Motherboard upgrade suggestions

[9mak9]

So my current PC is approaching 4 years in service and I felt like it was time to upgrade.

My specs are:
Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4Ghz
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L
G.Skill 4GB DDR2
EVGA Geforce 8800GT

I was specifically looking to upgrade my RAM to 8GBs and was looking at this specifically. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231460 (unless you can think of a better one around the same price)

I don't have the motherboard to support this so I plan on upgrading to an ASUS board (gigabyte didn't do so well for me). I was looking at these because they around my price range.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131783
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131713

Are these good ones to buy for my rig with the upgraded RAM? I'm basically looking to spend around $200 for a new motherboard and RAM set.

Thanks!

 

[abekl]

How do you propose to get your cpu into the new 1155 socket? It's not gonna fit. You need to upgrade the cpu also.

 

[9mak9]

Damn I didn't notice that and I'm previous convo nobody brought that up

So I guess if I want to upgrade my RAM, I need to get another MB and CPU as well...damn becoming a lot more expensive than I would have hoped. So probably Sandy Bridge if I plan on upgrading it all.

 

[kalrith]

Another option would be to get a used mobo and DDR2; however, you're probably better off selling your current setup and going with Sandy Bridge.

 

[9mak9]

Another option would be to get a used mobo and DDR2; however, you're probably better off selling your current setup and going with Sandy Bridge.

Yeah it might be time to upgrade rather than spend money on something that is practically the same thing.

 

[mrjoltcola]

Unless you are going to upgrade your CPU, you are better off just sticking with RAM that is compatible with the M/B you do have. The higher frequency RAM you listed isn't going to result in that much performance gain with your 2.4Ghz CPU. It is such a low return on investment that it will be a waste of money at this point.

You are better off spending the minimum to get to 8GB in the current M/B you have (just going to 8GB will be a nice bang for the buck regardless of speed), and either saving the rest for an SSD, or towards a new Sandy Bridge setup.

 

[9mak9]

Unless you are going to upgrade your CPU, you are better off just sticking with RAM that is compatible with the M/B you do have. The higher frequency RAM you listed isn't going to result in that much performance gain with your 2.4Ghz CPU. It is such a low return on investment that it will be a waste of money at this point.

You are better off spending the minimum to get to 8GB in the current M/B you have (just going to 8GB will be a nice bang for the buck regardless of speed), and either saving the rest for an SSD, or towards a new Sandy Bridge setup.

Yeah that makes sense. Could I use the DDR2 memory on the new motherboards? I says memory standard is DDR3 but just wanted to confirm.

 

[mrjoltcola]

Yeah that makes sense. Could I use the DDR2 memory on the new motherboards? I says memory standard is DDR3 but just wanted to confirm.

No, sorry. Sandy Bridge is DDR3.

Sandy Bridge is a peach. I've been a hardware enthusiast for 20 years and the 2500K and 2600K are the best processors ever made, so I really recommend it.

 

[9mak9]

No, sorry. Sandy Bridge is DDR3.

Sandy Bridge is a peach. I've been a hardware enthusiast for 20 years and the 2500K and 2600K are the best processors ever made, so I really recommend it.

Dude you're killing me haha. If I go full upgrade I'll spend between $400-500 for the MB, CPU and RAM. Now I can spend $50 or so and get another set of RAM to get me to 8GBs and survive for another year or 2. I'll probably upgrade my GPU in the next 6 months and then around a year later upgrade the rest of the system. I'm still actually using the onboard sound system so I wanted to grab a good sound card now as well.

I'm sure there will be another tech jump in the next 12 months so maybe thats when I'll upgrade again.

 

[kalrith]

I'm basically looking to spend around $200 for a new motherboard and RAM set.

Now I can spend $50 or so and get another set of RAM to get me to 8GBs and survive for another year or 2.

So, I must've missed something, because $200 != $50.

With a mobo, cpu, and ram upgrade, you also have to consider selling your old parts. I bet you could net $120 after shipping costs for selling your current setup. That would make a $400-500 upgrade only $280-380. $280 for Core i5 2500k setup is a LOT better than $200 for a Q6600 setup.

 

[9mak9]

So, I must've missed something, because $200 != $50.

With a mobo, cpu, and ram upgrade, you also have to consider selling your old parts. I bet you could net $120 after shipping costs for selling your current setup. That would make a $400-500 upgrade only $280-380. $280 for Core i5 2500k setup is a LOT better than $200 for a Q6600 setup.

You make a compelling point.

And on the money point above it was $200 for a new MB and the new set of 8GBs of RAM but then I would have to get the CPU on top of that as well. The $50 was just for buying a DDR2 set of RAM to upgrade my current system.

 

[mrjoltcola]

$280 for Core i5 2500k setup is a LOT better than $200 for a Q6600 setup.

+1. You can't get a better bang for your buck than the i5-2500K lightly overclocked. If anything, I think Intel naming the 2500K an "i5" did it a disservice, since it is only a notch below the 2600K. It still clearly spanks all earlier generation chips.

 

[mrjoltcola]

Dude you're killing me haha. ... I'll probably upgrade my GPU in the next 6 months and then around a year later upgrade the rest of the system. I'm still actually using the onboard sound system so I wanted to grab a good sound card now as well.

I'm sure there will be another tech jump in the next 12 months so maybe thats when I'll upgrade again.

That may work out, but...

My gut feeling is the next set of products (mostly Sandy Bridge Extreme, and then Ivy Bridge) will do less to push down the 2500K/2600K in price and more just fill in the huge gap existing now between 315 - 1000. Hardly noone is buying the current 6-core Nehalem Extremes for 1000+ because of what a Sandy Bridge clocked up does in comparison. Clock for clock Sandy is king right now.

If anything pushes down the 2500K/2600K, I think it will be the 2700k or up, or a 6-core Sandy.

So on the other hand, in 12-months you may be able to pick up a 6-core Sandy for $300-400.

Like Kalrith says, there are people out there running dual core that are willing to buy your Q6600 right now.