Upgrade Advice

Azazel · Jun 21, 2007, 12:41:39

Im currently running an AMD based system on quite an old socket 939 motherboard, im looking at an upgrade seeing as memory and processor tech has moved on substantially since i bought this.

The spec im looking at getting is this:

Asus Striker Extreme (Nvidia 680i chipset)
Intel Quad Core 6600 2.4ghz 8mb Cache
2GB EPP DDR2 800mhz memory (SLI mode takes it 1200mhz memory)

All the above should set me back around £450-500 (based on the forecasted intel CPU price cuts)

I already purchased a brand new 700w PSU as i upgraded my graphics card recently to a 8800GTX so i got enough juice for the processor and i have a pair of SATA 300 250gb drives.

Would anyone advise a different motherboard and anyone have any advice on a particular memory brand, im looking into Corsair and Crucial (dominator and ballistix respectively) anyone got any other recommendations?

Rik · Jun 21, 2007, 12:46:29

What are you going to be running on the machine? I just wonder whether a Core Duo over-clocked might offer better VFM? I'd go with Corsair RAM myself.

Azazel · Jun 21, 2007, 13:01:11

Gaming mainly, planning on using vista 64bit, given that the rumors flying around that 22nd of July they are slashing 40-50% off all their new dual core and quad core CPU in advance of their new range of processors i think value for money is gonna be good i mean where else would you get 4 CPU for approx £160.

Rik · Jun 21, 2007, 13:04:08

I knew I should have waited a while longer before buying the new machine!

RobMc · Jun 21, 2007, 13:38:48

If you are planning to run a Windows 64Bit Operating System, either XP or Vista, make sure that all your hardware has fully supported 64Bit drivers. Sorry if this is really obvious, but it is really important.

Rob

mrapoc · Jun 22, 2007, 11:31:58

That should be a good system!!

The striker is one of the highest performing boards to date!

Good ram brands - Mushkin, OCZ, Corsair (wouldnt really go for crucial), Super talent (really good performance here), patriot make good stuff too

Just look at the brand, the price and specs (if overclocking is your thing you will need some tight/low default timings with a high speed RATED that is)

Supanova · Jun 22, 2007, 13:22:49

i could be wrong here but isn't Vista very unfriendly to games given that vista OS idles using 740MB RAM....?

RobMc · Jun 22, 2007, 14:04:44

Quote from: Supanova on Jun 22, 2007, 13:22:49
i could be wrong here but isn't Vista very unfriendly to games given that vista OS idles using 740MB RAM....?

Don't know about that figure, mine "idles" using a lot less memory than that. Although it has to be said that 1GB of ram needs to be considered minimum, this is what I have on my laptop and it is perfectly adequate for my laptop needs, but I would recommend 2GB in a desktop PC. As a non-gamer, I can't suggest whether Vista is better or worse than an equivalent XP pc for such things.

Rob.

mrapoc · Jun 22, 2007, 19:15:46

I use server 2003 - much better than both!

Cant wait for server 2008 - its everything vista has, only minus all the cr*p (aero etc.)

My server 2003 idles and maxes at 200/500 respectively (Both figures are while folding both cores, max being after on average 3 different games, winamp, firefox and msn messenger)