Yet another computer advice thread :P

[G.Drew]

So im looking to upgrade my computer here is the current specs:

Motherboard: ASRock 939pin dual-SATA2
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ 939pin
RAM: 2Gb DDR (cant remember if its 320 or 400)
HDD: 250Gb Barracuda + 200Gb
Video: Nvidia 7600GT 256mb
Sound: AC97 Audio (onboard)
Monitor: Yusmart 19'
PSU: 500W

Im looking to upgrade:
CPU
RAM
GFX card
which will require:
Motherboard
(mybe) new PSU

Budget: £700, very very max £900

Looking for a PC that has some pretty powerful stuff, but doesnt bust the bank

Notes: for the CPU, im looking to go Quad-core, GFX card prob 512mb and up

[spacemanc]

Get that ^ but up the card maybe to an HD4870, get a better mobo and maybe get a 700w psu (especially if you go for a HD 4870). There no need to get new hard drives unless you're out of space, and you can pick up a samsung 22" widescreen monitor for under £150

[G.Drew]

i saw that in the previous thread looks good.
Heres a question, what would i go for if i wanted a Nvidia card?

[spacemanc]

Originally Posted by G.Drew

i saw that in the previous thread looks good.
Heres a question, what would i go for if i wanted a Nvidia card?

A GTX260, but youre looking at around £200 for one - even a HD4850 gives similar performance for £100-120 - the 280's are the best out there, but not good value imo.

The other thing thats well worth getting is an aftermarket fan for the CPU - you can overclock much higher, and run the fan slower = much quieter. I use a zalman and I cant even hear it, despite OCing by 1GHz

[Bamboo]

Ummm...that motherboard is very outdated. It came out what, like 3 years ago.
It would leave you with little if any upgrade path for the future. I don't even think it would work with a CPU like the e8400 due to the FSB limits.

A much better choice would be a p45 chipset, something like a Asus p5q, like the p5q pro or deluxe.

[[R-CON]ice_killer]

Intel Qore 2 Quad 6600 good and cheap here Core 2 Quad :: Azerty Hardware
ATI (youre fav brand i prefer Club 3d) 4870 Radeon Hd4870 Oc :: Azerty Hardware
Team Xtreem Dark 4 Gig 800 Mhz (DDR2 ( you have DDR1) Azerty Hardware
Asus Maximus Formula Azerty Hardware X38 chipset
Coolermaster 850 watt Real Power M850 :: Azerty Hardware

[Bamboo]

A Maximus Formula is a lot more than most people need. I would only get a x38 or x48 board if you are 110% sure you are going to do Crossfire. And even then, all the Maximus is going to give you over other x38/48 is some really hard core overclocking tweaking in the bios that all but the biggest tweakers need. But it costs a lot more.

And I would pick out another PSU. Coolermaster isn't that great of a brand, and 850watts is overkill. A better choice would be from a company like Corsair that has a lifetime warrenty and in the 600 to 700 watt range.

[wooly-back-jack]

Originally Posted by G.Drew

So im looking to upgrade my computer here is the current specs:

Motherboard: ASRock 939pin dual-SATA2
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ 939pin
RAM: 2Gb DDR (cant remember if its 320 or 400)
HDD: 250Gb Barracuda + 200Gb
Video: Nvidia 7600GT 256mb
Sound: AC97 Audio (onboard)
Monitor: Yusmart 19'
PSU: 500W

LOL! that spec is better than mine bar the GFX card and I just upgraded mine a few months ago!
I play high settings too, still being on a 19" tft on 1280x1024@75hz helps keep me at high settings mind you.

[G.Drew]

I need to go into further detail with this now, so far ive come up with this:
M/board: (Zilch, need help)
CPU: Intel Q6600 (Scan Computers UK: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600, Kentsfield Core, S775, 2.40 GHz 1066MHz 8MB Cache, 9x Multiplier, Retail) or a Q6700 (Scan Computers UK: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700, Kentsfield Core, S775, 2.66 GHz 1066MHz 8MB Cache, 10x Multiplier, OEM)
RAM: 4Gb preferably (thought about this: Scan Computers UK: 4GB (2x2GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800), 240 Pins, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 5-5-5-18, still needs finalising)
PSU: 700W (again needs finalising)
GFX card: HD4870 (Scan Computers UK: 512MB Sapphire HD4870, PCI-E 2.0(x16), 3600MHz GDDR5, GPU 750MHz, 800 Cores, 2x DL DVI-I/ HDTV, HDCP, also needs finalising)

opinions please.

[hiberNative]

i'd say save the money and get a completely new system, then sell the old parts.