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PauloWhysalli · 10th May 2012, 09:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuilleAcoustic

I do understand ... I'll let other bit-techer answer you on this point as I'm still using DDR2. I upgrade only once every 5/6 years or so, it's always a huuuuuuuuuuuge jump for me

.

The i5 will give you a nice upgrade for number crunching, but about gaming .... I'm not sure it's worth it (maybe for strategy games like Shogun 2). You could alway go for the i5 and upgrade the GPU later ...

I don't play as many different types of games any more its mainly those three. As I haven't even overclocked my Q6600 maybe I should look to do that instead in the first instance and go with the SSD to improve loads times.

Could do with some advice with regards to the motherboard so if anyone has any suggestions that would be great.

aLtikal · 10th May 2012, 10:03

Im in a similar boat to you, running the spec in my sig...I could afford to upgrade to a 2500k setup but I don't believe the benefit to cost ratio is huge at all - so i'm waiting...I also play BF3 on med settings and its fine although my graphics card is the bottleneck but ive got my eye on a 7850.
In a nutshell, the Q6600 is still a very capable chip for most peoples needs and does it really warant spending £350 for a new CPU/Mobo/RAM/Cooler? Not really.

Chicken76 · 10th May 2012, 10:15

The Ivy Bridge i5 these guys have recommended is great but unfortunately not compatible with the motherboard you picked. Not to mention, about 60% more expensive. Be careful, before buying check compatibility.
I'd go for this: i3 2120. It's the same price as the i3 you chose, but 200MHz faster.

I'd also go for another motherboard, even if it's more expensive. Take a look at this one: Asus P8H77-M. Why go for a more expensive mobo? Well because this will allow for easy upgrades a few years from now. You'll be able to go for an Ivy Bridge quad (i5), get a PCI-E 3.0 graphics card and use it at full speed, you'll be able to use up to 32 GB of RAM, you'll have USB3 (back and front).

Since you mentioned you wanted a new case, have a look at this one: Antec Three Hundred

So, here a total:
CPU: 90
Mobo: 80
RAM: 40
SSD: 80
Case: 40

TOTAL: 330 pounds
It's a 10% stretch of your initial budget, but definitely worth it.

Dwarfer · 10th May 2012, 10:24

I'd change the board from that list to - Gigabyte Z68AP-D3 (B3) - £71.59 inc VAT

mrbungle · 10th May 2012, 10:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicken76

The Ivy Bridge i5 these guys have recommended is great but unfortunately not compatible with the motherboard you picked.

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Int...8H61M_LE/#CPUS

It does support ivy but like any board you will have to check what bios it ships with.

Chicken76 · 10th May 2012, 11:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrbungle

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Int...8H61M_LE/#CPUS

It does support ivy but like any board you will have to check what bios it ships with.

Hmm.. I thought H61 was not supposed to be Ivy Bridge compatible.

PauloWhysalli · 10th May 2012, 12:51

Ok bit of a change of plans, after speaking to my builder by budget is limited to £200.00 due to extra costs for electrical work that I need doing in my extension. I have decided to keep the Q6600 and replace the Mobi, RAM and case. I am also buying a SSD and cooler. Realistically I wont be in a position to replace the processor til December and I feel like freshening my system up.

So I am planning on overclocking the lot and seeing what increases in speed that gives me instead. After Xmas I will be in a position to build a completely new computer and can have all the things I really want.

This is what I am thinking of. I know the Mobi may not seem worth it but it gives me the option of DDR3 and SATA 3 for the SSD ( i think )

matt_lumley · 10th May 2012, 15:18

What you have got above looks good!
What cooler are you using currently as if i remember Q6600 are quite hot so a good aftermarket cooler is required to OC it.

Something like a Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro, or Advanced?

PauloWhysalli · 10th May 2012, 15:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt_lumley

What you have got above looks good!
What cooler are you using currently as if i remember Q6600 are quite hot so a good aftermarket cooler is required to OC it.

Something like a Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro, or Advanced?

Just the stock cooler at the moment as I've never bothered to overclock it in the past. Any suggestions for a cooler would be welcome!

matt_lumley · 10th May 2012, 15:55

The one I use (Dark Rock Pro) is excellent, very big but very effective, keeps my i5 at 4.6GHZ under 65 degrees full load!

Other good air coolers are Titan Fenrir, Noctua DH-14 (i think thats the one anyway) Dark Rock Pro, Dark Rock Advanced.

happysack · 10th May 2012, 19:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt_lumley

The one I use (Dark Rock Pro) is excellent, very big but very effective, keeps my i5 at 4.6GHZ under 65 degrees full load!

Other good air coolers are Titan Fenrir, Noctua DH-14 (i think thats the one anyway) Dark Rock Pro, Dark Rock Advanced.

I got a Titan fenrir on my stock clock i3 cpu and its love it... Like a freezer

terrorbyt · 11th May 2012, 00:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by happysack

I got a Titan fenrir on my stock clock i3 cpu and its love it... Like a freezer

the stock i3 cooler I'm using provides ~35 idle and ~50 load

10th May 2012, 10:03	#22
aLtikal 1338-One step infront of the pro's Join Date: May 2008 Location: London Posts: 803	Im in a similar boat to you, running the spec in my sig...I could afford to upgrade to a 2500k setup but I don't believe the benefit to cost ratio is huge at all - so i'm waiting...I also play BF3 on med settings and its fine although my graphics card is the bottleneck but ive got my eye on a 7850. In a nutshell, the Q6600 is still a very capable chip for most peoples needs and does it really warant spending £350 for a new CPU/Mobo/RAM/Cooler? Not really. __________________ aLtikal's Rig... \| Antec P182 \| Q6700 @ 3.1Ghz\| Abit AB9 Pro \| 5770 1Gb Vapor-X \| 4GB 800mhz Geil BlackDragon 4-4-4-12 \| XtremeMusic \| Z-5500's \| MX-518\| Samsung 2232bw 2ms 1680x1050\| Builder & Customizer of 11 PC's

10th May 2012, 15:18	#28
matt_lumley You're only supposed to... Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Manchester (UK) Posts: 875	What you have got above looks good! What cooler are you using currently as if i remember Q6600 are quite hot so a good aftermarket cooler is required to OC it. Something like a Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro, or Advanced? __________________ Right now, life feels good, tomorrow, who knows?

10th May 2012, 15:55	#30
matt_lumley You're only supposed to... Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Manchester (UK) Posts: 875	The one I use (Dark Rock Pro) is excellent, very big but very effective, keeps my i5 at 4.6GHZ under 65 degrees full load! Other good air coolers are Titan Fenrir, Noctua DH-14 (i think thats the one anyway) Dark Rock Pro, Dark Rock Advanced. __________________ Right now, life feels good, tomorrow, who knows?

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10th May 2012, 10:15	#23
Chicken76 Hypermodder Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Romania Posts: 678	The Ivy Bridge i5 these guys have recommended is great but unfortunately not compatible with the motherboard you picked. Not to mention, about 60% more expensive. Be careful, before buying check compatibility. I'd go for this: i3 2120. It's the same price as the i3 you chose, but 200MHz faster. I'd also go for another motherboard, even if it's more expensive. Take a look at this one: Asus P8H77-M. Why go for a more expensive mobo? Well because this will allow for easy upgrades a few years from now. You'll be able to go for an Ivy Bridge quad (i5), get a PCI-E 3.0 graphics card and use it at full speed, you'll be able to use up to 32 GB of RAM, you'll have USB3 (back and front). Since you mentioned you wanted a new case, have a look at this one: Antec Three Hundred So, here a total: CPU: 90 Mobo: 80 RAM: 40 SSD: 80 Case: 40 TOTAL: 330 pounds It's a 10% stretch of your initial budget, but definitely worth it.

10th May 2012, 10:24	#24
Dwarfer Banned Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,039	I'd change the board from that list to - Gigabyte Z68AP-D3 (B3) - £71.59 inc VAT

10th May 2012, 12:51	#27
PauloWhysalli Supermodder Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 368	Ok bit of a change of plans, after speaking to my builder by budget is limited to £200.00 due to extra costs for electrical work that I need doing in my extension. I have decided to keep the Q6600 and replace the Mobi, RAM and case. I am also buying a SSD and cooler. Realistically I wont be in a position to replace the processor til December and I feel like freshening my system up. So I am planning on overclocking the lot and seeing what increases in speed that gives me instead. After Xmas I will be in a position to build a completely new computer and can have all the things I really want. This is what I am thinking of. I know the Mobi may not seem worth it but it gives me the option of DDR3 and SATA 3 for the SSD ( i think )