Need help with a system overhaul

[ewhalen]

I'm looking to upgrade, to a quad core Intel setup but the choices out there seem a bit overwhelming these days.

I need to change my motherboard, CPU, RAM, and GPU....as everything I have is a bit date (4400+ with DDR, AGP X800 XT PE, AGP motherboard)

I want to do my upgrade justice, so I was going with a Quad core Intel, but I also want to go with 8 gigs of RAM and a 640 meg 8800 series video card.

I see somemushkin 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 out there, so I would assume to get to 8 gigs I would need to buy 2 sets of this...and a motherboard that would be stable with 4 slots filled.

There is alost a lot of options for the same RAM configuration in the DDR2 800 speed level...though I'm not sure what the real difference would be.

Overclock is not a large concern, though it would be nice to be able to do.

I also have a 550 Watt Antec True-Power power supply...but can't recall all the types of connectors it has.
I kinda miss the days where it was easy to pick out a motherboard and get a 50% overclock on a cheap old Celeron A

 

[ShellGuy]

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - $532.90

As i stated in another post, in my feeling if you do some searching on newegg you can find what you like, it has to have parts you want on the mobo & the same goes with video cards as well, What budget do you have set forth for this also do you plan to get a new case or anything?



Will G.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Dont forget that the Quad-core CPU will drop to $266 in late July. Might be worth it to wait until then to pick out a CPU.

 

[jkresh]

definitely wait till July, p35 boards will be out, q38 might be as well (replacements for 965 and 975 respectively) and prices will drop. Also as to RAM what do you use your system for that you feel you need 8 gigs? I would recommend going for 1 4gig kit (2x2gigs) and see if you actualy use all of it (I know I have 6 but I already had 2 and didn't want to go to 4 and find out that I wanted more later).

 

[bamacre]

8GB?

Remember XP 32bit will only utilize ~ 3.2GB.

Also, you do not need 1066mhz memory to OC.

At stock speeds you only need 533mhz DDR2. So even 667mhz and 800mhz memory will allow very significant OC's of the cpu.

 

[effee]

I'd say wait till december to change your system, around that time there is bound to be good deals as the christmas season is round the corner.

I use a 754 board myself, and over a period of 3 years, I've only had to change the VGA card from a 9800 pro to a 7600GS which I OC. I figure it'll last me at least another year or two before I bring myself to upgrade

 

[betasub]

Originally posted by: effee
I'd say wait till december to change your system, around that time there is bound to be good deals as the christmas season is round the corner.

And that'll be a good time to wrestle with the DDR2/DDR3 dilemma

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: betasub

Originally posted by: effee
I'd say wait till december to change your system, around that time there is bound to be good deals as the christmas season is round the corner.

And that'll be a good time to wrestle with the DDR2/DDR3 dilemma

I don't think there is going to be much incentive to be an early adopter to DDR3. DDR2 speeds are plenty to keep up with current cpu's, as well as those around the corner.