Recommend mb,cpu, and memory. Too lazy to research myself.

ricleo2

Golden Member
Feb 18, 2004
1,122
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Hello everybody. I want to replace my mb, memory, and cpu. I would like to just get a little more performance than what I have now:
ASUS MAXIMUS II FORMULA
E8500 CPU
MUSHKIN 4 GIG DDR2

I don't want to spend the same amount of money as I did on the Asus mb, but I would like the latest technology. I do not want to overclock (too paranoid). I will be using my old video card that is in the middle of a second RMA: EVGA 9800 GX2 SC. My monitor will only go as high as 1900 x 1200 which I usually game at. I am not brand inclusive, intel or amd. Right now I am using the nice sound card that came with the asus mb (xfi). But, I can use a sound card if yall recommend it (not on board sound). And I will be buying and installing win 7 pro oem from new egg.
I really have no idea how much I want/need to spend, it depends on your ideas. Thanks to all.
 

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
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www.mfenn.com
So if you're too lazy to research yourself, why should we research for you? :\ We're here to help you, not do it for you.

Also, budget?
 

ricleo2

Golden Member
Feb 18, 2004
1,122
11
81
So if you're too lazy to research yourself, why should we research for you? :\ We're here to help you, not do it for you.

Also, budget?

Fascinating reply. I don't mean that sarcastically.
But let's say $500.00 or less. More info: I need at least 4 usb ports in the back, one firewire, and one network connection.
 

fffblackmage

Platinum Member
Dec 28, 2007
2,548
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Probably the only benefit with any of the Phenom quad- or hex- core will be more cores. Single threaded apps aren't likely to run faster, especially if you OC that E8500. How much you'll benefit from getting more cores will depend on what games you play.

If you want to upgrade to an AMD cpu, you could try getting a AM2+ mobo that'll let you continue using the DDR2 ram.

An i5/i7 platform will be a better upgrade, but will cost you around $100 more than the AMD system, not including the additional cost of DDR3 ram needed.

If I were in your shoes, I'd probably OC the E8500 and wait for Sandy Bridge. That's me though, after getting a quad core, I realized that as fun as it was to have a new toy, I just haven't really been able to make the most out of it yet. But I got an awesome deal anyways (cheap unlocked dual core, yay!).
 
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ricleo2

Golden Member
Feb 18, 2004
1,122
11
81
Not a bad deal, but not really much of an upgrade from his current system. :p

I have a similar system to the OP myself, E8500, etc. Its still a solid system, and I'd look for a video card upgrade before I dropped any money on a new CPU/motherboard.

My monitor will go to 1900x1200 resolution. Based on that alone, would a video card up grade from a 9800 GX2 be wasteful?
 

betasub

Platinum Member
Mar 22, 2006
2,677
0
0
Having run a 9800GX2, I know what a monster it is. Great performance (impressive fill rate) as long as you don't break it's 512MB limit. Great for DX9 without AA.

But modern games at 1920x1200 (plus AA) will benefit from moving to a newer card. DX11 and tesselation are major parts of the latest (& upcoming) games releases.
 

Axon

Platinum Member
Sep 25, 2003
2,541
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Grab one of the new 6xxx cards from ATI or a GTX 470. That will bump your gaming performance. E8500 is still a very good chip for gaming unless you're playing the absolute most demanding multi-threaded games. I have the chip and it still screams, even at stock. Cranked to 4.0 it's bullshit. That chip needs to be arrested and stopped, because its rampage has been ongoing since like, 2008.

FYI the E8500 beats the 1055t in many gaming benches. http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/55?vs=147. I would not go that route.

If you're going to target something, target the i5 750 and the P55 platform. That will bolster your performance, but really, you're better off with a new, more powerful GPU.
 
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ricleo2

Golden Member
Feb 18, 2004
1,122
11
81
Grab one of the new 6xxx cards from ATI or a GTX 470. That will bump your gaming performance. E8500 is still a very good chip for gaming unless you're playing the absolute most demanding multi-threaded games. I have the chip and it still screams, even at stock. Cranked to 4.0 it's bullshit. That chip needs to be arrested and stopped, because its rampage has been ongoing since like, 2008.

FYI the E8500 beats the 1055t in many gaming benches. http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/55?vs=147. I would not go that route.

If you're going to target something, target the i5 750 and the P55 platform. That will bolster your performance, but really, you're better off with a new, more powerful GPU.

What video card would you recommend with dx11 support that will beat my 9800 GX2 ? Thank you.
 

Axon

Platinum Member
Sep 25, 2003
2,541
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Wait until the end of the week for the release of the ATI 6800 series and see how that benches. Then decide between the GTX 460 1GB, GTX 470 or the 6800 series. Warning: this will require that you read something ;)

Use the benching tool: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/GPU/88
 

ricleo2

Golden Member
Feb 18, 2004
1,122
11
81
Wait until the end of the week for the release of the ATI 6800 series and see how that benches. Then decide between the GTX 460 1GB, GTX 470 or the 6800 series. Warning: this will require that you read something ;)

Use the benching tool: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/GPU/88

With the upcoming release of the 6800 series, will other cards price start going down? Or have the prices already lowered? Nice benching tool. Thanks.
 

Axon

Platinum Member
Sep 25, 2003
2,541
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Everyone is anticipating a drop in price in nvidia's line of cards once the 6800 series launches, but I suppose we'll see.