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Upgrading PC, CPU GFX card/PSU decision

Discussion in 'PC hardware help' started by blahwho, Dec 16, 2007.

  1. blahwho

    blahwho Regular member

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    Hi, I'm upgrading my computer for Christmas and need help deciding which parts to get. I play GW, BF, COD 4, might get crysis
    Currently running
    GA-M55SLI-S4 mobo AM2
    7600GT
    amd 64 3500+(total shit)
    2 gigs ddr2 667
    400gbHD
    So I've been looking around for dual core and some quads, came up with these two
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103191
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103226
    and I'm trying to choose between the 3870s and the 8800GTs.
    Price wise I like the 3870 and I've been hearing that is deserves more credit then people give it.
    Also I got a crappy 420w power supply that came with my aspire x-discovery case and that needs to be upgraded as well, how are these:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341010
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341012
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817148008
     
  2. Waymon3X6

    Waymon3X6 Regular member

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    The idea of getting a duel core or quad is up to you. There is a price difference, and I don't know anyone who has experienced a phenom before, so I couldn't say if they're good or bad. I do know that people with a 6400+ love it and haven't had any problems with it yet.

    Get the 3870. I see you said 3870(s), so are you going to be doing CF? Well, all I know is that although nvidia's graphics cards are a little faster, ATi doesn't cheat on image quality for performance. The 3870 has a better picture than the 8800GT, so I would get the 3870 hands down.

    The power supplys you picked out are decent, but this one is far more reliable and you system will never use over 500watts.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139001&Tpk=corsair+520
     
    Last edited: Dec 16, 2007
  3. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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  4. Waymon3X6

    Waymon3X6 Regular member

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    Btw sam, is there a difference between the Sapphire 3870, and the other companies? I remember seeing a benchmark somewhere, and the HIS had about 2 more fps than one of the other brands...
     
  5. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Probably because HIS overclock theirs...
    As for the brand, it's basically which one won't go wrong. Sapphire and HIS are trusted brands. Powercolor aren't.
     
  6. blahwho

    blahwho Regular member

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    I said the 3870s meaning them in general, and I don't want to get a whole new mobo for the quad cores. I'm using the existing one I have and was also kinda wondering if I would get the benefit of the phenom over the 6400+.
     
  7. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    The benefits of moving to a quad core from a dual are far more subtle than those of moving from a single core to a dual core. Generally you wouldn't notice the difference unless you did lots of video work and played four-core games such as Supreme commander.
     
  8. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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  9. blahwho

    blahwho Regular member

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    whoa whoa, according to that list, my mobo doesn't support the 6400+?
     
  10. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Hmm, interesting. I don't see why it wouldn't. Contact Gigabyte about that, their tech support's usually quite good.
     
  11. blahwho

    blahwho Regular member

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    Thanks sammoris, I will tomorrow.
     
  12. blahwho

    blahwho Regular member

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    Would the 3870 work fine with my current motherboard?
     
  13. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    The 3870 will work in any motherboard that has a PCI express 16x slot, but you MUST get a new power supply before you start using it.
     
  14. blahwho

    blahwho Regular member

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    Oh yeah I will, and I can't seem to find a way to contact gigabyte about the compatibility issues.
     
  15. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Just contact their tech support line and ask!
     
  16. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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  17. blahwho

    blahwho Regular member

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  18. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Heh, did you have to get that page from the taiwan gigabyte website? The connection to it is terrible! Took me 4 minutes to open the page!
    It's curious that the 6400+ has been omitted from version 2.0 of the board. However, if you're not sure, just send the damn people an email! Their tech support over email is supposed to be quite good!
    http://www.giga-byte.com/Support/ServiceCenter.aspx
     
  19. blahwho

    blahwho Regular member

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    I did.... haven't gotten anything back.
     
  20. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    When did you send the message? I think it's fair to give them a couple of days to respond.
     

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