Need help upgrading computer

Hi guys,

I'm new to this forum and need opinions about some questions.

1. I want to buy a new mobo for my computer, but i don't know which brand (Gigabyte or ASUS) and don't know the chipset (Nforce 570 or 590)

2. I'm thinking of buying the following processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ 2.6GHz HT 1MB AM2 Box. I think this is a great processor or are there some opinions against this.

More to come, but first need opinions about these questions.

Greetz

Tom

My current system:

Gigabyte 7VAxp Pro
AMD 2600+
2x512 MB kingstone memory
Ati Radeon 9700 XT 256MB

Think this is the only things that are of real consern. I gone upgrade my computer, so somethings will be reused (not much because i cannot use my memory and graficscard again)

My budget is around the €800 (I'm dutch so no dollars). I'm gone buy stuff from these sites www.sallandautomatisering.nl and www.4launch.nl (if someone needs to see the prices).

The things i want to buy new are:
Mobo
CPU
Memory
Grapicscard
HDD (raptor for OS if the budgets let me)

Think that was all.

Thanks for helping me.

Tom

Suggested Changes:

Motherboard: Abit Ab9 Pro € 159,00

RAM: TWIN2X2048-6400C4 € 273,07

Maybe i'm wrong, i've seen the benchmarks of the conroe processor and maybe i need to try that one.

here is a direct link to the second webshop:
http://www.4launch.nl/4launch.php? [...] p/home.php

Greetz

Tom

i'm going to buy the Conroe e6600 for sure. the mobo will become the ASUS p5w DH deluxe or the ASUS p5wd2-E.

For RAM i was thinking of 1 or 2 GB of OCZ. For graphics a Nvidia card.

So hope you can help me further.

Tom

is there a specific reason why you choice these mobo's? or is there a benchmark somewhere so i can see the test results of them?

Tom

The mobo may be as expensive as the p5w DH deluxe. Is this a great mobo or isn't it. I've it is great i'm gone buy it.

Tom

great, can I have some advice from you about memory and graphicscards??

Tom

Is this a good power supply : OCZ Powersupply Modstream 520W
http://www.ocztechnology.com/produ [...] wer_supply

Greetz

Tom

Really don't know which Graphicscard i must take, Nvidia or ATI. The mobo i will buy (P5W DH Deluxe) supports crossfire so maybe an ATI card is better?.

Tom

Searching for a graphicscard around the €250. so the X1900XT is way to expensive.

Tom

I'm gone buy a TFT to so i must make somethings cheaper, such as memory 1GB instead of 2 GB maybe other mobo and cheaper graphicscard.

Maybe some advice?

Tom

Hey,

are there any more "Cheaper" mobo's for e6600 or is it not wise to cut money on the mobo.

For the memory i'm planing to buy 1GB (2x512MB) OCZ pc6400 CL4 memory. that's the only thing i think i know for sure at the moment.

Tom

Hey an update from me .

The budget will be around € 750 so a little bit less then before, these things i need to buy from that:

Mobo
CPU -->> e6300 or e6400 (overclocked)
Memory
GPU -->> 7600 GT or 800XT (depends on SLI or crossfire support mobo)
PSU -->> about 500W ( The following are very nice in my eyes
http://www.coolermaster-europe.com [...] ther_title or http://www.coolermaster-europe.com [...] r_title=0)

I don't know how good you can OC the processor with the fan in the Box, so maybe an other CPU fan would be nice.

All help is appriciated.

Tom

hmm, This PSU is cheaper OCZ ModStream 520W and i think it's a great PSU.

Can you give me some concreet advices on products so I can look at them.

SLI/crossfire maybe worthless but I will not buy another one in a long time (i hope).

Hope you can still help me.

Tom

What would you buy if you could spent the money I have and needed the parts i need?

Tom

I like it but I really need memory and no 2 GPU's

Tom

Forget Crossfire dude.... ]just forget about it. It's a waste of money. If you were to get the P5W DH Deluxe, you don't need a Corssfire certified PSU (if there is such a thing.... the only multi-GPU certification i've heard of is SLI). The only way you would need a Crossfire certified PSU is if you were to actually set up a Crossfire configuration. And even then you don't NEED the Crossfire certification..... it's nothing more than a label and a price hike. Any 500W supply or higher would do fine. Even the OCZ Modstream supply would work.

And just because you have a Crossfire certified PSU does not mean you HAVE to get an ATI video card. The supply won't detect that it's giving power to an Nvidia card and shut itself off...... they don't do that.

On another note, Yes, I was refering to the regular Asus P5B. If I was refering to the P5B Deluxe, I would have said in my last post "Asus P5B Deluxe" I'm very specific and picky about things like that to avoid as much confusion as possible.

Between the X800XT and the Geforce 7600GT (which recommending both was a mistake on my part, I was slightly distracted while making that post) I would say take your pick. If you prefer ATI, go for the X800 card, if you're an Nvidia fan, go for the 7600. Also consider what fits into your budget. Both are good cards from which to make the jump to DX 10.

For the RAM, I would go for 2GB (unless it won't fit your budget) You can get away with using CAS 5 ram since this is an Intel system you're building. Either OCZ or Corsair are good brands, again find what fits within your budget. Here is my pick for your RAM.

The biggest apparent difference between 965 and 975 is the overclocking ability. The 975 is apparently much better. There are a few exceptions though, like the Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3. If you're not planning on overclocking by more than 800Mhz, I wouldn't worry about it.

If you're not going up by any more than 600Mhz, get a 965 based board. If you want to go higher, grab a 975X. I believe all of the 975X boards support Crossfire, but i'm not 100% positive about that. Crossfire is a waste of money though, unless you are going to game as resolutions over 1600 x 1200, AND you can get both cards within 2 months of each other.

I now know my budget for sure, it's €800 (not more)

Tom

i've readed on Anandtech that the i965 chipset isn't as good in OC and has lower preformances then the 975x chipset. I really don't know if this is true or if you only encounter it if you're a hardcore gamer (i'm not) or if you are an extreme OC'er (i'm not).

Please some help.

Tom

Like I keep saying Tom, drop to the E6300 for € 190.50 and save yourself the money. Also switch to the OCZ Modstream 450W for € 79.00. Then swap the RAM for OCZ 2x1GB DDR2 SDRAM PC6400 CL5.0 Ops XTC €217.50

After these changes, we are left with € 123.50 to work with.

For the video card, I would go for the Radeon X1600Pro OC 256MB DDR3 DVI/TV € 115.50

I am fairly sure the P5B supports a memory voltage of 2.0. If the BIOS is set to a lower voltage by default, you should still be able to get into the BIOS and raise the voltage. It may take a few tries though.

OK, with the € 552.05 left......

CPU: Intel Core 2 E6300 € 187.50

Motherboard: Asus P5B Deluxe € 189.50

Power Supply: OCZ Modstream 450W € 92.50

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon X1300 Pro € 74.50