Upgrade ideas

[Yosh]

i would say only overclock AFTER you realize that you don't have enough power.

And this takes me back to "should i" go the intel route, or just keep my AMD setup and use a new videocard and psu, because as it stands now the system feels powerful enough to me, it just lacks in some games.

[Yosh]

Hmm decisions:

AMD 64 X2 4600+
Abit KN9S
Corsair XMS 2GB PC6400
XFX 7600GT OC XXX
O/B Sound
Enhance 380W PSU

Considering swapping out to the following setup:

AMD 64 X2 6000+
Abit KN9S
Corsair XMS 2GB PC6400 (x2) 4GB Total
Nvidia 9800GTX+ or ATI 4850
Hiper 530/580w PSU

Can anyone see any issues i might have with this setup. I'm running XP 32bit atm, so i know i wont be able to make use of all the memory.

Just wondering
If those videocards will be ok with my current motherboard
If that psu will be juicy enough for this setup
If i would need to update the bios for that processor

[vmong]

If those videocards will be ok with my current motherboard
should be ok if you have PCI-E slot

If that psu will be juicy enough for this setup
as long as its a good quality one it should be ok, i would recommend the corsair 600watt HX one, only hear good things about Corsair.

If i would need to update the bios for that processor
maybe overclock your existing one to save on cash?

also with the ram, i would get two more 1gb sticks instead of buying a new 2gb sticks. saves £$££$ and you will will use all slots and never be able to get more than 4gb as your on a 32 bit OS

[Yosh]

[B]
If that psu will be juicy enough for this setup
as long as its a good quality one it should be ok, i would recommend the corsair 600watt HX one, only hear good things about Corsair.

If i would need to update the bios for that processor
maybe overclock your existing one to save on cash?

I really would like a Corsair but i do not know if i can budget for it yet, i'll work it out later.

As for Overclocking the current cpu, ill admit its not something i considered, so yes perhaps ill scrub the idea of a 6000 and buy an uprated cpu cooler instead and give it a go

Thanks for the input

[Pob255]

Personally I'd keep what you have, maybe that cpu upgrade, how much is it?
memory is tricky, I still run on 2gb with out any major issues but there are a few games out there where more is better (warhammer online being the main one, but all MMO's in general are memory hungery)

Graphics card, depends on what screen/resolution you run at, you should also consider 9800gt or HD4830 both will be fine for 17"-19" and still cope well on a 20"-22" at high settings.
They will be a major jump up from that 7600gt

Hipper went through a bad period and quite a few of there psu's had issues, they changed manufactor, now they are made by CWT, fairly standard units with Hipper's own custom heatsinks and caseing.
Should be fine but consider other options as well.

All told shouldn't need more than 450-500w for a single graphics card.

[Yosh]

Currently im running at 17" however i considered future proofing myself and theres not much difference in price between the GT > GTX or 4830 > 4850, so thats why i chose the latter of each card.

As for PSU i'm completely stuck, i do have a budget, i would prefer to spend as low as possible, providing the psu is reputable and does its job without issues. Corsair is something i was considering a while ago, but currently the prices are rather high.

[Pob255]

Well bad news is you just missed the nice FSP 700w on Scan today only for £30 keep an eye out and it may be back again.

there's a few you can look at
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/425W-...uard-SafeGuard
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/450W-...PLUS-certified
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/120376

also for cheapness the FSP 450w
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/450w-...I-E-SATA-Ready

[Yosh]

One more question, how many 6 pin connectors does the 4850 or 9800GTX+ need, i've looked on Scan site but for the cards i'm looking at i cannot see this information.

[vmong]

Currently im running at 17" however i considered future proofing myself and theres not much difference in price between the GT > GTX or 4830 > 4850, so thats why i chose the latter of each card.

As for PSU i'm completely stuck, i do have a budget, i would prefer to spend as low as possible, providing the psu is reputable and does its job without issues. Corsair is something i was considering a while ago, but currently the prices are rather high.

no such thing im afraid,

well my 8800gtx needs two, but you will get a converter thing to make a 4 min molex to the pci-e thing.

[PeterStoba]

4850 needs one, i think the 9800gt does too

[vmong]

yeah i think the GT is the lower end model, only GTX and Ultra need two

[Yosh]

no such thing im afraid,

well my 8800gtx needs two, but you will get a converter thing to make a 4 min molex to the pci-e thing.

I can future proof myself if i'll be moving from 17" to 22" or 24" later. i.e. buying the card to power it now.

[Yosh]

yeah i think the GT is the lower end model, only GTX and Ultra need two

I did ask about the GTX, not the GT as PeterStoba pointed out

So the conclusion is 4850 =1, 9800GTX+ = 2, ok thanks

And how about the new ATI drivers, i still read horror stories about people having BSOD's and various issues.

[PeterStoba]

I am running fine on Catalyst 8.12

[Pob255]

Yes 9800gtx+ uses 2 power connectors although there are major questions as to if it actually needs them.
Mainly seems to have two because the 8800gtx had two
I think there's a couple of non-stock 9800gtx+ that only have 1 power connector.