I'm stuck....!

[Remeniz]

I was thinking of spending money on my current set up. You know, better CPU, Memory, etc.

The thing is DDR is expensive and together with the CPU I want it's gonna be an expensive overhaul of my current set up.

So I'm looking at a very OC'able Mobo & CPU to purchase in about a few weeks time.

I'm liking the Asus M3A32-MVP Deluxe (Not the WIFI or WIFI-AP versions!) together with the AMD Phenom 9850 Quad Core CPU.

I haven't researched Intel's offerings but i'm open to views and suggestions.

Again I want a very OC'able quad core, DDR 2, Xfire/SLI set up.

Thanks

 

[Verbatim47]

Just get the cheap 9500 Phenom and a good AM2+ mobo, then some cheap DDR2 ram which it is all cheap, then you wil have yourself a good setup... you could even squeeze in a graphics card with the money you save from going to Intel...

I recommend doing something like that because I am in the same predicament and I dont know what to do really also because DDR memory is so expensive and upgrading older hardware will get you nowhere. Go ahead and adapt to the new DDR2 environment, because by the time you spend the time upgrading your DDR setup you can get the same stuff on the newer platform with a quad core...

Suggestions:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131011
The motherboard you wanted...

(Couldn't find the Non-Wifi Version)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130085
The 8600gt Graphics Card...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103244
Or if you want to save some money get a AMD X2 5000+ Black edition:
Some benches it has rated higher than the quad core.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098
G. Skill 2gb Kit

Two more questions, what kind and what wattage of a PSU do you have, and are you a gamer?

 

[worshipme]

Just get the cheap 9500 Phenom

The 9500 is the old B2 stepping Phenom. The 9850 is one of the new B3 revision of CPUs (9x50 series)
The 9850 also features a higher memory controller and hypertransport speed (2.0GHz compared to 1.8GHz on the other CPUs in the range)

The 65nm Phenoms aren't great OC'ers. Some people have managed 3.0GHz, but that is a rare case. I'm sure that will change with the 45nms though.

You can read a good article about the 9850 here: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/phenom-x4-9850_2.html

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131011
The motherboard you wanted...

The 590i isn't an AM2+ board and therefore doesn't have the higher transport speeds. For that you will need an AMD 770/780G/790X/790FX chipset.

And he's from the UK BTW so Newegg is no good. We use Scan.co.uk

 

[Remeniz]

Thanks for the advice.

Couple of things though.

The Non-WIFI is available here:

http://www.xcase.co.uk/p/444807/asu...-supportquad-pci-expressraid-gigabit-lan.html

I've also contacted an ?Bay shop that will get me one within 7 working days.

The reason for the Non-WIFI is simply that it is compatible with the Phenom 9850 CPU.

The 9500 is the old B2 stepping Phenom. The 9850 is one of the new B3 revision of CPUs (9x50 series)
The 9850 also features a higher memory controller and hypertransport speed (2.0GHz compared to 1.8GHz on the other CPUs in the range)

Thats why it has to be the 9850

The 590i isn't an AM2+ board and therefore doesn't have the higher transport speeds. For that you will need an AMD 770/780G/790X/790FX chipset.

Pref. the 790FX.

So is it a good quad core upgrade?

 

[worshipme]

Yes, I'd say so. The 790X or FX would be better for overclocking than the Nvidia board though.

 

[Remeniz]

Excellent.

Verbatim47

Two more questions, what kind and what wattage of a PSU do you have, and are you a gamer?

I have a 450W iCute PSU at the moment and have a working 250W standard working unit. Both are going in my new case. I'm looking to replace the 250 watter with a 500W+ unit.

This again opens up possibilities for XfireX and or Water Cooling.

The only game I play at the moment is PKR. Although I will play other 'good' games once I have a decent system. And no girlfriend.

 

[Verbatim47]

I do realize that now, I was in a hurry in my school and I was just randomly including things, thanks worshipme for following up on that reply I made...

Yea get the 9850 for the new stepping. It is very on par with the q6600 intel... and if you are going to play games get that 8600gt for gaming it is very cheap and awesome for gaming

awe.. you're going to break up with your gf??!!

 

[Remeniz]

Sweet.

I'll look in to the 8600GT more closely.

awe.. you're going to break up with your gf??!!

Well if she don't let me play who knows

I see your running with pretty much the same mobo as mine.

You should get 2600MHZ out of that set up easy.

 

[worshipme]

Another alvernative for the GPU should definitely be the HD 3650. It is a 55nm part (8600GT is 90nm) which makes it much more overclockable and energy efficient. Performance is slightly inferior to the 8600GTS but superior to the 8600GT. Make sure you get GDDR3 though and not GDDR2.

 

[Remeniz]

Excellent. I don't mind the AMD graphics cards. Just wish they would sort the drivers out.

Whats the 8600GTS like?