New CPU vs. 2GB RAM vs. New PSU

JonMooring

Golden Member
Aug 30, 2004
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Current System Specs:

DFI LanParty UT NF4 Ultra-D
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice @ stock
2x512MB Corsair Value Select PC3200
Leadtek GeForce 7800GTX
2x160GB Seagate SATA HDDs
LiteOn 52x CD-RW
Pioneer 16x/6x DL DVD-RW
550 Watt Okia PSU

Based on my specs, what do you guys think would be the better upgrade? A new CPU, such as a 3700+ SD, another gig of RAM, or a new, more powerful PSU?
 

JonMooring

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Aug 30, 2004
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Will my 7800GTX be ok for another couple of weeks do you think? It won't not work from lack of power will it?
 

hclarkjr

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
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i say go for 2 GIG of ram if you use it for gaming. you have good video card and nice CPU now.
 
Nov 11, 2004
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If it doesn't get enough power, your computer will crash.
If you overclock your CPU, you'll notice that everything will run faster.. That 7800GTX is slightly bottlenecked by that 3000+ @ stock.
 

JonMooring

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Aug 30, 2004
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I hear Corsair Value Select doesn't o/c that well on the DFI NF4, that's why I don't really want to o/c. If I were to get a new PSU, what would you recommend for around $100?
 
Nov 11, 2004
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Originally posted by: hclarkjr
power suppply is plenty for that system

It could have 10A 12V for all we know. Wattage is not a good measurement for a PSU.
A PC P & C 510W SLI will triumph over 99.9% of PSUs out on the market..
 

gsellis

Diamond Member
Dec 4, 2003
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You guys! First, you did not list HDD or disc. If you have lots, PSU maybe. Otherwise, processor. That PSU output can run my dual Xeon with 5 HDDs, a 9600XT, and 2 DVD drives. Well into diminising returns on memory.
 
Nov 11, 2004
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Originally posted by: JonMooring
I hear Corsair Value Select doesn't o/c that well on the DFI NF4, that's why I don't really want to o/c. If I were to get a new PSU, what would you recommend for around $100?

This bad boy.
40A over two 12V rails... How many other PSU's <100$ can beat that?
 
Nov 11, 2004
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Originally posted by: gsellis
You guys! First, you did not list HDD or disc. If you have lots, PSU maybe. Otherwise, processor. That PSU output can run my dual Xeon with 5 HDDs, a 9600XT, and 2 DVD drives. Well into diminising returns on memory.

PSU "output".... As I said before.. It could have 10A 12V for all I know.. Barely enough to start an AMD-XP system..
Give me the amperage of each rail on it and then we can talk.
 

rise

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2004
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40A over two 12V rails...
yeah but max combined is 30a. not bad but kinda drops off.

i'd definitely upgrade that psu. antec tpII, the tagan, a nice enermax....plenty around.
 

MrDrinkingLysol

Junior Member
Jul 14, 2005
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Geez, this guy has nearly 600 watts of power and you're still telling him he needs a better PSU? Now I'm starting to think my Antec 350 isn't good enough considering that you people are recommending another PSU for him. I don't have a 7800 like him, I have a 6800 GT, but 350 seems like plenty for me. If it were me, I'd get a 3700+. That's a huge increase in speed over a 3000. But that's just me, I could be wrong.
 
Nov 11, 2004
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Originally posted by: MrDrinkingLysol
Geez, this guy has nearly 600 watts of power and you're still telling him he needs a better PSU? Now I'm starting to think my Antec 350 isn't good enough considering that you people are recommending another PSU for him. I don't have a 7800 like him, I have a 6800 GT, but 350 seems like plenty for me. If it were me, I'd get a 3700+. That's a huge increase in speed over a 3000. But that's just me, I could be wrong.

As I said before... For the third time in a thread.. :roll:
The combined wattage doesn't matter. The Amperages per rail matters...
As you can see by the Tagan 480W PSU that I linked above, it's probably one of the best cost-effective PSU's on the market. 40A on the 12V rail from a quality manufacturer at <100$...
 

JonMooring

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Aug 30, 2004
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boo :( was hoping for a performance increase... ok so after the PSU, what next? new RAM or more RAM? from what I've heard, without a different type of RAM I'll have a hard time o/cing on the DFI
 

n7

Elite Member
Jan 4, 2004
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I think it's time to get a better CPU.

Now when i say get a better one, i mean make your current one better by OCing :D
 

gsellis

Diamond Member
Dec 4, 2003
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Originally posted by: Kensai
Originally posted by: gsellis
You guys! First, you did not list HDD or disc. If you have lots, PSU maybe. Otherwise, processor. That PSU output can run my dual Xeon with 5 HDDs, a 9600XT, and 2 DVD drives. Well into diminising returns on memory.

PSU "output".... As I said before.. It could have 10A 12V for all I know.. Barely enough to start an AMD-XP system..
Give me the amperage of each rail on it and then we can talk.
The total load is probably less than 350 with the 7800 (120w max?).

 
Nov 11, 2004
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Originally posted by: JonMooring
boo :( was hoping for a performance increase... ok so after the PSU, what next? new RAM or more RAM? from what I've heard, without a different type of RAM I'll have a hard time o/cing on the DFI


Not at all! Anybody who's used the DFI Ultra-D(R) knows that it can run at a divider. You can set your ram to run at 400MHz.

If you're still using the retail heatsink, it would be good to invest in a Thermalright XP-90 w/ a medium 92mm panaflo.
 

JonMooring

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Aug 30, 2004
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so just get some high quality TCCD or BH5 RAM to replace the gig of Corsair I have? Then o/c?
 
Nov 11, 2004
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Originally posted by: gsellis
Originally posted by: Kensai
Originally posted by: gsellis
You guys! First, you did not list HDD or disc. If you have lots, PSU maybe. Otherwise, processor. That PSU output can run my dual Xeon with 5 HDDs, a 9600XT, and 2 DVD drives. Well into diminising returns on memory.

PSU "output".... As I said before.. It could have 10A 12V for all I know.. Barely enough to start an AMD-XP system..
Give me the amperage of each rail on it and then we can talk.
The total load is probably less than 350 with the 7800 (120w max?).

Yet again, I want useful numbers. Not jumble. That 550W PSU has 24A @ 12V.
I know of a few 350-400W PSU's with more than that.

I believe nVidia recommends either 28A-30A+ for a system with a 7800GTX and 34-38A+ for a 7800--- SLI system.
 

JonMooring

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Aug 30, 2004
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Originally posted by: Kensai
Originally posted by: JonMooring
boo :( was hoping for a performance increase... ok so after the PSU, what next? new RAM or more RAM? from what I've heard, without a different type of RAM I'll have a hard time o/cing on the DFI


Not at all! Anybody who's used the DFI Ultra-D(R) knows that it can run at a divider. You can set your ram to run at 400MHz.

If you're still using the retail heatsink, it would be good to invest in a Thermalright XP-90 w/ a medium 92mm panaflo.

that'd run me, what? $35 shipped maybe? I have plenty of Panaflos sitting around :D