Upgrade help

[smartjack]

I am looking to upgrade my computer. I have a AMS 64 x2 5200+ with a Nvidia Geforce 8800gs. I would love to upgrade to a Phenom x4 but I don't know if I can without replacing the MOBO. So any suggestions on upgrading to the Phenomx4 and a good bang for your buck graphics card?

 

[hunter315]

What motherboard do you have? If you can find it online and link to it that would be very helpful. The 5200 was an AM2 but some AM2 board did not have a bios released to allow them to support an AM2+ or AM3 chip.

What power supply do you have(make and model or link please not just wattage) and what resolution are you currently running?

 

[smartjack]

My Mobo is a ECS nettle2. I can't update the bios to accept the AM3 chips so I will need a new board also. I am not sure what power supply I have, (it is a prebuild) So I think I want to get a Mobo a Phenom x4, power supply, and a new graphics card any suggestions? If it wouldn't be too expensive I would like to be able to overclock the cpu's

 

[batuchka]

Well we need to know the resolution games are being played on and a rough estimate for combo + gpu + psu upgrade ^^ If u tight the X3 720BE is a great gaming chip as well

 

[davylove21]

By all accounts getting a Phenom is a waste whereas Phenom II is a little delight. You could go Phenom II for just over £100. (So long as your PSU is O.K.)

 

[smartjack]

I meant a phenom II, I was looking at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674

Right now my resolution is 1440x900. I guess if I could get the cpu, mobo, and gpu for about 400-500 would be great. Though cheaper would always be better.

 

[davylove21]

You should easily get some good parts for that budget in dollars.

 

[smartjack]

any suggestions on a good Mobo that would work with the phenmonII x4

 

[psycho sykes]

Wait for me!!
I'm serious don't go offline I'll reply in a couple of minutes.
Still searching that's it .

Regards.

 

[hunter315]

With this board you should be able to use the ram from the old system, i doubt it will need a bios update
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387

And XFX 4850 512MB card will handle that resolution quite well
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150337

The corsair 650TX will be plenty if you decide to crossfire 2 4850s
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005&Tpk=650tx

With the processor that total comes to 504, if you dont intend to crossfire you can drop down to the 785 chipset and a 450 watt PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128395
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003&Tpk=450vx
That drops the price of the build by 60

 

[godless]

^+1

 

[psycho sykes]

Get the suggested GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P, that's $110.

And this PSU Corsair TX750, IF YOU'RE going to purchase it in less than 72 hours OR get
the TX650 as I don't seem to find any recommended nor good enough PSUs beside the Corsair (just personal opinion) so the better for your purchase date get it as more power for the same price is always welcomed!. ($110 for TX750 and $100 for TX650)

Get the: Sapphire HD 4770 for $115. (Iknow most of you would disagree but the HD4770 is much better than the HD4850, continue to the bottom for details.)

Plus the mentioned AMD Phenom II X4 955 for $190.

Total: 110+110+115+190=525 before $20 MIRs.

So that's a better GPU and PSU for $1 more than hunter's.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- OK for the HD4770: 1. it'll run cooler 2. quieter 3. And won't require that much power that with a 500W or even a 450W you'd be able to CF.
- All of you says that the HD4850 is better but look at it that way:
- The HD4850 has double the memory bandwidth AND half it! (256Bit+GDDR3 vs. 128Bit+GDDR5 = The same!)
- The HD4850 has 140 more shaders and higher clocks while maintaining higher scores than the HD4770 (about 3~5%) while being rated at $135 (without the Hunter's offer).
- So for the overall the HD4770 is better in the long term.
- EDIT: It also require only 1 6-pin connector so it's "Greener".
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: Sorry couldn't come out with something worthy but just wanted to help .
Another NOTE: that's because hunter315 "Hunted" it before me .

Regards.

 

[hunter315]

4770 review here on toms, the 4850 comes out on top always like its supposed to
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-4770,2281.html
The 4770 is still consistently priced higher than 4850s, likely due to limited supplies, that XFX ones is actually one of the more expensive 512MB ones, there are some that can be had for under 100, and the less heat output of the 4770 is countered by the fact that it does not exhaust the heat, thats why i picked the xfx one.

 

[psycho sykes]

4770 review here on toms, the 4850 comes out on top always like its supposed to
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-4770,2281.html
The 4770 is still consistently priced higher than 4850s, likely due to limited supplies, that XFX ones is actually one of the more expensive 512MB ones, there are some that can be had for under 100, and the less heat output of the 4770 is countered by the fact that it does not exhaust the heat, thats why i picked the xfx one.

The HD4850 Beaten the HD4770 by a VERY slight margin (about 5 FPS [the "you know" games, and about 100 points in GPU score in 3D mark Vantage] ) and about the heat i said that because of its 40nm tech making it cooler and the one i linked was good enough about cooling, also there's an XFX version that will be out soon that exhausts the heat.
Also that slight difference margin can be "overcome" by OC'ing making it matching the HD4850 and with a little more OC'ing it'll beat it.
Also it gives him the ability to CF later if he wanted without worry if he went now with a low wattage (and ampere) PSU while maintaining very good temps and perf. beating the GTX275.

I don't mean anything but I REALLY lean towards the HD4770 however if were him i would wait for HD5670 it would be like the HD4870 but with a die shrink and upgraded API.

Regards.

 

[smartjack]

Thanks for all the help guys, You all have been wonderful