Its Christmas time, upgrade time...

[Rabs]

Hi there,

I have a little dilemma, first of all I'll give you my system specs:

P4b 2.4@2.8
Silent(?) heat pipe modded with a Aero 4 Blower
Abit BE7-Raid
2 x 256MBMB Corsair XMS PC3500 (433mhz)
Powercolour Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB
2 x Western Digital WD1200JB in Raid 0
Liteon 16x DVD
Liteon 52x32x52 CDRW
Pioneer DVD106 DVD-RW
SB Audigy
Thermaltake Xaser III 2000A Case
AOC 17" TFT
CS 5.1 Speakers + Sub

Now then, my gf's giving me £175 towards a chrissy present and me being me I always treat myself anyway...

I was going to upgrade to something like a Abit IC7-Max3 and a P4 3.2c (which hopefully I should get 3.6 out of...)

My current MB and CPU my brother wants so thats out of the equation. Now then I've just bought myself a shuttle SN45G for downstairs and what a machine! I'm that chuffed with it I was planning to get a Soltek EQ3401A (2 x 5 1/4 drive bays) which would like nice on my desk next to the TFT but that mean ditching my current case (which I like and keeps temps down well) and the idea for IC7-Max3 MB :/ Also I would need another HD then as I'd put the 2 WD's in my server and buy a 250GB JB :/

The third alternative is stop being such a picky basket and buy a widescreen tv or summat.

Any opinions/ideas appreciated

[Bindibadgi]

3.2s are overpriced, youll do just as well with a 3.0 and save £50+

IC7s are well nice though and youve got everything else. Upgradign should be easy u dont even need to reformat with intel chipsets - i went from 845E to 875P without any problems.

[Rabs]

Originally posted by Bindibadgi
3.2s are overpriced, youll do just as well with a 3.0 and save £50+

IC7s are well nice though and youve got everything else. Upgradign should be easy u dont even need to reformat with intel chipsets - i went from 845E to 875P without any problems.

Was there much of a jump in speed, I mean does the system feel smoother, I'm trying to justify the upgrade :/

[Austin]

Your PC is so awesome as is it is hard to say where it would be worth spending that cash. Perhaps do up the Shuttle or go for some dual TFT goodness? I'd say treat the gf/family on a new TV or something along those lines, your PC really doesn't need the extra cash and the perf returns would be small.

I'd suggest the 2.6C, you'll get better speed for less money thanks to a faster FSB, certainly nothign higher than 2.8C. Going from a 2.4 @2.8ghz 600FSB to a 2.6ghz @3.3ghz 1000FSB will give you a boost and added smoothness thanks to HT but would it be a wise place to stick your money? It shouldn't be a long wait (but certainly after Christmas) but I'd say Athlon64 939pin or a Radeon based on the 9800PRO/XT using 0.13mu and clocks around 550/800 would be the time to upgrade.

[Rabs]

Sound advice as ever Austin

I'll think I'll probably wait this one out like you say, Skt 939 AMD/64's Dual Channel is the way to go from my system.

I might treat myself to a widescreen tv or a nice digital 5.1 setup or HTPC...erm...

Anyone else any thoughts?

[chrisf6969]

my upgrade from a 2.53@3.05Ghz(640FSB) to a 2.4@3.6GHz(1200FSB) has not made a big difference in everday use things. (550Mhz+ increase on CPU & FSB + adding HT)

It was already buttery smooth. I also upgraded videocards at the same time(which you already have a good one) So I did get a lot more FPS, but you should be getting enough fps so play just about any game at any resolution you want.

I might wait until you know for a fact if the Abit IC-7 MAX3 will support PRescott, details are still sketchy and they may release some new (Alderwood/Grantdale) chipsets that you have to have to support the Prescott. LIke they did with Tualatin's a while back.

I got my IC-7 back in April knowing it should last me a year. (Before prescotts become cheap and I might need to upgrade mobo's to support it) (or possibly A64's become cheap)

Some companies like ASUS have stated that their 875/865 mobos support PRescott, then they take the statement off the website. So it makes me wonder.