Core component upgrade, flexible budget

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chedderslam1

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I was just going to upgrade a few components of my aging agp system for around $250, but after thinking about, have decided to take it a bit further.

I would like to spend about $500-$700, though less would be great, and slightly more is possible if it is worth it.

These are the components that will be carried over:
4 ide hard drives running through a pci raid card
1 optical dvd-burner(slow as heck)
Antec p182 case
Mushkin XP-650 (650W)
Dell ultra sharp 24" monitor

I would like to save money by not buying a new power supply, and the Mushkin is certified for a single radeon 4870, which I hope will be enough for now. Down the line I may go for a new power supply(ultra x3 1000w) and the 4870x2 or 295, but not now. I don't think I will ever crossfire/sli, so perhaps we can save some money on the motherboard there. If we can get a 2 slot x16 board for a reasonable increase in price, I would be willing to consider it.

I am not locked to an ATI card, I just couldn't find what nvidia cards my power supply is certified for. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

I would like the processor to be intel. Dual core is fine if it gives the best bang for the buck gaming, but quad would be nice as well.

So here's what I think I need:
CPU
kick-butt cpu cooler for overclocking(that will fit in the case and isn't super noisy)
Motherboard
Memory(is 1066 or higher worth it or should I just go with 800?)
graphics card
decent dual layer dvd burner(I will be carrying an ide dvd drive over, so might as well stick with ide for now)

Again, budget is flexible, but around $500-700 would be great. I am open to moderate to high overclock, just nothing over the top.

 
foolycooly

foolycooly

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GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail - $134.99 (plus $20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail - $187.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036

OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail - $65.99 (plus $20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227289

SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail - $249.99 (plus $10 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801

XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail - $39.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

LG DVD Burner - $24.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152

---

This comes to around $700 is my shady math is correct - $50ish in mail in rebates puts you at about $650.
 
shortstuff_mt

shortstuff_mt

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xthekidx

xthekidx

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CPU and Mobo: $380
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.160551

GPU: 4870 1gb Toxic edition (this is a super deal, if it comes back in stock snag it before the price goes back up, the non-toxic is $20 more right now)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102815

If you can't get that one, then I recommend this one, comes with a light OC and cheap:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131120

Cooler: S1283v Dark Knight
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029&Tpk=S1283v

Ram (just stick with 800 unless you want a super overclock, these will OC just fine.)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209

Dvd Burner:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136144

So those recommendations are $702 + shipping - MIR if you go with the cheaper GPU, if you get the more expensive one then its $20 more.

Now I know you said you want to keep that PSU...but that one you have isn't very high quality and you will be running some upper echelon parts on it. You should really consider getting a better PSU, especially if that PSU is 3 years old or more, it will likely fail when you hook it up to a much more powerful system than it has been powering.

If you think you can spend the money, get this PSU, it is one of the best PSU's out there and is good enough to support 2 of those cards that I showed you in xfire, which you can do on that mobo I found for you. I HIGHLY recommend you upgrade this component.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341011


 
bmuell

bmuell

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Okay, few nitpicky things...
1. Get the UD3R version of the Gigabyte board if you're not going to use crossfire. It's $15 cheaper.
2. For LG 775 you only need the ddr2 800 version of the OCZ reaper. Another $15 cheaper.
3. Look for the Toxic edition of the 4870.
4. What's the point of the "dark knight" version of the xigmatek? just get the regular HDT-S1283. Another $13 cheaper.

Kid beat me to a few of these points...
 
shortstuff_mt

shortstuff_mt

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Apr 1, 2008
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The Dark Knight Xigmatek cooler comes with the retention bracket. If you buy the HDT-S1283 you have to buy the retention bracket separately. The price comes out about the same even after the MIR. I consider the retention bracket a necessity.
 
xthekidx

xthekidx

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Dec 24, 2008
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2.No...you can use it on LGA 775 if you are going for a high overclock, same story on AM2. DDR2-800 is cheaper and can OC to the same levels usually which is why we recomend it. DDR2-1066 is factory overclocked DDR2-800 and the manufacturer is guaranteeing it to run at that speed, with DDR2-800 that guarantee isn't there.

4. the dark knight version comes with the mounting bracket for extra mobo support and better contact with the CPU for cooling. However you can just buy the two separately, but you have to wait 6 weeks to get the rebate to make it cheaper than buying it bundled. I also consider it a necessity.
 
foolycooly

foolycooly

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The only reason why I suggested the RAM I did is because it's running for $45.99 after the MIR which I thought to be a good price.

Totally agree with what everyone else said.
 
bmuell

bmuell

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Right.

4. the dark knight version comes with the mounting bracket for extra mobo support and better contact with the CPU for cooling. However you can just buy the two separately, but you have to wait 6 weeks to get the rebate to make it cheaper than buying it bundled. I also consider it a necessity.
Click to expand...
Ahh.


The DDR2 800 version has the rebate as well.
 
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chedderslam1

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Thanks for all the awesome input.

Right now I am leaning towards the build from xthekidx.

I like the cpu/mb combo which gives me a quad core, and also the toxic edition graphics card.

What kind of overclock can I expect with the darkknight cooler with the cpu?

The mushkin powersupply was used for a month and then has sat in a box for about a year, it should be in decent shape. Do you really think I am risking it with the supply? I might bite the bullet and get the recommended power supply, but I hate to spend an additional $100.
 
xthekidx

xthekidx

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Dec 24, 2008
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You can probably expect to get 3.8ghz I would imagine and quite possibly higher, I have heard of overclocks well above 4ghz on air cooling with that CPU, but the motherboard also becomes a limiting factor...you probably need to get a rampage edition mobo for an overclock much higher than 4 ghz and those are a couple hundred dollars more. The P5Q Pro is a great value in that combo, and with an overclock over 3.5 you will be flying.

Read this review to see how that PSU stacks up...its not that good. It looks like it would fall in the Tier 3/4 range. The ones you want to buy are Tier 1/2 if you are going to be running higher end rigs, which you could make your PC into if you invested in a better PSU. That PSU I recommended is Tier 1, and that is a great price for a PSU of that quality.

http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/323050.aspx
 
xthekidx

xthekidx

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Dec 24, 2008
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Ok actually I have to take back what I recommended :/

For some reason it seems newegg has a shipment of high number of DOA's on that PSU, maybe something happened to the shipment...semi truck flipped over on the freeway or something, idk. Anyways, this one is just as good, same price with the MIR, only $5 more initially and its not bright red so won't clash with the rest of your system:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

The reason I push this is because this will allow you to xfire later easily, the mobo has the extra slot already and having the psu capable of it makes it so easy, you just buy the card and stick it in. If you want to do this later, you will have to buy the new PSU then, which will be a pain to have to unplug an replug everything back in...so just do it now when you are rebuilding. If you don't xfire, then that PSU you have will work...but I would be nervous about it. IF a PSU fails, there is a good chance that it can damage the rest of your components in your system and take them with it to the grave. I think its always better to be safe than sorry. I love mushkin ram, but I would never buy a PSU from them.
 
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chedderslam1

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Link didn't come through, could you relink?

What about the Ultra x3 series? When I spent a ton of time researching a while back, after reading many reviews, I decided on the Ultra x3 1000 watt for my dream build. Newegg doesn't carry them but tiger direct has the Ultra X3 ULT40312 850-Watt Power Supply for $159.00. Or should I just be done with it and get the 1000 for $200? That should handle a 295 or 4870x2 if I ever went that route, right?

I would really prefer a modular power supply.

I guess I will go ahead and spend the money on a power supply, I just need to decide on which one. Any input would be great.
 
xthekidx

xthekidx

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Dec 24, 2008
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Is this the PSU you have?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817812005

Here's some reviews that turn me off regarding the lifespan of that PSU...

Died after six months...

Pros: It worked fine while it worked. I loved the cable selection. Appeared to have great build quality.

Cons: I turned on my system today and heard a loud pop and immediate shut down. Checked the PS and it is dead. Six months in not much of a life span for a power supply.

Other Thoughts: I regret that I recommended this power supply to others...

dont buy

Pros: none but if you want all your stuff to brake get this

Cons: the first one i bought didnt work then the 2nd one i got worked for a sec then it powerd off and it freid my motherboard, ram, processor, video card and my hard drives and disk drives its a nightmare i dont know what happend ive been building pc's for 5 years and this is like the 40th pc a have ever built and i never had any problem like this. this computer has over $2000 worth of parts in it and this power supply has turned all of it into a paperweight

Other Thoughts: parts that were in my pc: quad core qx6800, 4 gigs of ram, 8800 gtx evga video card,2 500 gig sata 2 hard drives, a dvd burner and a dvd drive.

i dont know what happend to cause this problem i think the ps just sent to much volt to each part and im never buying a mushkin product agian i dont recomend this ps mabey i was just unlucky but i would go with the silverstone 750 watt modular one only #30# more and its better a better product
and also i was not to happy with the mushkin support they want you to email them first then they give you a case number then you can call them :(((

 
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chedderslam1

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Looks like the toxic edition is out of stock at newegg. I guess I will wait for it to come back in stock.

Since I might go with a bigger power supply, what card would be a good match for the rest of the system?

Here's what I have decided to go with right now:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80569Q9550 - Retail
ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail
OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2RPR10664GK - Retail
LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model GH22NP20 - OEM

That puts me at $500.

What would be a good $300-$350 card? Is it worth it to spend more? I hate to keep bumping my budget, but, whatever. I might as well go all the way.
 
xthekidx

xthekidx

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Dec 24, 2008
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The Ultra 1000w would be able to handle dual gtx 295's or 4870x2's, but to use the GTX 295's you would need to jump platforms to the x58 chipset. The Ultra looks like a good option if you can find a good price on it.
 
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