Suggestion on 400 Upgrade Budget!

[Chaosknight78]

Hello fellow AT'ers, I have a few questions that I need advice on for a CPU + Mobo upgrade. Basically I'm a avid gamer, and I do the typical burning DVD's, encoding mostly. Also I want the option to upgrade to a dual-CPU down the road when it's more viable. I would like to buy a mobo to go along with the CPU that has good OC'ing ability. But good features also, that allows for growth (I want to try OC'ing when I get the courage). The following questions are;

1. Is it smart to go the socket 939 route? If so what is the projected longevity timeframe (I read Q2' 07 on a AT AMD roadmap here)?

2. What is the best cost/performance ratio gaming CPU out that fits my budget? Also does it have adequate OC'ing headroom? For when I finally decide to squeeze a bit more performance out of it, before I upgrade to a dual-core or change to a new chipset?

3. Whatever CPU+Mobo combo I choose what would be a good, AFFORABLE PSU to buy, because I don't think my Sparkle 400W going to cut it for the new upgrade.

Basically this is a upgrade package from my girlfriend for my birthday, so I want to know what would be the best buy with her budget to spend on me. I'm going to buy the Video card, Ram, HDD (If I don't decide to use my PC 2700 Kingston value ram(s) of 1.5G) myself seperately. I want to get a 7800GT/X800GT0, good performance/OC'ing ram, maybe Hyper-X, or OCZ, and a SATA drive. All Advice is appreciate, even on the component's that I'm purchasing myself. Thanks in advance.

 

[Mogadon]

mobo - DFI Lanparty Ultra-D
cpu - Venice 3000+ / 3200+ / Opteron 144
psu - seasonic s12 430W / 500W or OCZ equivalent

as you're overclocking you'll want to think about getting something other than the stock HSF too, though it's not exactly bad and gives average o/cing abilities, may want to pick up a thermalright XP-90 instead though.

 

[Chaosknight78]

Sorry I mean't to post my current build, but forgot. It is now in my sig.

 

[RussianSensation]

Your system is solid! I'd keep everything you have and just get a used X800XT, X800XL, X850XT (I am not sure if microcenter still has $50 off to $299 price) or X850XT PE, as well as possibility for 6800GS, or a used 6800u and 6800GT will give u BEST bang for the buck if you are an avid gamer. If you dont sell your current stuff, you simply cannot get 7800GT, new 939 board and even A64 3000+ (all for $400 new).

If you manage to sell your current cpu and motherboard, then I would say it is a good idea to upgrade to socket 939. I want to also tell you that socket M2 will use DDR2. Since you have 1.5 gigs of PC3200 ram, you can save more money by sticking with 939 if you do upgrade. Again by waiting for socket M2 you wont really achieve any gains.

So, if you cant sell any of your parts, ONLY upgrade to a new videocard (even 6600GT will be a huge boost from 8500). Then later you can switch in 1 year to M2 and new PCIe cards and dual-core. If you can sell your mobo + cpu + videocard for $150, then you can get *free* A64 3200+, $100 939 mobo + $300 7800GT.

 

[Chaosknight78]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation
Your system is solid! I'd keep everything you have and just get a used X800XT, X800XL, X850XT (I am not sure if microcenter still has $50 off to $299 price) or X850XT PE, as well as possibility for 6800GS, or a used 6800u and 6800GT will give u BEST bang for the buck if you are an avid gamer. If you dont sell your current stuff, you simply cannot get 7800GT, new 939 board and even A64 3000+ (all for $400 new).

If you manage to sell your current cpu and motherboard, then I would say it is a good idea to upgrade to socket 939. I want to also tell you that socket M2 will use DDR2. Since you have 1.5 gigs of PC3200 ram, you can save more money by sticking with 939 if you do upgrade. Again by waiting for socket M2 you wont really achieve any gains.

So, if you cant sell any of your parts, ONLY upgrade to a new videocard (even 6600GT will be a huge boost from 8500). Then later you can switch in 1 year to M2 and new PCIe cards and dual-core. If you can sell your mobo + cpu + videocard for $150, then you can get *free* A64 3200+, $100 939 mobo + $300 7800GT.

Well the 400 budget is from my girlfriend as a birthday present for a new cpu+mobo. The rest (GPU and PSU, going to need it if i get a 7800GT I assume) I'm going to buy for myself. What do you think of a X2 3800+ and new 939 mobo, with some OC ability to I can OC it a bit if need be, to last me till new M2's? Also would the x2 be a bottleneck for a 7800GT?

 

[frostedflakes]

Yeah, you have a pretty good system already.

Definitely get a better video card, like RussianSensation mentioned even a mid-range card will be leaps and bounds ahead of your 8500. Personally I'd pick up a good nForce3 board like the DFI Lanparty UT nF3 250Gb for ~$100 so you can overclock the processor and RAM. That leaves you $300 for the video card, which will buy you a lot of gaming power. If you're still using the boxed CPU cooling you should probably also factor in $30-50 for a good heatsink.

What are the specs on your PSU? I'd think it should be able to handle the upgrade unless it's very weak on the +12V rail (like below 15A).

 

[NokiaDude]

I have a 6 month old A64 Winchester 3200+ that comes with the COA and retail heatsink and box and I also have a Gigabyte GA-K8U-939 that supports dual core X2's if you want to upgrade down the line. The motherboard is only AGP so think about it. I'll sell it to you cheap since it's your birthday. PM me if interested!

 

[RussianSensation]

Update: Wait for 6800GS AGP (ships next week). That is your best upgrade for gaming. Snap it at <$250 US and you are set.

I understand your dilemma but I look at bang for the buck. If you just get 6800GS, you'll see huge gains.

If you get new mobo = $100
New dual-core cpu = $300
7800GT = $300

Total = $700

This setup offers about 50-60% better gaming experience at almost 3x the price of 6800GS. To me that's not a good enough upgrade. The money you have could be spent elsewhere (like a holiday vacation).

IMO, if you upgrade, DO NOT GO with any AGP board. That defeats the purpose for your upgrade.

If I was you, i'd get 6800GS, and upgrade to dual-core (when Unreal 3 comes out - early 07?) and when games truly start to benefit from dual core. By then new amd socket will have come out and DDR2.

EDIT: Get this: $299 - $50 MIR = $250 X850XT

 

[Chaosknight78]

Originally posted by: frostedflakes
Yeah, you have a pretty good system already.

Definitely get a better video card, like RussianSensation mentioned even a mid-range card will be leaps and bounds ahead of your 8500. Personally I'd pick up a good nForce3 board like the DFI Lanparty UT nF3 250Gb for ~$100 so you can overclock the processor and RAM. That leaves you $300 for the video card, which will buy you a lot of gaming power. If you're still using the boxed CPU cooling you should probably also factor in $30-50 for a good heatsink.

What are the specs on your PSU? I'd think it should be able to handle the upgrade unless it's very weak on the +12V rail (like below 15A).

Well the PSU I have is a Future Power 400w Model#: PM-S400W. Couldnt find a site to link for the specs. So hopefully I'm reading this info right.

The amps per rail are as follows;
+3.3v= 28.0a
+5v=30.0a
+12v=15.0a

Now from what I understand about overclocking, it requires you to up the CPU and Ram voltage most of the time, and with the +12v rail only at 15amps wouldn't I need a new PSU with higher amp?

 

[Chaosknight78]

Originally posted by: NokiaDude
I have a 6 month old A64 Winchester 3200+ that comes with the COA and retail heatsink and box and I also have a Gigabyte GA-K8U-939 that supports dual core X2's if you want to upgrade down the line. The motherboard is only AGP so think about it. I'll sell it to you cheap since it's your birthday. PM me if interested!

Thanks for the offer but I'm really trying to move away from the AGP chipset into PCI-E. I should've upgraded to PCI-E when I went and upgraded to my current rig then, but didn't want to have to buy a new PCI-E card (there were expensive at the time, and not may PCI-E card were available.)

 

[RussianSensation]

Yeah for a PSU, if it's a long term investment, I'd aim at 30A on the 12 V rail or at least 2x15A if dual rails.

Seasonic S12-500 is an excellent PSU.