Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > General Homebuilt > Quick Question About My Upgrade
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mphusker   05-22-2008 at 06:28:54 PM


After spending some time reading these forums and articles on this website I decided to upgrade my CPU, Mobo, GPU, and RAM. I have only a "basic" understanding when it comes to building a computer so I'm hoping some of you guys may help. I decided on the Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 cpu, Gigabyte GA-X48 Mobo, and EVGA 640 8800GTS video card. My questions:

Will my Antec 550W PSU (2 years old) be adequate?

I will need to upgrade my RAM too it seems, any recommendations?

Will this be a decent gaming computer for the next few years?

Any other suggestions on what I may need to upgrade? I'm hoping to keep my current hard drive (only 2 years old) and windows xp.

I know that there are answers to most of my questions throughout the forum, but I'm concerned with compatibility so hoping if you see all the components I have I can get a more specific recommendation. Thanks

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Groo   05-22-2008 at 07:58:29 PM
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you need vista for DX10 (unless thats changed since I last checked)

If your looking a few years out, definatly get a quad.

Reply to Groo
evongugg   05-22-2008 at 08:12:21 PM
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1) Yes
2) Corsair, OCZ, Crucial or Patriot DDR2-800. DDR3 is still too expensive
3) Yes

------------------------------ Google is your friend and Bob's your uncle
 Reply to evongugg
Lord Gornak   05-22-2008 at 08:13:34 PM
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No to the 8800 GTS 640 G80. I have it and it's still a great card, but the 8800 GTS 512 G92 is cheaper and performs 20-30% better in pretty much all benchmarks.

Reply to Lord Gornak
evongugg   05-22-2008 at 08:11:15 PM
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If you are getting X48, which supports Crossfire, maybe you want to get an ATI card. Or maybe you want an SLI board, like EVGA 780i.

------------------------------ Google is your friend and Bob's your uncle
 Reply to evongugg
mphusker   05-22-2008 at 08:40:34 PM
- 0 +

Yeah, I'm an idiot. I got SLI and Crossfire mixed up.

I'll definitely take a look at the 8800GTS 512 G92, especially if it's cheaper.

Thanks for the help guys

Reply to mphusker
mphusker   05-22-2008 at 09:27:12 PM
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I was thinking of swithching motherboards to the 780i to get the sli capabilities, but all the talk about video corruption kind of scares me. Would it be safer to just switch to an ATI gpu? Always used Nvidia cards so not real familiar with a comparable ATI card. Most in these forums seem to think that Nvidia is the better choice too.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to mphusker
kad   05-22-2008 at 10:37:24 PM
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mphusker wrote :

I was thinking of swithching motherboards to the 780i to get the sli capabilities, but all the talk about video corruption kind of scares me. Would it be safer to just switch to an ATI gpu? Always used Nvidia cards so not real familiar with a comparable ATI card. Most in these forums seem to think that Nvidia is the better choice too.


1- No to nForce chipset mobos(680i-750i-780i-790i)
2- No to DDR3 mobos
3- No to DDR3 memories
4- No to 8800GTS (640MB)
PSU at the edge of your requirements , if you'll add another graphic card you'll need 750W PSU
Go for 8800GTS (512MB) and one good graphic card is better than 2 with lower specs in SLI or CrossFire
Go for DDR2 800 4GB(2X2GB) memory if if usin XP 32 bit

------------------------------ LianLi PC-A70 Case/Enermaqx Galaxy 1000W/Asus Rampage Formula/E8500/Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme Lapped/Scythe S-Flex SFF21F/Crucial Ballistic Red Line DDR2800 PC6400(2X2)GB/8800GTS 512MB/WD Raptor2X150GB/ViewSonic VX922(1280X1024Max)
 Reply to kad
mphusker   05-22-2008 at 10:50:24 PM
- 0 +

Thanks kad. Real quick....there will be no problems putting in ddr2 800when the mobo memory standard says ddr2 1200 right? Probably a stupid question just want to make sure

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to mphusker
mphusker   05-22-2008 at 11:15:45 PM
- 0 +

So a definite no to the 880gts 640mb....would this be a better choice?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814134037

Reply to mphusker
evongugg   05-23-2008 at 01:56:10 PM
- 0 +

mphusker wrote :

Thanks kad. Real quick....there will be no problems putting in ddr2 800when the mobo memory standard says ddr2 1200 right? Probably a stupid question just want to make sure



That is not a problem.

------------------------------ Google is your friend and Bob's your uncle
 Reply to evongugg
mphusker   05-23-2008 at 11:44:06 PM
- 0 +

Went ahead and ordered these components this morning

Gigabyte GA X48 motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128336

Intel core 2 duo E8400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115037

8800 GTS (G92) GPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814134037

2*2GB of DDR2 800 RAM

I understand that I won't be able to take advantage of the crossfire by using an Nvidia card but I didn't plan on throwing 2 gpu's in it anyway. I'm hoping this will be an ok set up for me for some gaming

Reply to mphusker
mphusker   05-23-2008 at 11:58:44 PM
- 0 +

I think I want to stick with the 8800gts(g92)...is there a big difference between you linked and the one I bought?

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to mphusker
ozcot   05-24-2008 at 02:00:18 AM
- 0 +

mphusker wrote :

I think I want to stick with the 8800gts(g92)...is there a big difference between you linked and the one I bought?



Looks like a very good board. If you already bought I am sure it will serve your purposes just fine. Never heard of that brand but by the rating I may have to check it out myself..

Reply to ozcot
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