What's Next?

[mxer394]

Ok. So I haven't upgraded my computer in about 4 months, and I've decided its time to plot out my next course of upgrades. Here's the list of current hardware:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz
4 GB DDR2 800 RAM (2x2GB)
Asus P5N32E-SLI Mobo
600 Watt PSU
Dual 8800GT's (SLI)
360GB HDD


So, keeping in mind the idea of this computer is to be able to play games well into the future, what should I upgrade next? The GPU, CPU, RAM, Motherboard, or PSU? Or any combination of the five? I have about 360 dollars to spend on this, but the less I have to spend, the better. The next upgrade probably won't be until September of next year, so this is going to be it for quite a while.


Thanks.

[mxer394]

Well, I might be limited to only about 200 pretty soon. But does anyone have any suggestions?

[jlreich]

With a $200 budget start with a new PSU. 750W minimum since you are into dual video cards. You can get a nice 750w PC P&C or Corsair for about $100 after MIR.

There isn't much else you can do with $200 to upgrade from what you already have. Throw in a new 1TB HDD for about $100.

With the new PSU you will be ready for your next big round of upgrades.

[mxer394]

Hmmm.

Pretty much on par with what I was thinking. I was going to put a new PSU into it, then a bit down the road upgrade 3 or 4 things at once.

I was thinking this sort of timeline.

1. PSU
2. Motherboard
3. Cooling System
4. Processor
5. Graphics
6. RAM

Any revisions?

[jlreich]

Well, you pretty much hit the best CPU your board supports without getting into the extreme series, which would be a waste of money. The board does support the E8xxx series which would give you 45nm and 1333FSB, but the board is so limited now that I would go ahead and go with a mobo/CPU/ram all at once to make it worth your while. Since that was/is a great board you are going to need to move into a Core i7 to make it worth it. Which also means no SLI as of yet.

Really, there isn't much you can do to improve things without spending a lot of cash and doing it all at once. You pair of 8800GT's are still serving you well I am sure.

I say hold off and save you money. If you need more hard drive space or something like that yeah, but it's not going to be worth it to get into mobo and such unless you go whole hog.

If there is anything you can do it is upgrade your GPU's, but to significantly improve on you current cards it is going to be tough and costly. And of course that will mean a PSU upgrade first.

[saphalline]

So, keeping in mind the idea of this computer is to be able to play games well into the future, what should I upgrade next?Your games.

Do you have enough of them? COD5? Fallout 3? WotLK?

Any oldies that you still don't have? NOLF? Max Payne? Half-Life?

How about supplies? Bawls? Rockstar Energy Drink? Frozen pizzas?


I agree with jlreich - your next upgrade will be your core. New CPU, mobo, vid card. The whole shootin' match! Best save up for it now, while you still can. September is far away in terms of PC hardware. We'll have the second round of Core i7 and Phenom II by then. And cheap DDR3. And almost-DX11 vid cards. You can't plan that far ahead. The only thing you can do is save up your money and hope you have enough! :D