Upgrade Options for 500$

[payne280]

I have about 500$ and want to upgrade my current setup

Opteron 165@2.5GHz stock cooling
DFI Lanparty Ultra-D
2x512mb BH-5
6800GT @ 450/1200 with VF900-CU
80g sata hd
Audigy2ZS
PCP@C 510W SLI
All in a Thermaltake Soprano

I was wondering what are some of the options I could get right now

My idea was to get a 8800GTS and a new heatsink for my Opteron so i could oc it some more, but would I be to CPU limited for an 8800GTS?
If the 8800GS is a viable option what would be the best brand? and what would be the best air cooler for it? also what would be the best heatsink for my Opty 165?


Payne

[kemo]

i have been posting that review for a a long time here (http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/geforce_8800_gtx_gts_amd_cpu_scaling/)
If you can sell your 2X512 BH-5 for 2X1GB it would be better for gaming

[payne280]

so try and get 2gb of ram and a 8800GTS?

[awhir]

ya that would be good try the g.skill hz4000.

[payne280]

can i get a link plz i can't find any g.skill hz4000

[nn_step]

well the 8800GTS will eat about $400 of your budget.
which would only leave enough for a 1GB stick of ram or maybe a beefier PSU just incase that the PCP&C might (doubt this though) not have enough juice

[payne280]

I can get the 8800GTS and then sell my 6800GT which i should be able to get between 80$-130$ for.

also will my VF900-CU cool a 8800GTS better than the stock cooler?, and any suggestions on what brand to get?

[awhir]

the cheapest there all the same just come with diffrent games and crap

[awhir]

sorry the G.Skill 2GB DDR HZ PC4000 are out of production .they were great ram.

[nn_step]

I can get the 8800GTS and then sell my 6800GT which i should be able to get between 80$-130$ for.

also will my VF900-CU cool a 8800GTS better than the stock cooler?, and any suggestions on what brand to get?
well if you are going that way, stick with the stock heatsink since it does a pretty good job. and use the Cash for http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146970
as for which brand, they are all virtually the same except for sticker and warrentee so I would advice going with evga, xfx, msi or BFG

[payne280]

I think i might go for the ASUS one as it also comes with a full version of 3dMark06

The stock cooler is good but can it outperform a VF900-CU?

[Okda]

i suggest the following

[1] vga card = XFX 7900GS (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150208) OR Sapphire X9150Pro (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102061)
[2] 2gb of ram = G.Skill HZ 2GB DDR500 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231021)
[3] HDD = WD3200KS (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136003) OR 2 x WD1600JS (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144415) for RAID0

[NickS]

8800GTS will be fine with your current PSU. The VF900 won't fit it and the GTS cooler is better, regardless.

I recommend overclocking your opty more, that stock cooler is better than a Zalman 9500CU anyway.

2.7GHz should be attainable, and sufficient.

Get an 8800GTS, and try to get 2GB RAM. Above all, get 2GB RAM. That will be the most important.

Good luck with your upgrade!

Nick

[payne280]

thx for all the input
my opty is a CCBWE 0551 so it might need a better cooler to reach 2.7GHz, it takes around 1.55v to bench at 2.7GHz

I should be able to get the 2gb of ram once I get the GTS and sell my old 6800GT and i should be able to gather together a bit more cash

again thx for all the help

[thespeakerbox]

definately go for the 8800gts.

[payne280]

already ordered it :D