Long time reader, first time poster who is about to embark on the first major system overhaul in 2 years and is looking for advice, comments or recommendations so that my $1,300 budget is not wasted on incorrect purchases.
Now to the details, following the advice in the sticky at the top:
1. What YOUR PC will be used for: 95% gaming (vast majority is MMO with some RTS)
2. What YOUR budget is: $1,200 maximum divided up between 2 months.
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from: USA
4. IF YOU have a brand preference: I would prefer Intel processor but everything else is up for negotiation
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are:
EVGA 8800GTX
2 160GB WD SATA HD (files and applications drives)
Antec Performance One P-160W case
MITSUMI Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal USB 2.0 digital card reader with Floppy Drive
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA
ASUS Black SATA DVD-ROM
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads: Yes, many
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds: Unsure at this time, although HS and CPU will be lapped just in case.
Ok, with that out of the way, I'll list out the new parts I'm considering for upgrading and my reasoning behind these decisions so that you understand how I came to these choices.
CPU: Upcoming Penryn Q9450 Quad Core processor (available January?)
MB: GIGABYTE GA-X38-DQ6 LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Ultra Durable 2, Ultra Cooling Intel Motherboard 1600/1333MHz FSB, DDR2 1066 standard
Memory: 2x Kingston HyperX 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme CPU Cooler
OS: Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM
PSU: Antec NeoPower 650 Blue ATX12V / EPS12V 650W Power Supply
3rd HD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
Fans: 3x Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120mm Case Fan
Now the reasoning:
As my purchase falls on the cusp of the introduction of the Penryn family of processors, I felt that for future proofing my purchase it should at least include a mid-range version of a quad core processor. The Q9450 will offer good performance and the cost isn't too prohibitive. I gain the benefits of 45nm, the increased cache and potential for significant overclocking that should last for about 2 years minimum.
The Memory issue is far more difficult. Given the pricing of DDR3 modules right now, they are quite cost prohibitive given my $12,00 budget so I fall back to the current performance leader of DDR2. There is also the issue of limited performance increases over current DDR2 systems. DDR2 memory means the processor must mate to a DDR2 motherboard which leads me to the Gigabyte board.
My other concern about future proofing was the debate between P35 and X38 when including the Penryn processors. Here is where I have difficulty choosing..P35 or X38. P35 is over a year old. Penryn is more suited to X38 as far as I can tell. Pricing between high end P35 boards and X38 boards aren't too divergent. My futureproofing choice was the solidly reviewed Gigabyte X38 board. Even though I have an Nvidia 8800GTX board I still do not feel that SLI offers enough of a performance difference to warrant going with SLI boards and the issues I've read with OC'ing those systems. A single high end graphics card performs superbly by iteself and the 8800GTX shows no signs of choking on anything I give it.
My item choices are designed so that this gaming rig will be able to handle the MMOs and RTS games for the next several years in resolutions at/under 1900x1200, adequate storage for files and other applications with everything on it's own drive (including the OS) will sticking with what I consider a decent budget of $1,200. Pricing on NewEgg for the above listed items (adding in about $300 for the Q9450) puts me right at that mark.
Now to the details, following the advice in the sticky at the top:
1. What YOUR PC will be used for: 95% gaming (vast majority is MMO with some RTS)
2. What YOUR budget is: $1,200 maximum divided up between 2 months.
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from: USA
4. IF YOU have a brand preference: I would prefer Intel processor but everything else is up for negotiation
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are:
EVGA 8800GTX
2 160GB WD SATA HD (files and applications drives)
Antec Performance One P-160W case
MITSUMI Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal USB 2.0 digital card reader with Floppy Drive
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA
ASUS Black SATA DVD-ROM
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads: Yes, many
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds: Unsure at this time, although HS and CPU will be lapped just in case.
Ok, with that out of the way, I'll list out the new parts I'm considering for upgrading and my reasoning behind these decisions so that you understand how I came to these choices.
CPU: Upcoming Penryn Q9450 Quad Core processor (available January?)
MB: GIGABYTE GA-X38-DQ6 LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Ultra Durable 2, Ultra Cooling Intel Motherboard 1600/1333MHz FSB, DDR2 1066 standard
Memory: 2x Kingston HyperX 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme CPU Cooler
OS: Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM
PSU: Antec NeoPower 650 Blue ATX12V / EPS12V 650W Power Supply
3rd HD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
Fans: 3x Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120mm Case Fan
Now the reasoning:
As my purchase falls on the cusp of the introduction of the Penryn family of processors, I felt that for future proofing my purchase it should at least include a mid-range version of a quad core processor. The Q9450 will offer good performance and the cost isn't too prohibitive. I gain the benefits of 45nm, the increased cache and potential for significant overclocking that should last for about 2 years minimum.
The Memory issue is far more difficult. Given the pricing of DDR3 modules right now, they are quite cost prohibitive given my $12,00 budget so I fall back to the current performance leader of DDR2. There is also the issue of limited performance increases over current DDR2 systems. DDR2 memory means the processor must mate to a DDR2 motherboard which leads me to the Gigabyte board.
My other concern about future proofing was the debate between P35 and X38 when including the Penryn processors. Here is where I have difficulty choosing..P35 or X38. P35 is over a year old. Penryn is more suited to X38 as far as I can tell. Pricing between high end P35 boards and X38 boards aren't too divergent. My futureproofing choice was the solidly reviewed Gigabyte X38 board. Even though I have an Nvidia 8800GTX board I still do not feel that SLI offers enough of a performance difference to warrant going with SLI boards and the issues I've read with OC'ing those systems. A single high end graphics card performs superbly by iteself and the 8800GTX shows no signs of choking on anything I give it.
My item choices are designed so that this gaming rig will be able to handle the MMOs and RTS games for the next several years in resolutions at/under 1900x1200, adequate storage for files and other applications with everything on it's own drive (including the OS) will sticking with what I consider a decent budget of $1,200. Pricing on NewEgg for the above listed items (adding in about $300 for the Q9450) puts me right at that mark.
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