Gaming Mobo\CPU\RAM upgrade suggestions.

[zzglenn]

Hello Guru's,

I need your assistance. I am looking for the best Mobo\CPU\RAM configuration for gaming between $400 -$500 I can get. I would like to go Intel i5 or i7 if possible. I am partial to Asus motherboards, but will go with a better performer brand, and as much RAM as possible.

I currently play all matter of games. FPS, RTS, RPG, MMO's... and so on. I am in the position to sell my current Mobo\CPU\RAM and want something that will get the most out of an SSD drive when I can afford one along with any future proofing I can do.

My current setup is listed below. Any help, suggestions, and comments would be greatly appreciated.

1 XFX 5770 ATI Video Card 1Gig

1 SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD753LJ 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s

1 LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black SATA Model LH-20A1S

1 XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler I5 775 AMD compatible

1 CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified

1 ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

2 G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ

1 Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor BX80562Q6600

1 NZXT TEMPEST Crafted Series CS-NT-TEM-B Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer

 

[darkewaffle]

Since you already have a solid GPU, you could make the upgrade but truthfully, I don't know that you need it. I would say you're still in pretty good shape for a while; is there a game or task that you're currently unhappy with your performance in? Or do you just want to upgrade?

i5-750 $200
ASUS LGA 1156 Mobo $160
4GB DDR3 $100

You'd be looking at about $460 for the full upgrade, but unless your PC currently can't do something you want it to, I would probably wait.

 

[zzglenn]

Thanks for the response darkewaffle. I have a friend who is buying a brand new computer and wants to upgrade his current one for his wife. She does internet browsing and word mostly. Since he was going to pay me $300 bucks to buy new parts for his old machine I thought maybe I could sell him my parts and get something a bit more up to date (a sort of trade deal I wouldn't have normally have an option to do). I was also looking at getting an SSD down the road, but my board currently doesn't support SATA 3 so I thought maybe it was time for an upgrade. Maybe not? Gaming wise it handles everything fine, and I can OC any time to get a bit more out of it if I want.

 

[MisterDonut]

USB/SATA 3 seems to be a long ways from being popular (I keep up with news in chunks, so I could be wrong). Your computer can handle everything fine. Your buddy can probably get away with an i3/i5 with IGP which is a lot cheaper than an i5/i7 upgrade for you.

Also, just a tip: the highest OC I've seen on the Q6600 is 3.6, whose temps are sufficiently handled by top end air coolers/h2o.

 

[zzglenn]

Thanks MisterDonut.

Yeah, I can still push my old board a bit.

So really anything out right now is minor in regards to upgrading, and not really worth the time currently?

 

[mfenn]

Thanks MisterDonut.

Yeah, I can still push my old board a bit.

So really anything out right now is minor in regards to upgrading, and not really worth the time currently?

Pretty much. Your money would be best spent on an SSD like the Corsair Force 60GB.

 

[zzglenn]

retty much. Your money would be best spent on an SSD like the Corsair Force 60GB.

Even though my board doesn't support SATA2 or SATA3 for the SSD speeds?

 

[mfenn]

Even though my board doesn't support SATA2 or SATA3 for the SSD speeds?

A P45 board supports SATA 3Gb/s, and the Sandforce drives themselves are only SATA 3Gb/s, so it will be fine.

 

[zzglenn]

Thanks for the update mfenn. I think I will keep my parts and take a look at the SSD drives again. With what little research I can see the Sandforce drives seem to be the way to go for gamers. I can open a new thread, but would you consider the drive you recommended the best for my purposes? I don't really want to spend $300 on a SSD, but $200 to $150 is pretty reasonable.

 

[mfenn]

Thanks for the update mfenn. I think I will keep my parts and take a look at the SSD drives again. With what little research I can see the Sandforce drives seem to be the way to go for gamers. I can open a new thread, but would you consider the drive you recommended the best for my purposes? I don't really want to spend $300 on a SSD, but $200 to $150 is pretty reasonable.

I would go with either the Corsair Force 60GB that I recommended earlier, the OCZ Agility 2 60GB (essentially the same drive, but has a MIR right now), or the Intel X25-M 80GB. The Intel drive is the oldest of the 3, but the fact that it is still competitive is a testament to it's performance.

 

[zzglenn]

So...

Corsair Force 60GB
OCZ Agility 2 60GB

are pretty much identical and a bit faster than the ...

Intel X25-M 80GB

but the Intel could be considered more stable and has a bit more space to it.

I will take a look at these. Thanks for your help.

 

[mfenn]

So...

Corsair Force 60GB
OCZ Agility 2 60GB

are pretty much identical and a bit faster than the ...

Intel X25-M 80GB

but the Intel could be considered more stable and has a bit more space to it.

I will take a look at these. Thanks for your help.

Yep, you got it!