Upgrade fever

[jhansman]

Happens to me predictably about every 2.5yrs. I get one new component (this time a Crucial M4) and away we go. I'm all ready to shelve my perfectly good, if somewhat aged, system (or give it to my son to game on) so I can build new with the latest and greatest. Now I'm seriously considering dropping hundreds of hard earned on what would be my first Intel system since I (with my heart going pittipat) drove a hundred miles to get a Pentium 100 (yes, I'm that old), mobo (Asus, I think, but who can remember?), and memory. Since then I've been happy with AMD's offerings. Since I'm saving for all this, I probably won't have the dough until AMD actually comes out with their promised nextgen processor, so I'm at that wait/go for it point.

Not trying to start (yet another) pi**ing match here among the far-more knowledgeable than I, but I wonder if there are others of you out there in the same boat. I don't game that much, don't encode much, and don't work photos that much, yet I still want to move up, mostly 'cause I just *love* hardware (why else would I spend so many hours prowling this site?). OK, I feel a bit better now. Thanks for listening.

 

[happy medium]

Grab one of those Gigabyte Z68 motherboards that allready will fully support next generation 22nm Ivybridge intel cpu's , pci-3.0 ,usb 3.0 with a bios flash and a Intel 2500k cpu and overclock the crap out of it.

Gigabyte page,
http://www.gigabyte.com/press-center/news-page.aspx?nid=1048

I promise you , your next upgrade will be more than 2 1/2 years away.

Edit: Do you have a Microcenter in your area?

This 116$ (including tax) Core i3 2100/motherboard combo would be faster than your current system. Just add 4gb of $40 ddr3 1600.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2183136

 

[jhansman]

Yeah, I've pretty much have my shopping list made up with those components. There are also some nice Asus and Asrock boards to work from. It's actually a great time to be into this; the hardware makers are going nuts with amazing gear.

 

[wuliheron]

If this website doesn't receive kickbacks from Intel they're idiots. If you aren't trying to start a pissing match when you don't even have the money yet then you're an idiot too.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Grab one of those Gigabyte Z68 motherboards that allready will fully support next generation 22nm Ivybridge intel cpu's , pci-3.0 ,usb 3.0 with a bios flash and a Intel 2500k cpu and overclock the crap out of it.

Gigabyte page,
http://www.gigabyte.com/press-center/news-page.aspx?nid=1048

I promise you , your next upgrade will be more than 2 1/2 years away.

Edit: Do you have a Microcenter in your area?

This 116$ (including tax) Core i3 2100/motherboard combo would be faster than your current system. Just add 4gb of $40 ddr3 1600.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2183136

That gigabyte news might just make me give up on waiting for Bulldozer and pick up a 2500k now with the option of ivy bridge down the line.

 

[Rifter]

If this website doesn't receive kickbacks from Intel they're idiots. If you aren't trying to start a pissing match when you don't even have the money yet then you're an idiot too.

Sorry to break it to you but AMD is just not competative at the moment on anything over the $100-120 price point.

So intel is the way to go at the moment. I really really hope BD changes this and at least gets AMD somewhat back in the game.

OP i would look into a sandy bridge system for sure, it is overkill for what you say you will be doing with it but is the best bang for the buck available at this time.

 

[wuliheron]

Sorry to break it to you but AMD is just not competative at the moment on anything over the $100-120 price point.

So intel is the way to go at the moment. I really really hope BD changes this and at least gets AMD somewhat back in the game.

OP i would look into a sandy bridge system for sure, it is overkill for what you say you will be doing with it but is the best bang for the buck available at this time.

The entire world economy is going down the toilet and you're arguing he should spend more then he has to because Amd isn't competitive. Now you know why the entire world economy is going down the toilet.

 

[Rifter]

The entire world economy is going down the toilet and you're arguing he should spend more then he has to because Amd isn't competitive. Now you know why the entire world economy is going down the toilet.

did you read the thread? what would you reccoemend?

He has a phenom II quad at the moment. To get a noticable upgrade from that he will have to go to SB. Obviously he would be perfectly fine with what he has for what he wants to do but he wants to upgrade so im making the only sugestion that makes sense. If he wants a upgrade who are we to stop him?

 

[dawp]

I'd hold off for a month or two just to see how BD does and how well it compares to SB at that time.

When I got my i7 950, I was going to go with SB but just as I was about to start ordering parts, the chipset problem surfaced and all SB boards were pulled so I went with an X58 for myself and a couple of 890gx/phII 1090 for my kids. at least the ASUS board I got them will allow a BD to be used with a bios update, which is already available as a beta.

 

[wuliheron]

did you read the thread? what would you reccoemend?

He has a phenom II quad at the moment. To get a noticable upgrade from that he will have to go to SB. Obviously he would be perfectly fine with what he has for what he wants to do but he wants to upgrade so im making the only sugestion that makes sense. If he wants a upgrade who are we to stop him?

Read his post again. He doesn't even have the money to upgrade so you'll have to explain how anyone can stop him from doing something he is incapable of doing to begin with.

 

[guskline]

jhansman: There is no cure for upgrade fever -haha. Let's look at this logically. Upgrade your video card first. You will see the most bang for the buck AND you can use it if you upgrade to Intel. No doubt the Sandy Bridge is fast but your AMD Phenom II X4 810 is hardly antiquated. Set a budget for a new video card and upgrade your PSU. Then wait till BullDozer comes out. If it doesn't set your world on fire, look at the Z68 chipset Mbs with a Sandy Bridge.

 

[sm625]

I have a Q6600 that still does what I need perfectly fine. I had a problem with fraps not running fast enough, but that was solved by switching to Bandicam, which makes fraps look like a bad joke born out of microsoft's basement. All I really want now is a computer that will idle down around 20 watts, including the video card.

 

[Genx87]

Absolutely! I will get the itch to upgrade. Once it starts I will eventually cave.

 

[jhansman]

If this website doesn't receive kickbacks from Intel they're idiots. If you aren't trying to start a pissing match when you don't even have the money yet then you're an idiot too.

Hmmm, taken your meds today? Clearly your agenda has you confused. I find plenty of fans of both CPU makers here.

Upgrade your video card first. You will see the most bang for the buck AND you can use it if you upgrade to Intel. No doubt the Sandy Bridge is fast but your AMD Phenom II X4 810 is hardly antiquated. Set a budget for a new video card and upgrade your PSU. Then wait till BullDozer comes out. If it doesn't set your world on fire, look at the Z68 chipset Mbs with a Sandy Bridge.

Interesting suggestions, thanks. Actually, I chose the card I have as an upgrade to the crappy onboard graphics that came with the mobo, and so far it has handled the games I've fed it well. You make a good point about my current processor, which also runs nicely. My current obsession probably stems from too much time spend on forums like this. What's the saying? I complained that I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.

 

[Edrick]

The entire world economy is going down the toilet and you're arguing he should spend more then he has to because Amd isn't competitive. Now you know why the entire world economy is going down the toilet.

You sound like a bitter old man who made bad investments and is now taking out his bitterness on other people who have money (or want to spend money).

And for your information, the economy is hurting because consumer spending is down compared to the pre-recession days. And consumer spending has a large impact on the GDP. So if you were really worried about the economy, you would be telling people to spend their money on goods rather than stuffing it in their matresses.

I will be doing my part and buying a new SB-E system as soon as they are released.

 

[ieatdonuts]

And for your information, the economy is hurting because consumer spending is down compared to the pre-recession days. And consumer spending has a large impact on the GDP. So if you were really worried about the economy, you would be telling people to spend their money on goods rather than stuffing it in their matresses.

I majored in economics - and this is hillariously true

 

[VirtualLarry]

I think all that rig needs is a new GPU, if the OP games at all. Grab a HD6870 or something, or wait for the 28nm cards to come out (probably a better idea, if you don't need it right away.)

 

[wuliheron]

You sound like a bitter old man who made bad investments and is now taking out his bitterness on other people who have money (or want to spend money).

And for your information, the economy is hurting because consumer spending is down compared to the pre-recession days. And consumer spending has a large impact on the GDP. So if you were really worried about the economy, you would be telling people to spend their money on goods rather than stuffing it in their matresses.

I will be doing my part and buying a new SB-E system as soon as they are released.

The American people went heavily into debt, they allowed their government to go heavily into debt, and then they encouraged the government to liberalize the markets so they could try and gamble their way out of debt. Now the banks and corporations have all the money and they aren't spending any of it and that is why the economy is in the ditch. You spending a few hundred extra on a sandy bridge E along with the other .01% of PC DIYers isn't going to make any difference.

Oh, and I'm not bitter. I'm laughing my ass off watching the republicans and tea party popularity ratings drop like stones.

Does this look like P&N to you guys? I thought so. Knock it off!
-ViRGE

 

[skipsneeky2]

He could drop a amd x6 1090t in there and a new gpu of his choice and hold out for 3 years i think.

Or get a 990x based mobo the x6 1090t and gamble on BD when it comes out .

 

[jhansman]

Yeah, I thought about going to an X6 as an interim step; my mobo now supports that CPU. Actually, that and a new GPU may be the best interim solution. Decisions, decisions...

 

[tweakboy]

Grab one of those Gigabyte Z68 motherboards that allready will fully support next generation 22nm Ivybridge intel cpu's , pci-3.0 ,usb 3.0 with a bios flash and a Intel 2500k cpu and overclock the crap out of it.

Gigabyte page,
http://www.gigabyte.com/press-center/news-page.aspx?nid=1048

I promise you , your next upgrade will be more than 2 1/2 years away.

Edit: Do you have a Microcenter in your area?

This 116$ (including tax) Core i3 2100/motherboard combo would be faster than your current system. Just add 4gb of $40 ddr3 1600.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2183136[/QUOTE


You got the answer to everything.

 

[jhansman]

You got the answer to everything.

True enough. Thanks to those of you who gave it enough thought to offer useful suggestions.

Yes, there's a Microcenter about 80 mi. from my home, not far from Frys. Both are dangerous places

 

[grkM3]

Im selling my 2500k and asus p67 pro rev 3 board in the forsale section. The chip benched at 5.2ghz on good air cooling.

Im not sure but i would think it will support ivy bridge down the road with a bios update.

I upgraded to a 2600k and z68 board.

 

[jhansman]

Well, ended up at Micro Center today, stumbled around for awhile drooling at the deals ($50 off AMD Phenom processor with any board/$40 off Intel proc. with any qualifying board). Mighty tempting, but I left with an Asrock 890FX Deluxe 5, which lets me keep my current cpu, drop in some DDR3 RAM, gives me SATA III & USB 3.0 and a raft of other features, including a pathway to BD when it finally arrives. Almost sprung for a Phenom II X6, but the bottom line came up waaay too fast, and I got out of there quickly. I will say, I like the store much more than Frys, which I visited too. The latter just felt dingy, like I need to wash my hands after I left. Poor stock, crap on the floor, disinterest staff. Anyhooo, looks like I'm on the AMD train a while longer, which is fine with me.

 

[dawp]

while the 890fx is a decent chipset, I just a little curious as to why you didn't get a 990fx board? were they not available at your Microcenter?

I have 2 890gx (M4A89GTD PRO/USB3) boards in two systems in my home and are wonderful boards, but if I were to select an AMD board today, it would be a 990 of some flavor.