• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Considering a two machine Q6600 upgrade

B

btx

Junior Member
I am considering a 2-machine upgrade path from my current machine, am looking for suggestions:

Q6600 - OEM cooling
Gigabyte P35-DS3P (I think) Mobo
4x1GB Crucial Ballistix DDR2 800
2 WD JB 500MB HD drives
XFX GTX 260 Core 216 896MB
Antec 900 w/ Corsair 500W PSU

The machine runs stock and is currently an everyday workhorse and a gaming box. I am an engineer, and may need to use the machine for compilation and coding at some point in the future.

So, this machine is suitable for me now, but a tad long in the tooth being three years old. I also have a family member with an older OEM machine that is used as a general everyday machine that is just a mess. I am going to have to rebuild the OS from the ground up on it. I am thinking this might be a good opportunity to upgrade them into a better machine that is easier for me to maintain and get some new goodies for myself. My current machine does most things well, although I have been dissapointed with it's performance in Crysis, BFBC2 and BlackOps.

Run at 1600x1050, in the US, price range is pretty open (as little as possible🙂, as long as I am getting good value), will probably run machines at stock, may over clock the proc from time to time.

So my machine:
OLD: Antec 900 Case, Corsair 500W PSU (or buy a new large PSU if I can swing a good deal on one)
OLD: 1 WD JB 500 MB Hard Drive
OLD: XFX GTX 260
NEW: Core i5 2500K (haven't totally ruled out the 2600K, but the i5 seems more appropriate for me)
NEW: Asus P8P67 PRO
NEW: 2x2GB DDR3 1333 (is there any tangible benefit to 1600 to justify the cost)

Family machine:
OLD: Gigabyte MOBO
OLD: Q6600
OLD: 4x1GB Crucial RAM
OLD: 1 WDW JB 500 Hard Drive
NEW: el cheapo 3D board
NEW: el cheapo case & PSU
NEW: el cheapo DVD drive

So, the questions:
1) Is this going to make me sad and not be worth the effort for performance? Am I better off holding on to my current machine and just going with a low end OEM machine for them?
2) I like to stagger my mobo/cpu upgrades with my videoboard upgrades. I really want a one card solution for that. Will the 260 be good for now, or should I really consider one of the $200-$250 boards from either company?
3) Any tangible difference in 1333 RAM vs the 1600
4) Any el cheapo case and PSU recommendations. Quiet and stable are the key features there.
5) Anything else I'm not considering.

thanks for any advice!
 
Last edited:
btx said:
4) Any el cheapo case and PSU recommendations. Quiet and stable are the key features there.
5) Anything else I'm not considering.
Click to expand...
* "el cheapo" PS is false economy.
You can find good quality power supplies at a reasonable but not "el cheapo" price.


:colbert: How to find them, you ask?
Go to the "Power Supplies" forum and start reading.
 
Last edited:
Yeah, I've been around the power supply world of pain. They don't need a 700W modular PSU, they need something that doesn't suck--I am kind of leaning to getting a higher wattage corsair for my machine and passing along the 500. That thing is whisper quiet...great purchase when I bought it.
 
it sounds like you want to order this

Code: 
For new machine
331 i5-2500K + Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.575883
 65 G.SKILL 2x4GB DDR3 1333
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231424
---
396

For old machine
41 Antec NEO ECO 520C
   http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030
35 Rosewill Blackbone Case
   http://www.chiefvalue.com/product-_-productdetails.cv_-_linkid--111&item--CE00157596010060
18 PowerColor Radeon HD 3450 256MB
   http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131371
---
94

490 total
 
Last edited:
If building for more than this year, get 2 x 4 GB instead of 2 x 2 GB, it's under $100 for normal (non-XTREEM!) DDR3. Besides gaming, having > 4 GB will be useful for VMs.

For 16x10, a GTX 460 1 GB is perfect if you can find a deal for $150-175. Since you mention Crysis you might also consider a GTX 560 at $250 instead. (Watch out for the GTX 460 1 GB "SE" model, it's crippled and slow.)

I'd wait at least a month or two if you can stand it, if you check the Motherboards forum the P67 motherboards are bleeding edge right now. Given a little more time and a few BIOS updates building will be easier.
 
tynopik said:
it sounds like you want to order this

Code: 
For new machine
331 i5-2500K + Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.575883
 65 G.SKILL 2x4GB DDR3 1333
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231424
---
396

For old machine
41 Antec NEO ECO 520C
   http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030
35 Rosewill Blackbone Case
   http://www.chiefvalue.com/product-_-productdetails.cv_-_linkid--111&item--CE00157596010060
18 PowerColor Radeon HD 3450 256MB
   http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131371
---
94

490 total
Click to expand...

This is a good starting point, but you will honestly be disappointed in the gaming performance if you don't upgrade the GPU as well. I would shoot for a GTX 560 or 6950 1GB.
 
Thanks all, very helpful. I'm in agreement I think on the videoboard. I am guessing that I am not CPU-bound with my Q6600/GTX260 setup (are there any sites with decent charts that explain this...I've seen the GPU charts at places like Tom's, but I haven't stumbled across one that gives you an idea of where you are CPU vs GPU bound yet). As cheap as RAM as, I think 8 is worth the extra bucks too.

I'm still waffling as to whether this is a good idea. I love the idea of giving my folks a Q6600--a machine of that level should satisfy their needs for a long time and make it much easier for me to support them. I still don't know if it is better to go this route versus just buying them a new low-end box off the shelf. Trying to be sure I'm not being blinded by the "I haven't built a machine in three years" itch. 😉 Flip a coin, I guess...

THANKS!
 
CPU-bound vs. GPU-bound is pretty easy to determine for yourself with a simple experiment.

Take a few of the games that you're interested in, and note your average FPS at your "normal" settings. Then, drop all of the graphics and resolution settings to their minimum. This takes most of the load off of your GPU while keeping the CPU load fairly constant. If your framerates improve, then you are GPU-bound, if not you are CPU-bound.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top