Help with Build + Upgrade

[The Dirk]

Hi guys, this is my first post.
I need some advise on whether or not this build is ok and what it's capable of more or less in the current gaming scene:

Cpu :Intel® Boxed Core2™Duo E8400 Processor - 3.00GHz Dual Core, Socket 775, 6MB, 1333MHz FSB, 45nm, x64 Support.

Motherboard: INTEL® "Extreme Series" "Skyberg" P45 - Socket LGA775 @ FSB1333 - For Celeron®, Pentium® Series & Core™ 2 Series CPU's
4x DDR3-1600 (Dual), 6x SATAII RAID, 1x ATA100, 2x PCI Express x16, 2x PCI Express x1, 3x PCI Slots, 12x USB 2.0 (4x Cable), 2x IEEE1394
SATA RAID Support, Crossfire Ready, Intel 8ch HD Audio, Dolby Home Theatre™ & Intel Audio Center, Intel® Gigabit LAN, Full ATX

Graphics Card: ASUS GTX260/HTDP/896M/A

RAM: 8 GB ( 4 x 2 GB modules) Transcend JetRam 1333Mhz

PSU : Gigabyte Odin 720 W

HDD: 2 x Seagate Barracuda Sata II 5 GB 1 x Seagate Barracuda 1 TB Sata II

DVD-ROM: Samsung Writemaster 16X

OS: Microsoft Vista 64-bit Ultimate SP 2

Display: Samsung Syncmaster 2232GW "22" Inch 2 Ms lcd

Peripherals: 1 x Seagate 500 GB external USB hdd, 1 x Microsoft media keyboard (corded), 1 x Microsoft X8 Gamin mouse.

Sorry if it's long winded, i don't know if peripherals or such can affect performance.

My Question is, my GF has ordered me some components, she already bought them and it's too late to return them, i woudl just like to know if and what performance differences i will see with them, and if possible, what gaming improvements.

The upgrades are:

New CPU: Intel® Boxed Core2™Quad Q9650 Processor - 3.00GHz Quad Core, Socket 775, 12MB, 1333MHz FSB, 45nm, x64 Support, 3 Year

New Motherboard: GIGABYTE® P45 & ICH10R Express Chipset - Socket LGA775, 1600MHz FSB, Celeron (D & Dual Core), Pentium Dual Core & Core 2 Series
1x PCI-Express x16, 4x PCI Express x1, 2x PCI Slots, 4x DDR3 2000 (Dual), 6x SATA2 RAID, 1x ATA133, 12x USB 2.0 (4 By Cable)
Realtek Gigabit LAN, 7.1 Channel HD Audio, Optical & SPDIF Port, Gigabyte Ultra: COOL, SMART, SAFE, POWER, PERFORMANCE & SPEED
Ultra Durable 3: 2oz Copper PCB, 50,000 Hour Solid Capacitors, Ferrite Core Chokes, Low RDS(on) MOSFETs

RAM: Transcend® aXeRam™ DDR3-1800 4GB Gaming RAM Kit - Matched Pair Of 2x 2GB Modules - Aluminium Heat Spreader
( 2 packs = 8 GB ( 4 x 2GB modules )

New PSU: GIGABYTE® ODIN PRO 1200W Modular Power Supply - Cable Management, SLI / Crossfire, 14cm Silent LED Fan, Includes Power Cable
10x SATA Power / 8x MOLEX Power / 2x FDD Power / 6x 8-Pin (6 2-Pin) PCI Express Power

New OS: Windows 7 64-bit Ultimate Edition

and lastly a new case, the Gigabyte Isolo 1020.

Any advise would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[technuttso]

U have made a upgrade from LGA 775 socket to a ....LGA 775 Socket?

What a waste of money i can see only!

The first build was just OK, needed some Overclock to improve the gaming performance on a 22" Display.But with that board u cannot do much of overclock with a 1333 MHz FSB CPU.

DDR3 memory with a 775 socket CPU are just a waste.The new upgrade do minimum to zero improvement for gaming.

And that PSU is Overkill for C2Q or C2C system if u don't do SLI, CFX or/and heavy Overclock.

If u don't use the old system anymore..just sell it.
Return the new CPU and motherboard and get a new P55 chipset based system combo.i5 or i7 CPU LGA1156.This is the present and the near future on Intel side mainstream.LGA1156 system is the best of u can have with that money.U keep the memory,(have a better use now)or maybe u will change that brand with something of better quality.Keep also the new PSU,and all the rest.

If u have no issues with the money just get some bigger display ,another identical video card,SLI and enjoy the power of a new REAL improvement.
Is your choice..u can do whatever u want to do.
This is my opinion.

 

[The Dirk]

Thanks technuttso ! I will keep your advice in mind ! as i say, the upgrade has already been bought for me, i just wanted to know if there will be any difference.

 

[aford10]

I don't think you'll see much of any performance increase in games. The e8400 is still one of the better performing gaming CPUs. The upgrade to the q9650 will allow you to multitask more, but the performance difference in gaming will be negligible.

 

[The Dirk]

Thanks aford10. The E8400 has served me well, i'm inclined to let her cancel the order and see if i can't wedge an I7 instead, jsut don't know anythign about them, or the I5 for that matter, they are still very expensive here in South Africa.

 

[aford10]

The money would be much better served on either an i7 or i5 system. The 1366 socket will probably have a longer life span than the 1156. So, the i7 920 is a good choice if you have thoughts up slapping in a new CPU down the road.

On the other hand, the i5 is a bit cheaper. If you can fit it in your budget, the i5 750 would still be a better choice for an upgrade.

 

[The Dirk]

So far it looks good, looks like i can get the Following instead for a little more :
Intel® Boxed Core™ i7 920 Processor - 2.66GHz Quad Core, Socket 1366, 8MB L3, 4.8GT/s QPI, 45nm, x64 Support, 3 Year

And:

GIGABYTE® X58 & ICH10R Chipset - Socket LGA1366, QuickPath Up To 6.4GT/s - For Intel Core™ i7, i7 Extreme Processors Only
2x PCI-Express x16, 2x PCI Exp x1 & 1 x4, 2x PCI Slots, 4x DDR3 2000+ (Tri), 8x SATA2 RAID, 1x ATA133, 12x USB 2.0 (4 By Cable), 2x IEEE1394
Realtek Gigabit LAN, 7.1 Channel HD Audio, Optical & SPDIF Port, Gigabyte Ultra: COOL, SMART, SAFE, PERFORMANCE & SPEED
Ultra Durable 3: 2oz Copper PCB, 50,000 Hour Solid Capacitors, Ferrite Core Chokes, Low RDS(on) MOSFETs

I'd still be getting the 1200 W odin modular PSU and the 8 GB of 1800 mhz AXE Ram.

I think my biggest worries are my ASUS GTX 260 and windows 7 , i have no idea how either will perform with this build so far my GTX 260 has been fine, only played 2 games i couldn't run on high with 1680 x 1050 and that wast GTA IV and ARMA II

 

[The Dirk]

OK, thanks for all the support guys !
The best i coudl get from the supplier at the budget i had is the following:
( This will be the complete build now including older parts and new ones, the complete machine)

CHASSIS= Gigabyte Isolo 210 silver

CPU = Intel® Boxed Core™ i7 920 Processor - 2.66GHz Quad Core, Socket 1366, 8MB L3, 4.8GT/s QPI, 45nm, x64 Support, 3 Year

MOTHERBOARD= INTEL® "Extreme Series" "Smack Over" X58 - Socket LGA1366 @ QPI Up To 6.GT/s - For Intel Core™ i7 Processors Only
4x DDR3-1333 (Tri Ch), 8x SATAII RAID, 3x PCI Express x16, 1x PCI Express x1, 1x PCI Slots, 12x USB 2.0 (4x Cable), 2x IEEE1394
SATA RAID Support, Crossfire Ready, Intel 8ch HD Audio, Dolby Home Theatre™ & Intel Audio Center, Intel® Gigabit LAN, Full ATX

RAM= 8 GB ( 4 x 2 GB modules) Transcend JetRam 1333Mhz

GRAPHICS CARD = ASUS GTX260/HTDP/896M/A 896 MB RAM 449-bit

PSU = GIGABYTE® ODIN GT 800W Modular Power Supply - Cable Management, Monitoring Software, 14cm Silent LED Fan, SLI, Crossfire, Power Cable
6x SATA Power / 5x MOLEX Power / 1x FDD Power / 4x 8-Pin (6+2-Pin) PCI Express Power

HDD = 2 x Seagate Barracuda Sata II 5 GB 1 x Seagate Barracuda 1 TB Sata II

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 64-bit Ultimate

DISPLAY = Samsung Syncmaster 2232GW "22" Inch 2 Ms lcd

PERIPHERALS = 1 x Seagate 500 GB external USB hdd, 1 x Microsoft media keyboard (corded), 1 x Microsoft X8 Gaming mouse.

I'd just like to know if this machine will be a significant or noticable difference in performance in gaming to the previous build i posted and to what i have currently.
Thanks in advance !

 

[aford10]

YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE RAM!
The 1366 socket motherboards work with triple channel memory. You need a 3 x 1GB or 3 x 2GB kit.

The gtx 260 is a decent card. I would suggest the ATI 4870 or 5770 though. The 4870 is the more powerful card. The 5770 has dx11 support available with windows 7. Both are cheaper than the overpriced Nvidia cards.

The Gigabyte PSU wouldn't be my top choice in PSU. Is there a reason you picked it? They aren't known for making high quality PSUs.