Upgrade Time: recommendations?

[lundrog]

I have been eying the i3 530, but I'd have to drop some cash for the memory to get my self to the 8 GB I have now.

So, I find my self looking at a Q9550 or something in that field.

My plan would be a good Mobo, and to use my 8 GB of DDR 2 800 Memory.


Here is my current rig, a hand me down from work, that I added a nice video card to.

http://photography.rogerlund.net/Other/forum/cpu/771509481_cZbP9-XL.gif
http://photography.rogerlund.net/Other/forum/mobo/771509462_HJimP-XL.gif
http://photography.rogerlund.net/Other/forum/mem/771509459_Xg9c7-XL.gif
http://photography.rogerlund.net/Other/forum/spd/771509464_4sNdr-XL.gif
http://photography.rogerlund.net/Other/forum/video/771509473_yZk2U-XL.gif

Going to be using this for mostly gaming, and Photoshop.
Games I am playing, L4D2, CD:MW2, Dragon Age Origins, etc.

[zalbard]

Yeah, Q9550 and you're golden for a while. :up:
Everything else seems decent.

[lundrog]

Yeah, Q9550 and you're golden for a while. :up:
Everything else seems decent.

Well, this motherboard will not work.


Can you recommend something reasonably priced, and that would do a AIR OC?

On-board raid 3/5 would be nice also, but not a must.

[zalbard]

Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3 boards are great (there are a few of them with minor differences iirc, such as raid and stuff), they seem to be the best C2Q boards around. Pricing should be reasonable. :up:

[lundrog]

Would the GA-EP45-UD3P be over kill?

[zalbard]

Nope, why? It's a nice board. Most people are getting UD3R, though, I think. P has some security module you probably won't use.
There is a thread dedicated to these boards here, on XS: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=205132. Perhaps you should briefly check it if you're unsure about their overclocking capabilities and stuff. :yepp:
Their specs are also there, easy to compare all 3 and pick the right one. :up:

[lundrog]

Nope, why? It's a nice board. Most people are getting UD3R, though, I think. P has some security module you probably won't use.
There is a thread dedicated to these boards here, on XS: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=205132. Perhaps you should briefly check it if you're unsure about their overclocking capabilities and stuff. :yepp:
Their specs are also there, easy to compare all 3 and pick the right one. :up:

haha, both the R and P are the same price on the website I am looking at.

Another website has the combo (P ) for $375

[DAK1640]

Q9550 is a good chip...All 3 of mine are at 3.8XGhz running WCG 7x24:up:

[lundrog]

Ended up ordering it, Microcenter has it on sale.


http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0299412

$169 plus tax, in store pickup only.

[lundrog]

Can I get another secondary recommendation on a motherboard?

[Biker]

No.

You are purchasing a 775 Quad.

Get a Gigabyte EP45-UD3P (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358&cm_re=EP45-UD3P-_-13-128-358-_-Product)board.

This is the best board for socket 775 quad core clocking bar none.

End of discussion.

:)

[lundrog]

ok ok, i'll settle, now, to find the best price....

[lundrog]

Hmm.

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/GIGABYTE-GA-EP45-UD3P-LGA-Intel-Motherboard/dp/B001HH2WE2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1264371550&sr=8-1
Mwave http://www.mwave.com/mwave/deepsearch_v3.asp?scriteria=EP45+UD3P&ALL=y&TP=
Ewiz http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-E45UD3P&title=GIGABYTE-GA-EP45-UD3P-Core-2-Quad-P45-CrossFireX-A-2GbE-ATX-Motherboard

[lundrog]

Ordered from Mwave.com

[zalbard]

Congrats! :up:
Hope you'll enjoy the new hardware. :yepp:

[lundrog]

Congrats! :up:
Hope you'll enjoy the new hardware. :yepp:

Thanks, I decided on Mwave because I could purchase the testing, I then called them to have them test all four memory slots with 2 GB sticks. And they will update the bios.

[lundrog]

Got it Yesterday, the board, and hooked it up.

Seems very nice, haven't had time to play with it much.

I'll keep you updated.

[HuffPCair]

Was going to say Newegg has it for 124 and free shipping.

[lundrog]

Was going to say Newegg has it for 124 and free shipping.

heh, worth for me to pay and make sure it works.


Thanks though.

[TJ TRICHEESE]

q9550 and q9650 were always great for OCing

[David-Duc]

Q9550 + EP45-UD3x for sure. I was once selling the UD3R for P5Q-Turbo and P5Q-Pro and I can assure you the UD3R beat the :banana::banana::banana::banana: out of those 2 asus :up:.

[Donnie27]

Q9550 + EP45-UD3x for sure. I was once selling the UD3R for P5Q-Turbo and P5Q-Pro and I can assure you the UD3R beat the :banana::banana::banana::banana: out of those 2 asus :up:.

QFT! I miss my Gigabyte board!

[lundrog]

Picked up a Cheap $10 thermaltake Cooler last night. The one that came with the Q9950 is JUNK, I hate the screw in to motherboard design. I had the CPU cooler pop off when I moved my case....

I will install tonight, and post results.

Good page / Link that shows recommended OC settings for this combo? Using DDR 800 Ram, 8 GB's ...

Thanks

[lundrog]

OK, Gave OCing a shot, this is all from memory, been a few years. Also I have DDR 800 so I keep my Memory Speed at that.

http://photography.rogerlund.net/Other/forum/cpuzq99503-20/780795366_M3uu7-L.gif
http://photography.rogerlund.net/Other/forum/hardwaremonitorq99503-20/780795368_CB7VQ-L.gif
http://photography.rogerlund.net/Other/forum/HyperPIq99503-20/780835068_mqSnn-L.gif
http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=995874

Not sure if I should push it harder, the temp raises about 10C when gaming.

[lundrog]

Just ran HDTACH on my raid 5 configuration. A mixed match of sata drives I had laying around.

I set this up as my OS drive.

Thoughts?

http://web10.twitpic.com/img/64933581-3091c28c1b141a0d6808cd11783450f8.4b7485c6-full.gif

[zalbard]

Keep going, pretty sure you can break 4GHz. :up:

[sgayol]

I have the same cpu/mobo combo. Take it higher!!! You should hit 4ghz without breaking a sweat! Congrats and good luck!

[lundrog]

http://photography.rogerlund.net/Other/forum/hdtach1/786566102_3CNym-L.gif
http://photography.rogerlund.net/Other/forum/sandradisk2/786566443_jUPJV-L.gif
links for raid