upgrading a comp; i need a pro to answer my Q's please

[losmi8]

Hi. I'm looking to upgrade my computer. I need it to perform two tasks:

Play most video games at res 1440x900 on max everything, or close to max.
Support 2 19" wide screen monitors with ease to run trading software.

Right now I have P4 2.8Ghz, Asus p4c800e deluxe mobo, 1gb ddr2 (I Think it's pc400? they are 800mhz so not sure, I never understood PCxxx markings). My video card sucks, its Ati x1600pro, can't even support CS properly, I have 500w thermaltake powersupply, which I plan on using with the new computer, 200gb hard drive which I also plan to use along with cd-rom/dvd roms...

MY QUESTIONS/CONCERNS:

I am looking at this motherboard: EVGA nForce 680i SE SLI (TR Version)

For CPU, I'm a little confused. Do I want the $299.99 Intel Core 2 Quad or the cheaper Intel Core 2 Duo's...They run at 1333mhz FSB opposed to Core 2 Quad at 1066. -- This is my big question, which to get!?

Memory: This will depend on the CPU I get..I'd like something to match the speeds of both the CPU and Mobo. Someone please explain the PC6400 labels, I'm a little confused there. If I go with 1333mhz FSB and CPU, which memory do I need? I found a pretty good deal on a 2GB of memory..Check it out: <<http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3079597&Sku=O261-7054>>
Will that be good enough? Does "SLI ready" mean anything or just a marketing thing?

Video Card? Big questions here: Do I get one expensive or do I go with two less expensive cards and do the SLi thing?

I'm looking at getting 1 XFX GeForce 8800 GTS Extreme,640MB DDR3; which is going to cost me around $330 ...or am I better off getting two BFG GeForce 7600 GT OC / 256MB GDDR3 for a cost of $250.
or maybe two of XFX GeForce 7950 GT Video Card - 550M, 512MB DDR3; which will run me $400.

Okay. That would be all :), someone please take a few minutes to answer my questions as I really want to get a nice computer in which all the parts will work flawlessly together. I'm not looking to spend a ton of money either.Thank you soo much in advance for even taking the time to read all this. Enjoy the weekend people! :)

[George Hallam]

ok the EVGA board is fine and so if your choice of memory..

if i were you i would go with a lower range Core 2 Duo and in January a whole new range on 45nm CPU's are being released and with squash them into the ground :p

about your choice on graphics cards :D

I'm looking at getting 1 XFX GeForce 8800 GTS Extreme,640MB DDR3; which is going to cost me around $330 ...or am I better off getting two BFG GeForce 7600 GT OC / 256MB GDDR3 for a cost of $250.
or maybe two of XFX GeForce 7950 GT Video Card - 550M, 512MB DDR3; which will run me $400.


way off

get the 8800GT (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3441351&CatId=1826) :D
half the price of a 8800GTX with only 10% less performance :eek:
and will blow away any 7*** series away

look at these benchmarks

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/2690/benchbfp9.png

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/9317/benchdfd0.png

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/1517/benchckg9.png

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/2492/benchgju5.png

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/1682/benchjga0.png

(I Think it's pc400? they are 800mhz so not sure, I never understood PCxxx markings)

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/7898/99873514sx0.png

the "800Mhz" stands for the speed and the "6400" tells you how many Mb/s

[losmi8]

wow, thanks for your detailed help! :)

so, i'm going with the mobo i mentioned, memory i mentioned, as for the CPU, which would you recommend specifically? i don't think i'll be upgrading it for another 2 years, so i just want something that'll be able to support the mobo, mem and the video card.

ok, i will go with your video card recommendation, it sounds very good. it doesn't look like i'll need two of em anyway to play most games at 1440x900.

ok, so someone just let me know which Core 2 Duo to go with. Like I said, I need it for gaming, and support of two monitors, so it needs to run streaming software on one screen while i browse the internet on the other. nothing too fancy.

thanks again!!

[George Hallam]

it ok thats what were here for ;)

ok if you do thing i said about getting cheap now and buying a new topish line CPU in January-February time i would go with this one now
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3238779
and when you get some money next year post back and i will recommend a good one then

or

if you want a good CPU now i would recommend the Q6600
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2905631

but if your made of money intel has released one 45nm extreme CPU but it will cost you an arm and a leg
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3451428

Edit: just a thought have you got a bit more detail on your PSU handy?

[losmi8]

PS. Is there a cheaper version of 8800GT? I see MSI versions going for $233...Are they the same? As long as it's "8800GT".
I will go with your CPU rec. I think I'll be find with Core 2 Duo for now. I can always buy the new stuff if they don't make a new socket and my mobo doesn't comply.

About my PSU: It's a Thermaltake Silent PurePower 480W ...That's all I know?

Also, the memory I listed above (ram) ...will it run as fast as the CPU/mobo? Cpu says 1333FSB, and mobo says it can support 1333fsb...what about the memory?

[losmi8]

on newegg.com, i'm seeing a 680mhz XFX 8800GT for 309.00 ...on tigerdirect.com there is a 600mhz Nvida 8800GT for 299.99 ...is it worth the extra $10 to go with XFX (not sure how reliable they are)?

MSI sells for 240$ ..should I go with that? Shed some light :)

[George Hallam]

About my PSU: It's a Thermaltake Silent PurePower 480W ...That's all I know?

i just want to make sure if you have a 6pin wire on it.. do you?

looks like this if your not sure

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/7786/050215b06dj8.jpg

the RAM will be fine
1333Mhz FSB/4 = 333Mhz (quad data rate)
DDR2 800Mhz/ 2 = 400Mhz (double data rate)

yes XFX and MSI are both good makes, the 680Mhz vs the 600Mhz will make a small difference (5-10%) and will be worth the $10 but the MSI at $240 is a bargin and the 60Mhz for $60 is not really worth it.. but :p the faster the better if i was you i would go with the XFX

[losmi8]

i don't have that...but you get the adapter that'll turn into that from a standard 4 pin power supply cord. i should be okay there..


i have a new problem now!! ahhh. the mobo i wanted to get, it doesn't support PCIe 2.0! And the 8800 GT is PCIe 2.0 ...what do i do now!? I can't seem to find a mobo that has PCIe 2.0 and able to support nvida cards.

So frustrating..I'm also hearing that Nvida will come out with 9 series that'll push the price of 8800 GT down a lot..Is this true?

[George Hallam]

the good thing about PCIe 2.0 is its backwards compatible with PCIe 1.0 so no worries there the 8800GT doesn't utilize all that bandwidth anyway..

the X38 MOBO's are the only ones supporting PCIe 2.0 and they do support Nvidia cards they just don't officially support SLI

So frustrating..I'm also hearing that Nvida will come out with 9 series that'll push the price of 8800 GT down a lot..Is this true?
Reply With Quote
not to soon i dont think, but its bound to happen some time :(

[losmi8]

so you are saying i can go ahead and get the PCIe 1.0 mobo ..it won't slow down the card that much/or at all?

I decided on the ram, video card (thank you so much for that), cpu you recommended, and now the mobo is left..

Right now I have 2x512MB OCz ram in my computer...It's PC5300 ..you think i should put that in and use it with the ram im getting..or will that just confuse the mobo and slow down everything?

[George Hallam]

so you are saying i can go ahead and get the PCIe 1.0 mobo ..it won't slow down the card that much/or at all?

nah wont make any difference only with future graphics cards it will.

i would leave out the RAM it will slow the 800Mhz down to 667Mhz which it quite suky

about MOBO choices either go with a 680i chipset if you want SLI or go with a X38 chipset if you want 100% support for 45nm CPU's, PCIe 2.0 and crossfire (also there is rumors that it does support SLI)

[losmi8]

one more laaast question :)

I made a final decision. I'm going with


1.OCZ SLI-Ready Edition Dual Channel 2048MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz
($84 - $35 mail in rebate)
2.EVGA nForce 680i SE SLI (TR Version) Motherboard - NVIDIA, Socket 775
($159 - $10 mail in rebate)
3.Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Processor - 2.66GHz, 4MB Cache, 1333MHz FSB
($199)
4.EVGA 512-P3-N802-A3 GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3
($299 + Free Crysis game)

Total Cost: $750 ....Will eventually get $45 in rebates and the free game.

Will this thing be in good shape for at least 2 more years? And will everything run at 1333Mhz or does that not even matter?

Thank you so much for your help George!!

[losmi8]

Oh, and will this be able to run Crysis/Call of Duty 4 at max everything at 1440x900 res?

And :), sorry, am I better off getting a CPU that runs at 1066 or 1333mhz?

Ok, thats it. I promise :)

[George Hallam]

And will everything run at 1333Mhz or does that not even matter?

doesn't matter everything runs at different speed thats just the FSB of the CPU's


Will this thing be in good shape for at least 2 more years?

yes it will work for two years, but will it be able to play top lines games in two years is another question :p. CPU should be ok, RAM you may need another 2GB (simple), but its recommended you upgrade your graphics card once a year to keep it inline for newer games but you can SLI yours together so that will help

anytime mate ;)

[George Hallam]

Oh, and will this be able to run Crysis/Call of Duty 4 at max everything at 1440x900 res?

And , sorry, am I better off getting a CPU that runs at 1066 or 1333mhz?

Ok, thats it. I promise

your system will laugh at COD 4 at full :D mine does

crysis well you will be able to play on high but no system (no none :eek:) can play it will amazing frame rates at ultra high with a large amount of AA and AF

your better off getting a 1333Mhz FSB
-faster
-cheaper
-newer

[George Hallam]

for COD 4 framerates look at these

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/3893/cod41600ej5.gif

the 8800GT would be just above the 8800GTS SLI