

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory $34.00 w/MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820145034

The most wide open choice is which CPU to use and I read an interesting article at http://www.tomshardware.com/20...m_dual_core/index.html
comparing the E2160 1.8 GHz OC'd to 3.2 GHz vs. E6850 vs. E6750 and the benchmark performance are almost the same. I'm willing and would like to try some mild to moderate OC no matter which chip I get.

Budget (with above items):
MB $149.99
GPU $449.99
RAM $34.00
monitor $699
+/- Windows Vista ($189 OEM or $249 upgrade)
CPU $89 - upto $300

I am in the camp with those recommending overall system performance at 80-90% of "the Ultimate Machine" and upgrading piecemeal every 2 to 3 years.

Any thing I am missing? Philosophical thoughts? details still to consider?

Thanks for your input.

 

[scheibler1]

I would wait anotehr month or two and get a lot more performance for your $.

cpu- intel e8400 for around $200 when they become readily available
video card- 8800gt or wait for the 9800gt(march or april)
ram- 4gb 2x2gb pc6400 ram
mobo- gigabyte ds3r
you choose a monitor(I like dell or samsung)
windows vista

 

[ewb0707]

What if I want to go option 1 with just a GPU and RAM? What card would you recommend (?8600gt) for my current MB or is that just a waste of money?

 

[tynopik]

i would just go with option 1 with an 8800GT, that would still be a very capable system.

alternatively just stick with that system for MCE and build a new gaming system from ground up

one thing i would point out is running both the raid and the tv tuner on the PCI bus could lead to a bottleneck

perhaps a single fast 500-750GB on the built-in SATA ports might be a better idea

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: ewb0707
What if I want to go option 1 with just a GPU and RAM? What card would you recommend (?8600gt) for my current MB or is that just a waste of money?

I'd say the best things to do would be to upgrade the RAM, video card and monitor. Those are all things that you'd be getting anyways if you end up deciding to upgrade the motherboard/CPU too, so may as well. The monitor is a no-brainer. If the video card and RAM upgrades seem sufficient, then no need to go higher. If not, then at least money wasn't wasted because then just add a new motherboard with a Core 2 Duo and off you go!

For RAM, any 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-800 kit, preferably something cheap and running at CAS 5 with only 1.8v.

For video card, depends on your budget. I would hesitate to get the Radeon 3870 x2 because its power requirements may be borderline on your Antec NeoHE 500W PSU. Perhaps just a normal and cheap non-x2 3870.

With these parts installed and a new monitor, I would think that your existing CPU would be still capable of decent gaming. And like I said above, you're just a CPU/motherboard away from the rest of the upgrade if you so desire.

Originally posted by: tynopik
one thing i would point out is running both the raid and the tv tuner on the PCI bus could lead to a bottleneck

perhaps a single fast 500-750GB on the built-in SATA ports might be a better idea

I like that idea too. New drives are really fast compared to older drives, plus the increasing data density means fewer drives, which means less SATA ports used and less power consumed.

Originally posted by: ewb0707
I am in the camp with those recommending overall system performance at 80-90% of "the Ultimate Machine" and upgrading piecemeal every 2 to 3 years.

I'm in the next camp over, which is pretty much the same thing except every 5-10 months instead of 2-3 years.

 

[ewb0707]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: ewb0707
What if I want to go option 1 with just a GPU and RAM? What card would you recommend (?8600gt) for my current MB or is that just a waste of money?

I'd say the best things to do would be to upgrade the RAM, video card and monitor. Those are all things that you'd be getting anyways if you end up deciding to upgrade the motherboard/CPU too, so may as well. The monitor is a no-brainer. If the video card and RAM upgrades seem sufficient, then no need to go higher. If not, then at least money wasn't wasted because then just add a new motherboard with a Core 2 Duo and off you go!

For RAM, any 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-800 kit, preferably something cheap and running at CAS 5 with only 1.8v.

For video card, depends on your budget. I would hesitate to get the Radeon 3870 x2 because its power requirements may be borderline on your Antec NeoHE 500W PSU. Perhaps just a normal and cheap non-x2 3870.

With these parts installed and a new monitor, I would think that your existing CPU would be still capable of decent gaming. And like I said above, you're just a CPU/motherboard away from the rest of the upgrade if you so desire.

Originally posted by: tynopik
one thing i would point out is running both the raid and the tv tuner on the PCI bus could lead to a bottleneck

perhaps a single fast 500-750GB on the built-in SATA ports might be a better idea

I like that idea too. New drives are really fast compared to older drives, plus the increasing data density means fewer drives, which means less SATA ports used and less power consumed.

Originally posted by: ewb0707
I am in the camp with those recommending overall system performance at 80-90% of "the Ultimate Machine" and upgrading piecemeal every 2 to 3 years.

I'm in the next camp over, which is pretty much the same thing except every 5-10 months instead of 2-3 years.