NEW PC or UPGRADE

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I have been thinking about selling my current PC and building a new one altogether. Below is my current setup.

Mobo – 780G Foxconn
CPU – AMD 8450
RAM – 4GB of 800 speed RAM with 5-5-5 15 latency
HDD – 250GB Maxtor Diamond 10 16MB PATA-133
GPU – XFX Nvidia 8800 GS Alpha Dog 384MB – Factory Overclocked
Monitor – Acer 19” LCD 1280 x 1024 resolution
PSU – Antec Basciq 500W
Case – Solid black case with 2 80mm fans
PATA - DVD RW
PATA – DVD Drive that is currently not connected since the mobo only has 1 PATA connection
Windows Vista Business 32 bit edition

Below is the new system I would build.
Mobo – Biostar Nvidia 720a
CPU – AMD 7750 Kuma BE
RAM – 4 GB Kingston Hyper X 1066 RAM with 5-5-5 15 latency
HDD – 500GB WD 32MB SATA 2
GPU – EVGA 250 512MB – Factory Over clocked
Monitor – Hanns G 22” Widescreen 1680x1050 w/ speakers
PSU – Antec Basciq 550W
Case – Antec 300
SATA – DVD RW w/ Ligthscribe
52 in 1 Internal Card
Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit edition

Another option would be to upgrade the current system. I have a few options if I go this route instead of building a new system.
Option 1: AMD 7750 - $60, HDD 500MB - $70 and EVGA 250 - $130
Option 2: AMD 720 - $140 and EVGA 250 - $130
Option 3: Monitor - $150, AMD 7750 - $60 and HDD 500MB - $70
Option 4: HDD - $70, RAM 1066 - $50, AMD 7750 - $60, DVD Drive - $25
Option 5: AMD 720 - $140, HDD 500MB - $70, DVD - $25

I am considering #5 the most as it is the cheapest, provides me an option for future upgrade with an AM3 mobo and helps with the bottle neck of my DVD and HDD drives. My only concern with upgrading my current system is that I might have to update Vista or purchase another license.

Not sure what I will do. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

Hmmm... I'd probably lean towards a new PC in your case, or at least an upgrade that replaces most of the important parts, which may as well be a new PC.

First.... I'd really consider buying at least the AMD Phenom II x4 720 rather than the 7750. The 7750 is based on Phenom I, so its slower and not as power efficient. Plus, with the 720 you get the extra core. Seriously though, I'd skimp where you have to get a 720.

If you are going to buy a new motherboard, I'd recommend an AM3 board and DDR3. DDR2 unfortunately is on its way out, it will take another year or two before its gone, but no point in buying old tech if the price difference isnt too great.

As for the GTS 250.... its a good card, the only problem that I have with the 512mb (besides the fact it limits your resolution a bit) is that you are playing a bit of a lottery. The GTS 250 is really a rebranded 9800 GTX+. Still a good card, problem is that the 1GB version of the GTS 250 is a new spin of the chip, so its less power hungry and uses a shorter cooler making it easier to fit into PCs. Problem is, with the 512mb version its difficult to be sure whether you are really getting the GTS 250 (ie the new one with the lower power requirements) or the old one, a rebranded 9800GTX+. Make no mistake, in either case performance is identical to the 9800GTX+ (not that thats bad or anything), its just the newer version is a bit better with regards to power.

AMD also released a HD4770 today, which is a bit cheaper than the 4850 and a bit slower, but pretty good otherwise.

As for Vista... I dont know, I might be in the same boat end of this year. I've heard that if you phone them up they usually reactivate it for you.

 

I see no need to replace the motherboard yet. If you have an oem windows it is linked to your board so keep it until windows 7 comes and then replace the board whit an am3 version.

The nice thing is that new processors for am3 fit in the am2+ socket. (not am2) If this is with all the new phenoms 2 i do not know. Later you can place it on the new am3 mainboard.

Replace only the processor at first, followed by DVD drives and HDD drive whit the sata 2 connectors. The 8800 does not need direct replacement but if you want more power why not. I would say save the cash and replace it whit the next generation dx11 cards.

By the way, your system is not bad.

 

After reviewing a few articles on the 4770, Kuma 7750(7850), AMD Phenom II 720, AM3 vs. AM2+, etc... I have decided to hold off on purchasing any new products and here is why.

AMD released their first ever 40nm GPU, this will result in another round of price slashing on the current GPU market, and new GPU in a few months, etc...

AMD Kuma CPU is only faster in applications and games that do not use multi core CPU; however, most newer games are taking advantage of the extra core so going a dual core route would be useless and a waste of money in the long run. Going to the new AMD Phenom II CPU might not be worth it as AMD is already planning on the next phase of die reduction.

As for the motherboard, AMD is planning on their next generation mobo and IGPU. This could mean future or current GPU will work in conjunction with the new IGPU and provide power savings when not using the independent GPU power and my bet is the next IGPU will perform similar to the 4670 or even the 4770 that is out today, which wouldn't be bad by any IGPU standards.

Longevity - my current setup should last me for another 1-2 years and with how quickly AMD and Intel are looking at the next NM reduction it maybe my best bet to wait until the 30-35NM CPU are released to do any upgrades.

After reviewing all of my current options if I do any here is what I would do....

HDD - 500MB 32MB - $70
DVD w/ Lightscribe - $25
LCD Widescreen 22" Monitor - $150

Hard drives technology take the longest to update and updating the HDD would be a good investment for the long run as well as investing in a new DVD drive. The monitor is also another good investment as my prior LCD is already 5 years old and is starting to show its age.

Even though I want to update the system today; it is really not worth it as I am already running a system that is roughly $75-150 cheaper than the new one I would build depending if I went AM2+ or a completely new AM3 system.

 

Sounds like a good decision. I would agree that your current system really isnt that old, and there will be some new stuff coming out this year (there always is).

 

I'm waiting to see the performance of AMD CPU/GPU combo that is suppose to be released later this year or early next using 32NM technology.

 

It will likely only come out next year, and from what I've heard its really aimed at notebooks or those who want integrated graphics. Not for serious gaming so I've heard.

 

A few articles that I reviewed said the first 32NM chip from AMD should be here by 4th Qtr 2009. AMD is investing all their energy into the new CPU die shrinkage.

Also the few articles I have seen on the new CPU said that it could be used with a dedicated GPU and that maybe increase the performance of the GPU; maybe specific GPU, similar to how the 780G chipset and the 3450/3470 can be used in a hybred crossfire setup.

 

Do not forget the intel i5's later this year. It will cost more.

Not to hijack this topic But am really trying to resist upgrading. Stereotyped whit the two winged creatures on my shoulders. To replace or not to replace my cpu...

 

The answer is obvious.

Unless you have a slow machine from the past - this is, under 3ghz past architecture CPU and something earlier than a GeForce 7000 series - now isn't a perfect time to upgrade.

New stuff is coming out at a fast pace, and it'll take a good while until we have the early adopters returning with real-world experience.

Core 2 Duo was damn near perfect, but not all new CPU architectures work as well. Patience will be rewarded.

Plus all from the latest batch of GPUs have serious problems with heat generation.

 

E6600, Gigabyte p35, 3870 OC toxic, 4 gig ddr2800 low latency, creative xi-fi Titanium. No need to, just the wish. I just keep a tab on the prices of the top socket 775 cpu's to replace the 6600 whit a bios update. I just have to be patient until the e8600 reaches end of life status. The launch of i5 will trigger that. For the GPU, I skip 4xxx and go for 5870 as soon as it has a alternative cooler.

The hybrid crossfire wil always be outperformed by a newish medium GPU.

 

I don't believe the 5870 will need an alternative cooler; if anything the 5850/4870 will be a die shrink from the current 4870/4890 GPUs which will result in less heat and power being used by the GPU.

As for upgrading the CPU; I purposely bought the cheapest Phenom at the time with the plan of upgrading to a Deneb CPU once they were released. Now that they are out; I want to upgrade but after hearing about a 32nm being release later this year or early next I may just hold off since I just upgraded my PC back in August/September last year.

As for Intel vs. AMD; I would go Intel but a good Intel CPU and motherboard cost $50-100 more than a good AMD CPU and motherboard. I know that Intel CPU out pace AMD but with that extra $50-100 I can buy a higher end video card or faster memory, a larger HDD, etc...

 

Need, no, but the second batch of a GPU is often better. A few solved bugs, a better bios on the card, more silence, less heat and a overclock bonus. Sometimes the card gets remade on a thicker or shorter PCB.