Here's my current system I had since 12/12/2007:
Phenom 9500 w/ MaxOrb Cooler, MSI K9A2 Platinum 790FX MB, Corsair 4 x 1GB PC8500 Dominators, 2 x Sapphire 3870's Crossfired, 1TB HDD(WD500GB x 2), Toughpower 850W PSU, Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional Series, Apevia Jupiter G Full Tower.
Bios is still original 1.1 and 3870's running on Driver Packaging Version 8.43-071016a-050244C-ATI
Provider ATI Technologies Inc.
2D Driver Version 6.14.10.6734
2D Driver File Path System/CurrentControlSet/Control/Video/{F66E37FC-D775-438D-9735-E9E1B40346B3}/0000
Direct3D Version 6.14.10.0540
OpenGL Version 6.14.10.7055
Catalyst® Control Center Version 2007.1016.2138.36845
AIW/VIVO WDM Driver Version 6.14.10.6238
AIW/VIVO WDM SP Driver Version 6.14.10.6238
Overclocked thru Bios FSB 232 (DDR2=928mhz) Posted all ok @ 2.552Ghz. Phenom 9500 @ 2.552 3870CF 860/1251 CatAI Advanced Dominator 4x1GB @ 5.5.5.15.20.2T. 3DMark06 = 13,700.
OKAY... I don't have $2,000 every two years for a new build so I need help... really bad.
I never updated BIOS and Video cards ever... always afraid of trying to fix what is not broken.
I'm thinking about getting an AMD Phenom II 955 or 965 BE and possibly getting a 4890 crossfired down the line. I need someone to walk me thru it all since it has been sooooo long since I did any major pc work...
QUESTIONS:
1. Do I need to reset all default settings in my BIOS to factory specs to delete all of my OCing settings before dropping in the new CPU?
2. Must I update the BIOS to the newest for my MB first??? How do I do it???
3. If I decide to keep my 3870's, should I reset all settings to default first?
4. Should I update the drivers on the cards? and how so?
5. Should I CF or just get a new single powerhouse card? If so, what kind?
Please add more instruction if you have any. I haven't done any OCing since March of 2008 since none of the games really needed it but now am feeling like my system is falling behind on what's out there.
Thanks in advanced!!!
Phenom 9500 w/ MaxOrb Cooler, MSI K9A2 Platinum 790FX MB, Corsair 4 x 1GB PC8500 Dominators, 2 x Sapphire 3870's Crossfired, 1TB HDD(WD500GB x 2), Toughpower 850W PSU, Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional Series, Apevia Jupiter G Full Tower.
Bios is still original 1.1 and 3870's running on Driver Packaging Version 8.43-071016a-050244C-ATI
Provider ATI Technologies Inc.
2D Driver Version 6.14.10.6734
2D Driver File Path System/CurrentControlSet/Control/Video/{F66E37FC-D775-438D-9735-E9E1B40346B3}/0000
Direct3D Version 6.14.10.0540
OpenGL Version 6.14.10.7055
Catalyst® Control Center Version 2007.1016.2138.36845
AIW/VIVO WDM Driver Version 6.14.10.6238
AIW/VIVO WDM SP Driver Version 6.14.10.6238
Overclocked thru Bios FSB 232 (DDR2=928mhz) Posted all ok @ 2.552Ghz. Phenom 9500 @ 2.552 3870CF 860/1251 CatAI Advanced Dominator 4x1GB @ 5.5.5.15.20.2T. 3DMark06 = 13,700.
OKAY... I don't have $2,000 every two years for a new build so I need help... really bad.
I never updated BIOS and Video cards ever... always afraid of trying to fix what is not broken.
I'm thinking about getting an AMD Phenom II 955 or 965 BE and possibly getting a 4890 crossfired down the line. I need someone to walk me thru it all since it has been sooooo long since I did any major pc work...
QUESTIONS:
1. Do I need to reset all default settings in my BIOS to factory specs to delete all of my OCing settings before dropping in the new CPU?
2. Must I update the BIOS to the newest for my MB first??? How do I do it???
3. If I decide to keep my 3870's, should I reset all settings to default first?
4. Should I update the drivers on the cards? and how so?
5. Should I CF or just get a new single powerhouse card? If so, what kind?
Please add more instruction if you have any. I haven't done any OCing since March of 2008 since none of the games really needed it but now am feeling like my system is falling behind on what's out there.
Thanks in advanced!!!