Motherboard and CPU upgrade.

[ihavenoname]

Hi, I have decided to upgrade the cpu and motherboard on my computer. I dont really know what I should get. I use my computer a lot for gaming, and I do a lot of multi tasking. I also have 2 monitors, and a lot of files. So I need something that would be able to support all that. Does anybody have any suggestions? Btw I dont really have a budget. Will spend any price.

[tzitzibp]

since you do a lot of multitasking i think you should go for a quad cpu... they are the best choice out there, although not all software supports multi-core cpus. In the near future more and more games and applications with integrate multi-core and multi-thread support.:cool:

As for the MB it's really a choice of combining hardware... e.g. nf680 sli for nvidia sli of p35 for ati crossfire and so on... The same applies to the AMD choice of MB.

If NOT interested in sli or crossfire then my suggestion would be a P35 or X38 MB with 2 mem sticks (DDR2), (DD3 is still to expensive with no real benefits), and 2hard drives in raid 0 for fast info transfer....
check my pc and add a Q6600 to it... http://www.techpowerup.com/gallery/1155.html

BTW Happy New Year! :toast:

[Rizzy2DarQ]

+1

But I would say wait if you can till when the new quad cores come out :D since you have no budget! (That would also mean you will see the new graphics offering too in Feb etc.)

If you have to get it now then deffo Q6600 and P35 or X38 board.


I'm more inclinded to intel products though, since I'm not so knowledgable on AMD offerings..

(I'm sure someone will offer up some suggestions soon)

Do you still have that ati 9600 btw? :D Your the only person I've seen with the same graphics card as me :p

(Happy New Year :D :toast: )

[ihavenoname]

Ok thanks a lot guys, when do you think the quad cores are coming out?

[mikek75]

Probably a week or so after AMD sort out Phenoms problems.......j/k

[tzitzibp]

the QX9650 is already out...below you can see all cpu release dates:

QX9770 - 3.2GHZ - 1600 FSB - 6MB X 2 L2 Cache - 1st quarter 2008 - 999 euro:eek:
QX9650 - 3.0GHZ - 1333 FSB - 6MB X 2 L2 Cache - OUT NOW - 999 euro:respect:
Q 9550 - 2.83GHZ- 1333 - 6MB X 2 L2 Cache - 1st quarter 2008 - 500 euro:D
Q 9450 - 2.66GHZ- 1333 - 6MB X 2 L2 Cache - 1st quarter 2008 - 250 euro;)
Q 9300 - 2.5 GHZ- 1333 - 3MB X 2 L2 Cache - 1st quarter 2008 - 200 euro:rolleyes:


:cool:

[stresstest]

I also see many people going with 650/680i boards as well. Are the P35/X38 boards better than these if there's no intention of SLI?

[tzitzibp]

I also see many people going with 650/680i boards as well. Are the P35/X38 boards better than these if there's no intention of SLI?

the 650 is not!
the 680 is still a great chipset with great oc abilities, as well the p35 and the x38 has just surfaced to give support for the new intel cpus...:cool:

[tzitzibp]

avoid the 650... is getting old....

however the 680 will probably support new intel chips with bios updates....:cool: