Is this a good upgrade?? need help plz

[thejav]

ok i have finally saved up enough money to buy an upgrade to my computer and i wanted to know if anyone had any thoughts on the hardware that im about to get.. im upgrading from a p4, 2gb ram, 7600gt.. any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. thanks...


Newegg.com - EVGA 896-P3-1255-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

Newegg.com - Intel Core2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops

Intel Core2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz
GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R

total comes out to be around $600..
mostly going to be used for school and gaming of coarse..

[Atomic Rooster]

Looks good.

Do you have a power supply picked out?

[thats_no_moon]

I'd suggest this instead of the RAM you picked out:
Newegg.com - OCZ Fatal1ty Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

They're cheaper and run faster (although as it seems from some of the reviews, you have to mess with the Bios for it to actually run at 1066. They default in 800. Still cheaper if anything. Lesser reviews are mainly due to them defaulting to 800) I had those very cards picked out for the rig I'm planning until some kind soul on here pointed me to the OCZs. Just a suggestion though.

[thejav]

didn't really know i needed a power supply.. any suggestions can i use the older power supply that came with my case that i have now??

[KarmaKiller]

older power supply that came with my case that i have now??

Those words in the same sentence with Power Supply generally means you need a new one.
Age is not good for Power Supplies.
Also, 95% of the PSU's that come with cases are not good.
So the combo between the 2 is usually avoided.

http://www.bfgstore.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=33
The second PSU on that page is great bang for buck. I'd suggest that for your rig. If you can spend more, then I'd suggest
Newegg.com - OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

[Atomic Rooster]

didn't really know i needed a power supply.. any suggestions can i use the older power supply that came with my case that i have now??

It really depends on the power supply you have now. Have a look at the sticker on the side of the unit, and tell us the make, model, and output voltages please.

[ShyguyXPC]

Those words in the same sentence with Power Supply generally means you need a new one.
Age is not good for Power Supplies.
Also, 95% of the PSU's that come with cases are not good.
So the combo between the 2 is usually avoided.

http://www.bfgstore.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=33
The second PSU on that page is great bang for buck. I'd suggest that for your rig. If you can spend more, then I'd suggest
Newegg.com - OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

This one ain't bad either: Newegg.com - Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

3 rails for 12v, plenty of amps, modular and only $55.

the BFG model you linked to, not a bad deal, but after shipping (for me anyways) it'd be over $63, the antec one I linked to is a great deal, new, and free shipping, if its still in stock on thursday, may take a look at it and see about getting one for my 2nd rig, plus its modular, big plus there.

[pullmyfoot]

That PSU is $80 now

I would go for an AMD Phenom II above that Q9400 now though. You have a much longer upgrade path after that.. LG775 is pretty much a dead end that Intel will not be making CPUs for anymore, whereas the AM3 socket is new. IMO its either AMD in the low-mid range or Intel at the top end of things.


Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-MA790XT-UD4P AM3 DDR3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards

You need some DDR3 ram for that too

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

This combo performs on par (slightly faster in fact) with the Q9400 and has the added benefit of compatible CPUs for years to come.. Which IMO is worth the $30 extra you spend. You could downgrade to a 720 black edition if you wanted though (which is still plenty fast for most people).. Its more than enough to keep up with that GTX260 and you might be able to pick up a faster GTX275 or a HD4890 with the money saved.

Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor - Processors - Desktops

GTX275: Newegg.com - EVGA 896-P3-1170-AR GeForce GTX 275 896MB 448-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
HD4890: Newegg.com - XFX HD-489A-ZDFC Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

The 945 also has got the potential to hit 4Ghz if you want to try (so has the 720).

[j.woody]

i think you should get intel with ddr2. i think you should get a gtx260 not a gtx275. the gtx 275 are a waste of money. for $30 more you could get a gtx285!! and dont say you can make a gtx 275 as fast as a gtx285 because you cant!!! you can also overclock gtx 285's you know! why should you get ddr2? because they are miles cheaper than ddr3 with little performace difference. a socket lga 775 will last you for atleast 2 years then hopefully the i7 systems will be really cheap.

for a power supply get the 600w from ocz. i have one and its great. its got 2 pci-e connectors and lots of extra cables. the cooling on it is fantastic.
so i would keep what you suggested, maybe change the ram to thats no moon suggested
but definetly get the psu which karmakiller suggested

[thejav]

this is the power supply i have now...

codegen
model cg-pxa4-3

will that do?

[j.woody]

no, it woudn't.

[JPMiller]

this is the power supply i have now...

codegen
model cg-pxa4-3

will that do?

Short answer NO!

Long answer, Codegen are Horrible PSU's...
When it dies, (and it will) it will take out half your components with it...
replace it with a good 400W+
there are already good suggestions and I'm sure there will be more

[ShyguyXPC]

That PSU is $80 now

dammit!!! it was on sale, and if I wasn't mistaken was to be on sale at least till the end of the week

well there goes that plan.

[cksboy15]

My 2 pennies. The quad core phenom 2 is much faster than the core 2 you picked. You really don't need DDR3 yet but thats if your looking to be future proof. I for one prefer to be a little out of date (usually no more than 2 years).

So here we go:
Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X4 940 Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor - Processors - Desktops Not quite the 945 but it still has plenty of power.

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards The only problem I have with it is the colors.

Newegg.com - OCZ Fatal1ty Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory Actually you don't have to manually set it to 1066 just on certain boards. Its not hard, and it comes with a free mouse pad.

Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-N973-TR GeForce 9800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards not quite the 260 you picked out but still a good video card for the money

Now I want to go with my PSU but there are better listed around here so I'll yield to karma's PSU Newegg.com - OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

it all comes round to $557.95 and if you want you could go with the 260 you picked out for a whopping total of $627.95 either way still more than I spent on my entire build.

[ShyguyXPC]

why bother with that 9800GT, for a few bucks more you can get a base model GTS 250 (aka 9800GTX+)

Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-1150-TR GeForce GTS 250 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards