New Computer

[Sajuuk]

upgrade vs buy new - always a fun argument

I think the upgrade would probably still be a bit cheaper for you. You already have the mobo and RAM, but sounds like you'd be buying a new case, power supply and CPU. if you haven't started multi-boxing yet, the 9600GT should last you at least until you get to northrend.

Of course if you buy an all new system then you can always do some amount of splitting between hardware and software multiboxing.

i5 series CPUs and mobos should be out soon, ATI could be releasing new GPUs soon as well. Of course the longer you wait, better the hardware will get.

The 9600GT is not a bad GPU. It's lasted me all the way through TBC/Wrath (well, I didn't do much raiding past naxx), both five and single boxing, across two builds. The only reason I upgraded was for folding@home, not gaming.

For right now - we're only looking at a new CPU, case is probable, we're not sure about the power supply.

Oh, Deann, pictures of your current system(inside and out) are always welcome, if available. Just because I like looking at naked computers.

[Deann]

I don't have the camera at the moment but i'll be able to get some photos tommorow to you

After thinking with a clear head, and talking with family, I feel that upgrading a little bit may not be enough for what i am asking, and pulling a little bit more out for a new build is a possibility.

Ok - after research i think i have found a decent computer build. Can you review it and let me know what you think, especially if i need to change something?


Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB SATAII 16MB Cache 3.5 inch Internal Hard Drive OEM
Colors-IT 650w Titan 12CM Neon Power Supply
Black Ultimate PC Gaming Case, LCD Temp & Fan Monitor
Intel i7-920 (Nehalem) Quad Core Processor - 2.66 GHz,8MB L3 Cache,1333MHz FSB,Socket 1366,45 nm,3 Year Warranty,Retail Boxed
Asus P6T Deluxe Skt 1366 X58 : 90-MIB600-G0EAY00Z
Corsair (TR3X6G1600C8D) 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 1600MHz XMS3 Dominator Memory CL8(8-8-8--24) for i7
Lg Gh22np20 Auaa50b 22x Dvdrw Bare Black
BFG 9500GT 1GB DDR2 PCI-E Graphics Card (For this - I don't know if this is more or less powerful than the 9600 with 512 mb, so feel free to input)

the total price of all of this comes to 730, However with more research and finding cheaper companies, waiting for chip prices to fall etc, i don't mind paying this. I can't help but feel there is something missing either..

If i have miss matched something that will go terrible wrong, please share .
I'll most likely be getting Vista 64 with it also, if that helps.. Price not included.

[jak3676]

The 9500 is a lesser card than the 9600. even if it does come with more memory. That looks to be your weakest link in the build - but it should still work fine. You'll just need to upgrade the GPU first.

[Deann]

Thought so, just thought i'd make sure

Just did another little check... What is your opinion on;

Inno3D nVIDIA GeForce 9800GT Graphics Card - 1GB GDDR3 - PCI-E - 256-Bit - Dual DVI - VISTA READY - 600MHz GPU - 1800MHz Memory clock - HDCP - HDTV

Edit; I don't know how much power this needs, as it isn't stated anywhere obvious that i can see.. Would i need to upgrade my power unit for this do you know?

[jak3676]

Looks to be a much better card than the 9500 - a jump up from the 9600 as well. It should work fine with your 650 watt power supply. I'd guess with everything in your PC maxed out, you'd still be under 600 watts. Maybe I'm just not an NVidia fan - but I'd still look at the ATI 4850 instead of the NVidia 9800. Some may disagree, but I think Tom's hardware generally does a pretty good ranking of cards. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...rd,2387-3.html I listed two cards up in post 18 that I'd go with instead of the 9800 GT. If you really like Nvidia, then I'd gow with http://www.amazon.co.uk/PALIT-896MB-...1988411&sr=1-4, but to me it's more expensive than the 1GB 4870 and performs slightly less,

If you wanted to give youself some more headroom for future expansion you could always upgrade to 700 or 750 watts, but it's really not necessary. Still, if it's $5-$10 more it may be worth it. But if they want $50 to go from 650 to 700 watts, then don't bother. Really depends who you're ordering from I guess.

[Deann]

Hmm, Wouldn't harm in checking...

I'll be going through a company that a friend has connections in, so i'll look into the price difference between the 650 and 700+ ones, as for a low upgrade price i don't mind paying the little bit extra for the "headroom", Thank you for the suggestion

[EvoX]

On a side note, My current computer has AMD Athlon 64 x2 dual core processor 5000+ 2/60 ghz, 8gb ram, vista 64...

Do you think i could add more to this instead of buying a complete new system? Would it be cheaper possibly?

Also, let me know if you need more info, not very experianced in this sector :P

Edit; Yes, when i start 5 boxing, i would be looking to use a dual monitor set up

Your current rig is close to the same specs as my 2nd PC. I have a Athlon 64 X2 7750, 4GB ram and Radeon 4850 1GB running Win7. I play 2 alts on a 20" widescreen monitor rotated 90° CCW on that rig.

My "main" rig is a Q6600 with 8GB ram, Radeon 4850X2 2GB and Win 7. Main toon is on a 19" and 2 alts on another 20" rotated 90° CW.

2 keyclone licences, one license for Input Director and one 3-PC license of Kavoom! KM software, both rigs CAT5 connected to the router and its like using one rig in game. I also setup my laptop for web searching quests etc. With Input Director and KaVoom! all I have to do is mouse through the top of my main's screen and the cursor transitions to the bottom of the laptop's, putting mouse/keyboard focus there until I mouse back.

This may be a more cost effective route for you to consider.

On a side note, I started out with the 4850 1GB in my main rig and a 3870 1GB in my alt PC. I really don't see much difference between the X2 and the 1GB on my main. I had hopes that I could run 3 monitors from it in WoW, but no such luck. I dont know if its impossible or that I'm not technically inclined enough at this point to get it to work. Had my 3870 not been donated to a rig I built my son for his birthday, I would have stayed with that setup and been equally as happy.

[Deann]

At the moment, my current pc can only hold 1 in northrend, 2 and I die. I did originally consider this, but then i'd need to update my cpu and graphics card in this computer, as well as getting another computer to be able to hold the other chars... And i came to the conclusion that with all the costs etc that would occur updating this, as well as getting a second pc, with the software to link them etc, for me, at the end of the day i don't feel it could be cheaper this way than building a new computer.

However; If i've completly missed your point, or missed something out that can be vital, please let me know, as i'm all up for different suggestions