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Needs some help with PC upgrade

Forum Homebuilt Systems : General Homebuilt - Needs some help with PC upgrade

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fab208   10-24-2008 at 12:53:09 PM

Hi all,

I'm looking for some advice/help on my PC upgrade.

My current upgrade list looks like this:

CPU: AMD Phenom™ 9850 Black Edition, Agena Core, Socket AM2+, 2.5GHz, HT 2000MHz, 4MB Cache, Retail £128.04
Heatsink: Zalman CNPS9300-AT PWM Aero Flower Cooler £30.54
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA78G-DS3H, AMD 780G, S AM2+, PCI-E 2.0(x16), DDR2 1066/667/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, ATX £60.50
Memory: 4GB (2x2GB) Corsair TwinX DDR2 XMS2, PC2-8500 (1066), 240Pin, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 5-5-5-15, EPP x2 £70.32 (for 8gb total £140.64)
PSU: 900w Tagan TG-900-U33 2ForceII v2 Intel EPS12V V2.91, standard ATX V2.2, x4 +12V rails, 80%+ eff £104.56

Total cost: £464.28

This is for a gaming PC, which I want to last for around 1 1/2 to 2 years before I have to do more major component changes. I have a graphics card that I'm happy with right now.

I've been told that I should go for an Intel system instead though, so here is the question:

Do you advise an Intel system that is about the same price as this one, but better? (Or an AMD)

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Bronze Home Brew badge Proximon   10-24-2008 at 02:50:43 PM
- 0 +

That processor is a bit less from dabs:
http://www.dabs.com/ProductView.as [...] &InMerch=1

Yes you should go with Intel. Read the reasons and a lot more advice here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] rts-choose

Your PSU looks to be overkill.

Reply to Proximon
fab208   10-24-2008 at 03:34:42 PM
- 0 +

Can you suggest an Intel system for nearly the same price?

Reply to fab208
Bronze Home Brew badge Proximon   10-24-2008 at 03:40:13 PM
- 0 +

Not right at the moment, but I can guess and give you some hints:

P43 MB, perhaps a P5QL-E
Q6600 or higher
800Mhz 1.8V DDR2 4GB RAM
OCZ, Corsair, PC Power &cooling PSUS, in the range of 600W.

http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm

Reply to Proximon
Bronze Home Brew badge Proximon   10-24-2008 at 03:41:08 PM
- 0 +

See what you can do with that, and I'll check back tomorrow ;)

Reply to Proximon
stoner133   10-24-2008 at 03:46:27 PM
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Would suggest if your going to build the AMD system you go for the 790GX chipset. Would give you the 750SB and far better overclocking abilitys, with it you should be able to get 3Ghz out of your 9850 Black Edition. It's a newer board so it is going to cost more but its worth it.

Proximan is right for a single card system your PSU is overkill. A good 650 watt Corsair unit would work excellent for you.

Reply to stoner133
fab208   10-24-2008 at 04:16:20 PM
- 0 +

So, I've had a quick look on Scan for those components and I've got:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600, Kentsfield Core, S775, 2.40 GHz 1066MHz 8MB Cache, 9x Multiplier, Retail £132.18
Heatsink: Xigmatek HDT-S1283 (H.D.T.) 120mm PWM Fan x3 Heat-pipe LGA775/K8/AM2 Cpu cooler Quad Core Ready No price
Motherboard: Asus P5QL-E, iP43, S 775, PCI-E 2.0 (x16), DDR2 1066/667/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, ATX £68.96
Memory: 4GB (2x2GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800), 240 Pins, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 4-4-4-12, DHX (Will 4GB be enough?) £59.50
PSU: 650W TX Corsair PSU, single 12V rail, energy efficient, quiet & cool, fully compatible, 5yr warranty £64.50

Is it possible to stick with the memory from the AMD config as it has higher mhz and put 8gb on too?

May end up increasing the CPU size if this looks ok.

Reply to fab208
Bronze Home Brew badge Proximon   10-24-2008 at 04:40:14 PM
- 0 +

4Gb is all you need and faster memory does not equal better performance. If you are going to overclock that Q6600 quite a bit, then you might want 1066 memory and a P45 board instead of the P43.

Good cooler choice, see if you can get the retention bracket they sell separately. Great PSU.

I don't pretend to know anything about UK shopping, but Dabs seems to have the better deals.

Reply to Proximon
jtt283   10-24-2008 at 04:53:35 PM
- 0 +

Good thread on parts.

------------------------------ There is ALWAYS a drone. Exactly where, or how many drones you will encounter may vary, but that there will be at least one will not.
 Reply to jtt283
fab208   10-25-2008 at 02:29:40 PM
- 0 +

I've decided to go with AMD as its someone I know and trust, even if the Intel system is faster.

So, I've done some looking for a better AMD system and got:

CPU: AMD Phenom™ 9950 Black Edition, Socket AM2+, 2.6GHz, 4MB Cache, 125W, Retail £140.32
Heatsink: Haven't found one yet for an AM2+, any recommendations?
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-DS4H, AMD 790GX, AM2+, PCI-E 2.0x16, DDR2 1066/667/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, ATX £104.09
Memory: 4GB (2x2GB) Corsair TwinX DDR2 XMS2, PC2-8500 (1066), 240Pin, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 5-5-5-15, EPP £70.32
PSU: 750W TX Corsair PSU, single 12V rail, quiet & cool 80%+ Eff £82.12 (Slightly bigger PSU because it give longevity and incase we need to overclock)

Will this setup work ok?

Reply to fab208
peaks   10-30-2008 at 02:40:30 PM
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If your looking for a good heatsink:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/show [...] =HS-027-ZA - £49.99

Look no further!!

Don't deal with AMD myself, but at a glance you got some good RAM and a good mobo for ocing

Reply to peaks
Bronze Home Brew badge Proximon   10-31-2008 at 08:47:12 AM
- 0 +

Yes and do check all the prices at overclockers. I've added them to the top of my shoppers list.

------------------------------ My Guide to choosing parts
A big list of recommended parts
Troubleshooting Guide w/links
 Reply to Proximon
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