SB cpu, mobo & ram for $300

[mischieffrk]

hello everyone!

I'm looking at upgrading my cpu, motherboard and ram. Well maybe just cpu if it would suffice. My one and only concern is gaming.

Here's my current system.
e6500 3.5hz
gigabyte g31
4gb ddr2 800

Basically i can only use $300 on all this. And it will take alot of convincing to get me to buy amd instead of sandy bridge. thank you in advance, all is much appreciated

 

[aznshinobi]

Do you have a GPU?

 

[mischieffrk]

yes, gtx460 1gb

 

[mischieffrk]

and wow that was fast! Thanx

 

[Timop]

Well, I would wait. having a limited budget like yours, Bulldozer from AMD could satisfy your needs better than SB would at a low price point.

However, it is still doable (you just lose any OC options, since the 2500K is out of your budget.)

2400+Asus H61 $258 shipped http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.631838

G-Skill 4GB DDR3 1333 $40 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396

Total $298 Shipped

However, if it strictly gaming, what is your GPU?

 

[aznshinobi]

Ok yeah then this is easy.
What PSU do you have?

241$ i5 2400 + Asus P8H61-M
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.631838

43$ Mushkin Silverline 4GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226092&cm_re=4gb_ddr3_1333-_-20-226-092-_-Product

 

[mischieffrk]

i have a gigabyte odin 470W, by the way when about will bulldozer come out?

 

[Timop]

i have a gigabyte odin 470W, by the way when about will bulldozer come out?

As of now, in the first half of June.

 

[aznshinobi]

June/July area.
If you can wait, that's probably when you wanna buy.
You may have to fit in a PSU into the budget, that PSU is terrible.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Gigabyte/Setto_1000/7.html

I suggest this instead.
4GB silverline 43$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226092&cm_re=4gb_ddr3_1333-_-20-226-092-_-Product
H61M-D2P + i3 2100 186
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.622953
35$ AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139017&Tpk=corsair%20430

 

[mischieffrk]

i always thought gigabyte were good... Anyways, i've only had it for like 5 months. Would that dual core i3 really be much of an upgrade considering mine is at a higher clock?

 

[Timop]

Gigabytes good at Mobos and GPUs; PSUs, not so much (well, technically its their OEM's problem.)

I would advise against the i3 though, for most gaming (GPU-intensive), the E6500 OC'ed wouldn't be far behind an i3 (which is stuck at 3.2)

 

[aznshinobi]

Intel has proved clockrates arent everything take the i5 750 vs the 955 the i5 750 has a lower clock rate but still performs better.Cant a;ways make your decision off brand, research is still needed.

i3 2100 vs E6300
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/94?vs=289

 

[aznshinobi]

H61 Asus + i5 2400 250
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.631838

CX430 35$ AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139017&Tpk=cx430

Mushkin 4Gb 43$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226092&cm_re=ddr3_1333_4gb-_-20-226-092-_-Product

total 328

 

[mischieffrk]

I think i'll wait until bulldozer, intel should drop their prices to counter amd so maybe i could get a cheap i5 2500k then, or if bulldozer is worth it, maybe i'll get one of those. Thanx guys i almost upgraded right before a new release and probable price drops. Thanx guys.

 

[aznshinobi]

Dont expect price drops, Intel holds prices firm, the only time they ever dropped the prices was for the i7 when they were just getting old. So don't expect price drops

 

[Timop]

Dont expect price drops, Intel holds prices firm, the only time they ever dropped the prices was for the i7 when they were just getting old. So don't expect price drops

Theres gonna be a (mostly free) clock bump in Q3 though.

 

[mischieffrk]

ok, i'll still wait until mid june though