1st build $100 left, upgrade RAM or Processor?

[MrOsonice]

Hi, so I have a $100 left and was thinking of upgrading to 8 gb from 4gb RAM or going from i5-760 to i7-870. Any other suggestions for the $100 are welcome too(maybe motherboard? go to the ASUS-PRO?).

If there's a fair chance I could need 16gb in the future I'd go with the RAM upgrade since i7-870 doesn't seem to justify the $80 increase over the i5-760 even with the hyperthreading which probably doesn't apply to my apps anyhow.

Thanks.

Approximate Purchase Date: Within a month
Budget Range: 1000-1300 net, total after rebates, tax shipping etc.
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Multitasking with Quickbooks/internet/MS office apllications, Starcraft 2, maybe Crysis since I have the game but can't play it, minor photoshop/homevideo editing.

Overclocking: Maybe a little in the future
SLI or Crossfire: Maybe in the future
OS: Windows 7 64bit


CPU: i5 - 760 (or upgade to i7-870?)

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin 1333 1.5 V, Cas L 7 & 7-7-7-21
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231276&cm_re=ripjaw_4_gb_1333-_-20-231-276-_-Product
or
(same as above but 8gb (4x2gb)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231402&cm_re=rip_jaws_1333-_-20-231-402-_-Product&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

Asus P7P55D-E
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131620R&cm_re=ASUS_P7P55D-E-_-13-131-620R-_-Product&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=
or
Asus P7P55D-E PRO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131621&cm_re=p7p55d-e_pro-_-13-131-621-_-Product

HDD: Samsung f3 spinpoint 1tb
GPU: GTX-460
PSU: Antec True power 750

 

[deadcold94]

best bet get a hd 6870 or gtx 470 that hundred dollars is better spent towards a graphics card my to recommendations would be

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127530&cm_re=hd_6870-_-14-127-530-_-Product


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125338&cm_re=gtx_470_gigabyte-_-14-125-338-_-Product



i must say that the gigabyte gtx 470 is amazing. it extremely quite nice and cool and kicks some major a**

 

[deadcold94]

this build here will give amazing performance for the price..
well in games anyhow .... but i read and it seems not to be your main use for this computer

very similar to your previous build but i must say it would destroy it but it hits your 1300$ range

 

[MrOsonice]

this build here will give amazing performance for the price..
well in games anyhow .... but i read and it seems not to be your main use for this computer

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/861/95273370.png


very similar to your previous build but i must say it would destroy it but it hits your 1300$ range

Thanks for the reply, I see on the build you posted you went with ASRock motherboard, I'll do a comparison but I read that ASRock is basically a slighty lower quality/cheaper board by ASUS, is that true?

Also you went with 4 gb, which seems to be the consensus but my concern was if I ever needed more than 8b (4x2gb) then I'd have to replace my 2gb with 4gb sticks instead of just adding on with no waste. But, I read that I could go with 2x2gb and have the other "channel" be 2x4gb with 12gb overall which I'm comfortable with for "future-proofing"

 

[deadcold94]

asrock has really stepped up the quality with there boards way up especially with there higher end boards i have the 870 am3 and i must say that the quality is superb.

i did go with 4gb but only cause that's what the build i made could use within your price range and yes i believe you can use 2x2gb with 2x4gb but im not 100% sure
if your could stretch your budget to accommodate 2x4 then i would say do it but other then that just wait and when you have money buy another set of 2x2gb 8gb is quite a bit and i doubt your would use it all with what you are doing .. although you could.. if you wont be doing any heavy gaming the 2 6870 might be a bit much.. if you want you could go with 2 6850's and the 4x2gb. you would still have alot of power for gaming and that 2x4 gb you wanted

 

[etk]

2x2 + 2x4 will work fine, it might be worth getting 1600 RAM if you are keepinp the system for a while though. You shouldn't need to add RAM for a bit anyway. I would personally spend the $100 on an SSD. AsRock hasn't been owned by ASUS for a bit now, and is a great value.