Conroe Upgrade

[Techie22]

this was posted in the wrong forum:

I have a question about an upgrade when conroe is released

Current rig:
p4 530
sapphire x800 pro Pci-ex
2x1 GB DDR400 Corsair xms
abit ag8 mobo

Now I'm wondering if it would be better to get:

-Choice A
Conroe E6600 - $316
Abit ab9 pro - $182
2x1 GB ddr2 800 corsair xms - $158 (after $40 MIR) (LINK)

or

-Choice B
Conroe E6400 - $224
Abit ab9 - $145
2x1 GB same ram - $158 (after $40 MIR)
Evga 7900gt - $237 (after $25 MIR)(LINK)

I play WoW and some other games frequently, but I'm not sure if I would need a video card upgrade. I've heard that the extra 2 MB Cache and the higher clock speed on the 2 core 2 duo models doesn't make a whole lot of difference. I'll have about $750 to play around with on the 28th. Any ideas?

 

[YO_KID37]

this was posted in the wrong forum:

I have a question about an upgrade when conroe is released

Current rig:
p4 530
sapphire x800 pro Pci-ex
2x1 GB DDR400 Corsair xms
abit ag8 mobo

Now I'm wondering if it would be better to get:

-Choice A
Conroe E6600 - $316
Abit ab9 pro - $119
2x1 GB ddr2 800 corsair xms - $158 (after $40 MIR) (LINK)

or

-Choice B
Conroe E6400 - $224
Abit ab9 pro - $119
2x1 GB same ram - $158 (after $40 MIR)
Evga 7900gt - $237 (after $25 MIR)(LINK)

I play WoW and some other games frequently, but I'm not sure if I would need a video card upgrade. I've heard that the extra 2 MB Cache and the higher clock speed on the 2 core 2 duo models doesn't make a whole lot of difference. I'll have about $750 to play around with on the 28th. Any ideas?

OH Sweet Mother of Shytt a Sub 200$ Mobo that supports CORE 2 DUO Normal and Extreme edition! CHOISE A defenately Or if you want to spend extra cash get a XE6800!!

 

[FatFunkey]

yea thats what i love about abit , there mobos are pretty cheap with what htey come with and there not a pos

 

[MatTheMurdera]

B, but I would wait til u can get a DX10 card, if you dont want to, B is definitly good.

 

[Techie22]

is it worth the wait for a DX10 card? I really only play WoW, and i am getting around 35 fps on average with my current p4 530j. I imagine that when i go to conroe, I will get better frame rates at the same settings....?

 

[lcandy]

Techie22, Choice A would be the way I would go, because it is the way I am going! I will either stick with integrated graphics for the short term until DX10 comes out, or more likely, get a very cheap 7xxx or 1xxx serious gpu to tide me over (once I have decided which route to go down).

You are in an excellent position because you already have a good x800 card to fall back on until that time (if that is what you are intending?). I would estimate that the benefit from the E6600's extra cache will be well worth it in general PC use in the long term. Also I would consider it the best bang/buck CPU out of the lot - from the currently avaiable reviews.

 

[xsandman]

I like option B, cheaper CPU and you can always overclock.

 

[Techie22]

I am not sure if I am planning to Overclock the cpu, but I'm wondering if its worth the wait for next-gen graphics cards...? They will support HDMI right? (the HD-DVD video codec support) Either choice I'll have enough money...

 

[xsandman]

I am not sure if I am planning to Overclock the cpu, but I'm wondering if its worth the wait for next-gen graphics cards...? They will support HDMI right? (the HD-DVD video codec support) Either choice I'll have enough money...

I do not think that they will support HDMI because that would mean the video card would have to do the audio encoding. Remember, DVI and HDMI are pin compatible, you just need the converter. The quality is the same, you just need seperate cables for audio.

 

[Techie22]

so what'll it be guys...choice a or b? (i made a poll) I expect that I will start playing more gpu intense games this fall, so I'm kinda leaning toward choice b myself. However, idk much about overclocking, and the cache does make a difference...

 

[Techie22]

seems as though choice a is getting more hits. I also forgot to mention that I do a lot of video editing, and i have seen that the 4mb cache def helps in those programs.

 

[gudodayn]

Your P530 @3.0GHz aint no slouch either.............
The question you should be asking is if you need the dual CPU processing power?

Why spend the $750 you have now....save it towards something else.

Conroe is good and there's been lots of hype, too and for good reasons!

But buy it because you need it and not because you want or everyone else is doing it!!

Conroe only has a couple of months time before it gets knocked off as the king of the hill.....just the way this tech world is!!

 

[fainis]

that mobo looks sweet....man it`s a beauty

i only have to complain about the lack of coaxial out-put SPIF and that idee connector in the middle of the board .... (i know many would say what the foooooak .. i personally use a coaxial cable for my amplituner )

the sata hot plug looks good ... but there is no power molex connector

well what the foooak it`s a beauty anyway......

as for the cpu .. i would go for the later x6600 looks good (price/performance) ...... but it worths waiting a little for the prices to settle down.......

if it were my choice i would go for a x6800 this mobo, a good pair of memory modules (here i would go for a 800 mhz pair of memories with low latencies (if posible 44412) .... and that`s about it ...i would keep the video card from the other sistem you have (here it worths waiting for the dx10 cards or for the next generation of cards)

good luck

 

[Ycon]

Option A + graphics card

158+119+316 = 593
That means that you can still invest 157 dollars into a better GPU

Have you thought about selling your older components to get more money?

 

[Techie22]

Ya i have thought about selling other components. I have a 19"crt that could go for 50 or 60 on ebay. My current ram could prob sell pretty easily too b/c a lot of ppl still have s939. It might be tough to sell the cpu/mobo though i expect because conroe will make everything obsolete. I don't think its worth it to spend 157 on a gpu because I would prob be getting the same performance.

 

[Techie22]

sorry guys i made an error in calculations..the ab9 pro is available i believe at $182. The ab9 might be $119...not sure.

I think its best to go with choice a, then later this summer get a 7900gt.