What do you guys think of my potential upgrade choices?

[jediphx]

I wanted to keep it around $700

Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price
1

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail
Item #: N82E16835186134
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Add item to Cart Add this item to your cart
$34.99
1

Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 Allendale 2.0GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E4400 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115014
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy
Add item to Cart Add this item to your cart
$126.00
1

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231098
Return Policy: Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy
Add item to Cart Add this item to your cart
-$40.00 Instant
$128.99
$88.99
1

GIGABYTE GA-P35-S3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813128057
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
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$86.99
1

APEVIA ATX-CW500WP4 ATX 500W Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817148027
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Add item to Cart Add this item to your cart
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate
$39.99
1

EVGA 320-P2-N815-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814130038
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
Add item to Cart Add this item to your cart
$15.00 Mail-in Rebate
$299.99
Grand Total: $676.95

 

[aigomorla]

PSU is absolute crap.

i would look at a better psu. Try to grab at least a 80 dollar budget on that component. The PSU is one of the most overlooked components.

Sunbeam makes a wannabe freezer thats cheaper then the freezer64. You also might want to look into that.

 

[jediphx]

ah i was going by the great reviews by OCing users on that page

 

[mobaar]

Drop down in rated wattage, and get a name brand PSU. 400W should be plenty. A good 350W would probably do just fine as well.

 

[jediphx]

i have a antec 350w now which has served me well in the past but I was told 350W would wither under the power needs of the new setup and I needed to go to 500w

someone recommended this one on hardforum

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...17189005&Tpk=goodpower

 

[SerpentRoyal]

The Antec should work okay as long as you don't overload any single 12V rail. Peak load about 270 watts with an overclocked rig.

 

[jediphx]

ok well if I keep the antec how would I not overload a 12V rail?

 

[ultra laser]

Originally posted by: jediphx
i have a antec 350w now which has served me well in the past but I was told 350W would wither under the power needs of the new setup and I needed to go to 500w

someone recommended this one on hardforum

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...17189005&Tpk=goodpower

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculator.jsp

Use this to check if your power needs will be fulfilled by your antec.

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Originally posted by: jediphx
ok well if I keep the antec how would I not overload a 12V rail?

Look at the power distribution of your 12V rails. If the GPU comes with a 12V power plug, then make sure that you don't use the same 12V rail that's connected to the MB. Check the diagram in your PSU manual or contact Antec for additional guidance.

 

[jediphx]

I just ran the pro calculator and if I did everything right, with the new system it says I need 465W PSU and thats with the processor OCed to 2.8ghz

 

[idiotekniQues]

eh the watts calculators arent all that great when they dont take into consideration that watts rating can mean jack if the ps cant hold the rails right.

 

[jediphx]

i feel kinda stupid I have been running my current system athlonXP_M 2600+ @ 2.5ghz @1.85v on my 350W antec and calculator says I should have at least a 414W LOL

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: jediphx

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail - $34.99

COOLER MASTER RR-PCH-S9U1-GP HYPER TX - $15 This cooler is really good for the $$$ - LINK - Savings of $15

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit - $88.99

OCZ 2GB DDR2 800 4-4-4 $70 with Free shipping - Savings of $19

APEVIA ATX-CW500WP4 ATX 500W Power Supply - Retail - $39.99

COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power RP-650 - $55

EVGA 320-P2-N815-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video -
$299.99

EVGA 8800GTS 320 - $259

 

[bryanW1995]

good job russian, I was going to mention the memory. That is definitely too much for memory, you can get good mem for $70 range. save the other $40 on gpu, keep the ac pro, and you have $58 saved. Spend an extra 15-20 on a better psu and the extra $40 on a p35 ds3r, and you'll have an excellent system that will be ready for a drop-in upgrade in a year or two when it starts to feel a little sluggish.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995
good job russian, I was going to mention the memory. That is definitely too much for memory, you can get good mem for $70 range. save the other $40 on gpu, keep the ac pro, and you have $58 saved. Spend an extra 15-20 on a better psu and the extra $40 on a p35 ds3r, and you'll have an excellent system that will be ready for a drop-in upgrade in a year or two when it starts to feel a little sluggish.

That depends...if you want to overclock you will need good memory to not hold back your settings. It also depends on how far you try to go.

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

That depends...if you want to overclock you will need good memory to not hold back your settings. It also depends on how far you try to go.

Those G. Skill sticks don't look like anything special. OCZ is CL4 at 1.9-2.0V with warranty up to 2.2V which means at 5-5-5 settings it'll probably do 1000mhz. Either way I'd rather put $20 saved on memory towards a faster processor since it gives you guaranteed MHZ and a higher multiplier with say allendale 4500, or a better power supply.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

That depends...if you want to overclock you will need good memory to not hold back your settings. It also depends on how far you try to go.

Those G. Skill sticks don't look like anything special. OCZ is CL4 at 1.9-2.0V with warranty up to 2.2V which means at 5-5-5 settings it'll probably do 1000mhz. Either way I'd rather put $20 saved on memory towards a faster processor since it gives you guaranteed MHZ and a higher multiplier with say allendale 4500, or a better power supply.

They ones he listed? no, but the ones in my sig? Yes.

It's about what ICs are used, not the brand.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation

Originally posted by: jediphx

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail - $34.99

COOLER MASTER RR-PCH-S9U1-GP HYPER TX - $15 This cooler is really good for the $$$ - LINK - Savings of $15

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit - $88.99

OCZ 2GB DDR2 800 4-4-4 $70 with Free shipping - Savings of $19

APEVIA ATX-CW500WP4 ATX 500W Power Supply - Retail - $39.99

COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power RP-650 - $55

EVGA 320-P2-N815-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video -
$299.99

EVGA 8800GTS 320 - $259

nailed it right on.

I prefer curcial ram over gskill tho. But thats my personal taste.

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

They ones he listed? no, but the ones in my sig? Yes.

It's about what ICs are used, not the brand.

OCZ Rev 2 vs. G.Skill 2GBHZ
"When it comes to overclocking, the OCZ rev.2 Platinum series appears to withstand the highest overclock on the Intel based system."

Overclocking

The other ram kits I'd consider in a similar price range would be Corsair XMS2 800 and Crucial Ballistix 800. They also present great values for <$80.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

They ones he listed? no, but the ones in my sig? Yes.

It's about what ICs are used, not the brand.

OCZ Rev 2 vs. G.Skill 2GBHZ
"When it comes to overclocking, the OCZ rev.2 Platinum series appears to withstand the highest overclock on the Intel based system."

Overclocking

The other ram kits I'd consider in a similar price range would be Corsair XMS2 800 and Crucial Ballistix 800. They also present great values for <$80.

That tells us nothing. I can boot my G.Skill to 1200Mhz but can everyone? no way
They are also using the old GSkill with Green PCB which may not be D9 at all. The Green PCB models did use Elpdia for a time. They didn't pull off the heatspreader to verify they were Fatbody D9s. Becides that the review is quite dated and newer memory does not use Fatbody IC anymore. OCZ does not use the D9 IC in their Platiunum line AFAIK in the more recent batches that I've seen around. Memory changes rapidly.

It's all about your luck, the ICs, and the motherboard used.

Again if you're overclocking you look at the IC used then the support from the company who manufacturers it.

Most memory will overclock to the same levels assuming they use the same IC rated at the same stock speeds. D9GMH based PC6400 will probably all cap at the same level given a specific configuration.

I bought GSkill because their RMA process is the easiest I've seen. Crucial is not my first choice if you have to RMA bad memory. If the part number is not made you have to cross ship which means you pay their full retail price for the set before you ship. You will get a similar model (not exact because they do not make it anymore). Their retail price is always more than street prices.

This happened with my 10th anniversary memory. It died and they don't make it. They tried to charge me $300 on my CC before they would ship a replacement. They were replacing it with standard DDR2-667 Ballistix (10th anniversary was binned).

Before you say that every PC6400 from crucial is the same, it is not. They have used various D9 revisions in their memory. If they recognize one part as D9GMH don't be surprised if they replace it with a different D9 revision of lower quality (since they have changed ICs depending on price and availability at the time).

 

[bryanW1995]

keep in mind that he's only using an ex00 processor. ddr2 800 of any kind will not hold him back when oc'ing. I would personally get 4-4-4-12 so that he can oc a 1333fsb upgrade down the road with a high prob of getting 475-500 or more, but there are many out there like that in the $70-$80 range.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995
keep in mind that he's only using an ex00 processor. ddr2 800 of any kind will not hold him back when oc'ing. I would personally get 4-4-4-12 so that he can oc a 1333fsb upgrade down the road with a high prob of getting 475-500 or more, but there are many out there like that in the $70-$80 range.

That's true, but it is popular to drop the milti and run high FSB 1:1. Which does take more from your memory.

This method increases overall system performance as well.

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

That's true, but it is popular to drop the milti and run high FSB 1:1. Which does take more from your memory.

This method increases overall system performance as well.

Honestly, that was true for Athlon XP and a lot less for P4, but for Core 2 Duo memory timings are far more important than high speed memory (besides WinRAR) because the processor lacks onboard memory controller.

I made the mistake of buying top of the line 1GB DDR1 Patriot XBLK 2-2-2 for $225 back in the days and will NEVER spend more for premium memory unless the overclock requires it. High speed memory is BY far the most wasteful component in a computer that provides 3% performance boost, if that. Not to mention any performance advantage gained is offset by the relaxed timings it requires.

DDR2 800 CL 4 1T provides almost the same performance as DDR2 1150 and 1250 CL5 2T

And who plays at 1024x768 with noAA/noAF?

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

That's true, but it is popular to drop the milti and run high FSB 1:1. Which does take more from your memory.

This method increases overall system performance as well.

Honestly, that was true for Athlon XP and a lot less for P4, but for Core 2 Duo memory timings are far more important than high speed memory (besides WinRAR) because the processor lacks onboard memory controller.

I made the mistake of buying top of the line 1GB DDR1 Patriot XBLK 2-2-2 for $225 back in the days and will NEVER spend more for premium memory unless the overclock requires it. High speed memory is BY far the most wasteful component in a computer that provides 3% performance boost, if that. Not to mention any performance advantage gained is offset by the relaxed timings it requires.

DDR2 800 CL 4 1T provides almost the same performance as DDR2 1150 and 1250 CL5 2T

And who plays at 1024x768 with noAA/noAF?

There are people who overclock more than just their CPU. It does have an impact to some degree to run higher FSB speeds.

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

There are people who overclock more than just their CPU. It does have an impact to some degree to run higher FSB speeds.

Of course there are people who overclock memory to 1200+ and above. But it's important to understand what you are getting for that high performance ram on a C2D/Q system in games - Not noticeable performance difference

If you have a link that shows high performance memory is worth buying for a gaming rig, please post it in this thread.