CPU/Mobo/RAM/GPU Upgrade Assistance, Please.

[Guest]

Basic Info: Looking to upgrade my CPU, Mobo, RAM and possibly GPU. Still not sure if it's worth it.

Approx Purchase Date:Looking to purchase this week.

System Usage: Mostly gaming. Some programming, 3d modeling and video editing, but all amateur.

Parts Not Required: Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers, GFX Card, HDDs, Case, Fans, PSU (Using Corsair 750W ATX12V)

Preferred Website: Newegg.com, but I'm not tethered.

Country: USA

Overclocking: I would like to be able to, but I won't pay big bucks for it.

Monitor Resolution: 1440x900 x2 (Anything fullscreen (games/apps) runs 1440x900, but I run a dual monitor setup for everyday computing)

SLI / Crossfire: I would like to be able to, but I won't pay big bucks for it.

Additional Comments: I'm looking to upgrade. Looking at 100-150 per item. Through my research I've decided I think i3-530 looks like a good choice for processor, but most mobos I see that support LGA 1156 say "CPU Type Core i7 (LGA1156)/i5 (LGA1156)" (EXAMPLE) and don't list the Core i3 even though it's the same socket type. Will this still work with the i3-530?

FULL LIST OF CURRENT HARDWARE
Replacing Possible Keeping

Processor: Intel E6700 2.66GHz
Motherboard: Intel 975XBX
RAM: 4GB DDR PC2-5300
GPU: EVGA GeForce 8800GT 512MB
PSU: Corsair 750W ATX12V
Case: Thermaltake Armor

Thank you for your time, and I hope I made this post easy to read/understand!

Thanks!
Zack

Side Note: Wow. Basically just building a whole new PC. Haha.

 

[davcon]

It should work fine in most P55 boards with an updated bios. But you can do this if i understand your post correctly 3 items

INTEL

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.404676

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.404663

AMD


http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.397502

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.398185

RAM- Will work for both INTEL & AMD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303

BTW if you want to go really cheap you could get this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.408633

which is currently my second rig and has been rock solid with a single gpu and the ram i recommended

 

[davcon]

Absolutely it's a quad and the one link with the msi board is nice
I'm not too sure about AsRock quality
the i5-750 is a gamers cpu

 

[Guest]

Thank you for your reply.
Are you saying that you believe an i5-750 would actually be better bang for the buck?

Thanks,
Zack

 

[Guest]

Processor: Core 2 Quad Q8400 2.66GHz - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115057&cm_re=intel_core_2-_-19-115-057-_-Product
Not worth it to spend huge on the processor, for gaming and coding you're going to need RAM and graphics more.

Memory: Corsair XMS2 2x2GB DDR2-800 RAM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184&cm_re=corsair-_-20-145-184-_-Product
You will _never_ need RAM faster than 800MHz, unless you're running a server with like 20 virtual machines.

Motherboard: No doubt on this one, unless you feel the need to get i7, get the EVGA nForce 780i - (Unfortunately, all of the mobos are apparently sold out at NewEgg, so here's EVGA's site for it) http://www.evga.com/articles/385.asp

Graphics: Once again, no doubt in my mind. The GeForce GT 240 is $103, has a gig of DDR5, and runs Crysis (on my computer at least -_-) at 30FPS on very high - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130542&cm_re=geforce_gt_240-_-14-130-542-_-Product
And there a few variations on this, but they have DDR3 RAM and they're only $4 cheaper

Have fun

 

[Guest]

Based on techspot.com's nice review roundup and advice from this thread I'm thinking that maybe I'll go with this combo, the Core i5-750 and the ASRock P55 Extreme P55.

Just a thought. Still gonna keep looking, researching etc.

Also looking at this RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227507&nm_mc=OTC-B1zrat3&cm_mmc=OTC-B1zrat3-_-Memory+(Desktop+Memory)-_-OCZ+Technology-_-20227507

 

[davcon]

I wouldn't recommend OZC ram stick with Corsair or Gskills for quality and reliability.
the ram i linked is awesome i have it in one of my rigs