Should i upgrade my computer?

yunggeh

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i purchased a computer back on october 2007
a Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 with 2 gb hard drive and since upgraded the ram to 4 gb and installed new video card Radeon HD 4550 512 MB. i'll be installing windows 7 ultimate edition the one where u dont have to use windows activation key. i don't use my computer other to netscape and video games such as starcraft and counter strike.. i am comtemplating if i should purchase a new computer and if so i am compelled to get one of the best processors such as core 2 quad Q9650 3.0 ghz is there a reason i shouldn't or if i should buy new computer what would be recommended on which computer i should get? keep in mind that i am wanting to buy a dual core quad processor
 

jonpaul37

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Well, lets begin with some questions, shall we?

Are you experiencing lag in the games you play or are you finding that you cannot jack up all the eye-candy in games and you are only limited to medium settings or lower?

What is the size of the monitor you are using and what resolution do you play games at?

What is your budget for upgrading?

FYI: Win 7 Ultimate is a great operating system and it will not be a resource hog for the current setup you have, so no need to worry about that. Also, is it the 64-bit version of Win 7, or is it 32-bit?
 
I wouldn't buy anything socket 775 unless you get a killer deal. A company called Revonate was selling some gateway refurbished quads with 4-6 gigs of ram for around $300 recently. If you are going to use ddr3, the frys combo specials are the way to go if you live near one of their stores. They had 2 combo deals on the i5 750 for $199-209 after rebates this week; those specials end today.
 

yunggeh

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im using dual monitor one for netscaping and the other to run programs such as windows media to watch downloaded movies dramas and such.. as far as games i dont experiance lag since it's only star craft and i'll be getting windows 7 ultimate 64 bit
im looking for maybe 500 to 800 no monitor sincer i already have a 22 inch lcd and will use 50 inch i think lcd tv as my secondary monitor for movies
also i download alot of files like movies music videos while gaming

1 gig hd radeon 512
 

jonpaul37

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Oh man, i won't get into details just yet. I will make a suggestion and you can see if that is something you would want to do.

First, since you are gaming AND doing other stuff while gaming, you will definately benefit from a quad core. Also, using a 64-bit operating system, stick with 4GB of RAM or more. (I personally don't see any need for more than 4GB of RAM)

That said, if you want to spend up to $800.00 (assuming US dollars), you could put together a decent AMD rig with a nice video card that will last you quite a while and handle all of the tasks you listed with complete ease.

Is the current computer that you have an OEM PC from the likes of Dell or HP or anything like that, or is it a custom-built rig?

Will you be able to build a PC on your own, or are you looking for a pre-built machine?
 

yunggeh

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custom built from ebay power sellers and yes im talking american dollars :) i personally dont know what the big difference between pentium 4 such and such and quad core other than it's like having 4 computers in one cpu. but that's a topic for later i guess

i dont know much about amd other than me using intel cpu most of my life.
all i know is that if im gonna buy a computer i always lean on getting as close as possible as i can to buying a cpu as my budget will allow me extreme quad core is out of question but i think i can fit the quad q9650 in if i go with crap graphic card and install the radeon im using on my current computer on to the new computer and moving my ram over to new one as well
 

jonpaul37

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In reality, that E6600 is a decent CPU, outdated maybe, but still a decent CPU that can handle all of the things you are looking for. If you are looking for a Quad Core system, i would recommend using Cyberpower PC, start the "AMD configurator", then click the "Customize" button on the "AMD Quad Core Configurator" section and go with the following items:

Choose the case you like, this can be any of the options they listed, the cheaper the case costs, the more $$$ you have for other components. I chose the Xion AXP 600 Mid-Tower Gaming Case in this instance for pricing.

Choose the "Corsair Power Supplies" and select the 650-watt one

Choose the AMD Athlon II x 4 630 model for the processor

Choose the Xigmatek Dark Knight-S1283V for the cooling fan

Choose the GigaByte GA-MA785GT-UD3H AM3 DDR3 785 Chipset for the motherboard

Choose the 4GB (2GBx2) DDR3/1333MHz Dual Channel Memory and select the corsair dominator series it lists under it

Choose the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 1GB 16X PCI Express and select the EVGA brand under it

Choose the 500GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache 7200RPM HDD for the hard drive

Choose whatever DVD drive you want (i usually just keep the one that they select for me)

ANYTHING else is your call, but there are some freebees, so take advantage of them. You will not need to choose a 2nd hard drive/video card, nor will you need to select a monitor or operating system.

The total comes to about $786.00. This system will last you a long while and it is FAR superior to what you have right now.



 

jonpaul37

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no, the one i selected is actually a great power supply made by a reputable company as opposed to a power supply that is not as good and wastes more electricity.

The one i selected is actually better with handling electricity, but supports more voltage if needed.

Remember, a power supply is the most important thing you can have in your PC, choose wisely or a bad power supply can fry any component in your PC. I learned the hard way...
 

yunggeh

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jonpaul i think imma stick with intel probably gonna push my budget up to around 800 threshold and just cant decide what cpu to get intel quad core or i7
i can't tell the difference between i3 to 17 i guess higher means better haha
 

jonpaul37

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hmmm..., ok, sticking with Intel, choose the Intel Configurator and keep all the components the same except the CPU and Motherboard.

new CPU = Intel® Core™ i5-750 2.66 GHz 8M L2 Cache LGA1156

new MoBo = Asus P7P55D Pro Intel P55 Chipset DDR3 LGA1156 ATX Mainboard w/ 7.1 HD Audio, GbLAN, USB2.0, SATA-II RAID, 3 Gen2 PCIe, 2 PCIe X1 & 2 PCI

It will cost more $$$ but will be better than the AMD system...
 

Raidur

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Like jonpaul said the E6600 you have is a good CPU. What exactly are you not happy with about your current setup?

If I was you I'd just upgrade the graphics card to something the E6600 can handle (5770). Maybe a little overclock on the CPU too. TBH if you could OC above 3ghz you could run a 5850/70 on that setup.

If you're still not happy you can always build the rest of the new system and switch the graphics card over.
 

yunggeh

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i hear people say every 2 or 3 years is a computers life.. i upgraded the video card now i just think it's time to keep it for maybe one more year and upgrade to a new computer.

i tried to overclock the computer with the cd i got with the motherboard but it messed up my computer so i had to reformat computer
 

Raidur

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Overclocking is best done in the bios. If it makes your computer unstable and the bios doesn't reset on its own you simply clear the cmos. It should have zero effect on you hard drive and the data within.

Look at some of the overclocking stickies in the overclocking section, you can get some massive free performance. And tbh its quite easy if you aren't going for an extreme oc.
 

joefriday

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YOU DO REALIZE THAT STARCRAFT IS A GAME THAT WAS RELEASED IN 1998? Seriously... I played it like crazy on a Compaq Deskpro 4000N with a pentium 233 MMX, 32MB ram, 3.2GB hard drive, 2 MB S3 Virge video card, Windows 95, and a 15" CRT at 800x600 resolution. That was back in 1999. I played it again on my next computer, an HP 6835 that had an 800 MHz Celeron and integrated i810 "Extreme" Graphics. It ran like a hot knife through butter. I don't think a quad core and 4 GB of ram are needed to run starcraft, lol...
 

yunggeh

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i never done any overclocking in bios what do in in bios or what command??
 

Raidur

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http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/240001-29-howto-overclock-quads-duals-guide

I urge you to read that above but... if you look around in Advanced areas and find something about overclocking.

If you find the number 266 (or 267) that is your FSB and you could try raising that to 300 for an easy oc to 2.7.

If your voltage is set to auto then it might be automatically raised when you raise your FSB. So before changing it get CPU-Z and record your core voltage. After you overclock check your core voltage to make sure it didn't go up more than .05.

Also you can download coretemp so you can check your temps to make sure you aren't adding a bunch of extra heat. Check it before and after and make sure it doesn't go up by more than 5-10c or so.

You're better off reading a little bit to get an idea of whats going on. There is a lot more to this such as ram settings, changing your voltages, checking stability/temps, final adjusting for efficiency, etc etc...

You should be fine with just a quick increase of the FSB and shouldn't require any extra voltage for an easy little oc.
 

jonpaul37

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You are correect in regards to starcraft, but OP mentioned that he does play other games...

Per OP:

"i don't use my computer other to netscape and video games such as starcraft and counter strike.."

Not saying that counterstrike is a demanding game either, but that is not the point, now is it... I never coerced the OP into believing that he needs a quad-core CPU & 4-Gig of RAM to play starcraft, nor was it my intention. Simply answering the question...

I did, however, mention to OP that his current E6600 PC is fine for his needs, and then suggested a build for him per his request as well...

Lets try not to flame others and focus on helping the OP...

Thanks
 

joefriday

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Actually, that's precisely the point. If the OP is playing games from the last century, he probably doesn't need today's hardware to run it well. To say that a quad core would be beneficial to him just b/c he watches a movie on one monitor and surfs the web on another, or downloads stuff in the background while playing his old video games, well, all I can do is ask you how long it's been since you've used a single core CPU, b/c even that stuff could be handled with one. After all, it's not the most demanding multitasking scenario you've ever come across, and yet, with just the very hint of the idea of multitasking, you recommend a quad core CPU. That's knee jerk reaction, or thinking zebras when you hear hoof beats. Granted, you chose an "economical" quad core, and given the OP's current computer, it would make sense as a real, tangible upgrade, but at the same time, we both know the OP's current computer is more than up to the tasks at hand. Upgrading/building new would only be for the sake of wanting new, hardly not NEEDING new. And as we both can probably agree on that, now you might be able to understand why I criticize your recommendations. It's not a personal attack at you, it's a call against your judgment. The OP's original question was "SHOULD I upgrade my computer?" I'm aware that in your later posts you told the OP exactly the same thing I'm saying to you now, but the facts are the OP told you straight up in the first post his current computer specs, and exactly the things he plans to do/is doing on his computer. From that point forward, no one need mention a quad core computer, or 4 GB ram, and that's why I dinged your comments.

Now, sure, in the future (either near or far) the OP may decide he wants to play more modern games, or run more intensive applications. I'm from the camp where one upgrades only when there is the need. If in the future his hardware no longer suits him, he should upgrade at that time. It seems silly to build a computer for possible future needs when, at some point that future should come along, the computing technology available at that time would be undoubtedly better than the technology purchasable today. Building today for tomorrow is just a way to guarantee the computer will be obsolete tomorrow. For example, those poor souls who bought into 64 bit hype and purchased expensive Athlon64s on 754, only to have to wait 4 more years before a 64 bit OS (with drivers!) to utilize that trumpeted feature. I don't have to explain how "great" an Athlon 64 2800 runs Vista 64, as I'm sure you get the picture.

Now, OP if you just want to upgrade for the sake of upgrading, then just call it like it is. You can spend your money any way you see fit, but if you're seriously asking "should I upgrade", well then the answer is no, you shouldn't.

Joe
 

yunggeh

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hey man i really appreciate the effort and help your giving me regarding my computer

do you think you can goto cyberpowerpc.com and load my configuration and check out what you would recommend me changing as far as motherboards and power supply? or just any input based on the configuration you see that i made??

i know you recommend that i should go for amd but i really like intel so i'll stick with what i known im leaning that way that is.. but i think imma go to sleep on it before i make my decision

budget is the main reason im being held up although i can spend up to 1000 dollars but hey liek you said amd it's cheaper and i would love to save money

THANKS

if you wanna talk to me and help me live or chat aim me at yungwkim
 

caamsa

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All you need to do is get a better video card like a 1gb 5770 besides that your computer is fine.
 

yunggeh

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well im also waiting on star craft 2 to be coming out :)


 

yunggeh

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hey i can trust that website right?? cyberpowerpc.com?? i just placed my order and feeling skeptical about it lol donno why i been burned i gues that's why