Upgrade for me too

[Mungo]

Got my birthday and Christmas monies, and want to upgrade!

Currently running AMD Athlon X2 4200+
2GB of RAM
And a mobo that won't support any more :ghey:

I was thinking i5...?
What are people thoughts on these?
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?IL-I5750
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?GIG-P55UD2
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?CSR-4GXMS3


Also want to get a decent sized screen
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Monitors/22inchMonitors/LG/W2242S-PF.html

Thoughts on that^ ?

Looking for something cheapish and reasonably good :)

Thanks
Tim

[f12f12]

i would say as it appears you are a budget gamer why not go am3 way? maybe even keep ddr2 as ram costs $$$. spend it on a BIG screen i say

[Mungo]

i would say as it appears you are a budget gamer why not go am3 way? maybe even keep ddr2 as ram costs $$$. spend it on a BIG screen i say

I hadn't thought of am3, being able to keep my current RAM would be good i s'pose

Feel like speccing me one..? :xsmile:

[f12f12]

what socket is your cpu? because if its compatible then you might be better off keeping it rather than changing it. i say that as in my thread i discovered that dual cores perform very well in games compared to new i5's

and do you have a cpu cooler?

and are we looking for crossfire/sli?

[f12f12]

well looking at the selection it may be better for you to look:

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/dirresults.html?s=am3%20ddr2

[Mungo]

AM2. But i really want to upgrade that, as on games it has both cores on 100%
And the mobo only supports 2gb or ram, which is not enough to run newer games on high settings

No cooler, and nope, no crossfire.

I've got a 4870, so i think i'm absolutely fiiiine in the graphics department :rolleye:


hmm, heres a cheapish mobo. am3, ddr2. and has IDE meaning that i wouldn't need to buy a new DVD drive...
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Components/Motherboards/AMDAM3AMDChipsetMotherboards/Asus/90-MIBB50-G0EAY0GZ.html#

[f12f12]

hmm, heres a cheapish mobo. am3, ddr2. and has IDE meaning that i wouldn't need to buy a new DVD drive...
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Components/Motherboards/AMDAM3AMDChipsetMotherboards/Asus/90-MIBB50-G0EAY0GZ.html#

no bad but the ide is in a horrible position and the sata ports are not in the best place in the world but all round not bad, but do you need full atx? no biggie at all just you might like a small form pc?

[Mungo]

no bad but the ide is in a horrible position and the sata ports are not in the best place in the world but all round not bad, but do you need full atx? no biggie at all just you might like a small form pc?

Was just thinking the same thing :P

Does using DDR2 limit the system in any way?
I read this on the Asus website, and have absolutely no idea what it means :rolleye:
"Due to AMD CPU limitation, DDR2 1066 is supported by AM2+ /AM3 CPU for one DIMM per channel only."

[f12f12]

ddr2 1066mhz is not supported for dual channel operation, i think. any way ram give <10% of sytem performace and in the real world you would not see the visual difference between ddr2 and 3, maybe heat but only a tiny amount, any way if it was me i would go for ddr2 as its cheaper and i already have some.

and that board looks to be the best now a cpu?

[Mungo]

Change on the board...
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?ASU-M4A78P
I don't really mind about the stupid positioning of the IDE. It will only be temporary anyway :rolleye:

I don't really know CPU wise. How many games can utilize 4 cores? i quite like Total War, which needs a decent cpu, and theres not really any point only getting slightly better than i already have

I could get this one http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?AMD-P2965 The most expensive....
But is it the best for the money?
Bit of a dilemma :rolleye:

I want some more RAM, nice cheap Buffalo?
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?BUF-8500C5

6GB is fine for dual channel isn't it..?


Dunno when its gonna be in stock though :p

[snakedoc]

All new games apart from Stalker use all four cores. I have a little gadget in my keyboard which tells me. You will defo benefit from one.

[f12f12]

well im not too good with cpu's so ill leave that for some one ells. but new games are starting to use all 4 soon all 8/i7 so future proofing. the black versions are better for over clocking but the extra cost?

[Mungo]

Ok, heres a revised idea then

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?AMD-P2940
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?ASU-M4A78P
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?BUF-8500C5

I currently have a 500W PSU. Will that be capable of running those..?

And what monitor would you recommend peoples?
Looking for 22". What are the best in peoples opinions, that are in a reasonable budget

[f12f12]

am2 processor? and if the psu is branded then i guess it could, some one confirm.

[Mungo]

am2 processor? and if the psu is branded then i guess it could, some one confirm.

rats!
Hadn't noticed that ;)


OK, change for this one

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?AMD-P2945

thoughts on the monitor

Oh, and the PSU is this http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=MTIzNg==

[f12f12]

maybe you could get the tri core save a bit, and if you find the right one could unlock to a quad? but i dont know about that so.. any way cheaper processor, spend the spare on cooling and over clock it?

[Mungo]

Think i'm happy with the CPU and Mobo

Just thoughts on Monitor and whether my PSU is good enough now :)

[A Ginger Sheep]

how much you willing to spend altogether?

edit: try this

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?IL-I5750
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Components/Motherboards/Intel1156P55ChipsetMotherboards/Gigabyte/GA-P55-UD3.html
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Components/Memory-PCAndLaptop/DDR3-PC3-12800/1600MHz/G.Skill/F3-10666CL8D-4GBRM.html
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Monitors/24inchMonitors/Novatech/NOV-HAN241.html

[I3R0K3N7FEET]

are you sticking with that 780g mobo? :S its a bit pointless

if you want a ddr2 mobo then try this
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Components/Motherboards/AMDAM3AMDChipsetMotherboards/Asus/90-MIBB50-G0EAY0GZ.html
if you want a ddr3 mobo try this
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Components/Motherboards/AMDAM3AMDChipsetMotherboards/Asus/M4A785TD-VEVO.html

BTW i notice that youre going for the am3 945..
that is almost 100% pointless if youre going on a ddr2 mobo as people seem to have had an epic fail moment as ALL ddr2 mobo's are AM2+ socket which are am3 compatible.. not socket AM3.. ONLY ddr3 mobos are socket AM3.. so if youre getting an am2+ mobo IMO you would be far better off getting the 940 black edition for £10 less than the 945. if youre going for DDr3 and AM3 then it would be worth going for the 945.

monitor http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Monitors/22inchMonitors/Asus/VH226H.html#

[Mungo]

I think that the ddr2 mobo may be too big for my case... :/

What would you recommend?
AM2 or AM3?

[A Ginger Sheep]

what case you have? maybe a good idea to invest in a new case?

[Mungo]

http://jeantech.com/titan.htm

I want to keep this upgrade as small as possible. Budget wise. A case just adds a heap to the price :/

[Seanbond]

http://jeantech.com/titan.htm

I want to keep this upgrade as small as possible. Budget wise. A case just adds a heap to the price :/

Have you looked at an Antec 300? Great quality cooling and really cheap.

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Components/Cases/Cases/Antec/0761345-08300-3.html

[Mungo]

Have you looked at an Antec 300? Great quality cooling and really cheap.

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Components/Cases/Cases/Antec/0761345-08300-3.html

It is the one that i have had my eye on :xwink:

[A Ginger Sheep]

or even an xigmatek midgard, i have one and i can confirm it is brillent value, death said he recommends it over the antec 300 and hes used both. but if you really dont want a new case then you can only buy an mATX mobo.

[Seanbond]

or even an xigmatek midgard, i have one and i can confirm it is brillent value, death said he recommends it over the antec 300 and hes used both. but if you really dont want a new case then you can only buy an mATX mobo.

I have heard that they have bad build quality, is this true?

[A Ginger Sheep]

I have heard that they have bad build quality, is this true?

nope, only thing i can complain about is the screwless cd drive installation as i struggled with it for a few minutes but its not much of an issue really. where did you hear that the build quality is poor?

[Seanbond]

nope, only thing i can complain about is the screwless cd drive installation as i struggled with it for a few minutes but its not much of an issue really. where did you hear that the build quality is poor?

Some YouTube vid, it actually put me off buying the case at that time.

[A Ginger Sheep]

fair enough, but from my experience its a good case. dont see any faults with it and it has a lot of plluss points like the noise reduction features and the fan capcity as well as the removable dust filters.

[I3R0K3N7FEET]

Some YouTube vid, it actually put me off buying the case at that time.

http://forum.novatech.co.uk/showthread.php?t=13445&highlight=midgard+review


the review version they had is different to the one which i recieved so if anyone has looked at other midgard reviews.. get this.. they must have revised the case as the hole in the mobo plate is larger.. there is NO give in the tooless 5.25 drive bays so they must have taken on the words of advise and modified it. and they have done a great job too. so it easily deserves the 9/10 maybe even 9.5/10 as clearly stated in other reviews.. it features things rarely seen in cases at this price point, dust filters, anti-vibration pads, removable hard drive racks, cable management system (though as stated the cable clamps supplied are a bit naff but theyre there none the less.. personally i just use black hair bands ;) )

[A Ginger Sheep]

http://forum.novatech.co.uk/showthread.php?t=13445&highlight=midgard+review

yeah thats the review i was on about, thanks for diggin it up tony.

[I3R0K3N7FEET]

tbh.. this thread is a bit of a mess.. lets go back to basics... whats your budget and what do you want/need..?


yeah thats the review i was on about, thanks for diggin it up tony.


yeh its a great case and the dust filters do their job too as most of the dust can be seen collected on the outside lol.. nothing a little wipe cant sort though, i think the only REAL downfall is that it doesnt have a side window as standard and the side panel removal is a bit dated and could have an easier access like the antec 300 removes thumbscrews and open.. rather than remove thumbscrews.. slide.. its a bit annoying having to get it back on having to line it up where the antec side just.. closes and then do the screws up.. its a minor hassle really for a great case. looks wise imo the anec 300 and midgard on the exterior look pretty similar.. in the sense theyre plan and black.. but the interior for the midgard is just full of win..

was it this video?

SPhwsgU0ezs

meh flimsy sidepanel does not = bad case and i did note this in my review and it is more than sturdy enough to house any componants. i agree with how the side panel goes on and off.. but the rest of it i had no problems, the list of cons mentioned in that video.. just well.. werent present in the case i worked with... can you agree with this kyle as you have one of these?

[A Ginger Sheep]

well the side panels although slightly flimsy when off the case are more than sturdy when attached, also the hd mounts work fine and he simply made an issue of something that wasent there due to him being a tw*t when inserting them as it is very easy to insert them securely. although i do agree with the pci expansion slots holders do seem flimsy as well but when attached properly they dont move and hold the card securely. i would say that that review is being overly critical and exaggerating the bad points too much.

[I3R0K3N7FEET]

yeh i found it hard to use the tooless pci clips at first as i didnt know how to use them xD but when i figured it out they hold firmly and fine.. but the clips that was on the midgard i used were completely different to the ones in that video.

[A Ginger Sheep]

anyway lets get back on track,

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s....html?IL-I5750 (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?IL-I5750)
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/p...A-P55-UD3.html (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Components/Motherboards/Intel1156P55ChipsetMotherboards/Gigabyte/GA-P55-UD3.html)
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/p...L8D-4GBRM.html (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Components/Memory-PCAndLaptop/DDR3-PC3-12800/1600MHz/G.Skill/F3-10666CL8D-4GBRM.html)
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/p...OV-HAN241.html (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Monitors/24inchMonitors/Novatech/NOV-HAN241.html)

this is what i recommended earlier although tony recommended this as a screen instead

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Monitors/22inchMonitors/Asus/VH226H.html

and i can speak from experience in saying this is a very good screen but i opted for the nova brand monitor as its a 24" and wouldnt be too far off the same quality. up to you what you would prefer but both good screens.

would the above be in your budget Mungo?

[Mungo]

I've been chatting to death9000, and i'm gonna go down the AM3 route, and probs get a new case and PSU, then try and sell my current system. What i can do depends really on if i can find a buyer...

Heres what i'm currently looking at:

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?ANT-300B
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?AMD-P2945
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?ASU-VH226
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?CSR-650TX
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Components/Motherboards/AMDAM3AMDChipsetMotherboards/M4A785TD-VEVO.html

And 4GB of DDR3 from another place ;)

It's still more than i really wanted to pay. But its as cheap as i can get it.

Any thoughts on those?

[A Ginger Sheep]

all looks good, maybe add a new cooler later on and oc that p2 and you'll have a very nice system. pm me the link to the memory your looking at tho.

[f12f12]

erm yeah sorry for the wrong info, ill just disappear now

[I3R0K3N7FEET]

erm yeah sorry for the wrong info, ill just disappear now


it wast your fault.. if you follow the info given in the specs on the nova site then its easy to be misled.. tbh the info given on the nova website sometimes is terrible.

[f12f12]

it wast your fault.. if you follow the info given in the specs on the nova site then its easy to be misled.. tbh the info given on the nova website sometimes is terrible.

+1 definitely agree, so i guess that am3 uses a on-board ddr3 controller, rather than am2+ that uses a mb ddr2 controller?

[I3R0K3N7FEET]

+1 definitely agree, so i guess that am3 uses a on-board ddr3 controller, rather than am2+ that uses a mb ddr2 controller?

AM3 have ddr2+ddr3 controller am2+ just DDR2. AM3 cpu's can be used on either AM2+ and AM3 mobo's. there is no AM3 DDR2 mobo they're AM3 compatible AM2+ mobos. lol theyre just being sold as AM3 mobos.

EG im using an M3A79T deluxe mobo that is AM2+ but im using the AM3 phenom 2 955.

OH also AMD have been using integrated memory controllers a lot longer than intel im not sure since when but i have a feeling its been since the 939 socket.

[f12f12]

so if you were in a dire need of a new am3 compatible mobo but couldn't afford ddr3 memory too then a cheap am2+ would cover you until you have more cash or ram prices drop.

and just what is the difference between am2+ and am3 cpus

[I3R0K3N7FEET]

so if you were in a dire need of a new am3 compatible mobo but couldn't afford ddr3 memory too then a cheap am2+ would cover you until you have more cash or ram prices drop.

and just what is the difference between am2+ and am3 cpus

none really< the AM3 cpu's are more stable and better overclocking maybe? and there is always that option and in reality there is no real massive advantage to a DDR3 system performance wise ddr2 1066 will still perform just as well.. though ddr3 is cooler and uses less power maybe? unless youre using DDR3 at higher than 1600mhz there is no real speed benefit

[f12f12]

so not every thing i said was wrong, good. so if your on a tight budget get a am3 cpu and stick it in a am2+ board and save cash on the ram, then later upgrade the mb and ram though that dose seam a bit inefficient.

[I3R0K3N7FEET]

so not every thing i said was wrong, good. so if your on a tight budget get a am3 cpu and stick it in a am2+ board and save cash on the ram, then later upgrade the mb and ram though that dose seam a bit inefficient.

yep but its not much of a loss really.. though it was more aimed at people who already have AM2+ mobos and backward compatibility

[Mungo]

Down to a choice between two monitors.
Death9000 reckons the viewsonic, but I'm not that keen on it's looks, and I'm drawn to the slightly larger monitor
I know the viewsonic is better, but what would you individually go for

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Monitors/22inchMonitors/ViewSonic/VX2260WM.html


http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Monitors/24inchMonitors/Novatech/NOV-HAN241.html

Thanks
Tim

[I3R0K3N7FEET]

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Monitors/24inchMonitors/Novatech/NOV-HAN241.html

you link isnt working ^^

[Mungo]

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Monitors/24inchMonitors/Novatech/NOV-HAN241.html

you link isnt working ^^

Thanks, :x:p: fixed

[I3R0K3N7FEET]

its a tough choice really.. larger size.. may do you better as it will be a definate noticable difference. as mentioned earlier you will need a dvi - hdmi cable

i think that both are good but personally i would go for the VS.. so lets see what others think

[Mungo]

Bit the bullet and went with the 24", i preferred it, and thats really what matters :rolleye:

Just like to say a biiiiig thank you to Death9000, for tons of help. Thanks :)

[I3R0K3N7FEET]

np :P hope it all goes well :) everyone likes pics on the forum so upload when you get it all together :P

[Mungo]

np :P hope it all goes well :) everyone likes pics on the forum so upload when you get it all together :P

No worries, will do :)

[Mungo]

lalala, case arrived today! :)

S'all put together and running beautifully. Unfortuantely my wrireless adapter doesn't work :/ But thats not too expensive

So first- ideas for one of those please :) I like to game so i want something good, but im fairly close to the router, so it doesnt need to be exsessive :p

Secondly, Hiper Osiris... Love it, but the cd drive button on the case and my cd drive don;t seem to align... any ideas what i should do?


Cheers all
Tim

[Azza]

What OS and wireless adapter are you using?

[Mungo]

Windows 7 (64) aaaaand This (http://en-uk-support.belkin.com/app/product/detail/p/4448)

If you click on the drivers page you'll see that my one (the top one) is only supported as far as XP 32bit
The adapter worked fine without any software with Vista 32... but meh :(

[I3R0K3N7FEET]

oh with lining up the dvd eject button you might need to have it with both sides open and perfectly have it sat at the right distance.. and then screw it down while trying to not move it< you need to do this by feel.< its one of those little things... lol

it is a great looking case :)

[Mungo]

of course, it was too far back :rolleye:

I thought the two were in different places :/

S'all good now, i pulled the drive forwards, then pushed it back using the front panel, that way it was perfect :)

ty

My friends lent me his wireless adapter for now (hes using Develos), may just buy it off him :p

[Mungo]

Right. Pictures.

I know you've all been waiting for days for this, barely able to contain your excitement....

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm305/timwest_2008/P1010227.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm305/timwest_2008/P1010229.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm305/timwest_2008/P1010230.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm305/timwest_2008/P1010231.jpg

I know the cabling isn't fantastic, and i need to buy an adapter so i can plug that top fan in... but she's running beautifully!


Big thanks to everyone who helped with choosing the components, and to David84 for the case :D

And what would people think of a lovely red cathode running along the top behind the side panel (window side)..?

I think with the grilled window it could give off a very nice effect :rolleye:

[I3R0K3N7FEET]

such a nice looking case :) black will look good with pretty much every colour so its your choice :)