Opinions please for an upgrade box

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pstar008

296 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 3

Topic # 24855 5-Aug-2008 07:34

I have been trying to figure out what kind of components to pick from yesterday, but despite of being doing lots of reading and think about upgrade my box for a year, I even not sure what kind of budget should I stick to.

I think I need a whole new box, the PSU do the jobs but have a loud starting noise for a couple of years. And all the hard drives I got is IDEs. I will keep monitor and mice and KB. I have no problem with the case but figure out I can sell the whole box in trade me to and hopefully will save a couple of hundreds.

This box is for all around. Initially I think around $700 should be enough, but after some research I think something like $800 is more reasonable for my expectation.

Now what on my mind is Inter 8XXX should be ideal, but also could be 7XXX due to my budget and I will definitly go with a fanless 8600 video card,I don't have lots of time for games nowadays but think I will play Fallout3(RGB) after it out.

I live close to C1 and think I will go them for the upgrade.

Many thanks in advance.

pstar008

296 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 3

Reply # 154276 5-Aug-2008 12:31

Ok, this is what I got so far and it is arleay over budget withou a video card:

I am trying to keep my promise to my wife so I need keep it down to $800, and I don't know any good 86XX video under $100, should I consider
go for a 780G system?

pstar008

296 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 3

Reply # 154309 5-Aug-2008 13:53

How is this two card perfromance compared:
A 8400GS:http://www.c1com.co.nz/shop/step1.php?number=14216
and a 8500GT:http://www.c1com.co.nz/shop/step1.php?number=11961
interesting thing is look like the 8400GS have a higher clock frequency compare 8500GT 567M vs 459MHz thus overclocked?

And I am thinking about swap Mother board to a GA-p31-ds3l. I have no idea about which motherboard to pick apart from I know GigaByte and Asus make good ones and did a google and find some radom result thus need a highly critical opinions.

eXDee

4025 posts

Uber Geek
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Trusted

Reply # 154376 5-Aug-2008 16:44

Heres some thoughts one component at a time:
-Crucial Ballistix RAM - very good RAM for overclocking. I'm running some now and apparently you can overclock it above 1000mhz stable. However, you can save $20 by going for something more suitable for your budget, since that stuff is kinda high end. I would suggest SuperTalent DDR2 800 2GB KIT w/ Heatsink or similar which is around $72.
-Thats a good processor, it overclocks very very well with a good cooler, but i don't think you'd be too interested in that. Though you could squeeze a little more performance out of it later (even on stock cooling).
-Motherboard is pretty flash for a budget build, i'd drop this to something a bit cheaper, shouldn't really be costing more than the CPU. That cheaper one you suggested might be a better idea.
-Seagate hard drives are nice, but if you want something which is quiet and fast and a bit bigger, the Western Digital 640gb drives are very good.
-Great choice on the case.
-Now graphics card, an 8400GS doesn't handle h264 all that good, despite the clocks, it doesn't do full acceleration. An 8500 will play it fine though However, you mentioned wanting to play Fallout 3, which im pretty sure will eat the 8500gt for breakfast. If you're wanting to play Fallout 3, i'd suggest going for the 8500gt instead of the 8600, and then upgrading the card when the game is released, otherwise unless they've optimized the game incredibly well (which only companies like blizzard and valve seem to do) you'll be running with all settings on lowest im guessing.

Alternatively, you can change the whole build completely and make it an AMD 780g AM2 setup. However, for the same price point as the e7200 you get a fair bit less power, and less overclocking ability. I'd go intel in this case definitely.

pstar008

296 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 3

Reply # 154468 5-Aug-2008 21:19

eXDee: Heres some thoughts one component at a time:
-Crucial Ballistix RAM - very good RAM for overclocking. I'm running some now and apparently you can overclock it above 1000mhz stable. However, you can save $20 by going for something more suitable for your budget, since that stuff is kinda high end. I would suggest SuperTalent DDR2 800 2GB KIT w/ Heatsink or similar which is around $72.
-Thats a good processor, it overclocks very very well with a good cooler, but i don't think you'd be too interested in that. Though you could squeeze a little more performance out of it later (even on stock cooling).
-Motherboard is pretty flash for a budget build, i'd drop this to something a bit cheaper, shouldn't really be costing more than the CPU. That cheaper one you suggested might be a better idea.
-Seagate hard drives are nice, but if you want something which is quiet and fast and a bit bigger, the Western Digital 640gb drives are very good.
-Great choice on the case.
-Now graphics card, an 8400GS doesn't handle h264 all that good, despite the clocks, it doesn't do full acceleration. An 8500 will play it fine though However, you mentioned wanting to play Fallout 3, which im pretty sure will eat the 8500gt for breakfast. If you're wanting to play Fallout 3, i'd suggest going for the 8500gt instead of the 8600, and then upgrading the card when the game is released, otherwise unless they've optimized the game incredibly well (which only companies like blizzard and valve seem to do) you'll be running with all settings on lowest im guessing.

Alternatively, you can change the whole build completely and make it an AMD 780g AM2 setup. However, for the same price point as the e7200 you get a fair bit less power, and less overclocking ability. I'd go intel in this case definitely.

Hi eXDee, thanks for the reply

I just happened know that RAM is a good one and knowing there is not so much difference and just picked first one looks good, I choose some slightly cheaper one later but your adviced one looks even better.

Not looking for OC now, but good to know I can OC that one if I want.

Actually I have no idea about which Motherboard to pick, I will definitly pick a cheaper one. One thing I find interesting is almost all ASUS board have a 3 years warranty and all Gigabyte one only 1 year, I am little bit tend to pick one with longer warranty if all seems equal.

I have heard some good things about that WD drive, but I pick Segate one only because it have a five years warranty.

About graphics card I think you meant 8500GT instead of 8600? I don't have a huge LCD and hopefully Fallout3 will doing just fine.

With a cheaper motherboard, I think I am just slightyl under my budget.