Looking for a thumbs up - Multiple hardware Compatability

[nmeseth]

I am really sorry if its hard to read or a hassle, I did my best to make it easy to read. The text that is plain is my current set up, and the upgrades and charges are underlined and italicized.

I am mostly looking for any incompatibilities in my upgrades, something that will make me say "Ahhhh ***..." after I buy it. I might not purchase this for another month or two (Depending on how nice my relatives are for christmas, ya know?)

Case
1 x Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case~

COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1 Black Steel/ Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case~
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119225


Motherboard
1 x ASUS M4A78 Plus AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard

ASRock 880G EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 880G SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard~
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157191
~This upgrade allows room for a second video card upgrade, as my old mobo has the two PCIe 2.0 x16 slots so close to each other when one is full the other can't be used.

GFX Card(s)
1 x XFX HD-577X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

SAPPHIRE 100314SR Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity~
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102909
Because im upgrading the case and the mobo, would it be more cost effective to buy another XFX radeon 5770 and crossfire them?

Power Supply
1 x Antec Basiq BP500U 500W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371004&Tpk=Antec%20Basiq%20BP500U
(Will I need to upgrade this power supply?)

Processor & Heatsink (Currently Stock)
1 x AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGIBOX~
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808&cm_re=AMD_Phenom_II_X4_955_Black_Edition_Deneb-_-19-103-808-_-Product

Adding this heat-sink to replace stock heat-sink
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212~
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065


Hard Drive
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB

Adding this SSD for my Operating System
A-DATA S599 AS599S-64GM-C 2.5" 64GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211485



Items not being upgraded, not cost effective enough to see a difference
RAM
1 x G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK

Disc Reader
1 x SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black EIDE/ATAPI Model SH-S222A - OEM
"Never had a problem with this disc reader/burner, don't really burn anything so it's not an issue, nor a performance problem, obviously.

 

[rolli59]

The ram will not work in the new board it only supports DDR3! The Antec PSU will be enough for a single card not a dual card setup. A better PSU would be recommended if you go HD6870 for a little headroom.

 

[nmeseth]

What PSU would you recommend?

And I'll have basically be buying a new comp aside from the processor, how exciting. ^^

 

[rolli59]

Antec EA 650 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015 If you stick with what you got and single powerful card you do not have a bad computer. Rumor has it that the new HD69xx series is coming later this month and that would be all you needed with bigger PSU to have a kick a$$ system.

 

[nmeseth]

I'm thinking a new case anyway, to optimize space and cooling.

Because right now I just realized I have a "versatile mini tower" or mid-ATX form factor, idk which, but the cords coming from the PSU are taught 100%, there is no slack, and the current GFX card takes up like 50% of the space in there.

So I'll just wait for the new 69xx series and get that power supply.

Thanks a lot.

Would it be smart to pick a higher PSU just cuz? or will a 650 do just fine?

 

[rolli59]

They have not published the power requirement of the new 69xx cards yet but a 650watt unit like that antec should run them and some just fine.

 

[The_Lurker]

If you plan on new mobo

here's a good combo and the mobo has the 890fx north bridge

a little future proof duel 16x for gpu

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.524413

you didn give a budget so hard to say what would be best.

 

[nmeseth]

Lurker I think already have that cpu

 

[nmeseth]

Best answer selected by nmeseth.

 

[The_Lurker]

kool i see that now well like i said if you do plan on a new mobo might want to shoot for 890FX north bridge

 

[nmeseth]

Alright, thanks, I will do that.

I might upgrade my mobo just because it will future-proof me.

I will probably grab a 750W Supply just in case.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341041

if I plan on doing dual 6870's, what kind of mobo/PSU should I grab?

 

[rolli59]

Dual HD6870 750watt is fine This is the best board I know of that takes your DDR2 ram and crossfire at x8 x8(which is fine) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130265

 

[nmeseth]

Thanks, I will look into selling my old RAM and old parts to my brother (Who has an identical set up to me, excluding my gfx card) and I will buy a new MOBO+RAM

 

[nmeseth]

Quick update, is there going to be room between the two PCIe slots on that motherboard, rolli59?

 

[rolli59]

Yes there are 2 x pcie x1 slots in between. (that board takes DDR2)