Intel Upgrade may be in my furture

procupine14 · Jun 12, 2007, 04:43 PM

ok so basically I'm to the point where I'm comtemplating a jump in performance with an upgrade

So the question remains...do i go with a bigger AMD proc or do i venture into the unknown (for me at least) and go Intel

Basically this is the upgrade for the AMD side of things for my rig:
new proc: AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ Windsor 2.8GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor

and new gfx: XFX PVT84GUDF3 GeForce 8600GTS 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP

If i go with an Intel upgrade it will be just a new mobo and proc

Intel Core 2 Duo E6320 Conroe 1.86GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor

and some motherborad (preferrably ASUS) that supports SLI and happens to be in the 160 - 170 dollar range

opinions?

**kris23** · Jun 12, 2007, 05:14 PM

ASUS 650i SLI+
a little more than your specified price range, but it has a huge bang for buck.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131153

cheaper Gigabyte 650i DS4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128044

BlueMak · Jun 12, 2007, 08:12 PM

I am not sure how much difference you will notice with the two different graphics cards. From what I have heard the 8600 is not a great value for money even though it is much cheaper. If I were you I would for similar amount of money I would go for an Intel CPU and a 8800GTS, perhaps the 320MB version (to keep cost down).

You might want to check my thread here http://www.hardwareheaven.com/hardware...-purchase.html where I decided on building a new PC. I went for an Intel CPU.

Tipstaff · Jun 12, 2007, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueMak

I am not sure how much difference you will notice with the two different graphics cards. From what I have heard the 8600 is not a great value for money even though it is much cheaper. If I were you I would for similar amount of money I would go for an Intel CPU and a 8800GTS, perhaps the 320MB version (to keep cost down).

Agreed. The 8600GT is pretty much slightly faster version of the 7600GT, and the 8600GTS being a bit more faster than that. The real bang for the buck is the lower end 8800 series. For less than $300 US you could pickup a retail EVGA 8800GTS 320mb card (and I believe there is still an active $20 rebate with them). I have a couple machines that I'm putting together for a client here, and all the specs are pretty close to what mine are in the side bar, with the exception of the video card, and the hard drives. In 3DMark06 alone I'm seeing 2000 points higher scores on a single 8800GTS (620mb version though) compared to my Crossfire X1950 Pros. And they are damn quiet too.. even during load. I nearly cried.

procupine14 · Jun 12, 2007, 10:49 PM

I see, well as i said...if I am going to switch to Intel there won't be much budget room for anything more than just a new mobo and proc. But thanks for the input on the 8600. I installed one in my brother's machine and was pretty impressed by its capabilities as opposed to my 7600 GT. However, that 8600 was the GS...is there really a whole lot of difference between say an 8600 GT and GS or is it all just a bunch of letters?

I looked at the ASUS board that kris23 posted and i am impressed. If i do decide to go with the Intel upgrade then that will be the motherboard that i will probably use. Even though it is slightly higher than what I was planning so is the AMD proc that i have listed. So thats the deal. But like i said if there is going to be an Intel upgrade in my near future then there won't be a new video card for awhile

BlueMak · Jun 12, 2007, 11:29 PM

To keep costs down I would advice you to consider the EVGA 650i Ultra. All the reviews say how good it is and cheap. It is also the one I have on order.

**kris23** · Jun 13, 2007, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueMak

To keep costs down I would advice you to consider the EVGA 650i Ultra. All the reviews say how good it is and cheap. It is also the one I have on order.

he wants SLI support so the ultras are out,

there is no such thing as 8600GS but there is an 8600GTS which is more powerful than the 8600GT

BlueMak · Jun 13, 2007, 03:27 AM

I missed the SLI part.

Word of advice. Since you are planning on buying a mid range graphics card and CPU, I see no point in getting a SLI mainboard. If say you want in 1 year or more you want more graphics power then you would get better performance from a single more powerful graphics card. In fact from personal experience (and friends etc) most people end up NOT using the SLI/Crossfire mode and instead get a single more powerful card, more powerful than 2 older SLI mode cards. If you get a non SLI mainboard now you save money on the mainboard and in 1 or more year from now you could just get another graphics card. Though in perhaps both cases you might want to upgrade your CPU too.

procupine14 · Jun 13, 2007, 05:43 AM

you make a fine point there. It would be a waste of money seeing as I won't have the extra money lying around to utilize the SLI so that is money down the drain for that board. The board i have now is an SLI board and i don't use it so that kind of makes logical sense.

procupine14 · Jun 18, 2007, 02:53 AM

Well... I couldn't bring myself to pull away from AMD. So, thoughts on this system? Basically all the same stuff in my profile side bar

the change being these:

PNY VCG88GTS32XPB GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Windsor 2.6GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor

EDIT:

I have not yet bought these so I'm up for suggestions

**kris23** · Jun 18, 2007, 08:36 PM

if you dont want to go away from AMD just wait for the AM3 socket and Barcelona, it would be better than getting a 5600+ or the 6000+ it pulls over 200w at load! way more than any quad core! or get penryn if you decide to go to intel

procupine14 · Jun 19, 2007, 07:17 AM

ahhh thanks for the info i think i may wait around for that then

procupine14 · Jun 23, 2007, 02:53 AM

So...let me get this thing all straight in my head. AMD is throwing down the socket AM3 already and discontinuing the AM2? I'm also catching wind that AM3 processors will be compatible with AM2 motherboards? I'm confused and trying to hammer this out in my mind so I can figure out what i want to do with my upgrade plans. THANKS for any info you can give me

Robert McClelland · Jun 23, 2007, 05:13 AM

I stay go with intel I don't like amd I had bad system once with them never go back

**kris23** · Jun 23, 2007, 06:33 AM

well......yea AM3 is coming out soon and the processors are compatible with the AM2 socket but there is most likely gonna be a bottleneck since the new processors are going to have the 3000MHz HyperTransport and the current one is only 2000 or so

small loss but no loss is better

procupine14 · Jun 23, 2007, 01:35 PM

ah I see...well that makes sense. I guess I'm waiting on AMD to see how well their new processors benchmark. Then from there I'm going to upgrade to whichever one is on top (Intel or AMD)

**kris23** · Jun 23, 2007, 11:26 PM

looking at the current situation AMD/ATi is in, if this doesnt work out of them, then there will be only one choice for processors (bye bye AMD)

i just hope that it works or else everything is doomed....

**kris23** · Jun 24, 2007, 12:15 AM

oh yea, intel is also coming out with socket B mid next year LGA1366 which has an internal memory controller, new architeecture, 8 cores and more stuff

Necrosis · Jun 24, 2007, 12:25 AM

You can always wait for something new on the horizon, problem is you'll be waiting forever if you do.

**kris23** · Jun 24, 2007, 12:32 AM

well thats true, but id rather wait for the new stuff like the new sockets so i wont get stuck down later

Necrosis · Jun 24, 2007, 01:00 AM

It really depends on how much you upgrade. Plus how much you want spend at the time of the upgrade, the bleeding edge stuff will cost you the bucks. It's really about finding the right mixture of what, and when to upgrade. Like proc's setup I would go find a faster processor then wait. The current 939 processors are dirt cheap. I know your MB just died as well. It sure would be nice if you could find a nice deal on a 478 board. However, a nice used 939 dual core setup would give you the most bang for the buck.

RaveneR · Jun 24, 2007, 05:24 AM

i have an Albatron PX875P board, which is 478pin i think...

procupine14 · Jun 24, 2007, 10:59 PM

Yeah now that I think logically about the whole thing I should probably just go with a new processor and video card and stay with my current platform. Thanks for all the help. So my thoughts on a new proc is going to be somewhere around the 4800 or 5000+ models. Then, the video card will be a low end 8800

procupine14 · Jun 28, 2007, 07:10 PM

So I bought a 5200+ and its getting here today. Sorry Intel guys, your hardware hasn't quite won me over yet.

Jun 12, 2007, 04:43 PM	#1
procupine14 Why is it Beeping!?!?! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA, Missouri Posts: 1,400 Rep Power: 58 System Specs	Intel Upgrade may be in my furture ok so basically I'm to the point where I'm comtemplating a jump in performance with an upgrade So the question remains...do i go with a bigger AMD proc or do i venture into the unknown (for me at least) and go Intel Basically this is the upgrade for the AMD side of things for my rig: new proc: AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ Windsor 2.8GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor and new gfx: XFX PVT84GUDF3 GeForce 8600GTS 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP If i go with an Intel upgrade it will be just a new mobo and proc Intel Core 2 Duo E6320 Conroe 1.86GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor and some motherborad (preferrably ASUS) that supports SLI and happens to be in the 160 - 170 dollar range opinions?

Jun 12, 2007, 05:14 PM	#2
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,018 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	ASUS 650i SLI+ a little more than your specified price range, but it has a huge bang for buck. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131153 cheaper Gigabyte 650i DS4 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128044 __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Jun 12, 2007, 08:12 PM	#3
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,465 Rep Power: 349 System Specs	I am not sure how much difference you will notice with the two different graphics cards. From what I have heard the 8600 is not a great value for money even though it is much cheaper. If I were you I would for similar amount of money I would go for an Intel CPU and a 8800GTS, perhaps the 320MB version (to keep cost down). You might want to check my thread here http://www.hardwareheaven.com/hardware...-purchase.html where I decided on building a new PC. I went for an Intel CPU. __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Jun 12, 2007, 11:29 PM	#6
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,465 Rep Power: 349 System Specs	To keep costs down I would advice you to consider the EVGA 650i Ultra. All the reviews say how good it is and cheap. It is also the one I have on order. __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Jun 13, 2007, 03:27 AM	#8
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,465 Rep Power: 349 System Specs	I missed the SLI part. Word of advice. Since you are planning on buying a mid range graphics card and CPU, I see no point in getting a SLI mainboard. If say you want in 1 year or more you want more graphics power then you would get better performance from a single more powerful graphics card. In fact from personal experience (and friends etc) most people end up NOT using the SLI/Crossfire mode and instead get a single more powerful card, more powerful than 2 older SLI mode cards. If you get a non SLI mainboard now you save money on the mainboard and in 1 or more year from now you could just get another graphics card. Though in perhaps both cases you might want to upgrade your CPU too. __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Jun 12, 2007, 10:49 PM	Thread Starter #5
procupine14 Why is it Beeping!?!?! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA, Missouri Posts: 1,400 Rep Power: 58 System Specs	I see, well as i said...if I am going to switch to Intel there won't be much budget room for anything more than just a new mobo and proc. But thanks for the input on the 8600. I installed one in my brother's machine and was pretty impressed by its capabilities as opposed to my 7600 GT. However, that 8600 was the GS...is there really a whole lot of difference between say an 8600 GT and GS or is it all just a bunch of letters? I looked at the ASUS board that kris23 posted and i am impressed. If i do decide to go with the Intel upgrade then that will be the motherboard that i will probably use. Even though it is slightly higher than what I was planning so is the AMD proc that i have listed. So thats the deal. But like i said if there is going to be an Intel upgrade in my near future then there won't be a new video card for awhile

Jun 13, 2007, 05:43 AM	Thread Starter #9
procupine14 Why is it Beeping!?!?! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA, Missouri Posts: 1,400 Rep Power: 58 System Specs	you make a fine point there. It would be a waste of money seeing as I won't have the extra money lying around to utilize the SLI so that is money down the drain for that board. The board i have now is an SLI board and i don't use it so that kind of makes logical sense.

Jun 18, 2007, 02:53 AM	Thread Starter #10
procupine14 Why is it Beeping!?!?! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA, Missouri Posts: 1,400 Rep Power: 58 System Specs	Well... I couldn't bring myself to pull away from AMD. So, thoughts on this system? Basically all the same stuff in my profile side bar the change being these: PNY VCG88GTS32XPB GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Windsor 2.6GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor EDIT: I have not yet bought these so I'm up for suggestions Last edited by procupine14; Jun 18, 2007 at 02:54 AM. Reason: oops

Jun 18, 2007, 08:36 PM	#11
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,018 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	if you dont want to go away from AMD just wait for the AM3 socket and Barcelona, it would be better than getting a 5600+ or the 6000+ it pulls over 200w at load! way more than any quad core! or get penryn if you decide to go to intel __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Jun 19, 2007, 07:17 AM	Thread Starter #12
procupine14 Why is it Beeping!?!?! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA, Missouri Posts: 1,400 Rep Power: 58 System Specs	ahhh thanks for the info i think i may wait around for that then

Jun 23, 2007, 02:53 AM	Thread Starter #13
procupine14 Why is it Beeping!?!?! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA, Missouri Posts: 1,400 Rep Power: 58 System Specs	So...let me get this thing all straight in my head. AMD is throwing down the socket AM3 already and discontinuing the AM2? I'm also catching wind that AM3 processors will be compatible with AM2 motherboards? I'm confused and trying to hammer this out in my mind so I can figure out what i want to do with my upgrade plans. THANKS for any info you can give me

Jun 23, 2007, 05:13 AM	#14
Robert McClelland PAX Tweaker, PAX Expert. Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere in Wood County Ohio Same Town :) Posts: 10,647 Rep Power: 196 System Specs	I stay go with intel I don't like amd I had bad system once with them never go back __________________ "XTREME AUDIO IS CRAP!" "There no support for it. It's crapist card on face of the earth it should be throw into the sun" http://www.speedtest.net/result/1949536385.png

Jun 23, 2007, 06:33 AM	#15
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,018 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	well......yea AM3 is coming out soon and the processors are compatible with the AM2 socket but there is most likely gonna be a bottleneck since the new processors are going to have the 3000MHz HyperTransport and the current one is only 2000 or so small loss but no loss is better __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Jun 23, 2007, 01:35 PM	Thread Starter #16
procupine14 Why is it Beeping!?!?! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA, Missouri Posts: 1,400 Rep Power: 58 System Specs	ah I see...well that makes sense. I guess I'm waiting on AMD to see how well their new processors benchmark. Then from there I'm going to upgrade to whichever one is on top (Intel or AMD)

Jun 23, 2007, 11:26 PM	#17
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,018 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	looking at the current situation AMD/ATi is in, if this doesnt work out of them, then there will be only one choice for processors (bye bye AMD) i just hope that it works or else everything is doomed.... __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Jun 28, 2007, 07:10 PM	Thread Starter #24
procupine14 Why is it Beeping!?!?! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA, Missouri Posts: 1,400 Rep Power: 58 System Specs	So I bought a 5200+ and its getting here today. Sorry Intel guys, your hardware hasn't quite won me over yet. __________________ HTPC/file server: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit - AMD Phenom x4 9850 - 4GB OCZ DDR2 800 (2x2GB) - 1TB WD Black - 4 x 1TB Hitachi DeskStar in RAID 5 - ATi TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner - HIS Raedon 4850 512MB - ASRock N68C-S UCC mobo - OCZ ModExtreme Pro 500W PSU GF's Gaming PC: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit - AMD Phenom 9850 - 4GB OCZ DDR2 1066 - 500GB Western Digital GP - HIS Raedon 5770 1GB - ASUS M3A78-EM - Zalman 650W PSU Media Streamer: Win 7 Pro 64-bit - AMD Athlon x2 3200+ - 4GB SuperTalent DDR2 800 - 250GB SeaGate Barracuda - MSI K9N6PGM2-V2 - ASUS Raedon 5450 SILENT - FSP group 250W PSU

Jun 24, 2007, 12:15 AM	#18
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,018 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	oh yea, intel is also coming out with socket B mid next year LGA1366 which has an internal memory controller, new architeecture, 8 cores and more stuff __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Jun 24, 2007, 12:25 AM	#19
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	You can always wait for something new on the horizon, problem is you'll be waiting forever if you do.

Jun 24, 2007, 12:32 AM	#20
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,018 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	well thats true, but id rather wait for the new stuff like the new sockets so i wont get stuck down later __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Jun 24, 2007, 01:00 AM	#21
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	It really depends on how much you upgrade. Plus how much you want spend at the time of the upgrade, the bleeding edge stuff will cost you the bucks. It's really about finding the right mixture of what, and when to upgrade. Like proc's setup I would go find a faster processor then wait. The current 939 processors are dirt cheap. I know your MB just died as well. It sure would be nice if you could find a nice deal on a 478 board. However, a nice used 939 dual core setup would give you the most bang for the buck.

Jun 24, 2007, 05:24 AM	#22
RaveneR DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 196 Rep Power: 0	i have an Albatron PX875P board, which is 478pin i think...

Jun 24, 2007, 10:59 PM	Thread Starter #23
procupine14 Why is it Beeping!?!?! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA, Missouri Posts: 1,400 Rep Power: 58 System Specs	Yeah now that I think logically about the whole thing I should probably just go with a new processor and video card and stay with my current platform. Thanks for all the help. So my thoughts on a new proc is going to be somewhere around the 4800 or 5000+ models. Then, the video card will be a low end 8800