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Apr 26, 2008, 07:42 AM
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#1
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DriverHeaven Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 38
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Upgrade to what?
I want to upgrade my system but mostly my graphics card. I currently have a ATI 9600 Atlantis Pro (AGP CARD) and a 2.0 Ghz Athlon XP with Giab nforce 2 motherboard and I think that its time I upgrades to something a little better. I see that I will have to upgrade my motherboard and processor as well seeing as I do not have any PCIe slots. My question is... what components would be the best for me to get and to keep the budget as low as possible but still maintain the ability to play the better games. I was thinking the XFX 8600GT XXX Alpha Dog Edition, the Palit 9600GT, or the XFX 9600GT XXX Alpha Dog Edition, and have no idea what motherboard/processorto get but I was tyhinkign about the Intel E2160 DUal Core with a Gigabyle GA- P35- DS3L
What do you guys think?
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Apr 26, 2008, 10:54 AM
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#2
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DriverHeaven Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,381
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That's a nice, well balanced set of components. The motherboard has received many praises for it's functionality and overclockability (especially considering the price), and the CPU also has very nice value for money ratio. As for the graphics card, skip the 8600GT, as it really won't do, and pick any of the 9600GTs, it'll be just fine for modern games in reasonable resolutions.
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Apr 26, 2008, 06:01 PM
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#3
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DriverHeaven Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Apr 26, 2008, 06:03 PM
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#4
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DH's Youngest Mod
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,969
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EVGA get it....
so you want the cheapest gaming rig possible huh? ill see what i can rip out
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Apr 26, 2008, 06:17 PM
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#5
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DriverHeaven Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 38
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Yes kris that is my goal. Thisis my first tiem building my own gaming rig and I want to keep the price low ($400-600). What is so special about the EVGA that makes it better than the Palit and or XFX?
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Apr 26, 2008, 06:30 PM
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#6
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DH's Youngest Mod
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,969
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its cheaper or same priced. and they have better support and warranty, advanced RMA is worth it.
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Apr 26, 2008, 06:32 PM
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#7
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DriverHeaven Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 38
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Rma?
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Apr 26, 2008, 06:38 PM
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#8
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DH's Youngest Mod
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,969
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its impossible to do a decent job if you wanna pay for the OS.....
either you go higher or you download the OS and use it. 600 bucks is too little for a system equipped with a 9600GT
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Apr 26, 2008, 06:39 PM
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#9
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DH's Youngest Mod
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,969
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RMA, just in case the card dies, they will send you a new card before you return your old one
then they got the 90 day step up policy where you can get a bigger model within 90 days if you gain the extra cash. and i believe they allow the use of 3rd party coolers with no warranty voiding.
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Apr 26, 2008, 06:49 PM
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#10
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DH's Youngest Mod
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,969
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Apr 26, 2008, 08:34 PM
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#11
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DriverHeaven Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 38
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Apr 26, 2008, 08:48 PM
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#12
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DH's Youngest Mod
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,969
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firstly, what are those items you have exactly? HDD and OS
id get rid of the 690 case, and get the 590 case emppty cost for slightly better looks and worse performance.
get rid of the BFG PSU and go for the seasonic
just plain get rid of the 9700
get a faster CPU than the 2160
get rid of the OCZ gold and get the 4GB sticks
get rid of the fan controller, mobo handles that fine
the system i posted is faster than this....
it is also balanced alot better
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Apr 26, 2008, 09:03 PM
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#13
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DriverHeaven Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 38
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Haha I must suck at planning systems then...
I like the looks of the 690... But the 590 performs better????
Seasonics are VERY expensive and I dont want to spend that much on a PSU even though I know they are important...
I have heard good things on the Zalman 9700 so I am wondering what your take on it is exactly?
and my buddy overclocks his E2160 to 3.0Ghz... so I was thinking I might do the same.. unless the E2220 can as well...
Whats wrong with the fan controller?
I dont mean to sound like a stuck up guy on this I am just wondering your reasoning of why your opionion on these components is different than my own...
EDIT: I have a 2 Wester Digital Cavier 160GB Hardrives and XP Home OS
Last edited by Zaxbys; Apr 26, 2008 at 09:09 PM.
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Apr 26, 2008, 09:35 PM
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#14
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DH's Youngest Mod
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,969
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well the 590 has more fan ports and is more flexible so i personally would get it.
seasonics are good but my REAL concern is that the BFG PSU is not 80 plus certified, it doesnt even have Active PFC so it may have an efficacy of less than 70% not good if you see the power bill going up because of a high load.......
i make a habit to recommend 80 plus PSUs exclusively
the zalman 9700 is a good cooler but not for the price, go with Scythe or Tuniq or Thermalright, theyre all better. for a good deal cheaper too... even OCZ is a better deal for your application
the E2220 has a much higher multiplier so you are going to exceed your friend by FAR with a good cooler.
theres really nothing wrong with the fan controller but it is rather useless for you, just plug them into the mobo and use software to monitor them, less clutter....
those controllers are for guys that used all the ports on their board and need more fans, or have more fans and dont have enough ports on the board.....
what type of drives are those WD Caviar drives? SATA or IDE? if theyre SATA, use them together in RAID 0 with an ICH9R board and double your performance.
if theyre IDE drives, sell them...... simple as that.
i really recommend just getting rid of the XP Home disk as you are missing too much in the gaming world with it. dont believe everyone that says Vista sucks, i use it and DX10 is so awesome on it. games take up a whole new level of experience for the gamer.....
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Apr 26, 2008, 10:32 PM
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#16
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DH's Youngest Mod
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,969
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lol seriously, dont believe all the BS about Vista, if you want, tell me what you heard and ill tell you whats the truth.
the OCZ probably is good, better than the BFG thats for sure.
the AC frezer 7 is good but outdated, there are better designs based off that same cooler by OCZ and my another company
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Apr 26, 2008, 11:00 PM
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#17
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DriverHeaven Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 38
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I just heard vista sucks...
Can I get links to good CPU coolers?
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Apr 26, 2008, 11:26 PM
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#18
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DH's Youngest Mod
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,969
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zaxbys
I just heard vista sucks...
Can I get links to good CPU coolers?
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if they couldnt say why then theyre just the same idiots that got the same hate wagon rolling......
a good cooler is the Tuniq Tower, Thermalright Ultima 90, OCZ vendetta 2,
this is best for price though. Newegg.com - Scythe SCINF-1000 120mm CPU Cooler - CPU Fans & Heatsinks
if i remember right, that thing gets better temps than the 9700 |
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Apr 26, 2008, 11:34 PM
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#19
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DriverHeaven Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 38
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Alright thanks for you help but I still dont know why I should get the EVGA 9600 over the Palit or XFX?
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Apr 26, 2008, 11:51 PM
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#20
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DH's Youngest Mod
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,969
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better support and cheaper......
and if you really wanna waste that much change on a card, buy an 8800GT, theyre faster....
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Apr 26, 2008, 11:56 PM
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#21
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DriverHeaven Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Apr 27, 2008, 12:06 AM
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#22
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DH's Youngest Mod
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,969
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Apr 27, 2008, 12:13 AM
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#23
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DriverHeaven Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 38
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Wow that one is FUGLY are you sure?
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Apr 27, 2008, 12:15 AM
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#24
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DH's Youngest Mod
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,969
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Apr 27, 2008, 12:26 AM
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#25
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DriverHeaven Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 38
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Thanks for you help! If I have any more questions I will be sure to post them here!
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