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Thread: Help! Upgrade Suggestions please

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    Help! Upgrade Suggestions please

    Hi
    I am in need of some advice.
    I was just given a XFX 8800 Ultra as a present.
    Unfortunately my system at the moment is a P4 Prescott 3.2GHz with a Intel Perl M/b and a geforce 6800 AGP, 2 GHz RAM.

    I have been out of the PC scene for some time and am way behind on the latest technology, though I realise I dont have a choice and have to get a new motherboard with a PCIe slot.

    I figure i may as well get a new CPU too, but im not sure what combo would be best. (Also Intel or AMD?)

    I am willing to spend about £250-300, what options do I have?

    thanks in advance.

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    finding nemo staffsMike's Avatar
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    • staffsMike's system
      • Motherboard:
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      • CPU:
      • e6600
      • Memory:
      • geil ultra pc6400
      • Storage:
      • WD 320gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • leadtek 8800 GTS 640mb
      • PSU:
      • ocz gameXstream 700w
      • Case:
      • akasa eclipse
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    Re: Help! Upgrade Suggestions please

    If it's just cpu, ram and mobo then try this.

    Abit IP-35 ~£70 but can be found cheaper IP-35
    4GB (2x2GB) PC6400 ~ £60 GeIL 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-6400
    Intel Q6600 quad core ~ £150 Q6600
    or Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 for £130 which overclocks to around 4.0GHz apparently.

    will need a cooler to overclock it as it will hit 3.4GHz +
    scythe ninja

    Thats all between £250 - £300

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    Re: Help! Upgrade Suggestions please

    Thanks
    Thats very helpful.

    Just another couple of quick questions with regard to future proofing (as I have been doing some research)

    Would it be worth buying a mobo with 2 pcie slots in case in the future i want to have 2 video cards going?

    I read an article about AMD spider system where future CPUs will fit in current mobos. Do you think its worth choosing AMD on this merit?

    Thanks again.

    Cheers

  4. #4
    finding nemo staffsMike's Avatar
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    • staffsMike's system
      • Motherboard:
      • evga 680i
      • CPU:
      • e6600
      • Memory:
      • geil ultra pc6400
      • Storage:
      • WD 320gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • leadtek 8800 GTS 640mb
      • PSU:
      • ocz gameXstream 700w
      • Case:
      • akasa eclipse
      • Monitor(s):
      • dell 2007wfp and Lg L194WT
      • Internet:
      • pipex homecall

    Re: Help! Upgrade Suggestions please

    I'd love to recommend AMD, but even on that merit it's not worth it right now. The phenoms just can't compete (even at stock) with the Intel and the intels can overclock like crazy.

    with regard to the 2 graphics slots. Considering the graphics card you have you would need a nvidia chipset motherboard to support SLi and the good boards are expensive and not that great.

    Dual graphics cards often don't represent good value for money and your ultra is going to last a long long time

    Both ATi and Nvidia are doing dual GPU on a single card options now or very soon in the case of nvidia so you should only ever need 1 graphics slot.

    All my opinions of course but i'm sure most will agree.

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    Re: Help! Upgrade Suggestions please

    Excellent thanks very much.

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    Re: Help! Upgrade Suggestions please

    Sorry one last question i forgot to mention before.

    I have a 600w power supply that i was hoping to keep. it is a bit older but has a 6pin PCIE plug. Only problem is the 8800ultra needs two.
    I also have an extension cord that goes from molex to pcie 6 pin, i thought i could use. But it says in the user guide of the video card that this isnt sufficient.

    Is that true? or are they just covering themselves in case it blows up?

    If not what PSU should i purchase?

    thanks

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    Re: Help! Upgrade Suggestions please

    Ill add the question above in a new post.

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    finding nemo staffsMike's Avatar
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    • staffsMike's system
      • Motherboard:
      • evga 680i
      • CPU:
      • e6600
      • Memory:
      • geil ultra pc6400
      • Storage:
      • WD 320gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • leadtek 8800 GTS 640mb
      • PSU:
      • ocz gameXstream 700w
      • Case:
      • akasa eclipse
      • Monitor(s):
      • dell 2007wfp and Lg L194WT
      • Internet:
      • pipex homecall

    Re: Help! Upgrade Suggestions please

    Hmm not heard of that before I though molex to PCIe would be fine.

    If it isn't I would go for the corsair 520w HX whisper. It's around £60 but it's a solid performer and silent in operation. It has 2x6 pin's with an additional 2 pins on each so you can use 8pin PCIe cards

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    Re: Help! Upgrade Suggestions please

    There is a foldout guide in the XFX box with big diagrams showing what not to do.
    Im sure it is more cautionary than practical but its scared me out of using it now. The cost of a new video card is so much more than a PSU.

    Thanks

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    • UseItNow's system
      • Motherboard:
      • It's holding everything together!
      • CPU:
      • It's in my PC
      • Memory:
      • It's remembering, alright?
      • Storage:
      • It's a hard drive, what more do you want?
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Cr*p, there I said it!
      • PSU:
      • It's old and juicy!
      • Case:
      • Bog standard!
      • Operating System:
      • You Got To Ask? I'm here at Hexus because of it!
      • Monitor(s):
      • Big Enough, Yay For Me!
      • Internet:
      • Hell if I know, care anymore?

    Re: Help! Upgrade Suggestions please

    Corsair HX520, quiet it is, can't even hear it in my system.

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