I7 920 motherboard upgrade help!!!

[fbram]

hey guys....

i have a gateway fx 6800-01e

my set up is:

i7 920 2.66
12 gb DDR 3 ram
750 gb hardrive
stock motherboard..
ati 4890 hd ddr 5 1gb



I got a 300.00 giftcard to bestbuy and a 200.00 giftcard to amazon..... I kinda wanted to use these giftcards for my pc.... any suggestions?....

i was thinking of keeping the same processor and looking for a good motherboard (300.00 bestbuy) to over clock my chip and using my amazon giftcard for a ssd (200.00).... and maybe power supply and cooling....

you guys have any suggestions on boards?.... or what route i should take with these giftcards!?!?!


thanks so much guys!!!!

ps... i use this system only for gaming.... ( fps, gta iv, company of heroes... ect....)

 

[o1die]

Don't spend so much on one motherboard for an old cpu (yes, the 920 is getting old; I once acquired one used for $100 to help someone pay his rent). If you are still using gateway's windows install, you'll have to acquire a new windows coa to change to a non gateway board, so I wouldn't do it. So, I suggest you sell off your gateway for around $600 and start over or get an ssd for your upgrade. I clone mine from the main drive so I have a backup in case the ssd fails. Here's one: http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-2-5-Inch-Solid-State-CT128M4SSD2/dp/B004W2JKZI/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1329916747&sr=1-1.

 

[fbram]

so even going the new motherboard route and overclocking the 920 isnt a good idea?... i figured running it oc till it fails... then get a faster processor to add to the new 1366 board with can be a i7 extreme.. (by that time prices should drop....) or a i7 3.6 or something......


im no longer using windows install from gateway.... it came with vista and formatted to win 7......

and id rather run ssd on sata 3 to maximize speeds.........

 

[ulysses35]

I have to ask why you think you need a new motherboard for th i7 920 - yes it is an older design, but it is also a very capable chip and overclockes well.

Down load cpu-z to find out the manufacturer of the motherboard (Gateway dont make their own) and post the make / model number here.

A lot of OEM PC builders often use brand name parts like MSI / Gigabyte / Foxconn etc...

If you are a gamer then the CPU itself doesnt need upgrading, but a video card and SSD would improve your performance no end. As for the Windows COA to re-install Windows on a new drive, this is not such a big problem as everyone makes out as long as you have the recovery CD

 

[mrmotion]

The motherboard is foxconn. Foxconn is of no help checking specs for the board. Had the same model gateway. Board died. Replaced with:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131665

A good overclock and a new videocard and she will scream again...

You might look at powersupply. Mine still works but damn if im not worried about it.

 

[fbram]

thanks for all the great replys.....

which video card did you end up going with? mr motion....


the factory board i think is a intel.... no options to do anything with the chip... i dont even think it lets you enable turbo boost!!! hahaha

 

[rajnikant91]

I am in same boat as you are OP. I have the same computer and I am upgrading few componenets. My psu died recently so that got started to upgrade. I got Corsair AX850. Now I am thinking to get HD 7970 and new motherboard so I can OC 920..

I just want to know If will I have any trouble ocing my i7 920? Does it have to be unloacked or something? Because this proccessor came with my system. This is my first time so I dont want to screw up.
Fbram i dont mean to hijack your thread, i thought since we have same system, things might be useful for you as well.

So Here's what I getting.
Replacing Mobo with GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128423
Getting more Ram CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1600 (PC3 12800) CMX6GX3M3C1600C7.
I also want to point out that i am not buying this brand new. i am getting it from Craigslist. Hopefully works out fine

 

[fbram]

I am in same boat as you are OP. I have the same computer and I am upgrading few componenets. My psu died recently so that got started to upgrade. I got Corsair AX850. Now I am thinking to get HD 7970 and new motherboard so I can OC 920..

I just want to know If will I have any trouble ocing my i7 920? Does it have to be unloacked or something? Because this proccessor came with my system. This is my first time so I dont want to screw up.
Fbram i dont mean to hijack your thread, i thought since we have same system, things might be useful for you as well.

So Here's what I getting.
Replacing Mobo with GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128423
Getting more Ram CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1600 (PC3 12800) CMX6GX3M3C1600C7.
I also want to point out that i am not buying this brand new. i am getting it from Craigslist. Hopefully works out fine

why did u decide to go with this board?.... looks like a good board?.... any feed back on this board?.... sata 3, usb 3 .... any idea on the overclocking features

 

[rajnikant91]

why did u decide to go with this board?.... looks like a good board?.... any feed back on this board?.... sata 3, usb 3 .... any idea on the overclocking features

Only I reason i went with that because i found that board on craigslist at cheap price. I did some research looks good. no major problems with and also seller has warranty. So that's why

 

[jaquith]

Don't spend so much on one motherboard for an old cpu (yes, the 920 is getting old; I once acquired one used for $100 to help someone pay his rent).

Ah ha...

I'm pretty sure the GW FX6800-01e ships with a mATX MOBO, and IF possible get a standard ATX MOBO; sizes: mATX = 9.6 in (244 mm) X 9.6 in (244 mm), and standard ATX = 12 in (305 mm) X 9.6 in (244 mm) the 12" is height.

mATX: ASUS Rampage III Gene - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131658
mATX: MSI X58M - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130227

ATX: ASUS P6X58-E PRO - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131755

No, don't get the UD3R -> http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/276715-30-x58a-ud3r-raid-bsod-disk-boot-failure

 

[fbram]

Ah ha...

I'm pretty sure the GW FX6800-01e ships with a mATX MOBO, and IF possible get a standard ATX MOBO; sizes: mATX = 9.6 in (244 mm) X 9.6 in (244 mm), and standard ATX = 12 in (305 mm) X 9.6 in (244 mm) the 12" is height.

mATX: ASUS Rampage III Gene - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131658
mATX: MSI X58M - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130227

ATX: ASUS P6X58-E PRO - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131755

No, don't get the UD3R -> http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/276715-30-x58a-ud3r-raid-bsod-disk-boot-failure

do u think going standard is the way to go.... also do u think that will fit in my existing board?

 

[jaquith]

You need to measure, but 9/10 your case lacks the PCI (expansion) slots; for ATX the typical number is 7.