Upgrading my PC

[imported_KING]

These are my current specs:

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145177
CPU: Intel C2D E6400 2.13 GHz
PSU: 500W Enermax Liberty
GPU: 8800GT 512M
Mobo: ASUS P5N-E (LGA 775, DDR2)

I feel like the CPU and RAM are the weakest links in my system. Here is what I've come up with for now:

CPU: Core i5
MB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157171
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231277

My questions are: is this a good upgrade path? Should I be spending more money/could I be spending less? Is there anything in here that could be better, any bad parts?

Also, will my current power supply handle the upgrade?

And I left out a graphics card because 1. I don't really see any great deals on one, and 2. I'm not sure I need it. My monitor is only 1440X900, and I've run a few newer games on my current rig that look fine, only minor frame rate issues. What do you think?

 

[Syran]

Honestly, depends on what you are looking for. But you might just get away with a CPU upgrade to a E7xxx/8xxx series & 2 more GB of ram, and probably be okay, and save yourself a bunch of cash.

According to asus your motherboard has a fairly decent compatibility list.

 

[Winterpool]

Indeed, do you need an upgrade right now? What applications feel sluggish to you? The GeForce 8800 GT is a fine card, even now, particularly at your res.

Yes, there are some good deals on Core i5 cpus out there, but memory, graphics cards, etc aren't close to optimal price points currently. Any particular reason you don't feel you can wait for Clarkdale or better Lynnfields next year?

If you do decide to wait, it is probably a good idea to pick up 2 GB more DDR2, especially if you're no longer running Windows XP.

 

[imported_KING]

Well I did think about that stuff, but it just seemed to me that the i5 was so cheap, I mean the C2D 8xxx chips are in the upper $100s anyway, and DDR2 doesn't seem THAT much cheaper. I guess I just figured it would be more effective to just jump ahead, but if you guys think its unnecessary you are probably right.

So, I could get 2 gigs more RAM... is upgrading the CPU necessary, and if so what would be a good option? Like I said before, I play games fine, but they definitely aren't as smooth as I'd like them to be sometimes.

 

[Syran]

Buy 2GB of ram from somewhere easy to return, and see if you get the performance increase you want, and go from there.

 

[Winterpool]

I understand what you mean about the price of the Core i5. It's $150 at Micro Centre...

I'd hesitate about upgrading the cpu at all unless there's some app that you're finding a bit problematic on your current processor. Dragon Age is a good example of contemporary software that stresses modern cpus and would really prefer a quadcore.

The problem is that remaining quadcore Q9000s tend to cost at least as much as the Core i5. Of course, with a 'Lynnfield' processor, you'd have to upgrade the motherboard and memory as well, so we're looking at a minimum marginal cost of $300 -- probably more. Whereas 2 GB of RAM you could probably find for less than $40, and maybe $150 to $200 for a Q9450 or Q9550 (I think Micro Centre offers the Q9550 for $160). If we're spending $200 v $350, would you rather go whole hog, spend the $350 and get upgrade to Core i5? It's a tough one.

 

[imported_KING]

I didn't even know about that price at Micro Center. This is hard to decide. My main question is, how much more performance would I see with the Core i5 and DDR3? If I don't end up doing that I may just get the RAM. I guess I'm just worried that if I get the i5 now it wouldn't be very future proof; from what you said before it doesn't seem like the greatest time to be upgrading. But as far as the money, I'd be willing to go the $350 if you think its worth it.

OK never mind about Micro Center, that is not really an option because its in-store pickup only.

 

[Lewy]

You can get the Corsair ram a little cheaper here due to a rebate offer:
http://www.amazon.com/CORSAIR-PC2-64.../dp/B000CDLCGG

I would certainly add more Ram and run it on Windows 7 64bit upgrade with a rig as good as yours before buying a new motherboard, processor and ram. Your system is pretty good as it stands. You also might consider an inexpensive ssd such as the new Kingston 40GB desktop kit to run your OS and applications as it will speed things up in any system with sata.

 

[imported_KING]

I already decided and bought the RAM from newegg, 10 dollars more oh well. But yeah I guess I just decided it wasn't a good time to upgrade everything yet, and I'll see what kind of performance increase I get from this. I have been thinking about an SSD for awhile so thanks for the tip.