Time to upgrade again

[hondaman_abx]

I think it is time to upgrade again, but I am having a hard time deciding what motherboard to get. The number one factor in my book is reliability. I have been running my ASUS A8N-SLI paird with my x2 3800 for a good while and I could not be happier.

I plan to upgrade my motherboard, CPU and ram. My 1800XT is going to be a bottleneck but i cant afford a new card that will out perform it atm.

With that said the CPU that I want to get is

AMD Phenom 9950 2.6GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor
Newegg.com - AMD Phenom 9950 2.6GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor - Processors - Desktops

The ram is

OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066

Newegg.com - OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory


Any thoughts would be a great help.

[CrowdAds]

[hondaman_abx]

I'm shocked that there is no input here. Either I am one of many that cant see any other informative topics about this or nobody has any input. k, thanks.

[Sandog]

Hi Hondaman,

I would get an Intel system or at least a Phemom II chip. The Phenom II chips should drop Intels prices when it arrives. For chipset I recommend P45/DDR2 and a GTX 260 216 card.

[fvbounty]

I'm with Sandog, I would go Intel with the new I7 cpu's....Here's a link to a short thread about the I7 ...

http://www.abxzone.com/forums/f48/co...gb-114218.html

[traveler]

I like my X48 Rampage Formula. I just finished building it. Don't know a thing about anything newer.





__________________
Asus X48 Rampage Formula / Intel Q9450 2.66 @ 3.2 / 2 x 2GB OCZ Reaper HPC PC2 8500 / VisionTek Radeon HD3870X2 OverClocked Edition /
Western Digital Raptor X Hard Drive / Two Western Digital Caviar RE2 WD5001ABYS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drives /
Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Elite Pro 7.1 / Creative Gigaworks S750 7.1 Speaker System /
Lian Li 343B cube case / PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Crossfire Edition

[ctal]

Originally Posted by KarrieTamsin

I initiate a uncut knot of soups that valid extraordinary, and can be made in big batches and frozen.
Is there any interest?

About as much interest as in the 800 or so other forums in which you've made similarly nonsensical posts.

[fvbounty]

Originally Posted by KarrieTamsin

I initiate a uncut knot of soups that valid extraordinary, and can be made in big batches and frozen.
Is there any interest?

[Sandog]

He's dead.

[fvbounty]

Originally Posted by Sandog

He's dead.

Thank you....

[johnrr6]

Originally Posted by hondaman_abx

I'm shocked that there is no input here. Either I am one of many that cant see any other informative topics about this or nobody has any input. k, thanks.

OK----I'm gonna give you a slightly different take-----I love the Intel stuff----but I also love my AMD Spider Platform (see my specs below)-----rock solid and with Vista64 Ultimate and 8 Gigs of cheap DDR2----she just flies....

I also have an AMD/ATI 4870 vid card so the system is all AMD----and VERY fast.

And the AMD stuff is cheaper.....

Yes---you get out performed by Intel------but only in Benchies-----you will never notice any real time differences-----and you will save some money.....

Now----if you are doing a ton of video rendering-----you might notice a difference between the AMD vs the Intel......

But hey----I do a ton of video editing on my 9850 Black-----and I honestly can't tell the difference between it and an Intel Quad Core sitting upstairs.

Here's a thought for you to get pretty good video----a great mobo and chipset.....

You could get an AMD 780G board that has Hybrid Crossfire-----and mix the onboard with a $20-$30 PCIx graphics card in Hybrid Crossfire----it might outperform your HD1800.

Or----get a ATI HD 4850 on ebay for around $100 and overclock it using the buit in tools of the Catalyst Control Center.....

I guarantee that the 4850 overclocked will run ANY game today at very decent settings.

Having said all this------with the i7 introduction this month-----older Intel stuff will drop in price-----which will force already ridiculously cheap AMD stuff----even cheaper.

You might be able to build even cheaper.....maybe add that HD 4850!!!

You certainly are looking at a good time frame as even the Intel stuff can be had for VERY decent prices.

[hondaman_abx]

Thanks for all the input. Here is what I have come up with.


AMD Phenom 9950 2.6GHz

ASUS M3A79-T Deluxe
Newegg.com - ASUS M3A79-T Deluxe AM2+/AM2 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards

OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066
Newegg.com - OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB
Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
(not 100% on video card)

I allready have the antec 900 and Enermax 485 watt power supply.

[johnrr6]

Very Fast

Very Nice

and Very Cheap....

with the 790FX Mobo----you should be able to overclock that 9950 like no tomorrow.....

The only thing that worries me is your PSU.....

You may have to upgrade it to a better 500 Watt or 600 Watt to overclock

Especially with a HD 4870 also drawing juice....

If you have ANY stability problems----start there......

But the Enermax is a solid unit-----you probably will be fine.....

[GWillakers]

Another Idea that will add pep to just about any system is to try adding an SSD. Some can be most affordable now. Putting the Operating system on it should pep up even your old system. Definitely worth a look.

[hondaman_abx]

Woot it will be here tomorrow!!!!

[fvbounty]

Originally Posted by hondaman_abx

Woot it will be here tomorrow!!!!

Its like Christmas 23 days early, enjoy.....