Upgrading.

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 7:29 am

I'm planning on upgrading my system in the next few months and would like some input as I don't follow hardware changes as much as I used to.

I'm thinking of going with AMD this time and with a MB that will support SLI.

The MB must be from ASUS. Not sure about the CPU as to wether I should go dual core, FX or what. What are the differences between them?

Video card I'm not sure either. I can get a 6800 something for 280$ so I could afford 2 of them.

RAM I will buy Kingston Hyper X or something like that and max out the MB.

Everything else I'll get from my current system as in HD, Floppy, CDROMs Sound card etc.

Basically, I need input on MB, CPU, Video.

Thanks

PS: Money is no object but I don't want to pay someone for a new car.

Immortal Lobster · Post by **Immortal Lobster** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 9:01 am

Dual Core is always better
Memory is whatever floats your boat, Geil is good, as are many others that are relatively cheap.
Why go with a 6800 for 280, you can get a 7900GT for 300, adds another 20USD per card, or you can get a cheaper 7800GT for about 250.

If you want to spend less money and want to overclock, grab a dual core opteron, mine stocks at 1800mhz, i got it stable at 2500mhz, primary core will go no further <_< paida 3rd of the price of a similarliy clocked 4800+
other dual core opterons, equivilent to my 165 will overclock to 2700mhz on air, nothing special needed, in fact my secondary core will do 2800mhz prime stable, stupid primary core

And why asus, DFI and Epox are both very very solid choices Asus is also a solid choice, but there are 2 other cheaper options.

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 10:03 am

I've had nothing but ASUS since 1994 and never had any problems. The $280 is CDN and not US. The 7800 here is $600.

Immortal Lobster · Post by **Immortal Lobster** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 11:37 am

ick, ok point taken lol
yeah, 2 6800s in sli would work out. as far as the asus boards go, pick whatever matches your budget, theyre all good

fliptw · Post by **fliptw** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 12:10 pm

make sure you are getting a 6800GS.

where you getting this from?

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 12:15 pm

http://www.shoprbc.com/ca/shop/product_ ... ?pid=12818 MB $248

AMD Athlon64 X2 4400+ S939 Dual-Core Processor, Retail $572

Asus GeForce EN6800GT 256MB PCI-E DH Video Card w/TV-OUT, Retail $289 each, may get 2

The RAM I'll ask when I buy the system because I'd like to max it out at 4 Gigs.

Hope this goes down in price before I decide to buy.

BTW: Whats the difference between Athlon and Operton?

Immortal Lobster · Post by **Immortal Lobster** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 12:22 pm

Opterons beter =)

The opterons generally have more cache, but lower clock speeds, however, they use a differnt kinda silicone, not SOI, but 5 letter abreviation, ill look it up in a second here, this allows them to run cooler, and therefore overcloc higher, they also have much higher quality cores, as they are designed to run 24/7 in a server somewhere.

anything an athlon can do, an opteron can do, except an opteron does it better

[edit]
Athlon 64s use SOI, Silicon on Insulator
Opterons used SSOI, Strained Silicon on Insulator

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 12:24 pm

fliptw wrote:make sure you are getting a 6800GS.

where you getting this from?

Why the GS and not GT?

I'm buying this from the PC store we buy everything from for work.

Immortal Lobster · Post by **Immortal Lobster** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 12:29 pm

I take that back, the GS is in PCIe form....
GS usually performs as well as an ultra

although, Id look into a 7600GT if I were you

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 1:07 pm

Immortal Lobster wrote:I take that back, the GS is in PCIe form....
GS usually performs as well as an ultra

although, Id look into a 7600GT if I were you

Would one 7800 be better than two 6800 GT?

Asus GeForce EN7800 GTX 256MB PCIe VIdeo Card, Dual DVI, Vivo $633.00
Asus GeForce EN7800GT GF 7800 GT PCIe 256MB VC w/HDTV,Dual DVI, TV Out $478.00

These woyuld be the two 7800s I'd consider.

fliptw · Post by **fliptw** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 1:08 pm

CDN_Merlin wrote:
fliptw wrote:make sure you are getting a 6800GS.

where you getting this from?
Why the GS and not GT?

I'm buying this from the PC store we buy everything from for work.

it performs on par with the 6800 GT and is 40 bux cheaper, but I'd seriously look at the 7600s. they should be only 20 dollars less than the 6800GT, and performs better.

Immortal Lobster · Post by **Immortal Lobster** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 1:42 pm

Im not to sure atm how 2 6800s perform against on 7800, but if your looking at a 7800, eyeball the evga's, along with thier in credible warranty, they dont care if you modify the card, theyre clocked incredibly high out of the box, and look good doing it. Dont let brand loyalty stand in the way.

[edit]im frames per second, the 2 6800GS's would edge out a single 7800GT, image quality, a single 7800GT slaughters 2 6800s

based on info at THG

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:53 pm

I tihnk I'll got with what I posted above and buy the 2nd 7800 GT when it's cheaper.

I'm also gonna get discounted pricing with this company so it will be cheaper.

Neo · Post by **Neo** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 3:52 pm

Noooooooo!!!

d00d, You're already spending almost $600 CDN, you might as well get one 7800 GTX.

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 4:12 pm

478+txs =549
633+txs =728

Big diff. I'll ask what prices I'll get from them.

Upgrading.

Upgrading.

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