Upgrading my System - Need Some Advice!

[nmeseth]

This computer is half new parts, half old parts. You can clearly tell that the older parts are the RAM, CPU, and Motherboard. While the CPU is still fairly modern and does its job well. This is still a solid computer, and I'm looking for advice on the max amount of money I should put into upgrading this machine. I'm currently looking at;

Motherboard upgrade to a Click for Link - GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD7 AM3

Processor upgrade to a Click for Link - AMD Phenom II X6 1100T Processor, Black Edition

RAM upgrade to a Click for Link - Corsair Vengeance Blue 8GB (2x4GB)

GPU/Graphics Card upgrade to another XFX 6870 in crossfire. (Wondering if this would require a new processor with the aforementioned upgrades. )

Motherboard
Click for Link - MSI 790XT-G45

CPU
AMD Phenom X4 955 Processor (4 CPUs) ~ 3.6GHz

RAM
Click for Link - G.Skill PK Series Memeory 4GB 2x2 GB DIMM 240-pin DDR2

Video Card
XFX ATI 6870

Sound Card
Using a FiiO E7+E9 External Headphone Amp combo with DT 990 Pro's to pump the sound.

Networking
Motherboard LAN port

Hard Drive
1TB Drive (5200 RPM's, 3GB/s)
750GB Drive (5200 RPM's, 3GB/s

CD/DVD/Blu-Ray Drives
1 DVD Burner

Case
Cooler Master HAF 932

Power Supply
Click for Link - SilverStone OP750 750W

System Cooling
All fan slots are filled in the case, no extra cooling provided.

CPU Cooling
Click for Link - Cooler Master Hyper 212

 

[nmeseth]

Bump!

 

[aznshinobi]

Wait for Bulldozer. If you upgrade now you'd just be wasting money. So... With that said it'll be 5 days to a month. It's uncertain at this moment but BD should release soon especially with the B2 revision breaking the world record overclock.

 

[beenthere]

The 1100T will not give you much increase over a 955 so yes it would be better to wait a month and get a Zambezi CPU which should be a healthy increase for only a bit more than the current price of the 1100T. The Gigabyte AM3+ mobo is a good choice.

When you buy new RAM get ONE tested, matched 8 GB. RAM kit of 2x 4 GB. 1866 Mhz. DIMMs as Zambezi CPUs run RAM at 1866 Mhz. by default. Currently you can buy brand name RAM real cheap so 8 GB. should be in the $70-$95 range depending on what you pick. You don't need heatsinks on DDR3 RAM and they can interfere with your HSF so chose wisely.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007611%20600006069%20600006130&IsNodeId=1&name=DDR3%201866%20%28PC3%2014900%29

 

[nmeseth]

Thanks for the advice on bulldozer and zambezi cpu's.

Thats the sort of info I was looking for.

It'll be a few weeks before I make a purchase anyway.

 

[aznshinobi]

No problem!

 

[beenthere]

Glad to help.

 

[nmeseth]

Best answer selected by nmeseth.