New Computer Questions

from Elemental Forums

I want to upgrade.
I am thinking core i7.
I would like recommendations on brands and reliability.
Also, I have some questions:

I have 8gb DDR2, will that work with the new CPU/MOBO combo? Or, do I have to go all DDR3 now?
I already have a GTX 260 and am sticking with that.

I heard BFG no longer makes components, that true? sad day.

Do new i7 compatible MOBOs use the same power pin configurations as the previous gen?
i.e. 24 and 8

is there anything I am missing that I cannot salvage from this computer?

 

Let's try to keep this civil and flame free, please :)

39,507 views 8 replies
Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

The price/performance of those AMD Phenom II X6's I find a little too hard to resist.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

i want to stay away from AMD, i used to have them, i dont like them so much anymore

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

It all comes down to how much money you want to spend really.  Take a look here to compare CPU's .  If you choose to stick with Intel, you might want to look at the i3 and i5's as well.  Don't spend money on things you don't need.

 

You also have to look at the socket type There are two types.  LGA 1366 (i7 core) and the 100007671 50001157 600005862 (LGA 1156100007671 50001157 600005864  (i7, i5 and i3 core). Your power supply will need to have a 24pin connector and the CPU connection can be 4, 6 or 8 depending on the board manufacturer.  The primary things you need to get for the upgrade is motherboard, processor and memory, other than that you can use everything else from your old system.  The real question is how much money are you willing to spend.  Give me a ballpark and I can find something for you.

And tell me what you are going to do with it.  Overclocking, gaming, bragging rights, etc. etc.

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

600-700 for proc board and mem is a-ok for me.

i already have a 1kw 24pin 6/8 pin PSU so i should be good there, SLI rady of course.

i do a lot of encoding and music processing along with some gaming and running multiple instances of programs on multiple monitors.

that i7 +mobo deal doesn't seem too crazy tbh and i'd like to go for 1366 to possibly try to upgrade in the future.

 

on a side note, can i run a RAID 0 (striping) as the OS disks, for speed?

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

a little late on the response but yes you can run raid 0 for a little boost in speed.  if your still in the market, take a look at newegg to put something together.  sorry i didn't back to you sooner, I have been overwhelmed with classes.

focus on a good motherboard.  I say go for ASUS mobo's, I have used ASUS for many years and even though i have used others, i always come back to ASUS, especially for my gaming machines.  I use other manufactures for my non gaming machines.  The 950 will be fine for gaming and its great for overclocking if you do such a thing.  I haven't OC'ed the 950 but my 920 (2.66Ghz) I have OC'ed to 3.0Ghz easily and have been as high as 3.8Ghz on air and completely stable.  I am sure i could have clocked it higher but i just didn't feel like it.  The 950 should be just as so.  As far as memory, your best bet is to go with the approved vendor list for the board although all memory manufactures will always say "our memory should work", though this should be true it not always is.

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

Well, I will update this now, since I have already started purchasing.

 

I went and got that mobo+cpu combo i7 950, asus p6x58d-e

corsair 12g ddr3 (3x4)

Intel X25-M Mainstream 80GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive

Scythe YASYA SCYS-1000 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler