Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > [Solved] Best Bang For Buck Upgrade

[Solved] Best Bang For Buck Upgrade

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - [Solved] Best Bang For Buck Upgrade

Tom's Hardware: Over 1.4 million members in 6 different countries available to answer all your high-tech questions. Sign up now! Its free!
Ask the community Add a reply

Best answer from Outlander_04.

Word :    Username :           
 
reggy29   08-03-2009 at 04:00:00 AM

Hi, this is my first ever post and i need some expert opinion as to whether this upgrade is worthwhile. I don't want to spend a fortune but future proof my current system for another 2 years, specifically used for Gaming, FPS and Flight Sims. Current specs as follows - GAP35-S3 Rev 1 MB , E6750 CPU, 2GB DDR800 Ram, Ge Force 8800 GTS 640Mb, Thermaltake Toughpower 600W PSU, AOC 22" Monitor 1680 x 1050. Win XP home as OS.

Proposed upgrade - E8400 CPU which I believe my current MB will support but maybe Bios Upgrade required?
Galaxy Ge Force GTX 275 896Mb & extra 2GB RAM

All up this will cost me approx NZD$800 but if this future proofs me for another 2 years for gaming I will be happy. Oh and not interested in overclocking, everything will run at stock.

Regards :)

Add a reply
Best answer from Outlander_04
Not worth upgrading the cpu . Apart from a die shrink + a bit more cache theyre identical . Just add a cooler and OC your one to 3+ GHz to match the e8400

The gfx card is the place to spend money , and in NZ for some reason the Radeon 4890 is very cheap at the moment . Much cheaper than a GTX 275 and just as good
Sponsored Links
Register or log in to remove.
Bronze Home Brew badge jbakerlent   08-03-2009 at 04:08:27 AM

I would stick with the same CPU for now or better yet upgrade to a quad core. Other than that the GPU and RAM sound good.

------------------------------ How To Ask For Build Advice
Homebuilt PC Buying Guide
 Reply to jbakerlent
Bronze Home Brew badge Outlander_04   08-03-2009 at 04:18:13 AM
Best answer

Not worth upgrading the cpu . Apart from a die shrink + a bit more cache theyre identical . Just add a cooler and OC your one to 3+ GHz to match the e8400

The gfx card is the place to spend money , and in NZ for some reason the Radeon 4890 is very cheap at the moment . Much cheaper than a GTX 275 and just as good

Reply to Outlander_04
reggy29   08-03-2009 at 05:55:21 AM

Thanks for the reply outlander but as I stated I did not want to overclock. I have never attempted to overclock a CPU as I don't feel I have the technical expertise, especially when fiddling around with voltage settings and memory timings. Will an E6750 overclock to 3Hz relatively easily and can you recommend a good place to get the step by step instructions for a first timer as the last thing i want to do is fry the CPU. Sure if I go down this path I save some bucks.
With regard the video cards I can't see the ATI as being cheaper than the GTX. This is the Galaxy card I looked at and this ATI card looks good as well, would you recommend the ATI? If I overclock I presume I will need better cooling than stock fan , maybe this Artic Freezer pro. http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/co [...] artid=7098
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/co [...] artid=8991
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/co [...] artid=9789

Regards

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to reggy29
JDV28   08-03-2009 at 06:03:03 AM

When learning to overclock, look around the internet and read multiple guides. And im a big fan of the 8800 series, but you should definitely upgrade your gfx card, go with the one with the best performance for the price.

------------------------------ AMD Phenom X3 8450|eVGA nForce 730a|eVGA GTX 260 SC| Corsair DDR2800 2GBx2|Acer19" and HP 21" Dual| n52te Gamerpad

 

Reply to JDV28

neon neophyte   08-03-2009 at 06:14:53 AM

wow, you built my old computer, piece for piece.

i kept the cpu, overclocked it to 3.68 (you can expect 3.4ish) and upgraded my videocard.

Reply to neon neophyte
Bronze Home Brew badge Outlander_04   08-03-2009 at 06:15:12 AM

reggy29 wrote :

Thanks for the reply outlander but as I stated I did not want to overclock. I have never attempted to overclock a CPU as I don't feel I have the technical expertise, especially when fiddling around with voltage settings and memory timings. Will an E6750 overclock to 3Hz relatively easily and can you recommend a good place to get the step by step instructions for a first timer as the last thing i want to do is fry the CPU. Sure if I go down this path I save some bucks.
With regard the video cards I can't see the ATI as being cheaper than the GTX. This is the Galaxy card I looked at and this ATI card looks good as well, would you recommend the ATI? If I overclock I presume I will need better cooling than stock fan , maybe this Artic Freezer pro. http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/co [...] artid=7098
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/co [...] artid=8991
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/co [...] artid=9789

Regards




there is a very good set of OCing instructions pinned to the top of the OC messageboard on this site
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] uals-guide

Once you have read it its going to take you less than 5 minutes making a simple change in BIOS to equal the performance of the e8400


For coolers
http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm
But not all will be available in NZ .

I am using a Scythe Ninja on an e7300 , and its clocking along very nicely at 3.33 GHz and topping out at about 35C which is very cool by processor standards

Reply to Outlander_04
Ask the community Add a reply
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > [Solved] Best Bang For Buck Upgrade
Go to:

There are 1138 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Forum map
Bestofmedia Forum ©
2000-2009 Bestofmedia Group
Page generated in 0.268 seconds
Sponsored links
  • Ask the community now
  • Publish
Ad
They won a badge
Join us in greeting them
How do I win badges?