It is getting close to upgrade time

[SUBMAN1]

I need to catch my CPU up to my graphics card (4870 1GB), so I'm shopping. I don't want top of the line this time. In the past I'd drop $3K+ without thinking about it. This time around, I think I'll make a lower high end performing system. Its the economy and all that has me thinking to cut back a bit.

I think Gigabyte is making the best MB's right now, and the extra copper in my case is always a good thing (To those that know I use copper for everything!).:

http://www.gigabyte.us/Products/Moth...ProductID=3007



I'll hang out for a bit for the Phenom X4 950 though. I will need an AM3 CPU is why and the 940 is an AM2+ and not quite fast enough. The 950 is faster and AM3.

I'll probably buy Mushkin RAM again. There is no better RAM bar none. 4GB should be enough for now, and this is pretty quick 1600-DDR3 (I'm buying 1600 not for O/C, but for future usefulness down the road):

http://www.mushkin.com/doc/products/...ail.asp?id=651

The CPU:

http://www.guru3d.com/news/amd-pheno...info-surfaces/

I can't keep tripple optical drives if I go to the above MB, so its time to upgrade the DVD-Burner to SATA. I have all 3 optical drives running PATA right now, and the above board will be limited to 2:

http://www.plextor.com/english/products/PX-850SA.html

That should hold me over for now. I am really tempted to get 2 x WD Raptors for RAID 0 though. They are not only low on vibration and quiet, they are pretty fast:

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?DriveID=459

-S

PS. I forgot. I will probably use this for a CPU cooler with a low RPM fan:

[Zachstar]

I still need to upgrade myself!

I want to stay away from DDR3 for now. It seems extremely worth the money IF you are spending a thousand dollars on the build. Which I am 100 percent not.

I guess there is no microATX boards with DDR3?

[Onkel Neal]

Let us know when you get it running, I am stillon the verge of upgrading myself. Can't get this 6 year old rig to run SH5 at a decent level of performance.

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Zachstar

I still need to upgrade myself!

I want to stay away from DDR3 for now. It seems extremely worth the money IF you are spending a thousand dollars on the build. Which I am 100 percent not.

I guess there is no microATX boards with DDR3?

Weren't there some quality issues with the ddr3? I don't remember.

[Arclight]

If I remember correctly it's still too early for DDR3; lowest latency 1600 MHZ DDR3 I see from Mushkin is CAS 7, even my 1066MHZ DDR2 CAS 3 is faster then that.

DDR3 offers higher bandwith but still has high latency.


Why AMD CPU? Intel is faster and uses less energy (less heat).


Is that cooler Ultima 90? Very pleased with that. Any Thermalright tower cooler is excellent IMHO.

*argh, forgot: Windows 7 coming -> DirectX 11! I'd hold of on upgrades for a while, but that's probably just me.

[Zachstar]

Direct X 10 will be used for another few years atleast before it is phased out.

Because of the Vista fiasco there really has been no real call to use DX10 graphics until now.

DX11 use will be rare at best for a year or two.

[Arclight]

I just did some reading and it seems MS pulled DX11 from windows 7. I guess you're right, I thought DX11 was a lot closer.

If DX11 came this year, a lot of users could have made the jump from older DX9 gear to that, but it doesn't seem like that's gonna be possible. Shame.

S*****d again, thank you MS!

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by Arclight

If I remember correctly it's still too early for DDR3; lowest latency 1600 MHZ DDR3 I see from Mushkin is CAS 7, even my 1066MHZ DDR2 CAS 3 is faster then that.

DDR3 offers higher bandwith but still has high latency.


Why AMD CPU? Intel is faster and uses less energy (less heat).


Is that cooler Ultima 90? Very pleased with that. Any Thermalright tower cooler is excellent IMHO.

*argh, forgot: Windows 7 coming -> DirectX 11! I'd hold of on upgrades for a while, but that's probably just me.

They have DDR with latency 6 which is about the same latency as you DDR 2 at CAS 3.

-S

[AVGWarhawk]

To be honest, I do not see a marked improvement by using DDR3 over DDR2. Machines today with 64 bit can handle up to 8 gigs of RAM. That is a lot of RAM and I suspect none of us will every use the full 8 gigs.

Multi-cores: IMO, multi-cores are a must. Vista is a huge hog but runs well if you feed the hog. Most consider Windows 7 just a Vista service pack (although Vista is getting a SP2 in a month or so). As far as Vista, I run it and it is stable. The headaches that it started two years ago are completely gone. I really enjoy Vista. Looking at Windows 7 and the packages MS plans on offering, I do not see much difference between Vista and 7.

http://www.vistax64.com/vista-news/2...announced.html

After reading this and seeing what 7 Premium has over my Vista Premium, I stick with Vista Home Premium and save my dollars. Anyway, 7 is a hog also so feeding the hog with multi-cores and plenty of RAM. Might as well make the plunge because XP will not last forever which is unfortunate but to be honest, after Vista, I find XP old and drab. I would probably think differently about XP if Vista was really that horrid and unstable. Also, two years ago MS stated and pushed "Vista Ready Computers" knowing full well these so called Vista Ready Computers were no where near powerful enough to run Vista and be Vista Ready. Currently MS is being sued and successfully to the tune of billions because these computers were not Vista Ready, made the Vista OS look like crap and unstable which it was. Just a bad mix and bad claims that sunk Vista from the word go that in all reality is unfounded for Vista. Just need to give it the power to run. Imagine if you would attempting to jog with you hand over your mouth. You would become unstable and crash also as you have no oxygen energy to keep on trucking.

In short, computer parts are very inexpensive right now. Building a rig to run for you over the next 5 years should be relatively inexpensive. You certainly do not need Alienware at $3500.00 or more to run upcoming games. I certainly recommend you stay way from the usual HP, Gateways, etc because of bloatware and other garbage the load you your drive. Not to mention, last time I looked at one (Christmas) these computers just looked and felt cheap.

Most importantly, do not shy away from Vista. Really, it ain't bad at all!

Anyway Subman1 nice board! What vid card are you thinking about getting?