Upgrade or Build?

[Carl Martin]

I need some input here. My FX55 system is showing its age and I'd like to upgrade (video card, memory, PSU, CPU cooler) but what I'd like is going to price out at over $500. (PC3200 memory is such a rip-off and I'd like to stick with a modular power supply, so those two items are a major part of the cost.)

Considering these:

Newegg.com - EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

Newegg.com - OCZ ModXStream OCZ780MXS ATX12V / EPS12V 780W Power Supply 100 - 240 V CE, CB, FCC, UL, CSA, RoHS - Retail

Newegg.com - OCZ Platinum 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

Newegg.com - ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail

I'm just not sure I want to spend that kind of money on a 939 system. Seems I'd be better off spending a few hundred more to replace the mobo and processor right away. What do you think?

Carl

[screwballl]

939 is pretty much dead, newegg has three 939 boards.
your best bet is either upgrade with what you got there... or build a whole new system based around a E6550 or similar platform.

[Carl Martin]

Yeah, that's what I meant by "replace the mobo and processor right away." (Think I'd go with an E6750.) But I still don't know which way to go! Will I really see a big difference between a new C2D system and this one cranked up as outlined?

Carl

[Tech Geek Deluxe]

I say build:

CPU Charts | Tom's Hardware

Compare what you have with an E6750 ... an OC E6550 to 2.8GHZ will beat an E6750 by a clear margin.

Here is a decent basic setup minus video card, hard drive and case.

DFI BLOOD IRON P35-T2RL LGA 775 Intel P35
Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 Conroe 2.33GHz Overclock it with stock to 2.8ghz
Mushkin 550250 ATX12V / EPS12V 580W Power Supply
Crucial Ballistix Tracer 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800

$430 or so after shipping and rebates .... leaving you quad Penryn ready in a year or two.

[Carl Martin]

Thanks, but I'm not really interested in components for a new build. My question is: will a new build, say similar to that in HL's suggestions for a mainstream rig, run significantly faster than my present computer would if I were to add the upgrades I outlined above? (i.e. memory, video, PSU, cooler, + a bit of overclocking)

Carl

[Tech Geek Deluxe]

Look at Toms CPU charts and the various comparisons and tests.

Your ceiling on and OC with what you have is simply lower and slower.

So ... choosing where the money is best invested is the issue.

Satisfaction with a platform that is "done." Up to you and your needs and your assessment from the "Toms CPU comparison" charts dictates as to fit and function.

Or locking in a new Platform that has numbers of additional years of stretching in it for near the same investment.

The ram costs and the platform ceiling are the killers.

Even an overclocked E2160 [$70 CPU] will beat an overclocked FX-55 on performance by a wide and solid margin.

I have two spare Penryn ready machines in the house that are on the E2160 that have great MOBOS and loaded for bear with Ram so they are smokin fast operationally and ready for Penryn Quad and Vista 64 when the time comes.

[OCNoob]

For reference, my friend's AM2 3800+ and X1800 XT system was running Crysis smoothly at 1280x1024 with medium settings. Only a gig of RAM too, I should add.

IMHO, you don't have a terrible setup. You just need a dual-core CPU, a beefier video card and a hearty PSU to handle it. IMHO, an upgrade to 3GB of RAM isn't going to help much, especially since you're running XP. Something like an Opty 180, Radeon 3870 / Geforce 8800GT, and a solid $100 PSU will breathe new life in your system.

I've been wanting to upgrade my lowly X800XL for a while now and I think have a good base system - all I need is a PSU upgrade to go with it.

BTW, you won't be overclocking much with 4 sticks of RAM - it's a huge drawback in a 939 system.

The only problem with this suggested route is that you're committing to a dead platform.. which nobody wants to do. Anyway, weigh your options. Are you going to be upgrading down the line anyway? If so, I suggest starting anew.

[Stephenish]

The most bang for the buck for improving system speed is generally the graphics card. You just want to be sure you're powering up equal to processor power. Don't overspend for a graphics card which could be bottlenecked.

That said, which applications do you normally use? Are you a gamer? Do you encode MP3's? Do you render video? Or do you mainly surf the web and use e-mail?

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by Stephenish

The most bang for the buck for improving system speed is generally the graphics card. You just want to be sure you're powering up equal to processor power. Don't overspend for a graphics card which could be bottlenecked.

A new graphics card won't speed up your computer. It will help your performance in graphic intensive games, and programs but that's about it.

[Stephenish]

Originally Posted by Carl Martin

I need some input here. My FX55 system is showing its age and I'd like to upgrade (video card, memory, PSU, CPU cooler) but what I'd like is going to price out at over $500. (PC3200 memory is such a rip-off and I'd like to stick with a modular power supply, so those two items are a major part of the cost.)

Considering these:

Newegg.com - EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

Newegg.com - OCZ ModXStream OCZ780MXS ATX12V / EPS12V 780W Power Supply 100 - 240 V CE, CB, FCC, UL, CSA, RoHS - Retail

Newegg.com - OCZ Platinum 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

Newegg.com - ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail

I'm just not sure I want to spend that kind of money on a 939 system. Seems I'd be better off spending a few hundred more to replace the mobo and processor right away. What do you think?

Carl

Your graphics card choice is questionable, I'd go for a new 8800GT. Preferred graphics card supplier is XFX. The power supply is overkill. My preferred PSUs come frrom PC Power and Cooling. The RAM could improve performance depending on what you're doing with the system. My preferred RAM suppliers are Kingston and Corsair. If you're overclocking definitely get a heat spreader. I'd consider the Thermalright 120 for air cooling.