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Could use some help and suggestions for a large upgrade for my computer.

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Hmm, awesome. Thanks a bunch.

Here's what I've decided on, I might be ordering all these parts tomorrow (the 19th).

Graphics: VisionTek 900244 Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Mobo: ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
RAM: OCZ Platinum Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2P10004GK - Retail
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail
Drive (getting a SATA DVD drive to replace my IDE): SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S223Q/BEBN - OEM

Altogether comes to a subtotal of $721.96

What does everybody think?
 
Since you're going with a Q6600 DDR2-800 will be fine for any overclocking you want to do.
 
The Zalman is a nice cooler indeed (I have one myself and quite like it), if you're dead set on one of that variety the 9700 is slightly better, but there are better ones for the money. Check out the Xigmatec rifle.
 
*sigh* I've run into another snag (after asking people about other things).

People say that getting a Q6600 is not future-proof, that I ought to get a Core 2 Duo E8500 instead, and also that a new socket (LGA 715) is coming out next year.

Needless to say, I don't want history to repeat itself (I got a socket 939 mobo just as AM2 was right around the corner), but at the same time, LGA 775 has a bigger offering of processors than 939 had..

I guess I should just carry on with this upgrade anyway, but I'm now split between getting a Quad or Duo. Q6600? or E8500?
 
E8500 is dual core, Q6600 is quad. Futureproof does not matter in this comparison, they will both perform well until you are finished with the socket, all that really matters is how many cores you need. An E8500 is built on 45nm process and the Q6600 is built on a 65nm process. LGA775 will go the way of the dodo after i7 is released, but it's not really a concern for you, build now for now. When i7 is released and a new socket(s) to go with it you can build another.
 
Originally posted by: NukaCola
People say that getting a Q6600 is not future-proof, that I ought to get a Core 2 Duo E8500 instead, and also that a new socket (LGA 715) is coming out next year.

Needless to say, I don't want history to repeat itself (I got a socket 939 mobo just as AM2 was right around the corner
Click to expand...

"Future-proof" is a pipe dream sold by marketing and bought by people who are out of touch with their future upgrade plans.

That's all IMO, of course.

At some point in the future... can be 1 year... 5... 10... any computer part touted as "future-proof" will be upgraded for a variety of reasons.

Don't think that I'm telling you to ignore future parts. However, planning for more than a year or two down the line for easy upgrades is not a sure thing.

 
Alright...I might as well stick to the Quad Core, and OC it later on; Or Core 2 Duo, gahhh this is a really tough decision for me.

I kinda want the Quad Core just so I can have that great multi-tasking aspect in addition to games handling well, but then people are telling me to get a Core 2 Duo simply because it works better for games. But then it won't multi-task as crazily as a Quad would.

Q6600 and E8500 are pretty much the same price on NewEgg. Which is more bang for the buck?
 
Update: I'm thinking of cutting costs a little, more specifically, the RAM. From 4GB to 2GB. What would be a good option to go with that? I'm picking Core 2 Duo E8500 instead of the Quad. Does it still have to be DDR2 1000?
 
Buying 4GB of RAM will make more of a difference to you than going from 2 cores to 4. You'll regret later it if you only get 2 now.
 
Here's the deal with multitasking: having four cores only helps if your brand of multitasking involves doing multiple CPU-intensive things at once. If you want to play Counter-Strike while you're encoding a video file, decompressing something you just downloaded and running folding@home quad core will help.

If you just want to have two messenger programs, 10 Firefox tabs, a music player and a P2P program running on your desktop (or even behind a game) quad core isn't going to do anything. The simple fact is that most of those programs are very low on CPU power, especially when you aren't actively using them. For example, Firefox has very little for the CPU to do when it's just sitting there, but it does need to eat some RAM to keep all those tabs fresh for you. As Roguestar said, cutting corners on the RAM is the wrong move if you're looking to improve your multitasking.

Intel is changing sockets - I'm not sure about 715...Core i7/Nehalem is going to be using LGA 1366 among a couple others. Thing is, how often do you upgrade a CPU without doing a complete overhaul? The days of incremental upgrades where you upgrade your CPU this year, then your motherboard next year, then your video card, then your modem, etc. are pretty much gone. Once you're ready to upgrade you may as well do a complete refresh, or nearly so. (The only real exceptions being adding more RAM or keeping your video card up to date.)

My advice to you, since you're willing to overclock but want to save some cash, is to get an E7200. The chip overclocks very well and is less expensive than an E8500 or Q6600. Because of its high multiplier you can even push it pretty much to its limit on DDR2-800, which again lets you save money.

I agree with Roguestar about the CPU cooler too. Zalman gets by on name recognition these days, but their products don't offer very good value. Typically they're outperformed by less expensive coolers.
 
I've decided to just carry on without changing anything. This is my finalized purchase, everything is done.

ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
VisionTek 900244 Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500
OCZ Platinum Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2P10004GK
SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S223Q/BEBN

Order Total: $763.93 (plus a $20 rebate on the video card, and $30 rebate on the RAM)

Thanks for all your help guys. I had a huge guilt-trip wall blocking me from making this purchase but I've conquered it. Thanks.
 
Yep I know. By the way, once my system is set up and everything (hopefully) runs great, how much could I get for selling my old parts?

Parts:

Mobo: DFI LanpartyUT nF4 Ultra-D socket 939
RAM: 1024 MB of OCZ PC3200 DDR 184-Pin
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Venice Socket 939 2400MHz
Graphics Card: EVGA Geforce 7800GT
 
No idea. Price check posts are banned in the forums as they can lead to auction-style bidding between members. To get an estimate, look at similar second hand parts on ebay.
 
I would look on eBay, craigslist and the FS/T forums here to get an idea. Even if we were allowed to do price checks I wouldn't really know.
 
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