Computer upgrades

[Strider]

I'm looking for a second (or third, fourth, etc.) opinion on a few potential computer upgrades I plan on doing. Here we go:

Dual Core or Quad Core?

9600 GT with 1 gig of Ram or 9800 GT with 512 mb of ram?

Basic "liquid" cooling systems seem rather cheap and easy to install (only about $12 more than the fan I had picked out). Are they worth it?

My current power supply is 420 watt, but looking at newer power supplies I see that 500 watt or higher is the norm. 500 and 550 watt supplies are fairly cheap; should I upgrade?

Intel or AMD? (Remember the dual core and quad core question above)

Only 2 gigs of ram at the moment, but I plan on going up to 4 gigs fairly soon. With that said 32-bit OS or 64-bit OS?

I see hard drive cooling systems (VIGOR by brand name) that are raved about. They appear easy to install and aren't to nasty on the pocket. Worth it?

 

[Cutlass]

32 bit OS only handles 2 gig ram, so if you intend to have more eventually, get the 64 bit.

550 watt power supply will probably meet your needs.

Dual core is probably sufficient. The bang for the buck tends to decline with quad i hear.

AMD had been giving more bang for the buck before the dual core processors, but word is that the Intel lead in performance is huge now.

I've never used a HDD cooler, and it doesn't really seem likes it's needed. Unless maybe because the whole system runs hot.

 

[LogicSequence]

I'm looking for a second (or third, fourth, etc.) opinion on a few potential computer upgrades I plan on doing. Here we go:

Dual Core or Quad Core?

9600 GT with 1 gig of Ram or 9800 GT with 512 mb of ram?

Basic "liquid" cooling systems seem rather cheap and easy to install (only about $12 more than the fan I had picked out). Are they worth it?

My current power supply is 420 watt, but looking at newer power supplies I see that 500 watt or higher is the norm. 500 and 550 watt supplies are fairly cheap; should I upgrade?

Intel or AMD? (Remember the dual core and quad core question above)

Only 2 gigs of ram at the moment, but I plan on going up to 4 gigs fairly soon. With that said 32-bit OS or 64-bit OS?

I see hard drive cooling systems (VIGOR by brand name) that are raved about. They appear easy to install and aren't to nasty on the pocket. Worth it?

QUAD
9800 GT 512Mb
No liquid cooling unless you plan to MAJORLY super overclock your system, otherwise complete waste of money
YOU MUST get a new PSU to power a quad processor and that video card. At least 750 watt to be safe.
INTEL INTEL INTEL INTEL Core 2 Quad
4Gb is great, only 64bit operating systems recognize over 3GB of ram, so you'll either need to get a 64bit OS now, or plan too soon in the future.
HDD cooling is not worth it imo, unless you are having overheating problems.

 

[croxis]

The question you really need to first answer is what are you wanting this computer to run? As of the Core2 Duo generation the chips take less power per cycle than the AMD counterparts, resulting is less power and heat used. That being said make sure the motherboard you use can use the new 45 nm quad cores so you have room to upgrade when you need it.

Go with a 500+ W 80 PLUS PSU. These operate at least 80% efficiency instead of the usual 50-60%. You will save both money and heat by using them.

I am quite happy with my 7600 GT at the moment, you only need to go with the x8xx if you are really doing super high end games or 3d graphics.

64 bit vista is now taking off in the market so we should see improved driver support soon. For now tackle 64 bit OS at your own risk.

If you are planning on doing serious linux buisness though you might want to look aat AMD/ATI. With the ATI system now fully open there is a lot of exciting work with the kernel modules in that department.

 

[LogicSequence]

Intel Core2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115131
$274.99

ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131196
$149.99

Patriot Extreme Performance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220161
$59.99 x2 ($10 mail in rebate each) = $119.98 ($99.98 with rebates)

EVGA 512-P3-N976-AR GeForce 9800 GT Superclocked Edition 512MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130377
$169.99 ($20 mail in rebate) = $149.99

ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118019
$53.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply (80 PLUS)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006
$119.99 ($20 mail in rebate) = $99.99

Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000SWA Silver Aluminum Modern Dream Tower
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133133
$119.99

Total $1,008.92 ($948.92 after rebates)



OPTIONAL:
SONY White 20X DVD+R/RW Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827131050
$44.99

Total $1,053.91 ($993.91 after rebates)

 

[GVBN]

Get the Radeon HD 4850 instead

 

[GoodGame]

If you have to ask, go Dual core. Quad core is for special applications.

No experience with liquid cooling, but it might be worthwhile if you can't stand fan noise. Same for HD coolers. I just use Artic Silver on the CPU and put 4 fans in my micro ATX case + the stock CPU fan, and have no overheating issues. Noise is more likely the issue.

Unless you have XP lying around, I'd pick up Vista, and probably a Wolfdale CPU Dual core with a compatible motherboard with 4 ram slots to take you to the Wolfdale's max of 6 GB ram down the road. I've heard Vista will support more ram, but I don't know of a mobo-CPU config that supports more than 6GB.
I'd recommend looking at the ASUS P5 for one that supports Wolfdale (45nm) Intel CPUs. I would look for an aftermarket CPU fan though as the stock one was very chintzy plastic and took me many false starts to understand it's crappy engineering. I prefered the CPU fans from the 1st gen of Dual cores, with their honest screws. The new stock fans uses a strange plunger system.

I think you could get by with 400 watts (what I have), but not sure what the 9 series requires in terms of power, and I use a 8600 GT. You might want about 650 watts to be safe.

I'm a stark raving Intel fanboy because they remind me of tough little Matchbox cars. Never touched an AMD chip in my life. Never broken an Intel chip in my life. AMD are less expensive however.

I'm looking for a second (or third, fourth, etc.) opinion on a few potential computer upgrades I plan on doing. Here we go:

Dual Core or Quad Core?

9600 GT with 1 gig of Ram or 9800 GT with 512 mb of ram?



Basic "liquid" cooling systems seem rather cheap and easy to install (only about $12 more than the fan I had picked out). Are they worth it?

My current power supply is 420 watt, but looking at newer power supplies I see that 500 watt or higher is the norm. 500 and 550 watt supplies are fairly cheap; should I upgrade?

Intel or AMD? (Remember the dual core and quad core question above)

Only 2 gigs of ram at the moment, but I plan on going up to 4 gigs fairly soon. With that said 32-bit OS or 64-bit OS?

I see hard drive cooling systems (VIGOR by brand name) that are raved about. They appear easy to install and aren't to nasty on the pocket. Worth it?

 

[WildFire]

Intel Core2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115131
$274.99

quad cores pointless unless you are a graphic designer or REALLY need those frames in supreme commander. c2d e7200, e8400, e8500 are more then enough

ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131196
$149.99

p35 is outdated

Patriot Extreme Performance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220161
$59.99 x2 ($10 mail in rebate each) = $119.98 ($99.98 with rebates)

2x2 >>>> 2x1

EVGA 512-P3-N976-AR GeForce 9800 GT Superclocked Edition 512MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130377
$169.99 ($20 mail in rebate) = $149.99

ATI's 4850 kills the 9800 GT in the same price range.

ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118019
$53.99

arctic freezer 7 works almost as well for $20 less. also depends on if he's gonna overclock/what cpu he buys

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply (80 PLUS)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006
$119.99 ($20 mail in rebate) = $99.99

pointless unless he's goin to SLI or xfire...great deal though

 

[LogicSequence]

quad cores pointless unless you are a graphic designer or REALLY need those frames in supreme commander. c2d e7200, e8400, e8500 are more then enough

Not True, it's called future proofing. More cores will be used soon, and he wants this computer to last more than a year or so.

p35 is outdated

mmmmhmmm, what isn't? This is a budget consideration. Everything is outdated at some point. Can't get the newest of everything on a $1000 budget. Saying that's outdated is like saying a 2007 car is outdated.

2x2 >>>> 2x1

He wants 4GB. Can't get 4Gb with 2Gb can you?

ATI's 4850 kills the 9800 GT in the same price range.

No, no it doesn't. And that's besides the point, he wants nVidia, not ATi.

arctic freezer 7 works almost as well for $20 less. also depends on if he's gonna overclock/what cpu he buys

"almost" but not quite.

pointless unless he's goin to SLI or xfire...great deal though

Not pointless, again, future proofing, and he may SLi and he's going to need the watts.

 

[kuukkeli]

Not True, it's called future proofing. More cores will be used soon, and he wants this computer to last more than a year or so.

Future proofing your computer isn't usually the smartest thing (PSU and case being clear exceptions) to do because the development is at times very fast. Besides quad cores have been around for quite some time and still majority of applications offer little to none support beyond two cores.

He wants 4GB. Can't get 4Gb with 2Gb can you?

I guess (hope) that WildFire meant that 2 x 2Gb >>> 4 x 1Gb. If the aim is for 4Gb then 2 x 2Gb is definately the way to go.

No, no it doesn't. And that's besides the point, he wants nVidia, not ATi.

He's looking for opinions about a plan. There's no mention that people aren't allowed to suggest changes. And yeah, it does.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

I reccomend possibly waiting until later this year. The new Nehalems will start coming out then and you will possibly see a price drop in the current generation of Intel Processors.

 

[WildFire]

Not True, it's called future proofing. More cores will be used soon, and he wants this computer to last more than a year or so.






mmmmhmmm, what isn't? This is a budget consideration. Everything is outdated at some point. Can't get the newest of everything on a $1000 budget. Saying that's outdated is like saying a 2007 car is outdated.






He wants 4GB. Can't get 4Gb with 2Gb can you?




No, no it doesn't. And that's besides the point, he wants nVidia, not ATi.




"almost" but not quite.



Not pointless, again, future proofing, and he may SLi and he's going to need the watts.

you have no clue what you're talking about


btw, "future proofing" with quad core right now is dumb

core i7 is coming out in november/december

completely new sockets etc


2x2 is 4 gigs ******

search for benchmarks anywhere...4850/4870/4870x2 kill anything nvidia right now for better prices

fanboy

Moderator Action: Infraction for name-calling. Pls be polite. Thx. - KD
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

 

[lutzj]

I'm looking for a second (or third, fourth, etc.) opinion on a few potential computer upgrades I plan on doing. Here we go:

Dual Core or Quad Core?
Dual core, quad if you can afford it.
9600 GT with 1 gig of Ram or 9800 GT with 512 mb of ram?
4850 HD with 512mb, 4870 is you can afford it.
Basic "liquid" cooling systems seem rather cheap and easy to install (only about $12 more than the fan I had picked out). Are they worth it?
NO! Just buy some more case fans, or turn the AC up.
My current power supply is 420 watt, but looking at newer power supplies I see that 500 watt or higher is the norm. 500 and 550 watt supplies are fairly cheap; should I upgrade?
get a stable 650 for future-proofness.
Intel or AMD? (Remember the dual core and quad core question above)
Intel
Only 2 gigs of ram at the moment, but I plan on going up to 4 gigs fairly soon. With that said 32-bit OS or 64-bit OS?
32-bit unless you want more than 4gb of ram and are willing to sacrifice compatibility.
I see hard drive cooling systems (VIGOR by brand name) that are raved about. They appear easy to install and aren't to nasty on the pocket. Worth it?

Sure, but don't waste the money if your drives aren't running hot.