I have an opportunity, for about $160, pick up a Q6600 processor/mobo combo and 4 Gig (2x2GB) DDR2-667 RAM. My current set up is as follows:
HTPC:
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-965GM-S2
Processor: Intel Core2Duo E6600
Memory: 2x1GB DDR2-800
Graphics card: ATI HD 2600 Pro
HDTV: Olevia T232 32" @ 1366x768
Projector: BenQ MP610 @ 1280x724
Windows XP MCE
Gamer:
Motherboard: ASRock 939Dual-SATAII
Processor: AMD Athlon X2-4800+
Memory: 2x1GB DDR-400
Graphics card: NVidia Geforce 8800GTS-640
Viewsonic VG2230wm 22" 1680x1050 monitor
Windows XP-64
Current Uses:
I use the HTPC to rip DVDs (that I own) and re-encode to DivX. I also watch movies from Netflix Instant Download. The most graphically intensive game I play (for now) is City of Heroes. These are dedicated systems. In addition to these, I have a Dell GX270 for web browsing and e-mail as well as a laptop for business and financial use.
What I'm thinking:
Spend $120 for the Q6600/Mobo combo (from a friend) and $40 for 4GB of RAM. Swap the E6600 in the HTPC for the Q6600. Swap the 2x1GB of DDR2-800 RAM in the HTPC for the 2x2GB DDR2-667. Move the E6600 and the 2x1GB DDR2-800 RAM from the HTPC, add the new mobo and rebuild the Gaming system. With the newer processor, I should have more headroom to add a better graphics card early to mid next year.
Your thoughts? Would you jump or, perhaps, recommend a different configuation?
-Wolf muses
Edit:
I should also mention that spending $160 stretches the budget a bit; i.e. I won't be able to make any other purchases until sometime around March 2009.
HTPC:
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-965GM-S2
Processor: Intel Core2Duo E6600
Memory: 2x1GB DDR2-800
Graphics card: ATI HD 2600 Pro
HDTV: Olevia T232 32" @ 1366x768
Projector: BenQ MP610 @ 1280x724
Windows XP MCE
Gamer:
Motherboard: ASRock 939Dual-SATAII
Processor: AMD Athlon X2-4800+
Memory: 2x1GB DDR-400
Graphics card: NVidia Geforce 8800GTS-640
Viewsonic VG2230wm 22" 1680x1050 monitor
Windows XP-64
Current Uses:
I use the HTPC to rip DVDs (that I own) and re-encode to DivX. I also watch movies from Netflix Instant Download. The most graphically intensive game I play (for now) is City of Heroes. These are dedicated systems. In addition to these, I have a Dell GX270 for web browsing and e-mail as well as a laptop for business and financial use.
What I'm thinking:
Spend $120 for the Q6600/Mobo combo (from a friend) and $40 for 4GB of RAM. Swap the E6600 in the HTPC for the Q6600. Swap the 2x1GB of DDR2-800 RAM in the HTPC for the 2x2GB DDR2-667. Move the E6600 and the 2x1GB DDR2-800 RAM from the HTPC, add the new mobo and rebuild the Gaming system. With the newer processor, I should have more headroom to add a better graphics card early to mid next year.
Your thoughts? Would you jump or, perhaps, recommend a different configuation?
-Wolf muses
Edit:
I should also mention that spending $160 stretches the budget a bit; i.e. I won't be able to make any other purchases until sometime around March 2009.