Upgrade job

[Captain]

So I may be planning an upgrade job soon and it'd be nice to have some feedback/comments/suggestions.
I'm trying to keep this under $900 if possible and since I'm in Mississauga, I only have access to Canada Computers and Tigerdirect.

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/
http://www.canadacomputers.com/

Current gaming rig:

Ultra X-Finity 600W PSU
ASUS P5P800-SE LGA775 Motherboard
Intel Pentium D 805 2.6GHz LGA775 Dual-Core (OCed 3.2GHz)
1024MB (2x512) DDR400 PC3200
Western Digital 80GB IDE HDD
Western Digital 250GB SATA-II HDD
eVGA NVIDIA GeForce 6600GT 128MB DDR3 AGP 8x (OCed 550/1100)
19" LG L1970HR Flatron Slim 2ms 2000:1 DCR LCD
Creative Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit 5.1 EAX HD
Logitech X-530 5.1 Surround Sound System
Windows XP SP2
Coolermaster Centurion 5 case

So basically I'm looking for a system that will easily play upcoming games, for example Gears of War and Assassin's Creed. Since I use my computer as a multimedia center as well, quality RAM is important.

Here's what I'm looking into:

Motherboards:

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... CatId=1533 (only drawback is the memory limit)
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... CatId=1533
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... CatId=1533
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... CatId=1533 (top choice)
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.ph ... cid=MB.157

CPU (preferably Intel Core 2 Duo E6600, or whatever you guys suggest)

CPU cooling open to suggestions and depends on what I choose for a processor.

Memory (2GB is enough since I'm on a 32-bit O/S)

http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.ph ... id=RAM.475
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.ph ... id=RAM.475
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... CatId=2261
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... CatId=2261
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... CatId=2261

Video card:

Looking for the 8800GTS 320MB, but I'm not seeing any friendly prices on TD and CC. Too bad there's no Newegg here, they had absolutely insane prices.

Sound card:

I'm pretty sure my current sound card would bottleneck any upgraded system, so it might be best to use the on-board audio on one of those quality mobos.

Any help would be appreciated

[Foo]

Yeah the onboard sound is good if you invest in a quality mobo.

Get a second 250Gb SATA drive and drop the IDE drive... RAID the 2x250Gb drives for a nice cheap speed boost.

Don't sweat the high-performance ram... it's for high-end tweakers and you won't see the benefit. Go for 2x1Gb modules in a modest branded flavour.... crucial do some 'entry level' stuff and it'll not cause you a problem.

8800GT is indeed the way to fly and this will probably be the most expensive element of your new rig

Don't forget the potential of selling your current components, even if you only take $100 for them that's going to be enough to boost your spending on your new stuff enough to get that graphics card or that better motherboard.

Don't worry too much about the CPU spec, go for low end. Down the road when quad-core drops in price a bit more you'll be able to jump to that technology for a boost.... and by then more games will be using multi-core properly..... bonus.

[Captain]

So would you suggest keeping my Pentium D 805? It's a great CPU no doubt and an awesome overclocker with my current system. But I'd be afraid of it bottlenecking an 8800GTS.

The second 250GB SATA sounds good, I'd probably go even bigger since they're so damn cheap these days.

I'm won't hesitate to tweak quality performance RAM, but I'm just looking for something I could slap in and get the most out of my games and multimedia with.

As for selling current components, where could I do this? Unless someone here wants a mint 6600GT

[creep]

A suggestion about RAID since you mentioned using your PC as a media center...

If you put 2 drives in RAID 0 (Striped), you have 2 hard drives tied up in 1 "drive". Doubles your chances of a drive failure taking out all your data. Also the array may not be compatible with another RAID controller if you ever need to replace that motherboard, effectively losing all your data. You also can't format/reinstall without losing all your data.

Like you said, HDDs are cheap... it's better to go with 2 smaller drives in RAID0 for OS and programs, then 1 large drive for your data and media files.

[Captain]

The whole RAID array is actually one thing I know next to nothing about. I currently have the 80GB IDE set as Drive C for Windows and program files. The 250GB SATA-II is Drive D with games, documents, multimedia, and all things important.

[obsidian]

You may also want to check out NCIX.com for some parts like HD's... you'll have to pay shipping but you save on the PST (since they're in B.C. For certain components they can be cheaper than anything in Toronto even with the shipping costs. Good to check out, anyway.

I would go for the Core 2 Quad Q6600, it's only about $30 more and the difference should be pretty profound, especially when overclocked. Stock coolers are generally good enough for normal use as long as you're not doing any ridiculous overclocking or if it's not annoyingly loud (most stock fans aren't).

I haven't found any reason to buy a Creative soundcard anymore. It's a market where there is literally no hardware improvements in the last... oh... 8 years or so. They are becoming more obsolete with onboard sound. I can't imagine how they are still afloat given the quality of their other products.

RAID's recommended for system files, but I would keep data (or even better, a backup of your data) on a different HD. Not that I've ever had problems with my RAID setup... but you can't be too careful. For HD's I swear by Seagate. Unless you're looking for a 10K RPM drive, in which Western Digital's Raptors are simply ridiculously fast (but expensive).


BTW, I priced this together the other day just for kicks. My computer's a little slower than your current one, but I think she's got a year left in her before I start a new build. A *little* outside of your price range, but if I had to buy one today...

Code: Select all

Intel Core2Quad 6600	285
Asus Mobo				270
RAM 2GB					120
Corsair PSU 620W		120
DVD						040
HD Seagate 500			115
HD WD Raptor 74			178
Antec P182 Case			135
BFG 8800GTX 600/768		530

Subtotal	       		1793
Tax						250
Total		       		2043

[Captain]

Damn E6600s are so expensive...

That's an interesting system you're building there, obsidian. Going by your picks and throwing out things I don't need, the subtotal came to $1205 with the CPU, mobo, RAM, and vid card.
However, I definitely won't be getting an 8800GTX and I'll save over $150 on the mobo if I go for that EVGA 670i I posted.

Would anyone really suggest an SLI mobo? A single 8800GTS should be good enough to run any games coming out in the next couple of years, right? I don't see another huge technology leap until *maybe* 2010.

[creep]

I had an nForce4 board and that chipset was the worst pile of shit I've ever run across. Can't say if they've improved anything since.

[Foo]

The whole RAID array is actually one thing I know next to nothing about. I currently have the 80GB IDE set as Drive C for Windows and program files. The 250GB SATA-II is Drive D with games, documents, multimedia, and all things important.

I run 2 x 80Gb RAID 0 and 1 x 300Gb SATA drive....

What Creep says is correct... if you want to plump for a pair of v. cheap 80Gb satas and RAID0 them, then use that for system/installed programs/swap file, then use the 250Gb for storage... that makes the most sense to me.

BTW your processor seems fine actually... I think you should keep it and invest in the other components for now, with a view to upgrading the processor etc a little later.

[Foo]

I had an nForce4 board and that chipset was the worst pile of shit I've ever run across. Can't say if they've improved anything since.

I had an nforce4 that was awesome (A8N-SLi Del)

[Captain]

That sounds great, Foo

Thanks, I'll save a shitload for now by not buying a CPU. The D is working flawlessly anyways, but I might invest in a new cooling fan when I've figured out what I'm going to be getting.

EVGA nForce 650i
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... CatId=1533
OCZ Platinum Revision-2 2GB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... CatId=2261

Or, more suitable to the nForce board, OCZ SLI-Ready Edition Dual Channel 2GB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... CatId=2261

And now for the big one: the video card. It seems all of them come with a free game which ultimately adds to the price :/

EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS Superclocked 640MB (with Quake Wars) - $451
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... CatId=2514

XFX GeForce 8800 GTS Extreme 640MB (with Lost Planet) - $329
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... CatId=2514

EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB (with Quake Wars) - $427
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... CatId=2514

XFX GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB (with Lost Planet) - $423
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... CatId=2514

[SoM]

go for the xfx 640mb from tiger, $329 MIR thats the one i got and the bitch can fly

just remember it's web only order on it, they dont have it in-store

[SoM]

oh, and the sale end on the 31st of this month iirc

[Captain]

I hear these 8xxx cards are fucking huge. Any guarantee I can fit it in my case?
Coolermaster Centurion 5 btw

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... CatId=1842

[AmIdYfReAk]

yes, it will fit.

[Captain]

Thanks Amidy.

Foo, since you're going for the 8800GTS 320MB, would you suggest it over the 640MB or could it make the difference between medium and full graphics in Assassin's Creed? Since I'm most likely going with a non-SLI mobo, would it be better to grab the 640MB right off the bat? I have no idea how powerful the 320MB version is.
In fact, I know nothing about the 8800-series cards other than the fact that they kick ass

[AmIdYfReAk]

http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.h ... VzaWFzdA==

http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.h ... VzaWFzdA==

there are a few more on HARDOCP that do these "performance and IQ"tests.. they Review all of the 8800 line ( GTS's, GT's, GTX's, Untra's... )

Take a look.

[Captain]

Thanks for the links. It seems like currently there is no real difference between the 320 and 640, but I wonder how upcoming games will change that. Take the AGP 6600GT for example. Back when it came out, it was absolute top-of-the-line and about 3 years later, it's still a good card. I wonder if the 320MB will last me that long.
Or maybe I should just go for an SLI mobo to keep my options open in the future.

Sorry for the ramble, just trying to research all my options

[AmIdYfReAk]

The 640vir will come out on top with the higher Resolutions with FSAA/AA/ETC enabled..

Wile i run it at 1920X1200 With that junk off and it works awesome thus far.

[Captain]

Well I'm running 320MB but FSAA/AF is important to me since I'm looking for a gaming system that can handle the eyecandy

As for the HDD situation, I might as well leave the 80GB IDE for Windows, use the 250GB SATA-II for games only, and buy a large HDD (320GB for example) for everything else.

Of course, with a new mobo my current SATA-300 will run even faster, since my P5P800-SE limits it to SATA-150.

[Foo]

I remember getting a Geforce 4Ti with double the regular RAM, and truly benefitting from it in the long run.

Then I got a 6600GT with double the usual ram, and didn't really see the benefit throughout it's life.

If I had to guess with the 8800, I'd guess we won't see the benefit of the extra ram.

I wouldn't worry too much about the lack of SLi maz.... if the worst case scenario comes to pass and everything moves heavily to quad-core, quad-gpu setups, you're only looking at a layout of about 100$ to replace the mobo to get up to where you would need to be to upgrade.

[Captain]

That sounds good. So basically there won't be any demerit to grabbing 320MB instead? I know I would've benefited from 256 on my 6600GT

[AmIdYfReAk]

if you can Swing the 640, do it..

else, get the 320...

[Captain]

Well here are a couple more deals on the 640MB, this time from Canada Computers:

ASUS EN8800GTS - $423
http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do ... 99.243.390

BFG 8800GTS OC nVidia chipset - $423
http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do ... 99.243.390

That $329 GTS Extreme 640 looks perfect, but as Som said it's not available in-store since I just want to walk in and grab my parts.

[SoM]

Well here are a couple more deals on the 640MB, this time from Canada Computers:

ASUS EN8800GTS - $423
http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do ... 99.243.390

BFG 8800GTS OC nVidia chipset - $423
http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do ... 99.243.390

That $329 GTS Extreme 640 looks perfect, but as Som said it's not available in-store since I just want to walk in and grab my parts.

id go with the BFG version, if u cant, then the 320 will suffice

btw, call other tigerdirect near you, then one that i know doesnt have it for in-store is the one at west mall