Won 2GB of Ballistix...

[xboxist]

Hello. I have no right owning these modules, since I hardly consider myself a gaming enthusiast. I enjoy the latest games, but I've never owned anything this hardcore. heh.

My current system is a Dell actually:

P4 3.0 Northwood -- 800 MHz FSB
Some stupid proprietary Dell MB
1GB PC3200/DDR400

Since purchasing that computer, I've added a good sound card, and a 6800GT.

SOooo... I think I now own a couple of key components to a great, brand new system. The memory that I've won is (4x) Crucial.com Ballistix 512MB, 240-pin DIMM, PC2-5300 (DDR2-667).

I won the stuff, might as well use it. I'm thinking I'll need a new case (obviously), CPU, and motherboard.

Based on what I've provided, what would you suggest I think about getting? I should note that I realize a new MB/case/CPU will cost me a few hundred dollars, but I'd rather not shell out a whole ton. Is there a MB that I can buy that will allow a $200 (or so) CPU, but also allow an $800 CPU to run with it? Keep in mind that all of this is kinda centered around this god-like new RAM.

Thanks SO much in advance for your advice.

 

[kef7]

congrats, I guess I didn't win...

 

[mofrack]

Well, because the memory is DDR2, youre going to be building an Intel rig. All chipsets available for AMD dont use DDR2 yet, and prolly wont for a while longer. Intel's newest chipset use DDR2, but the performance gains if any, are negligable.

You'll want to look up the top tier motherboards using the Intel 9x series chipsets. I've heard good things about the Abit Fatality board for socket LGA775, but dont quote me on it. I'm an AMD'er and havent followed Intel very closely for a while now.

With that said, you have a decent system as it is (sounds like one, anyways). You may want to consider selling this memory, and just save up until something that can really outperform your current rig comes out.

 

[Painman]

:beer: Congrats, Ballistix is good stuff, I'm enjoying mine. I'm currently an AMDer too, though, so all the help I can give you is in the form of virtual mugs of beer.

 

[CheesePoofs]

You're going to have to find a board that uses the 875 or 865 chipset and uses ddr2, and that's gunna be hard.

I would have to recomend selling the ram, because a board with an agp slot and ddr2 support will be expensive, and the CPU will cost a bit too.

Or you could save the ballistix ram and use it on your next build, in a year or two.

 

[xboxist]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm hesitant to sell them, since I've won them in a contest... they would be hard to present as "new". I don't have packaging, or even a receipt. It just seems like I'd take a big hit on what they're actually worth.

And you're right, my current computer runs just fine. No apparent need to upgrade in the immediate future. I think these modules will still be good in a year or two, so I think I'll just hang on to them.

Thanks for the virtual beers!

 

[CheesePoofs]

Originally posted by: xboxist
Thanks for the replies.

I'm hesitant to sell them, since I've won them in a contest... they would be hard to present as "new". I don't have packaging, or even a receipt. It just seems like I'd take a big hit on what they're actually worth.

And you're right, my current computer runs just fine. No apparent need to upgrade in the immediate future. I think these modules will still be good in a year or two, so I think I'll just hang on to them.

Thanks for the virtual beers!

:beer::beer::beer: