!PC Upgrade - Help needed!

[sneaK]

Hello
I'm in need of a desperate upgrade. My current specs are:
6600 GT
Pentium 4 3.2 HT
Unknown Motherboard
1gig 677 DDR2

I'm mainly a Counter-Strike/Counter-Strike: Source competitive gamer, although I do enjoy playing some high-detailed single player games, so I need a gaming rig that meets my budget.

I can spend: R5000 on the motherboard, RAM and CPU - preferable Intel.
R2500 on a Graphics card - ATI/Geforce.

**I will purchase the cheapest case I can find, as long is it is efficent, and a suitable PSU - please suggest the watts I will require **

I need the cpu fan to be extremely silent. When in-game, my current pc sounds like a 747 is taking off... It's pathetic. Please suggest what are the best componets for me to purchase.
I have a screen, mouse & keyboard.
Regards
Jords

[ib3waffle]

Motherboards and CPU's don't make any noise, except maybe the CPU fan.

Gigabyte GA-P35-S3, E6750 or the like, 2GB DDR2-800.

Now with the Graphics card. If you want to play DX10 Games, go for a 8800GTS, but if you're only playing CS and other DX9 Games, go for a 7900GS, the 8600GT isn't worth it.

I suggest PC International as they are much cheaper than the SA etailers. Just take note that their stated prices are excluding VAT.

To work out the wattage needed to power your monster go here.

[Bke]

I found this shop near to where i live, not sure if its in your area but you might want to take a look at it, this guy has disturbingly cheap prices. The shops name is: spacebar technologies , and it can be found here: shop no.3 noordheuwel shopping center on the corner of robert broom drive/ lud hersch road in noordheuwel and you can email the owner at morne@spacebar.co.za or visit the website at www.spacebar.co.za or phone them at 0119546065

[Darkmag]

I suggest PC International as they are much cheaper than the SA etailers. Just take note that their stated prices are excluding VAT.

Those prices are pretty good even after vat is added. You migh wanna wait untill the k-10 an kentsfield? are released as they may cuase other cpu prices to go down. but the 6750 is a really good price/performance cpu.

as for the GFX a 1950pro or 7900GT/GS would be good, if you want to play DX10 in DX10 then none of the current offering can actually do that they all just suck at DX10. so wait for the G92/R650.

Ram is ok, mobo is ok

[Frozenfireside]

I need the motherboard and cpu to be extremely silent. When in-game, my current pc sounds like a 747 is taking off... It's pathetic. Please suggest what are the best componets for me to purchase.
Jords

You probably just need to clean the CPU heatsink-That makes a huge difference and get some Q20 or something to oil the fans.

As for the upgrade-AMD or Intel? Ati or Nvidia?
personally I would go with a 2.13ghz core 2 and the graphics card is up to you.
buy say a X1950pro but I have to say you won't see better for the dosh.
AMD 6000+ is a great buy but it has issues-mainly core 2 duo.

motherboard-You obviously won't get SLi so mabye a cheapish 965 board. Asus P5B mabye-Its a decent overclocker.

Don't go for 680i motherboards. You won't need half the features and they run hot which means more fans which means more noise.

PSU? Aopen will do-it's cheap. 450watt.

[Banlam]

As far as the fan noise goes. A while ago my dad bought an Intel P4 3.0Ghz HT processor, and the stock cooling system that came with it also sounded like a 747 taking off, this was brand new never been used before. He actually went out and bought a new cooling system.

But all the new CPUs stock cooling is more than sufficient and is at a very low noise level, so you shouldn't have to worry about that.

[sneaK]

Thanks guys for the quick replies... really appreciate it.
@ib3waffle: I have a few questions, hope you don't mind ;)
What is the difference between the Intel E6750 and the E6600? As for the Super Talent DDR2-800 1GB, do you possibly know what timings(latency - I dont know much about this) it is? Yes, as you said, I don't intend to play DX10 games in the near future - But I may upgrade later on if it becomes a necessity.

@Frozenfireside:
I have tried everything. I even took my to a pc specialist, and he did everything he could, but it still sounds like a 747 taking off :'(

Ok. This is where I stand...
I have a choice between the XFX NFORCE 680I SLI INTEL Q6600 Bundle Deal - R4,699.00 or the Gigabyte GA-P35-S3 and E6750 - roughly R3,162.00
Could you please advise which option I should go for. And what advantages would I get from the XFX 680i SLI nForce Motherboard over the Gigabyte GA-P35-S3?

The Team Elite 1GB DDR2 800(Double pack!) - R990
or the Super Talent DDR2-800 1GBx2 - R1,176

Thanks so much guys for helping me out. When it comes to making choices with my computer, I'm all bad...
Regards
J

[ib3waffle]

NO! NO! NO! Do not go for the xfx board, I have heard VERY bad things about that... thing. Go for the second option. The 680i is for SLi, which you wont need unless you want two graphics cards, plus it adds extra heat.
Regards to the RAM, it doesn't really matter since you wont be overclocking but go with ST, They're pretty good.
E6600
2.4GHz
1066FSB
Core: B2
E6750
2.66GHZ
1333FSB (which the Gigabyte can handle)
Core: G0 (I've heard it's good or something)

[FEN1X]

My 5 cents goes as so:

CPU:
Im and AMD person so a
R 1,799 AMD ATHLON 64 X2 6000+ DUAL CORE , 3.0GHZ , 2.0GTS , 2 x 128K L1 + 2 x 1MB L2

GPU:
R 2,199 CHAINTECH GEFORCE 8600GTS
or depends on how long your next upgrade could be
R 3,299 320MB CHAINTECH GEFORCE 8800GTS 320MB

RAM:
Keep you current RAM and add just another gig at R400

Mobo:
I personally think that a good mobo is worth the extra monies so i say a
Biostar T-Force 590 SLi Deluxe at R1800

HDD:
dunno can you keep your old one?

PSU:
get at least a 500W so can upgrade and stuff, especially if you gonna go 8800 or higher.
The more juice the better,it never hurts, unless you shock yourself.

Case:
you can get a nice case for bout R300-500

I got my prices from cafe viva at www.cafeviva.co.za

[sneaK]

Hey. Im a bit confused about RAM latency
If (on the company's product page) it says that on the first bootup, timings will be 5-5-5-15, but then they say it may be overclocked to 3-3-3-10, does this mean that If i overclock the ram, I will void the warranty?

Now, I have to decide between 512mb sticks of Kingston DDR2-800 x 3 (approx. 1.5gigs with 3-3-3-10 latency) for roughly R1,800
or 1024mb of Kingston DDR2-800 x 2 (2gigs with 4-4-4-12 timings) for R1,600

Please help me here! Due date for this pc is rearing in!
Regards

[cov1e_stalker]

U can get a cheap 8 series GFX card from prophecy shop for under R3000 bucks
http://www.prophecy.co.za/evga-egefo...e-p-22064.html
or
http://www.prophecy.co.za/innovision...s-p-22936.html

[Frozenfireside]

Hey. Im a bit confused about RAM latency
If (on the company's product page) it says that on the first bootup, timings will be 5-5-5-15, but then they say it may be overclocked to 3-3-3-10, does this mean that If i overclock the ram, I will void the warranty?

Now, I have to decide between 512mb sticks of Kingston DDR2-800 x 3 (approx. 1.5gigs with 3-3-3-10 latency) for roughly R1,800
or 1024mb of Kingston DDR2-800 x 2 (2gigs with 4-4-4-12 timings) for R1,600

Please help me here! Due date for this pc is rearing in!
Regards

You wont void the warrenty if you dont break them. I would go for the 2 sticks off DDR2-800.
Overclocking RAM isn't my cup of tea and I don't know much about it.

Oh and Core 2 duo doesn't mind higher latency as much as AMD does.
I run 5-5-5-15 on my core 2 duo system and its fine.
I would try get the DDR2-1066 series of RAM but 800 is still great.

[ReinHer]

I have the crappiest DDR2-667 ram ever. I get 5-5-5-15 when I OC my CPU to 2,6ghz and vista rates it 5.9. Looks like RAM doesn't make a hell of a difference with a C2D.

Perhaps I am just lucky.

[Chevron]

If I had to build a new pc today(with your budget) it would be this:
Amd 5600+ R 1,505.42 (it runs cooler than the 6000+ which means quiter fan)
Gigabyte Board Price: R 1,423.06
8800gts320mb Price: R 2,857.82
cooler master 550watt Price: R 552.33
OCZ 2GB kit R 1,276

Total: R 7,614.63

[ib3waffle]

He still needs a case though. . .even though it can be cheap, with all of those components he'll need some good airflow. What area are you in sneaK?

[Frozenfireside]

Yeah-theres no point in quoting a PC that he can't afford.
I think the 8800GTS320 is not a bad idea but it does blow the budget out the window.

Can we get something like this looked at
Gigabyte DS3
Gecube X1950PRO 256MB AGP [A3_GC-AX1950PRO] R1682.98 (inc VAT)
Aopen 500watt Price: R 683
Chassie-mabye the Smiledon if the budget allows but this CoolerMaster Cavalier 1 - No PSU, with Window [A3_CM-CAV1] R487.35
OCZ 2GB kit R 1,276
Intel Core2 Duo E6550 - dual core 2.33ghz box cpu , with VT+TXT
R1572.32 (inc VAT)
GIGABYTE S Series 965P-DS3 Socket LGA775 motherboard
[A1_GA-965P-DS3] R1682.98

R7384.63
Hmmmmmm....Knock out that RAM and keep your own and you are closeish to R5k.

[ib3waffle]

Radeon X1950 PRO 512MB GDDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI / TVO - Sapphire R1453.50 (incl. VAT) (PC Int)
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3P R2042.00 (incl. VAT)
Raidmax Smilodon - black ATX Chassis - no PSU R765.46 (inc VAT)

[ib3waffle]

Gecube X1950PRO 256MB AGP [A3_GC-AX1950PRO] R1682.98 (inc VAT)

WTF?

[Frozenfireside]

...I was supposed to be working and that was i could find in the time but it give him an idea of what to expect.
There are better yes!
gainward FTW!

[Chevron]

I edited my post with prophecy pricing.

You could just drop the ram for now and get it next month. That way you can get whatever case you want. or just use your current case till next month.

Either way my build is good value for money. I don't think you want to be lagging in crysis. :)