Smithdogg1
03-16-2009, 10:00 PM
It is well past due for upgrading my current rig, I build it in 05 and while it has been rock solid and still does mostly what I need it to do, the main problem I have with it is that it is an outdated and tired P4 3.0 Ghz HT with 3 GB of RAM on an Intel Motherboard. Other than that I have updated most other components such as hard drives which include two 320 GB and two 750 GB (Seagate 7200.10 drives), the power supply is still good for my needs, it is an original Antec NeoPower 480 watt modular and for graphics cards I have an Evga 9800 GT as well as two PNY 9800GTX+ cards that I plan to use once I upgrade my PSU down the line to a Corasir HX1000 but for now the 9800 GT is fine and I an not buying another GPU until the 300 series come out.
So basically besides the MB/CPU/RAM upgrades I would also like to get a SATA burner because why not they are $20 and no more running ribbon cables and I would also like to get a 750 GB WD Black Drive for my OS drive (I may get two and raid them) the reason I want to get a new drive at this time is because I figured if I am upgrading my board and cpu I have to reinstall anyway so why not do it in a newer/faster drive, plus I may go to vista/7. So to break it down here are the components I want upgraded…
Motherboard:
CPU:
RAM:
Pretty much no choice there, its all or nothing
Optical Drive:
Boot/OS Hard Drive:
And I plan to keep
Antec 900 Case
Antec NeoPower 480 Watt PSU
2 Seagate 7200.10 750 GB Drives
Evga 9800 GT/GTX+ video cards
So now the question is do I go i7, which I have been planning on or just stick with a nice C2D/C2Q system for much less. As basic breakdown would go like this, not saying I would use these components, but I would use ones in similar price ranges.
I7
MB: Asus P6T $240 or Evga X-58 $300
CPU: 920 $288
RAM: Corsair Dominator 6 GB (DDR3 1600) $176
Optical: Lite-On SATA $25
Hard Drive: WD Black 750 GB $90
Total for i7 Upgrades: $820-$880, now you might say the RAM is overkill so lets say I go with a 6 GB kit of G-Skill for $100, that bumps it down to $720.
Now for the C2D
MB: Something Asus, Evga or Gigabyte for around $120, I wish this board supported SLI I would be all over it! Anyone know a good alternative?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358
CPU: C2D e8400 $150
RAM: Corsair Dominator 4 GB DD2 1066 $60
Optical: $25
Hard Drive: $90
Total: $445 about $350-$420 less
Now my original plan was to go all out on an i7 build with an Evga classified, then I realized I could get a C2D, MB, RAM, ect. for less than the cost of the MB alone, then rock this for a while until the next latest and greatest comes out. Or for $350 more I could build a mid-range (IMO) i7 build. For me I would almost just rather save the money now, be fine with the C2D machine (a huge upgrade to a P4!) and then later on build a crazy i7 rig when the technology has had time to mature. Plus if I get a board that supports SLI I can still have some fun upgrading my PSU and Graphics Cards in the meantime to itch that upgrade bug.
What do you guys think, I know a lot will say go for i7 and I did at first too but now I am starting to think practical with this stuff getting so low in price. Makes my head spins sometimes, I just obsess about it so much when I should just buy something. But it is just so tempting to do to Microcenter, spent $450, come back and have a very kick ass PC. But to go spend in the $800 range, not so easy.
So basically besides the MB/CPU/RAM upgrades I would also like to get a SATA burner because why not they are $20 and no more running ribbon cables and I would also like to get a 750 GB WD Black Drive for my OS drive (I may get two and raid them) the reason I want to get a new drive at this time is because I figured if I am upgrading my board and cpu I have to reinstall anyway so why not do it in a newer/faster drive, plus I may go to vista/7. So to break it down here are the components I want upgraded…
Motherboard:
CPU:
RAM:
Pretty much no choice there, its all or nothing
Optical Drive:
Boot/OS Hard Drive:
And I plan to keep
Antec 900 Case
Antec NeoPower 480 Watt PSU
2 Seagate 7200.10 750 GB Drives
Evga 9800 GT/GTX+ video cards
So now the question is do I go i7, which I have been planning on or just stick with a nice C2D/C2Q system for much less. As basic breakdown would go like this, not saying I would use these components, but I would use ones in similar price ranges.
I7
MB: Asus P6T $240 or Evga X-58 $300
CPU: 920 $288
RAM: Corsair Dominator 6 GB (DDR3 1600) $176
Optical: Lite-On SATA $25
Hard Drive: WD Black 750 GB $90
Total for i7 Upgrades: $820-$880, now you might say the RAM is overkill so lets say I go with a 6 GB kit of G-Skill for $100, that bumps it down to $720.
Now for the C2D
MB: Something Asus, Evga or Gigabyte for around $120, I wish this board supported SLI I would be all over it! Anyone know a good alternative?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358
CPU: C2D e8400 $150
RAM: Corsair Dominator 4 GB DD2 1066 $60
Optical: $25
Hard Drive: $90
Total: $445 about $350-$420 less
Now my original plan was to go all out on an i7 build with an Evga classified, then I realized I could get a C2D, MB, RAM, ect. for less than the cost of the MB alone, then rock this for a while until the next latest and greatest comes out. Or for $350 more I could build a mid-range (IMO) i7 build. For me I would almost just rather save the money now, be fine with the C2D machine (a huge upgrade to a P4!) and then later on build a crazy i7 rig when the technology has had time to mature. Plus if I get a board that supports SLI I can still have some fun upgrading my PSU and Graphics Cards in the meantime to itch that upgrade bug.
What do you guys think, I know a lot will say go for i7 and I did at first too but now I am starting to think practical with this stuff getting so low in price. Makes my head spins sometimes, I just obsess about it so much when I should just buy something. But it is just so tempting to do to Microcenter, spent $450, come back and have a very kick ass PC. But to go spend in the $800 range, not so easy.