Upgrade Advice

DatabaseError

Posted elsewhere, but all quiet so far, I used to build a lot of PCs, but been out of the 'loop' for a while, saves a lot of bother.. Having put back an upgrade repeatedly, due to limited funds and a wife+kids, finally my PC died, it's aging nvidia silent 6800 has given up the ghost, just making a short beep with no output, using an old radeon 8500 from the junk box to type this.. So, to begin... Current PC, 570w power supply, asus a8v deluxe, amd 64 3000 socket 939, radeon 8500 AGP, 2x1Gb + 2x 512kb Ram (can't remember the speed) 2x DVD-RW, 2x IDE HDD, 1 crappy case. I don't want to throw good money after bad, so the next video card should be PCI-e, which means changing pretty much everything (mobo, processor, video) I'm happy to build myself (prefer it, really). PC use, general browsing, video encoding + gaming (let down by the 6800 etc). Budget. hopefully around £300 (still low, I know), I've bought plenty from CCL in the past, but I have no problem buying online from scan, ebuyer etc to save a few quid or get faster, I also have no problem overclocking to get that little extra (maybe what killed off the 6800 ) My PC (this one) will be passed to my daughter who's struggling along on a 1.2Ghz beauty Currently running XP, tinkering (badly) with ubuntu) All advice welcome

Conor_3

Intel Core 2 Duo or quad core 6600 CPU (Go for the "Go" stepping as it's a good overclocker). Intel P35/P38 chipset motherboard. Asus are still good but a bit pricey. 8800GT graphics card and 2GB of DDR2. 500GB HDDs are under £40+Vat now. Dual layer DVD+/-RW drives under £20. No need to go mental on the PSU if you get a decent branded one.

mdbarber

if u really cant afford much consider one of the asrock dual boards, these can usually use both agp or pci-e and ddr1 or 2 so u would then be able to utilize the 2x1gb from current machine.
Depends on if u really want the ultra performance of the other boards but i've found the dual boards to offer an easy upgrade path whilst keeping to a reasonable budget

DatabaseError

mdbarber, with the price of RAM nowadays, throwing 2gb or so of new stuff in isnt a worry, my main concern is getting the best performance for the money, back in the day 1ghz was faster than 500mhz etc, now with intels numbering system I have no idea, it looks like core duo 2ghz is half the price of a 2.33, but i know i'm missing something, may have to use google to try to learn the £:performance details, but i was (am) hoping someone on one of the boards (with recent build experience) will do the work for me and say 'this board + this processor + this 8800gt + ram + ide controller card = around £300.. i don't even know which is better anymore, always gone AMD, but intel possibly looking good?!

spakkker

p35 m/b - £60
e2180 cpu - £44
ddr2 800 ram -£30
psu - £35
8800 pci-e £100
case - £25
just a suggestion -I don't game so I would spend extra on cpu e8400 -£133 and save on graphics say 8600 but get the ddr3 version-under £60
I have e2180 running on ip35-e @3400 but for gaming I hear the onboard l2 cache makes a difference hence e8400 choice. The e8xxx cpu replace the e6xxx cpu for less price and more performance they are 45nm technology and should run cooler as they use less power! Google any m/board choice for overclocking as some boards are not o/c-able.
Forgot h/d and dvdr/w could be £60 on top if you dont use existing

mdbarber

tonyhague wrote: »

mdbarber, with the price of RAM nowadays, throwing 2gb or so of new stuff in isnt a worry, my main concern is getting the best performance for the money, back in the day 1ghz was faster than 500mhz etc, now with intels numbering system I have no idea, it looks like core duo 2ghz is half the price of a 2.33, but i know i'm missing something, may have to use google to try to learn the £:performance details, but i was (am) hoping someone on one of the boards (with recent build experience) will do the work for me and say 'this board + this processor + this 8800gt + ram + ide controller card = around £300.. i don't even know which is better anymore, always gone AMD, but intel possibly looking good?!

Do the work for you??, isn't that what a salesman does? asking questions like that from total strangers may get you influenced by some with a vested interest.

sorry, just thought you're post implied "with a leaning" towards "why spend money when i don't have too"
The clock speeds are as important as ever if only for a comparison, for every day use its
amd athlon 64x2/3/pherom am2+
vs intel core2duo/quad
If you are just using this system for general use all the modern chips are very powerfull indeed
i personally own a mixture of amd and intel dual cores and find non of them to be lacking, the amds a little less performance per clock cycle but generally a good bit cheaper at same clock
Asrock are an arm of asus and i have used a dozen or so of their boards and am well impressed at price, you have to ask if that extra few fps in a game is really worth 2 or 3 times the price. if it is then asus are my favs, same with vga cards
One thing worth remembering is the upcoming move to ddr3, whilst prices are high at mo once it becomes mainstream that will change and ddr2 will increase in price so a board that can take both might be worth considering

DatabaseError

mdbarber wrote: »

Do the work for you??, isn't that what a salesman does? asking questions like that from total strangers may get you influenced by some with a vested interest.

I figure ask here and elsewhere, i've been helpful where I can be to others so I'd hope for impartial advise, I can always phone CCL or elsewhere and say spend £300 for me, but I'd rather ask you guys. spakker (love the name ) already have a case (several) and a 570w psu, and 4 drives, I'm not going to buy any more (though i will need to get a controller card), the e2180 seems very cheap up to the next on the list (£44 vs £100 or so), is the performance that much lower? I do want to play games, and every fps does matter, but not to the point I'd pay another £50 to gain 2 or 3 fps, but I'd hate to save £50 and regret it...

spakkker

Hi- it's your choice -you have to decide what are your priorities. Yes it's £90 more but you will have a top modern cpu that should o/c to 4ghz easy- its 3ghz standard and I want one!
Ive read that hardly any games are designed for quad core though this will change.
You could maybe try ebay for used e6600 say £60? Over the life of the system and in relation to total cost a top cpu has never been cheaper. e8400 will be 40-50fps more.

DatabaseError

looking good, rather not buy components from ebay, history unknown and all that..

globalds

I'm upgrading (on a budget) at the moment.
I'm going for the quad core q6600
here is a PSU I just ordered http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/185573/corsair-vx-450w-psu-80-plus-certifi/
Free delivery from scan if you go through AV forums
I also bought some of this RAM
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/116755/show_product_reviews
Just need a Mobo
I was thinking of this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/FATAL1TY-CHIPSET-FSB1066-PCIex16-MOTHERBOARD/dp/B000OUG6EU
and graphics card
I'll be going for the 8800 GT ..I'm just holding out for a bargain...

mdbarber

not a great fan of abit boards, one blew up at 13mth, one had a fault from new, returned to abit (due to fall out with supplier) and they sent me a one with other faults back,, i put it in bin
had a hundred asus, asrock boards and never had a faulty one