Upgrading motherboard and processor.

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fredted40x

New Member
Hi,

I currently have:

Asus crosshair 1 motherboard
amd 5200+ x2 64
and 2gb 800MHz ram.

I’ve just upgraded to the nvidia gtx 260 graphics card hoping i will be able to play flight simulator x on near or full graphics but im still stuck with medium graphics so upgrading from the 7600gt car to gtx 260 hasn’t made much difference so far.

Im now guessing that its the motherboard, processor and ram that’s holding it back so it time to upgrade :).

Ive got about £200 for the motherboard and processor as im going to get the ram later.

Ive had two recommendations so far.

Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3L
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400

or

Asus crosshair iii
AMD Phenom II X2 550 3.1 GHz 7MB Cache Edition Dual Core Processor - Black

They both come slightly over budget but look ok.

I was just wondering if anyone on here had any more suggestions?

Thanks


located: uk
Use: Games
Prefer to shop at any stores that have a god rep
Games include need for speed shift and flight simulator x
 
D

daisymtc

Active Member
Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3
http://www.google.co.uk/products/ca...A770&hl=en&cid=6707603493018699266&sa=title#p

AMD Phenom II X4 965
http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=phenom+II+x4+965&hl=en&cid=2309817463474533886&sa=title#p


intel LGA775 will end soon, no point getting that.

Asus crosshair iii with 790FX chipset. The main benefit would be crossfire ati video card, but you've got GTX260. Unable to use that function. Also, that run DDR3 RAM, which you can't use your DDR2
IFor best performance, would say spend less on motherboard, and put all the money on CPU.
That's why i suggest cheap AMD 770 chipset. Either go for GA-MA770-UD3 for DDR2 RAM or GA-MA770T-UD3 for DDR3
 
linkin

linkin

VIP Member
you don't multiply the clock speed by the number of cores... each core runs at 3.4ghz, they do not add up :)

Some site listed a quad core 2.5ghz processor as a 10ghz processor which is completely wrong!

i'd recommend replacing the power supply in a prebuilt machine as they are generally poor quality and prevent you from upgrading. get a good brand, like: corsair, ocz, pc power & coolimg, thermaltake etc.
 
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fredted40x

New Member
:) Yeah i meant 4 cores, each having 3.4 ghz. :) i corrected my friend on that last night. I couldnt work out what he was on about when he said his brothers got a 13.6ghz processor.

Have found out the 125watt version of the cpu is better so will get that.

Just need to get a ddr3 motherboard if that was what daisy was recommending as i cant find anyone that sells the GA-MA770T-UD3.


Have found these

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/...3AMDChipsetMotherboards/Asus/M4A77TDPRO.html#

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/...MDChipsetMotherboards/Asus/M4A785TD-VEVO.html

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/...3AMDChipsetMotherboards/Asus/M4A79XTDEVO.html

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/11350756/MSI-770-C45-AM3-AMD-770-ATX-Motherboard/Product.html#

Which would be best oe is gigabyte still a better brand?
 
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F

fredted40x

New Member
daisymtc said:
Asus / Gigabyte are both good brand. I personally get used to BIOS at Gigabyte...
Why going for novatech? they are not cheapest...

http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?origin=gbase16.5&prodID=B255784
http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?origin=gbase16.5&prodID=B237835
Click to expand...

Yeah novatech usually have higher prices, but i just use them to get an idea on whats out there before i buy anything as they have a good range.

That looks a good motherboard, its got some good reviews as well. And a bril price.


Any idea on how easy it is to overclock? Have it got a automatic setting?

Which memory would you say is best for the price, 1666(OC)/1333/1066 MHz?
Ive found these two
http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?prodID=B96956&viewSpec=y&showold=#productTop

http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?prodID=B89240&showold=#productTop

The second is only 1066 where the first one is 1333, but the second has faster timings.

Thanks again
 
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S

smoothforprez

New Member
i wouldn't recommend ocz's ddr3 ram. I've had thier ddr3 1333 in gold and platinum and there gold 1600. None of them ran at what they said they were supposed to. It takes a lot of tampering with the timings and voltages to get them to work and they only end up running correctly at 1066 which defeats the purpose of buying it.
 
F

fredted40x

New Member
smoothforprez said:
i wouldn't recommend ocz's ddr3 ram. I've had thier ddr3 1333 in gold and platinum and there gold 1600. None of them ran at what they said they were supposed to. It takes a lot of tampering with the timings and voltages to get them to work and they only end up running correctly at 1066 which defeats the purpose of buying it.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the tip!

Will get another brand instead, probably kingston as thats all lambda tek do cheaply. Will have a look on some other sites in a bit.
 
F

fredted40x

New Member
Yeah ive currently got the corsair dominator 800mhz in there now and its been bril.

Just trying to find some at a good price.
 
F

fredted40x

New Member
hi again. Have finally got my student finance money through so can now afford to upgrade. Is the 965 still the best processor with that gb motherboard?
Thanks


p.s.

Another which ram is better question.

1333mhz
http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?prodID=1772962
or
1600mhz
http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?prodID=1795194

Would you say its worth paying a little extra for these
http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?prodID=1772963
?

Thanks again

pps. is the 1600 mhz ram the DDR3 1666 that the motherboard specs says it can take?
 
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