Upgrading My CPU, Motherboard & RAM

[harv7722]

Hi, all this is my first post on this forum. Well anyway i'm looking to upgrade my CPU, Motherboard & RAM, done alot of research on the Intel Core 2 DUO E6600, like the sound of that, but finding it hard to find a good motherboard, same with the RAM, could someone please point me in the right Direction for a good motherboard and RAM, cheers...

 

[casemods]

Well it really depends on what you are going to use the computer for.

Also, what you would like to spend on each part.

 

[harv7722]

I need them mainly for Photo & Video editing can someone please recommend a good motherboard & RAM. price doesn't really matter. thanks..

 

[busygamer01]

Intel's chipsets aren't good for video editing. I would recommend getting an AM2 chipset because the chipsets are great for video editing and gaming and the mobos are upgrade able to a quad-core configuration.

Here is a list of components I would recommend you to get:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127237

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103861

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145033

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136034

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119042

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814143062

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153039

This is a complete video editing system. Total: $2,530.87 (with shipping)

 

[BUFF]

Intel's chipsets aren't good for video editing.

Oh come on 8O, I'm am AMD fan but 1 area that Intel have traditionally had the upper hand over AMD is in photo/video work.

The problem is that with all the new tech. from both AMD & Intel at the moment there are a lot of teething problems & it's hard to recommend something that will just work out of the box

 

[busygamer01]

Oh yeah don't forget some thermal grease:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835100007 -$10.98 (with shipping)

 

[busygamer01]

That's not true AMD has the upper hand in video editing, encoding, decoding, etc.. AMD makes excellent chips.

 

[GreenJelly]

I also am a HUGE fan boy for AMD... but I got to say Intel Duo Core chips are hands down better for EVERYTHING... I run CCE (http://www.cinemacraft.com/eng/sp.html) which is the begin all end, and end all of all video -> mpeg2 conversions. It is amazing but it is not a fast process. I also use my machine for Photoshop and others, and have seen the photoshop and other benchmarks (check out last months Maximum PC) and their is NO question which one is faster. In fact you could spend ALLOT more money and get ALLOT slower processor if you went anywhere but core2duo.

I am sorry to see AMD go to the bottom. The compition they provided was amazing and helped pave the way for intel to step back up to the plate and produce the first chip in two to four years that produced significant gains in speed without simply adding more cores to the menu.

Start with the Core 2 duo 6600, add some good corsair memory (another debate ahead) and then choose a MoBo from someone other then Asus.

Thanks
Mike

 

[GreenJelly]

COOLER MASTER CM Stacker is a great case, I bought one that had a pre-existing water cooler, pump, HUGE heatsink, and a CPU block in it for $400. I got it from frozen cpu, but dont go looking for it there... They got a few in and decided that they couldnt make or justify the cost after there normal markup so they where going to ebay them. They sold it to me for more then $200 less then what I could of bought all the parts myself. It also has a Pump that is submerged in water (ultra silent).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153039
Thermaltake W0106RU Complies with ATX 12V 2.2 & EPS 12V version 700W Power Supply 100 - 240V CE, CB, TUV, FCC, UL, CUL, and BSMI certified - Retail

I have never used this, but I dont like how many of the wires are not shrinked or contained. Free floating wires are a pain. Try out a completely modular power supply, I have experiance with
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/3231/psu-182/01_Ultra_X-Connect_X2_SLI_550W_Modular_Power_Supply_-_Titanium_ULT31851.html?tl=g11c26s83
[01] Ultra X-Connect X2 SLI 550W Modular Power Supply - Titanium (ULT31851) - Though it is the loudest and only thing in my machine to produce a noise.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136034
Raptors are nice... fast... But save some money and get a good RAID 5 controller and a three 250 SATA drives. I recommend Seagate cause of their 5 year warrenty), and I saw one on sale at Compusa last week for $50. Also the 750gig Western Digital is faster then the Raptor.

though

If you really want to load things fast, buy a Good SCSI Raid adapter and 5 Seagate Cheetah's (lol) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822111151

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814143062
Geforce 7900GTX
REALY Nice Card, beats out the performance of what I recommend, but the price is insain. And the performance difference is small. Go with the X1900XTX. It can retail for under $300 on Newegg after a rebate. Maximum PC said to buy the lower costing top video card, because the performance was just two small too make one better then the other. If you dont plan to play games buy the cheapest pci-express card that is direct x9.0c compatable (got to be ready for vista)

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Unbuffered DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail
Expensive... Small change in speed, but the best... its what I run.

NO AMD, INTEL CORE 2 DUO
MOBO I dont know I am looking for a different one myself... just DONT buy Asus.

Ohh and dont forget a SoundBlaster X-Fi... best Sound card on the market... HUGE performance gains in all areas of sound processing. The Music version is hands down the single most improvement in cost/speed! I got mine for $90 and saw a jump of 10% in FEAR FPS on my old machine... plus 1.09 noise to DB is breath taking.

Thanks
Mike

 

[nucas]

"MOBO I dont know I am looking for a different one myself... just DONT buy Asus."

Why?

 

[GreenJelly]

http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/BUY-ASUS-P5B-ftopict199093.html

 

[purdueguy]

Don't know if you heard, but Intel came out with something called the CORE 2 DUO a couple of months ago.

Here's the benchmarks from Tom's Hardware. Core 2 Duo Benchmarks

I honestly can't believe that you recommended the FX-62. That chip is like spending money for a Ferrari and getting a Ford Mustang.

I like AMD as I personally have an XP 2400 but getting an FX-62 is asinine.

A 7900GTX for $470? Another waste of money if I ever saw. For another $35 might as well get the GX2 (MSI 7950 GX2) but this guy doesn't want this computer for gaming. A lesser video card would be fine.

Harv7722,

CPU: Intel C2D E6600 is better than any AMD CPU currently on the market ignoring price/performance.

MB: If you don't need firewire then: Asus P5B

Memory: Corsair XMS2

Btw, do you have an AGP or PCI-Express compatible video card? The above MB is good for PCI-Express only.

 

[GreenJelly]

Asus P5B does NOT come with firewire... I know, cause there is a damn front connection on my case that isnt hooked up to anything

Some added Knowledge, if you dont want to play games buy the cheapest Direct X9.0c compatable video card you can find (got to remember that Vista is around the corner...)

Also the Cooler Master Case has some wonderfull front grill panels, just make sure to put them back in right side up... or the clips wont hold and they will push into the case.

As far as the 8500 Corsair memory, if you want to do what I would have done, if I know what I know now... buy the http://www.corsair.com/corsair/dominator.html Series... It should be instores REAL soon... Me wish me could upgrade... me want a pair!

 

[Storm1234]

@ harv7722

Id probably recommend the Core 2 duo 6300 or the 6600. Memory wise probably some Corsair XMS Series, and mobo possibly the ASUS P5B but only because thats what im using now and it seems to work and perform very well. I haven't built to many systems so im not sure about any of the others.

Storm~


@GreenJelly

Iv'e read that thread as with this one also. I find it funny that your turning down ur ASUS P5B just because u had a bad experience.

I recently bought a new computer with the P5B standard no deluxe, and have had no problems with it all.

Iv'e owned and own ASUS P4VP-MX // P4SP-MX // P5B and all have worked perfectly for me. I chose the sp-mx and the P5B cause I heard ASUS was good, and there also isnt many mobos right now at a decent price for the C2D, and the P4VP-MX came with a prebuilt comp.

Im a fanboy of no manufacturers dont care about who its made about, just as long as it works and performs well.

Storm~