Considering upgrading my current PC

[Deedry]

Hello all, first post here, if this is the wrong forum to post this in I apologize. My current pc is getting somewhat dated and I am looking to make some upgrades. I've set a $500 limit for myself but am willing to go over if it is really worth doing so. Current specs are:

Asus A8N-SLI 32 Deluxe
Athlon 64 4000+
2x 512 400mhz pc3200 ddr
7600GT 256mb (had 2 but cooked one)
2x 80gb HD
600 watt PS

Now, I have already made up my mind on the video card, an 8800GTS (have this one in mind: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130309 ). Also, I'd like to upgrade to 2gb of RAM but I am not certain if I need to buy the same speed of ram or if I could go faster with my current mobo.

As far as the processor goes, I found out that my mobo is a 939 pin. My options on newegg appear to be: the standard 64(what I have), 64 FX(http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16819103526), 64 X2(http://www.newegg.com/Product/...007&name=Athlon+64+X2), and something called Opteron(http://www.newegg.com/Product/...50706979&name=Opteron). What is the difference in these, is there a favorite among them? Will any of them not work in my mobo?

The problems I have with my current PC is it doesn't run CoD4 or Crysis (the demos) worth a damn and even WoW runs poorly at times. Also, I like to run several things at once; browser, winamp, WMP, WoW, ect at all the same time and my system can really bog down when doing that. Thanks for your help.

 

[robisbell]

you'll have to replace the motherboard and ram to get the full use of the video card.

 

[Erock]

the heck with the gts as well. get the gt (i know its back ordered but it will save you a few dollars and work as well as a gts if you have a good mobo and psu and you know how to oc it (not to difficult)). and it uses less power ^^

 

[Deedry]

Thanks for the replies guys, after doing some reading I've realized that an 8800 GT or GTS will be severely bottleknecked with my system, so it's between these two cards at the momment: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814131055 and http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814131055

The other upgrade items include:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136074
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820211014
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819103543
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835106069 (part of a combo package with the cpu)
and some thermal compound

Now, I've never done a CPU/heatsink install, can anyone recommend a good online guide? Also, other than the thermal compound, is there anything else I would need to purchase?

 

[Fardringle]

Are you planning to do a new install of Windows on that new hard drive, or is it just going in as a secondary data drive?

If you are going to reinstall Windows anyway, you might want to look into a new AM2 motherboard and processor, or switch to a Core2 Duo system along with the other upgrades to complement the faster video card.

If you are not planning to do a fresh install of Windows, the X2 4200+ should still be a noticeable upgrade from what you have now. The dual cores will help even more when you are playing games and running other applications at the same time.

It costs a about $10 more than the A-Data memory you listed (after a $40 rebate from the normal price of $149) but if you don't mind sending in a rebate, I would personally go with this Corsair XMS RAM instead. It has a CAS rating of 2 instead of the slower CAS 3 on the A-Data memory (it will auto-detect as CAS3 when it is first installed in the ASUS board but you can set it to the correct CAS2 speed in the BIOS).

 

[Denithor]

Ok, let me save you some real grief here. Do not buy one of those x1950 cards, if money is tight get a Radeon 3850 and be done with it. Your system will push one of those just fine. If you want to do a more serious system upgrade, buy the following to get a real boost.

Abit IP35 + e2180 + 2x1GB DDR2 for $225 (after $25MIR)
Antec Earthwatts 500W for $35 (after $40MIR)

Total: $260 after MIR

Get this system and overclock that cpu to ~3GHz (easily done with stock cooling and probably stock volts). Read over this guide if you have any questions about how to overclock C2D processors (ridiculously easy with this motherboard!).

Your current hard drives are probably acceptable unless you are seriously crunched for space. I don't know what model your power supply is but a lot of the cheap ones don't provide stable power for a system. The Earthwatts listed above is excellent with high efficiency and very quiet performance.

This will give you enough power to push either a Radeon 3850 ($185), Radeon 3870 ($250-270), or an 8800GT ($210-220 for 256MB model or $250+ for 512MB version). These are the only video cards you should really consider at this point, nothing else is even close in performance/price. And you have an excellent upgrade path open to you, late next year pick up a Penryn quad-core processor and you are set for another 1-2 years after that.

Check out this article showing that an e2160 @ 3.2GHz will generally keep up with an e6750 ($200 cpu) and in a lot of cases even an e6850 (top end Intel dual core processor).

 

[Deedry]

The case and power supply I own are made by Silverstone which I believe is a good manufacturer. I don't remember the PS model but know that it is 600w, it's 1.5 years old if that makes a difference.

The link you posted for the mobo ram and cpu doesn't work but if it's a C2D and DDR2 ram then I know it's much better than what I've got and the price seems amazing; a better deal than what I am looking at for sure.

Problem is, I've never done a PC build before. I've bought a barebones system and added the rest but that is it. I've never had to install a PS, mobo, CPU, mess with jumpers and bios settings, ect. And I really don't know anyone that knows how to do that.

It seems like I could have a nearly new system for the same price which will be many times faster and offer better upgrade paths, but I am a bit apprehensive of doing that kind of installation.

 

[Denithor]

If it's a Silverstone 600W it's most likely a very good powersupply and no need to upgrade.

I don't know why you can't use that link, it works just fine for me. But anyway, this one should work: Abit IP35. Just add the e2180 in the CPU options dropdown and the Mwave 2x1GB DDR2-667 under standard memory options.

You will have no problems with a build if you have already done a barebones upgrade. You drop the cpu in the socket, lock down the arm, press in the slides for the heatsink, stick the RAM in the sockets, and then screw the motherboard into the case. Now you are at the barebones point. The motherboard will have instructions to follow and it's honestly very easy. Plus you have a lot of people here to assist if you run into issues. Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions.

 

[Deedry]

Hmm, I just might do it. It certainly seems to be the most cost effective method and I would like to learn how to build a system eventually. I would be able to use my current case correct? Does that MB/CPU come with a heatsink/fan? Now you've got me all excited

 

[Denithor]

Yes, the retail Intel cpu comes with the stock heatsink/fan (most people refer to this as hsf) that is generally acceptable for overclocking these chips all the way up to ~3GHz.