Need some advice on the specs of my system regarding upcoming game releases

[mosox]

So i followed Anands article "Unlocking the Phenom II X2 555: 3.2GHz Quad-Core for $99" (http://www.anandtech.com/show/2927). I followed the simple instructions, set EC Firmware Selection to Hybrid, and ACC to Auto. I proceeded, the bios brought up the flashing red box saying something like "Updating BIOS please wait!!!", then after about 6 seconds, my machine just shuts right off...

This scared the living crap out of me... for about 5 minutes, the machine wouldn't turn on at all. I waited a few minutes, then unplugged the power cable from the back and still had no luck. I did that a couple more times, flicked on/off the PSU's main switch, then finally it started back up.

It looks like you have a quad now. Try that on an Intel machine. 😀

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/CPU-Z.shtml

Download that and post the pic here.

That shut off was a reboot with the new elements. I guess your PSU didn't like it at first.

Thanks, i might try that in the meantime before i make a purchase decision. That sounds a bit out of my budget for that much $ on a PSU, would i be able to get away with more wattage for less $? (i only payed 50$ for the PSU i'm using now, puts out 400w, i know i'm cutting it close) Thanks for the input and support. 🙂

If you bought a more expensive PSU in the first place you wouldn't have to change it now. $80 for a good PSU isn't much and you will be able to use it on your next 3-4 video cards or so.

If you're concerned about what some other posters said about Intel being better for budget systems, once you will get a decent video card (that 6950 is nice), your B55 will be a tad slower than the Intel i-3 dual core in some games and sensibly faster in all the games that use more than 2 cores (lots of them nowadays).

 

[BFG10K]

System building threads go into General Hardware.

Super Moderator BFG10K.

 

[Zorander]

Hey thanks for the reply. What benchmark test should i run? should i go back into the bios and turn it back to how it was (x2 cores like normal) then run the benchmark test to see what i start with, then turn back on the x4 cores after and compare results?

Whats the risk factor in this? can i go back and forth without worrying about messing everything up? What do you think was the issue when my machine just turned off suddenly during the unlocking process?

I also forgot to mention that i didnt update my bios before i unlocked... i've never updated a bios, was this absolutely required?

When I initially unlocked the 550, I alternated between two-core, three-core and four-core modes (to test for stability mainly) via the BIOS. I did it so many times and nothing nad (thankfully) happened. Of course, it was on a different motherboard to yours and hence YMMV with yours.

That said, have you tested the system and noticed any issues/improvements?

 

[address_unknown]

It looks like you have a quad now. Try that on an Intel machine. 😀

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/CPU-Z.shtml

Download that and post the pic here.

That shut off was a reboot with the new elements. I guess your PSU didn't like it at first.





If you bought a more expensive PSU in the first place you wouldn't have to change it now. $80 for a good PSU isn't much and you will be able to use it on your next 3-4 video cards or so.

If you're concerned about what some other posters said about Intel being better for budget systems, once you will get a decent video card (that 6950 is nice), your B55 will be a tad slower than the Intel i-3 dual core in some games and sensibly faster in all the games that use more than 2 cores (lots of them nowadays).

Hmmm, great info in your reply, thanks! Ok well as long as it didn't hurt anything that's good news. I will take that in mind when looking for a new PSU, glad i won't have to spend over 100$. That's what worried me. Your right i should've gotten a higher watt one in the first place. Guess i was just trying to save $ lol. Yeah, that's where i'm still not sure... intel or AMD. I've been using AMD for my last few machines and since then i have always thought AMD cpu's had the upper hand. As i've stated in reply to other posters ITT i'm definitely gonna wait for the new hardware to be coming out in the next month or two, and either go with something new on the market that's affordable (if that exists lol) or something that's been on the market in mid-high end price and will then be cheaper. Not sure. I'm also pretty sure i'm going to try to get a new mobo (my GIGABYTE GA-MA78LMT-S2 only has 1 PCI Express 2.0 x16) so i can possibly or eventually run dual cards and to help the upgrade on a bit as well. Also wanna get that USB 3.0 capability too. Needless to say a new CPU as well.

The thing i'm stumped on is whether to just get another GTX 550ti so i can run them in SLI, or to just get new GPU('s) (i read in a thread on here [gpu section] that BF3 runs slightly better with ATI cards) not sure how long that will be true just as far as eventual driver releases go, but i've always been a nvidia guy, and idk, maybe now it's time to try out ATI for once.

Heres' a screen of cpu z. Can i change anything (overclock, maybe slightly) without having to get any kind of heatsink or extra fan or w/e? (thanks for the link friend 🙂)

When I initially unlocked the 550, I alternated between two-core, three-core and four-core modes (to test for stability mainly) via the BIOS. I did it so many times and nothing nad (thankfully) happened. Of course, it was on a different motherboard to yours and hence YMMV with yours.

That said, have you tested the system and noticed any issues/improvements?

Interesting. Ok, i guess i could try that if it comes to it. Or just for experimentation's sake.

No honestly i haven't tried any tests yet, just because after the machine shut off abruptly i was unsettled enough to not try to push anything you know?

Again, i really don't know what kind of tests to do lol... Not sure what benchmark program i should use, etc. Advice/suggestions/links on that?

 

[s44]

Definitely update the BIOS.

 

[address_unknown]

Definitely update the BIOS.

I can't for the life of me find a bios update for the GA-MA78LMT-S2 (rev. 3.4)

that wouldn't be 3.x, would it?

 

[mfenn]

I can't for the life of me find a bios update for the GA-MA78LMT-S2 (rev. 3.4)

that wouldn't be 3.x, would it?

Yes, it would.

Oh, and don't worry that Rage sucks on your PC, it's that way for everyone right now. :awe:

What is your budget for upgrades? If your 555 turns out to be stable unlocked, all you really need is a PSU upgrade and GPU upgrade. Even a fairly modest PSU like the BP550 for $50 AR is enough for any single GPU. How good of a GPU you can get depends on your budget.

 

[s44]

Even a fairly modest PSU like the BP550 for $50 AR is enough for any single GPU. How good of a GPU you can get depends on your budget.

Have you checked the +12V on that? Yup, 384w, just 24 more than the Neo Eco he has now.

The Earthwatts 650 with promo and rebate is a better option...

 

[address_unknown]

Yes, it would.

Oh, and don't worry that Rage sucks on your PC, it's that way for everyone right now. :awe:

What is your budget for upgrades? If your 555 turns out to be stable unlocked, all you really need is a PSU upgrade and GPU upgrade. Even a fairly modest PSU like the BP550 for $50 AR is enough for any single GPU. How good of a GPU you can get depends on your budget.

Ok cool thanks.

My budget would be around 350$-400$.

Yeah hopefully some of the higher end hardware thats out right now starts to cheapen up in the next few months like these guys have been saying 🙂

 

[address_unknown]

Have you checked the +12V on that? Yup, 384w, just 24 more than the Neo Eco he has now.

The Earthwatts 650 with promo and rebate is a better option...

Idk, more and more i'm considering going with a dual card setup. Not sure whether to keep the 550ti i have now and get another, or to attempt to sell the one i have and try to get better cards dual. Again it all depends on upcoming price falls.

 

[address_unknown]

Yes, it would.

I downloaded the 3.x version, and it's still telling me that it cannot be opened because it's not supported by x64bit systems... whats the deal?

 

[mfenn]

Have you checked the +12V on that? Yup, 384w, just 24 more than the Neo Eco he has now.

The Earthwatts 650 with promo and rebate is a better option...

Not sure which BP550 you are looking at, but that isn't the spec on the one that I linked. It has 3 12V rails capable of 22, 22, and 25 amps individually. Combined maximum on the 12V is 444W.

Nice find on the Earthwatts though.

Ok cool thanks.

My budget would be around 350$-400$.

Yeah hopefully some of the higher end hardware thats out right now starts to cheapen up in the next few months like these guys have been saying 🙂

For $350, you can get a new PSU, either the BP550 or the Earthwatts 650 and a pretty nice GPU like a MSI Twin Frozr II 6950 2GB. For an added bonus, you can try unlocking the Twin Frozr to a 6970.

I downloaded the 3.x version, and it's still telling me that it cannot be opened because it's not supported by x64bit systems... whats the deal?

How are you trying to flash the BIOS? I wouldn't use any Windows utilities to do it. Most motherboards have a key combo that you can press during startup that will allow you to load the BIOS file from a USB stick.

 

[address_unknown]

Not sure which BP550 you are looking at, but that isn't the spec on the one that I linked. It has 3 12V rails capable of 22, 22, and 25 amps individually. Combined maximum on the 12V is 444W.

Nice find on the Earthwatts though.



For $350, you can get a new PSU, either the BP550 or the Earthwatts 650 and a pretty nice GPU like a MSI Twin Frozr II 6950 2GB. For an added bonus, you can try unlocking the Twin Frozr to a 6970.



How are you trying to flash the BIOS? I wouldn't use any Windows utilities to do it. Most motherboards have a key combo that you can press during startup that will allow you to load the BIOS file from a USB stick.

Hmm i've never heard of that brand, what does that card compare to nvidia and ati cards? like what would be the equivalent?

I've been just extracting the 7zip into a folder on my desktop then tryingt o run the exe... so i'm supposed to load it from the bios startup screen? now that i thnk of it, on my bios startup screen when you can press del, f8, f10, go to boot menu, etc, theres an option for something like "q-flash" or something, is that it? i just need to put the folder on my usb stick then go into that? or do i need to make it a full on img like i would for example, when installing ubuntu server from a usb stick, because i've done that a few times.

 

[mosox]

Leave the BIOS alone.

 

[Termie]

Idk, more and more i'm considering going with a dual card setup. Not sure whether to keep the 550ti i have now and get another, or to attempt to sell the one i have and try to get better cards dual. Again it all depends on upcoming price falls.

On the issue of graphics cards, I can definitely say don't go with the dual card option. This article makes clear that dual cards in the low end class just aren't worth the money: http://m.hardocp.com/article/2011/09/19/gigabyte_hd6770_silent_cell_cfx_video_card_review/

Your 550ti would be even worse due to its low memory bandwidth. Just try to sell it and go for a 6870 or 6950. The 6870 would definitely run fine on your psu, but would need a pcie power adapter, usually included in the box. Plus it's a steal right now.

 

[mfenn]

Hmm i've never heard of that brand, what does that card compare to nvidia and ati cards? like what would be the equivalent?

Nvidia and AMD (no such thing as ATI anymore) don't make graphics cards, they only make the chips. MSI (among other partners) build the boards. The card I linked is a 6950 2GB.

I've been just extracting the 7zip into a folder on my desktop then tryingt o run the exe... so i'm supposed to load it from the bios startup screen? now that i thnk of it, on my bios startup screen when you can press del, f8, f10, go to boot menu, etc, theres an option for something like "q-flash" or something, is that it? i just need to put the folder on my usb stick then go into that? or do i need to make it a full on img like i would for example, when installing ubuntu server from a usb stick, because i've done that a few times.

Yes, Q-Flash is what you want. Just put the actual BIOS file (it's not an EXE, usually named .BIN or some such) on a FAT formatted USB stick and run Q-Flash. From there you will be able to choose the BIOS file and flash the BIOS. Though honestly, if this seems mysterious to you, you may just want to leave well enough alone.