29 replies to this topic

[Chris82]

Alright, well it's been almost a year since I've had my current PC. If you'll recall, it has:

AMD Athlon 4000+ @ 2.4GHz
1GB of PC3200 DDR RAM
ATi Radeon x1800GTO (256mb, PCI-e)

Well, I think it's time for an upgrade. While it does fine in games right now (great fps, max settings in CS:S, TF2, etc...) it is a little slow sometimes when closing intense games/applications and really, I am in desperate need for two things:

1. Multi-core processor
2. Moar RAM

So I've decided to take the high road and completely swap out the motherboard for a different processor socket and faster ram.

The reason I'm doing this is because Socket 939 is pretty much dead, there are only around 10 or so of them on NewEgg and almost all of them are slower than my current proc/single-core...

And more expensive.

So basically, I'm looking at an AM2 processor, 2GB of RAM, and a new mobo to tie it up.

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
ASUS M2N-E SLI

It'll be around $300 for all of it. I don't know what my budget will exactly be, but being that getting a comparable processor and the same amount of RAM would be slightly over $400, I think this is better. I'm getting quality RAM, a better processor which is dual-core, and a new motherboard for cheaper than getting new components for my 939 board.

I'm not getting an Intel, I'm keeping my case, hard drive, video card, PSU, etc...for now...

Another thing, this monitor is getting...old. As much as I love using a 5-year-old 17'' CRT as a monitor, I'm getting this TV to use as both an HDTV for my 360 and I'll probably end up using it as a monitor.

Thoughts, suggestions, etc...

[Novahawk]

Well if you want to have an upgradable rig, LGA775 would be a much smarter move, because you can get an inexpensive Intel now (OC the crap out of it), and upgrade to an QX later...

But otherwise, if you stick with AMD, it looks good...

[Sniprwulf]

Suggestion:

Screw that TV on newegg and wait until black friday.

Thougths:

As I understand you might be getting that itch to upgrade, just consider what'll be out in the next six months. I have a closely identical setup to you and its almost 2 and a half years old. Theres obviously differences between needs and wants; if I were you I'd rather just spend some money on a sweet monitor/tv instead right now.

[The Drizzle]

Thats really not much of an upgrade. Ill sell you my opteron 165 that you can overclock to 2.8ghz on stock voltage(with the right parts that is) for cheap and then go buy yourself some more ram.

Processor

Motherboard

Get the same ram that you are looking at with the AM2 system, and you are golden. Overclock that baby to 3.0ghz no problem, and you have one sweet ass rig right there. If you are looking at spending around $140, get the E4400 or E4500.

Whats so bad about the intel processors? That AM2 system really isnt going to help you all that much. BTW, with that monitor, It isnt really 720p, it will scale 720p signals(like from your 360 and HDTV box) up to 1440x900, which could make it not look so hot. That is really dependent on your situation, like how far you sit from it and how good the scaling chip is on the inside.

[Chris82]

Hmm...ok, so will this give me better performance than this? (Not including overclocking)

Suggestion:

Screw that TV on newegg and wait until black friday.

Obviously I'm not going to buy that TV on NewEgg, I mean something similar to that in-store, fuck paying $20 for shipping.

[Mandraque]

if your gona update so often you might as well wait and make a big one later on. The difference wont be much. and as others added, intel would be nice, mainly cause of the o/c, but w/e turns you on. The deal you are looking at isnt that bad at all.....just not enough to make it worth 300.


Do as Sniprwulf said.

[wondergod]

that motherboard has great reviews and my friend absolutely loves it. I would check to see if the mobo will be compatible with phenoms in case you ever just want to do a slight upgrade.

As for the RAM your choice is good but here is another option...this G Skill RAM has good reviews and a friend of mine has this series and he has no problems...however always check mobo compatibility first...

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820231098

As for the LCD TV/Monitor...I would stay away from these, default 720p/1080i is a res of 1366x768. So if they say the Monitor does more than that then its doing a hardware upscale which is probably not so bad if its a few feet away but if your using on within 3 feet it will probably be noticeable.

[Chris82]

Well the thing is that with the TV, it's probably going to be somewhat immediate so yeah, I doubt it's that exact model, I just found something with similar attributes (size, response time, 720p, etc...) as in the store.

About the computer, I feel the need for 2GB of RAM and a dual-core processor to eliminate slowdown. Episode Two was probably the first game I really had some slowdown with at max settings (haven't tried Crysis lol) but seriously, BF2, TF2, etc...when I exit those games and sometimes in-game, I stutter like a bitch and notice major slowdown. Dual-core/2GB will fix that for me. At this point, I really don't care if it's an Intel or AMD, as long as it's the cheapest with the best performance. Hence the question in my last post.

[Mandraque]

replying to your last post, acording to tomshardware.com, the AMD is a bit faster.

[Billy Pumper]

chris if you are going to get a new tv you should really hold off untill you could afford a good 1080p. In my experience you can really tell the difference in the 720p and the 1080p. 1080 seems much crisper and you will be getting a higher resolution. Since you are getting such a small one i think you should check out the new ULTRA SHARP monitor from dell i think it only comes in 24 inches or bigger but it is bad ass. The pricetag is not much more than what you have. I have played with one and i want one but i really wanted to go 37 inches for my monitor. IDK i might just get it and use it as the primary with the 37 inch as my secondary for movie watching and stuff. I know you want to use your Monitor as a tv too and it should not be a problem. anyway

OK i just found what i am getting click for teh monitor porn

[DarkShadow]

Chris whatever you do, Ignore wondergod, buying cheap ram = bad.

[Billy Pumper]

agreed and im sure you already know this. just resist the urge to put 3-4 gigs of ram in you computer. (its funny how people are using "omg 3 gigs" of ram as a selling point) just get 2 gigs of good, fast stuff and you will be rolling. goodluck with your mods. I will likely be doing mine over christmas break.

then we can compare e-penises

[Chris82]

I know, 3GB of RAM is goddamn retarded and XP won't make use of 4GB so yeah.

I'm probably going to get this processor it looks shecksy.

[ashbash]

if chris knows so much about PC's at his age, by 16 he will have taken over the world i guarentee it

[The Drizzle]

Hmm...ok, so will this give me better performance than this? (Not including overclocking)



Obviously I'm not going to buy that TV on NewEgg, I mean something similar to that in-store, f*ck paying $20 for shipping.

The diffrence would be very minimal at stock speed. Those things are born to overclock, stock speed is 2.2ghz, but should hit 3.0 or 3.2 no problem, even with crappy ddr2-800 ram(using memory dividers). Since the E4500 has a 800mhz fsb(200) and a 11x multi, you would get it to 275fsb(1500) for 3.0ghz. The P35 boards, like the abit i showed above, have to run 333 for the new 1333fsb processors, so you have plenty of headroom. Read up here, good article from xbit labs. They use the E4400, which has a 10x multi, but they are the same thing essentially.

[DarkShadow]

Fuck you for suggesting a c2d.

[wondergod]

Chris whatever you do, Ignore wondergod, buying cheap ram = bad.

his RAM selection $68 with mail in rebate $38
My RAM choice $54 dollars

Yes his RAM is Corsair but it is in their lower set with 5-5-5-12 @ 1.8V rating

My choice is also 5-5-5-15 but its rated from 1.8-2.0V and after a quick google search people have been getting 4-4-4-12 on the same mobo Chris suggested by overvolting from stock mobo reading, 1.8, to 1.9~ which is still within Manufacturer's approved voltage ratings.

I'm not stating the RAM I choose is the best ram in the world but in that price range it is another viable choice.

However yes if you can spend 200+ I could choose some sick RAM, however its clear from his selection he is not looking to spend 200+.



Good luck Chris.

[Mandraque]

f*ck you for suggesting a c2d.

its surprising that drizzle didn't see this coming. These arguments always end the same way, AMD is better than Intel because Intel is the evil.

[The Drizzle]

im evil too so it dosent matter

[DarkShadow]

No, actually its because intel change their fucking sockets in a very gay method, Instead of making you buy a new motherboard, they will let you work with what you've got, but with the lack of new features that their newer lines have.

Like those fucking pentium-D kids crying because when they upgraded to a C2D their board didn't support the new memory, etc, etc. Just look at the 680I chipset for example, their like *some will work, Some will not*, What the fuck is that, Seriously, if you spend 240ish for a board, The fucking thing should work without question.

oh and Intel's resistance with nForce chips, Seriously, thats the biggest drawback for me is the lack of nForce support, I'm sorry, but anybody who thinks VIA is even close to on par with the newer nForce chips is a downright fucking idiot, those are the stupidest BIOS sets I've ever seen in my life, how the fuck is it hard to read the memory timings automatically? Seriously, you should Never have to manually set the timings manually unless your overclocking.

thats one thing that the major chipmakers and AMD have worked out properly, the ability to not suck dick when making a Motherboard.