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I'm thinking of upgrading my computer...

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  #1  
Old 04-01-2006
Coolmatt's Avatar
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Member since: Mar 2006, 141 posts
I'm thinking of upgrading my computer...

Howdy, I currently have a:

AMD Athlon 64 3700+ 2.4 GHz Socket 754
BFG Tech GeForce 6200 AGP Card
ASUS K8V-X SE Mobo
Diablo Tech Demon case
etc.

So what I want to do is upgrade the video card to PCI-e so I have to change the Mobo. Here's what I want to get...

Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 SATA NCQ ST3120827AS 120GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM (2 of these)

POWERCOLOR 1900XT512OEM Radeon X1900XT 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - OEM

Tuniq IC-SYMI-BK Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

Ultra / X2 Connect / 550-Watt / ATX / 120mm Fan / SLI Ready / SATA-Ready / 20/24-Pin / Modular Power Supply

I hope to be using the two HDD's to set it up for RAID (any info on how to do that will be helpful). I need to know if these items are really good and also any suggestions for an ASUS mobo that supports Socket 754 and has PCI-e slots (optional: supports RAID).

Any input is appreciated. Thanks.

Last edited by Coolmatt; 04-01-2006 at 04:23 AM.
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  #2  
Old 04-01-2006
vnf4ultra's Avatar
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Location: USA
Member since: Jan 2005, 2,172 posts
System specs
I think this is a very nice motherboard.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813123257
Epox 754 nforce 4 Sli.
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  #3  
Old 04-01-2006
Coolmatt's Avatar
TechSpot Member
 
Member since: Mar 2006, 141 posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by vnf4ultra
I think this is a very nice motherboard.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813123257
Epox 754 nforce 4 Sli.
I don't know...my friend always says to go with ASUS Mobos. Is this a REALLY GOOD mobo?

EDIT: I guess ASUS doesn't have to be the only choice but I was thinking about getting this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813190002 .

Last edited by Coolmatt; 04-01-2006 at 02:08 PM.
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  #4  
Old 04-01-2006
vnf4ultra's Avatar
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Location: USA
Member since: Jan 2005, 2,172 posts
System specs
If you only want asus, then here're two options.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131588
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131533

I like the epox better, but the asus boards should be fine too.
I don't know much about "tul," but I think they're related to the graphic card company "powercolor," but I could be wrong.
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  #5  
Old 04-01-2006
kirock's Avatar
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Location: Hamilton, Canada
Member since: Jul 2005, 1,594 posts
If you're going with an ATI video card then you're best to stay with an ATI northbridge chip, as in the TUL board you listed.
But I would suggest:, You've got the Athlon64, go with the nvidia4 chipset and a 7800GT or higher.
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  #6  
Old 04-02-2006
KingCody's Avatar
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Member since: Oct 2005, 1,559 posts
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You are planning a pretty big upgrade (not simply the vid card and mobo), since you're already going to replace the mobo, HDD, PSU, and even the case...

i would suggest that you also upgrade to a socket 939 processor as well, this will allow you to run memory in dual channel, this doubles your memory bandwidth and will give you a noticable performance gain over your current socket 754 setup.
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  #7  
Old 04-02-2006
Coolmatt's Avatar
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Member since: Mar 2006, 141 posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by KingCody
You are planning a pretty big upgrade (not simply the vid card and mobo), since you're already going to replace the mobo, HDD, PSU, and even the case...

i would suggest that you also upgrade to a socket 939 processor as well, this will allow you to run memory in dual channel, this doubles your memory bandwidth and will give you a noticable performance gain over your current socket 754 setup.
That would be nice but I paid around $600 for that current setup of my computer 3 months ago. I'm feeling bad about the current video card and the junk case I purchased for it. The two HDDs I currently have are old school-thrown-away HDDs and the PSU that came with the case sucks. If I go with socket 939 it would cost a lot more than what I am trying to spend for a computer. It can't be such a huge difference going to Socket 939 when I already have the pinnacle for the Socket 754 series.
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  #8  
Old 04-03-2006
KingCody's Avatar
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Member since: Oct 2005, 1,559 posts
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Coolmatt
It can't be such a huge difference going to Socket 939 when I already have the pinnacle for the Socket 754 series.
Dual channel it is a significant performance boost over single channel. It doesn't matter how fast your CPU is, it can't utilize it's speed when it's bottlenecked by a single channel memory controller.

Think of it this way... if you goto the store to buy a loaf of bread, and there's 3 people in line before you with full carts, you have to sit there and wait. what if they opened a second register?? now you only have to wait for 1 person (and if you're lucky.. they'll let you go first because you're only buying bread ). Should data have to wait in line?

socket 754 opened the door for 64-bit CPUs, but from the start it was and still is crippled by it's lack of a dual channel memory controller, which is why they developed s939 quicky after s754.
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  #9  
Old 04-03-2006
CMH CMH is offline
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Location: Aus
Member since: Jun 2005, 2,101 posts
I'd save up and go for the 939. Sell away that old 754 (coming from a guy who's using a 478 ).

No point getting a pair of X1900XTs, and running an old CPU is there?.
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  #10  
Old 04-03-2006
CMH CMH is offline
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Member since: Jun 2005, 2,101 posts
Forgot to mention, you'll get some performance increase if you change those HDDs to raptors...

I personally might go for the RAM HDD if I can save up enough money for it. Its expensive but IMO, worth it
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  #11  
Old 04-04-2006
Coolmatt's Avatar
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Member since: Mar 2006, 141 posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by CMH
Forgot to mention, you'll get some performance increase if you change those HDDs to raptors...

I personally might go for the RAM HDD if I can save up enough money for it. Its expensive but IMO, worth it
ARRGGHH :hotbounce ...you guys are making this $1000 purchase into something that costs $2,500 - $3,000 (PLEASE don't touch that up with "well you can get all the stuff for $2,000" lol. If you have any sites that sell some great stuff than please post them here if you like). I need to make a list of what I want to get. I just feel bad because I bought all my parts for a computer almost 3 months ago :/. I guess I need to upgrade to socket 939. I am going to need to raise a lot of money though.

Okay, So what I'm planning on getting is the BFG Tech GeForce 7900 (only a 50 dollar difference between 7800 and this). I will then get a nice socket 939 board for my computer and a decent dual-core processor. Any ideas for a good Socket 939 board (it doesn't have to be specifically ASUS)? Also if anyone could tell me what a good Socket 939 processor is that's AMD because I see one that's dual-core 2.6 ghz that's $1,200!?

Anyhow, based off of your suggestions, I guess the best way to go with my current computer is basically upgrade the computer all together...Anyone wanna buy an Athlon 64 3700+ computer? lol

Last edited by Coolmatt; 04-04-2006 at 12:07 AM.
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  #12  
Old 04-04-2006
CMH CMH is offline
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sorry about that....

Well, you can try ebay, many people go there to make budget comps. Don't expect to get back everything you put in, but don't lose hope neither
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