Upgrade Advice

[wedge22]

Thinking about upgrading to some newer spec for mobo, cpu and RAM, not fussed about AMD or Intel, just looking for the best bang for my buck. Would like to use the same case and PSU if possible though, my current RIG is in my profile.

[Domestic_Ginger]

You could go i5 750. IMO your system is already not very far behind the best bang for buck combos! The AMD offerings will only offer extra (slower) cores and Intels best is the i5 750.

If I was in your postion I would wait for bulldozer or sandybridge next year. Thinking they will offer a larger improvement than the systems currently available over your 8400.

Your system can't be much of a slouch! you could always OC it a bit more if it is feeling a bit slow. A nice copy of windows 7 perhaps may give a boost. Your case and PSU shoul dbe fine with any upgrade.

To get rid of that upgrade bug I have resigned myself to having a spring clean when I want to spend any more cash.

[Phage]

Depends on how much you want to spend. the 6-core release should depress the prices of the rest of the range, but I wouldn't recommend it as a purchase yet.
i7-860 and i7-930 look sweet to me, but it's down to your wallet !

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I would either stick with what you have or get a secondhand Q9550 or Xeon X3360 for under £150. OcUK had a few X3360 processors for around £110 a few days BTW.

TBH,it would be better going for either Intel Sandy Bridge or AMD Bulldozer next year.

Regarding the AMD Phenom II X4 , a 3.4GHZ Phenom II X4 965 trades blows with a 3GHZ Core2 Q9650:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/defau...=49&p2=102&c=1

Next month the Phenom II X6 and the new Phenom II X4 960T quad core are being released. These are supposed to implement some form of Turbo Boost function and are compatible with both DDR2 and DDR3 motherboards it seems.

[jim]

Agreed, I doubt you'll see the benefit of a new motherboard/chipset/architecture especially considering how cheaply you can get hold of a Yorkfield these days.

Then maybe go the whole hog a bit later on.

[wedge22]

Thanks for the advice guys, I am now scouring Ebay for a Q9550

[wedge22]

Well after trying with no luck for a well priced Q9550 I tried to overclock my E8400 to 4Ghz and it worked.
I just went into BIOS and set it up like so 440FSB x 9 Multiplier Memory at 2.0 I had to up the voltage on the CPU to 1.35v and add +0.3v to my RAM but that was it. I ran Prime 95 torture test for 5 hours, no issues at all, max Temp reached was 56C. I am chuffed.

[dirky]

Good job, saved yourself a bit there