Minor upgrade

[DownUnderFan]

Hi All,

My Current system is

mo bo - ConRoeXFire-eSATA2 (not really looking to replace this)
CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E6300
GPU - NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT
RAM - 2 x 2Gb DDR2 667GHz


I am from Australia and am only looking to spend about $200 - $250. (I'm planning on a completely new system in about a year so this is mostly a stop gap update before this machine is passed on to family)

I'm thinking either the Core 2 Duo E6700 or their is a Core 2 Extreme that will work in this way old mobo.

As for a GPU update here is where i am mostly stumped. I am currently using my HD TV as my main monitor so a HDMI out is high on my list of wants for the gpu, I also have a slight preference for nVidia.

With the above info in mind what recommendations do you all have

 

[omnisome]

http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=29765
Intel C2Q - 6600

I don't know of any Australian stores so I posted the link to the official site, the Q6600 is a great X4 processor and is still going relatively strong today, it also overclocks very well.


Edit: I've just looked at the CPU support list for that motherboard and noticed that the highest CPU on the list is the Core 2 Extreme X6800, and second to that is E6700. I'm not really convinced now that the Q6600 will work.


http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/ati-radeon-hd-4000/hd-4770/Pages/hd-4770.aspx
AMD Radeon HD4770 512MB

This is a graphics upgrade that won't consume much power, and has HDMI-Out.
It's ATi's counterpart to the GeForce 9800GT

 

[DownUnderFan]

thanx for a quick reply, the cpu's that you listed match what I've been looking at.

 

[omnisome]

Edited first post

 

[DownUnderFan]

After doing a bit more price research the E6700 is the best value, the X6800 is much rarer and about 70-80 more.

Still looking and thinking on the gpu.

 

[omnisome]

The performance difference between E6700 and E6300 isn't worth the price to upgrade. Save your money for the processor until next year as you said when you'll be buying a new system.

 

[DownUnderFan]

ok, looking at theprice point which is the average low point for the 9800GT I am looking at 5 cards

Geforce 9800 GT
GeForce GT430
GeForce GT240
Radeon HD5670
Radeon HD5570

As to which card to get for the best improvement I am lost

 

[Intel520]

Out the five cards you mentioned, the 9800GT and the HD5670 are the best.

 

[omnisome]

I know from personal experience that the 9800GT is a very good/reliable card but the HD5670 has fair reviews too. However, if you're planning to pass this on to your family then I assume it will be used for general things like surfing the internet rather than gaming. An HD4770 is a decent card for the price and what it's going to be used for. I think someone said that the HD4770/HD5770 is like the 8800GT/9800GT case, they are the same except the newer is made in a better manufacturing process.

 

[DownUnderFan]

Best answer selected by DownUnderFan.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey