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Looking to upgrade an old PC


MedicSN6
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I have an old 3.0 Ghz P4 system that I want to UG to a multi core. I want to spend about $300 on the processor and about another $300-$400 on the mother board and RAM. This will mainly be used to host game servers and run Client TS. It will also be used to convert video during the day and night.

 

I already have a Box high end PSU, HDDs and media drives ready for it. I just need the Mobo, CPU, and RAM. I have my spare 6800 Pro PCI Express card to go in it for now. BTW.

 

I would love any suggestions you guys have because I have looked online and cant find what I really want or need for that matter.

 

You guys are way more knowledgeable when it comes to this stuff.

 

Thanks

Edited by Medic~SPARTA~
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http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...BM-680ISE-Q6600

 

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...BM-680ISE-Q6600

 

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...&CatId=2406 this is what i have

 

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/ca...t=0&Recs=10

 

 

hopefully this will get you started.

 

 

I have the Q6600 and have had no problems with any of the new games and the 8800 gts. Everything runs smooth.

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Thanks E! Thats awesome. Everything for an under budget price. I might even go with two new 8600 GT XXX and SLi them with the money left over and keep the 6800 Pro for back up spare. Or use it to do a RAID Setup with some raptors.

 

Thanks so much E$.

 

Now to come up with the money.

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If you are going to run a quad core or a 1333 fsb cpu you might want to consider an Intel P35 or X38 motherboard, they were designed for them from the get go by the people that know Intel cpu's best, Intel. Quad cores and 1333 fsb cpu's are an afterthought on the Nvidia 680 chipsets.

 

If you are going to run an Intel Core 2 Duo like a E6600 (1066 fsb) the Nvidia 680 chipsets are fine as they were designed to run these from the get go, as is any Intel chipset from 975x on.

 

However if you are looking to run SLI your choice is pretty much limited to Nvidia as their drivers don't play nice with Intel chipsets. If you are looking to run a single video card it doesn't matter which way you go.

 

Some example set-ups:

 

For about $500 shipped you get a solid dual core performer.

E6600 Core 2 Duo dual core, 1066 fsb @ 2.40GHz $230 USD

Abit IP35-Pro (P35 chipset) $185 USD

2gig G-Skill DDR2 800 $75 USD

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819115003

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813127030

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820231114

 

For about $615 USD shipped you get a dual core screamer.

E6850 Core 2 Duo dual core, 1333 fsb @ 3.0GHz $290 USD

Abit IP35-Pro (P35 chipset) $185 USD

2gig G-Skill DDR2 800 (micron D9 chips for higher over clocks) $130 USD

(You can substitute the E6850 for a Q6600 quad core for about the same price, it is supported on this main board)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819115028

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813127030

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820231065

 

I am a long time Abit user and have yet to have a bad board, I think you will be very happy if you go with this board. Abit also has a Intel X38 chip set board out for around $230 USD but it is brand spankn' new and hard to find.

 

I have also heard good things about the new Asus Maximums Formula SE board that uses Intel's latest X38 chipset but that bad boy will set you back $300 USD, a little over kill for a game server but a hell of an over clocker.

 

Hope this is of help,

AZ

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At this moment I have no intention of over clocking but it can be an option for the future.

My rule of thumb for overclocking is if I cant afford to replace the hardware, then i cant (or shouldnt) over-clock.

 

Which will be faster (stock, NOT OC'ed) a Dual core 3.0 Ghz w/ 1333 FSB OR a Quad Core @ 2.4 Ghz with 1066 FSB?

 

 

I will also eventually put in 4 Gigs of RAM total to do the video conversion with. It should make it a shade faster. But for now it will be a 2G system.

Edited by Medic~SPARTA~
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