Need Help with hardware for upgrading my PC plz!

[vaheko1990]

2008 Gateway FX 4710
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 @ 2.50GHz
6.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 332MHz
Gateway G33M05G1 (Socket 775)
512MB GeForce 9800 GT



Hello, (not sure if i posted this in correct forum), but I am trying to upgrade the hardware parts in my computer to make it even more up-to-date and better for gaming, but I need some help. My first question is, if the hardware I posted below will all fit into my computers case without any issues because I am not familiar with the sizes/shapes of the hardware nor of my case. (You can find my system specs in my profile i believe, but i also posted the stats on the top of this message just in case.)

Second Question, I am basically trying to purchase these items listed below, but I was wondering if they will all be installed and work together properly without and problems since I don't really understand if these parts are compatible with each other. Also, which one of the motherboards am I better off with. Here is the list:

1) Intel Core I5-2500k Processor

2) MSI P67A-C43 B3 Intel P67 Motherboard - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...818&CatId=6978
OR
ASUS P8P67 LE B3 Intel P67 Motherboard - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7343083&csid=ITD&body=QA#

3) EVGA 01G-P3-1461-KR GeForce GTX 560 Superclocked Video Card - 1GB - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=555335&CatId=3669

4) And a recommended power supply to handle everything. I was thinking at least 700 W power supply

FEEL FREE TO OFFER SOME BETTER UPGRADES,
ASK QUESTIONS (ill try my best to answer),
AND PLEASE LMK IF THESE WILL ALL WORK TOGETHER.


THANKS!

 

[danraies]

First of all, the i5-2500K is a good choice. I assume your pc is for gaming based on the video card?

All those components work well together. Both motherboards are good boards but I tend to lean toward ASUS over MSI but that's largely based on my personal experience. One thing, though, that you might want to think about is that in a year or two an easy upgrade would be to add as second video card. If that's an option you would like to have, you'll need a motherboard with two PCIe 2.0 x16 slots, preferably in x8/x8 mode. The cheapest motherboards I found on newegg with x8/x8 configurations are below:

GIGABYTE GA-P67X-UD3-B3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128488

ASRock P67 EXTREME4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157229

If you do want to have the option to add a second 560 you'll want about a 750W power supply but for just one, 550W is about sufficient. Just pick a respected name like Antec or Corsair and look for 80 plus. A single +12V rail is preferable to multiple rails. These would be my choices:

Antec EarthWatts EA750 750W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371026

CORSAIR Builder Series CX600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028

As far as everything fitting into the case, I couldn't find the exact model of the case but check your manuals to see if it fits ATX motherboards.

EDIT: Last thing, you will need to upgrade your RAM. DDR2 memory isn't compatible with DDR3 slots.

 

[vaheko1990]

First of all, the i5-2500K is a good choice. I assume your pc is for gaming based on the video card?

All those components work well together. Both motherboards are good boards but I tend to lean toward ASUS over MSI but that's largely based on my personal experience. One thing, though, that you might want to think about is that in a year or two an easy upgrade would be to add as second video card. If that's an option you would like to have, you'll need a motherboard with two PCIe 2.0 x16 slots, preferably in x8/x8 mode. The cheapest motherboards I found on newegg with x8/x8 configurations are below:

GIGABYTE GA-P67X-UD3-B3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128488

ASRock P67 EXTREME4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157229

If you do want to have the option to add a second 560 you'll want about a 750W power supply but for just one, 550W is about sufficient. Just pick a respected name like Antec or Corsair and look for 80 plus. A single +12V rail is preferable to multiple rails. These would be my choices:

Antec EarthWatts EA750 750W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371026

CORSAIR Builder Series CX600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028

As far as everything fitting into the case, I couldn't find the exact model of the case but check your manuals to see if it fits ATX motherboards.

EDIT: Last thing, you will need to upgrade your RAM. DDR2 memory isn't compatible with DDR3 slots.

I'm thankful and appreciative for your help and contribution.

Here is what my updated list looks like, let me know what you think now as I even managed to reduce the price a bit.

P.S. I am planning on purchasing 4-6gbs of ddr3 RAM, and a new monitor from Fry's Electronics since i work there and can get a discount.

GIGABYTE GA-Z68P-DS3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s ATX Intel Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128520

PNY VCGGTX560XPB GeForce GTX 560 (Fermi) 1GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133397

Antec EarthWatts EA-650 GREEN 650W -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371044

Intel Core i5-2500 -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115073

Right now the list looks like it will cost me about $575 after the rebates
(not including monitor or RAM yet)

Also, I don't want to really purchase a new case unless for sure if I know the fx4710 case i have now is truly going to be problematic.

What you think now, better?


I did have another question. The dual graphic cards your telling me about what is that useful for? I don't understand how two cards can run actively together or is it for in case one of the cards die you can have a spare one in there still?

 

[danraies]

Putting two graphics cards in a computer is kind of like having two cores in a cpu. For every task the "first card" (the one in the "first" slot) is the boss but sends half of the work to the "second card" who then does its job and sends the data back. Suppose the video cards have to render a scene - then maybe the first card gets the whole scene, sends the left half of the scene to the second card to work on, then thy both do their jobs, the second screen sends its info back to the first card, and then everything gets displayed. So theoretically, when you've got two cards your computer should be twice as fast graphically as it would be if you only had one. The nvidia term for this is "SLI" and the radeon term is "crossfire." You can read a little more below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scalable_Link_Interface
SLI gives builders a quick and easy way to upgrade in the future. In one year or two years if you want to nearly double your graphics performance you'd be able to do so by simply adding a second (identical down to the manufacturer and model) 560 card for maybe $100. Before SLI to get that performance you'd have had to scrap your old card and buy a brand new top of the line card for $500 or something.

You've picked really great parts if you don't want to sli in the future - and that's perfectly fine. On your budget it's hard to make that happen. Everything is compatible and you picked good parts. I'm not an expert on video cards, though, so although the pny card looks fine to me, I'm not the best resource. Someone else around TH might be able to find a better value on a 560 or maybe a really good deal on a 560ti (the next nvidia step up).

And yeah, if you don't have to buy a case that would be good. Maybe open up the case you've got and make sure everything will be easy to get out. You don't want to find out that you can't use the case because you have to break it to get the mobo out - those brand name cases can be frustrating.

One last thing to mention - if you're planning on using a 32-bit version of Windows then just get 4GB of ram. If you're using a 64-bit version then get 8GB in 2x4GB if you can afford it. The speed you're looking for on the memory is 1600 (as opposed to 1333, 1866, 2133, etc). Your cpu isn't going to like anything faster and it's about the same price as 1333 RAM.