Dell XPS 720 Red

[swordfish1030]

Sorry for the newbie questions.

I own a Dell 720 XPS running a Core Duo 2.4MHz ( E6600 ), with 4GB pc5300 677MHz mem( 4x1 ) with
dual Nvidia 8800 GTX in SLI and a Physics accellerator card. Storage is 2 WD Raptors in a RAID 0.

The motherboard is DELL's version of the 680i SLI with nvidia chip sets,
rated MOBO max is pc6400 (800MHz) mem and a front side bus of 1066MHz

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1) I would like to know if changing the memory out to pc6400 800MHz would make a
noticable differance to performance.

2) how would changing to the 800MHz mem with a base speed of 400 really affect my computer's speed?
How different would the numbers come out to? Please show me the math.. ( thank you! )

3) Also what if I changed to a Core 2 Quad 2.66MHz, with the better mem how would that affect me..
please show the numbers again ( thank you!! )

Lastly any thoughts as to an easy swap out upgrade for the motherboard???

 

[swordfish1030]

I read a different post and the motherboard thing seems to be a no go

 

[monst0r]

Sorry man, I think your stuck with a DELL

By the way, if you were running a 2.4MHz system, it'd better be from the 80s.

1. No, not really. 1:1 ratio (533MHz RAM speed) would be optimal for your system. Try to tighten the timings on your current RAM?
2. 1066/4= 266 FSB. The RAM to match this would be DDR2 (Double Data Rate 2nd generation) 266x2=533MHz. Putting 400MHz RAM in will change the ratio to 266:400, unless you lower the frequency of it (allowing for tighter timings)
3. Again GHz, not MHz . Unless you overclock your CPU, you really won't notice the change. I advise against it. Check your motherboard manual to see how to access OCing options (if they exist). The E6600 can get some nice clocks out of it.

The motherboard swap wouldn't be very painless, so I say it's a no-go. Gotta go now, SATs tomorrow D:

 

[swordfish1030]

Correction the FSB of my MOBO is 1333MHz and can support 800MHz mem..
So to do the math if i switch to a Q9550 2.83 GHz processor 1333MHz FSB what mem should I look for?? to maintain the 1:1 ratio? or is it not possible?

1333/4 = 333MHz FSB on the CPU so DDR2 667Mhz mem is what I would want since 667/2 = 333Mhz

although everything I read says the Q9550 has a mutiplier of 8.5
and is not a good unit to OC since it cant handle as high of a Vcore... as say a Q9400
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With all of this in mind what is the best chip for me? I want to run stock but I think I would like to play with overclocking and perhaps get a 790i MOBO in the near
future.. I do realize the "chip for me" question depends on a lot of variables, but give me your input please..
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The last consideration is trash the whole thing, keep the raptor HD's and the Video cards and the Physics card.. then go i7, especially since I do have a thermaltake spedo advanced Full Tower case sitting here yelling "BUILD ME " but to spend another $1500 i am not sure I am ready... ( wonder if the 1000w XPS 720 power supply would work for an ASUS rampage II MOBO.. ) Hmmmm
MOBO $419 ( ASUS rampage II ) though ( Gigabyte GA-EX58-EXTREME ) is only $349
memory about $300
fan controller $60
i7 - 920 cpu $299
power supply about $200
Vista Ultimate 64 Bit $189
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$1467 ish
( then I hear the new video cards blow away my (2) SLI 8800gtx's ) so add on another $380 for a really good Nvidia )
so back in the 1800 ball park range...

Though I could grab a 500G sata 32mb buffered HD and put it in the XPS and give it to my wife =o) to excuse my $1500 purchase =o)

sorry to bable on, good night folks its late