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Need advice - Upgrading computer.

Discussion in 'Building a new PC' started by Wishcross, Jan 15, 2011.

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  1. Wishcross

    Wishcross Member

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    Hey guys, I need some advice on upgrading my computer.

    Right now I have a...

    Gigabyte GA-G41M-COMBO
    Corsair 550VX PSU
    3GB DDR2 RAM
    Intel Pentium Dual CPU E2160 @ 1.8GHz
    NVIDIA GeForce 9600GT

    Right now I'm planning to upgrade my CPU to a Core 2 Quad Q8400 2.66GHz.
    And also upgrading my graphics card to a Gigabyte ATIHD 5450 DDR3 512mb.
    However I'm not so sure about the graphics card, unless there's a huge performance gap between the my current card and the one I might get.
    But I do want to upgrade my processor and the only socket I have is the LGA775 socket.

    So please help me with some advice.
     
    Wishcross, Jan 15, 2011
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  2. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    ddp, Jan 15, 2011
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  3. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Geforce 9600GT (your current card): 100%
    Currently available cards
    Geforce G210: 6%
    Geforce GT220: 60%
    Geforce GT430: 75%
    Geforce GT240: 120%
    Geforce GTS250: 175%
    Geforce GTS450: 225%
    Geforce GTX460: 300%
    Geforce GTX465: 320%
    Geforce GTX460 1GB: 330%
    Geforce GTX470: 390%
    Geforce GTX480: 460%
    Geforce GTX570: 470%
    Geforce GTX580: 560%

    Radeon HD5450: 25%
    Radeon HD5570: 110%
    Radeon HD5670: 130%
    Radeon HD5750: 180%
    Radeon HD5770: 220%
    Radeon HD5830: 320%
    Radeon HD6850: 360%
    Radeon HD5850: 380%
    Radeon HD6870: 410%
    Radeon HD5870: 430%
    Radeon HD6950: 460%
    Radeon HD6970: 510%


    As you can see, the 9600GT is four times as powerful as the HD5450. You need to be buying at least an HD5750 or GTS250 to be getting an actual upgrade out of this.
    The GTS250 is an old, inefficient card, and its successor is the GTS450, which competes with the HD5770, so those are the cards you should be looking at, at the very least.
     
    sammorris, Jan 16, 2011
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  4. Wishcross

    Wishcross Member

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    Woah, I didn't have a clue it was 4 times strong. T_T.
    And thanks for the link for the processor compatibility.

    I'm also thinking about changing my DDR2 ram into DDR3, but is it a huge speed different between the two types right now?

    I guess I don't really need advice on my CPU then.
    At first I was choosing whether to buy a faster dual-core or actually upgrade to a Quad-Core, but since the socket doesn't allow i3s and etc, I'd have to go with a Core 2 Quad.
     
    Wishcross, Jan 16, 2011
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  5. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    any reason why upgrade to ddr3 ram? what bit is your windows, 32 or 64?
     
    ddp, Jan 16, 2011
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  6. Wishcross

    Wishcross Member

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    I'm not so sure. :S.
    Windows 7 64bit.
     
    Wishcross, Jan 16, 2011
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  7. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    what are you using the computer for, gaming, surfing net or what?
     
    ddp, Jan 16, 2011
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  8. Wishcross

    Wishcross Member

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    Gaming. XD.
    I also have another question.
    If I do buy the Q8400 processor, would I need to add additional fans?
    Such as one or two case fans?
     
    Wishcross, Jan 16, 2011
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  9. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    check your games' system requirements for ram amount. get a fan for front end of case that brings air into case that the back case fan & psu fan blows out of case.
     
    ddp, Jan 16, 2011
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  10. Wishcross

    Wishcross Member

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    I just checked my main games and most of them say about 512MB to 2GB RAM.
    Also, I've check the inside of my case if I can install the case fan or not...
    Took a couple of pictures, looks like I can't. :S

    http://img163.imageshack.us/i/006tpl.jpg/
    http://img88.imageshack.us/i/005fl.jpg/

    This is the the front inside part of the tower, the black parts connecting through to the metal part is the front cover of the computer where the power button and microphone/headphone plugs are.

    http://img404.imageshack.us/i/003hj.jpg/
    http://img208.imageshack.us/i/001yqe.jpg/
    http://img209.imageshack.us/i/004eg.jpg/

    This is the left side of my tower, I'm sure these aren't where you put case fans in, because the top square is located right infront of my CPU fan, supposedly this is where my CPU fan gets the air from. I've checked the inside of this left side, and there wasn't any screw holes or ledges to put a case fan in.

    http://img585.imageshack.us/i/002je.jpg/

    This part is located directed under the square holes provided in the images above. Again this is on the left side of my case, and there aren't any screw holes or ledges to put even a small case fan in.

    I guess I need a new case now. XD.
    Soooo... any cheap cases good for value these days? Lmao. T_T.
     
    Wishcross, Jan 16, 2011
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  11. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    i'm in canada so check with newegg or your local computer store.
     
    ddp, Jan 16, 2011
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  12. Wishcross

    Wishcross Member

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    Well, I checked out a couple a couple of Coolermaster cases which looks pretty good for their prices.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...119115&cm_re=Elite_330-_-11-119-115-_-Product

    I'd probably buy this one, but I just have one question regarding the case fans...

    If I were to install all three case fans, can I make it so the rear and the side fan sucks in air, and then use the front fan to blow it through the inside of the computer?

    Or is there a better set up for case fans?
     
    Wishcross, Jan 17, 2011
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  13. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    the front & side pulls air in & the back blows air out.
     
    ddp, Jan 17, 2011
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  14. Wishcross

    Wishcross Member

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    Hmm, I'll have to check the front of the case, will the front fan even work pulling air in even though the cover is in front? :S. Seriously confused. XD.
     
    Wishcross, Jan 17, 2011
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  15. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    yes as no case is airtight.
     
    ddp, Jan 17, 2011
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  16. Wishcross

    Wishcross Member

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    Okay, thanks for the help then! XD.
     
    Wishcross, Jan 19, 2011
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  17. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    no problem. also all frontend of cases has venting.
     
    ddp, Jan 19, 2011
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  18. Wishcross

    Wishcross Member

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    Wishcross, Jan 20, 2011
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  19. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    1. An E6700 isn't worth that much
    2. Microdirect are scammers
    3. It's not much of an upgrade.
    4. L2 cache is not important for gaming, a quad core is better than a dual though.
     
    sammorris, Jan 20, 2011
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  20. Wishcross

    Wishcross Member

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    @Q4.

    Better than a dual core at gaming? Or just general use?
    And... even if the speed of the quad-core is slower than the dual-core? :O

    And I'll probably use Scan.co.uk anyway. But it was just to compare the prices, and because Micro-Direct only had that processor. :)
     
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2011
    Wishcross, Jan 20, 2011
    #20
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