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Upgrading my pc e6400 intel D946GZIS

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Hi everybody, i'm trying to upgrade my pc and i need some info or opinions about these components and the compatibility between them

What i've got-------------------------------What i'll change

Processor:
Intel core 2 duo E6400 ---------------------- Nothing
2.13Ghz

Mainboard:
Intel D946GZIS------------------------------ Nothing

Ram:
1 Markvision ddr2 667Mhz 1024MB------------ 2 Kingston ddr2 667 Mhz 2048MB

Video Card:
Ati hd 2600 pro ----------------------------- Zogis 9800 gt 1GB or ati hd 4650

Power Supply:
not sure but its a 350W---------------------- Give me any idea please

If you think i'm wasting the gpu power cause of another component tell me, and it's a corsair memory faster than a kingston?

Thanks

P.D. I almost forgot, i'll be using on a monitor that suports up to 1280x1024 so if you have any ideas for that resolution and for running games at high settings with those specs ill be glad to hear them.

Message edited by eestebanjjosue on 05-06-2009 at 11:12:24 PM

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Based on your current system. The order of upgrade, I'd do:

1. Quality PSU - go with a 650W or higher Cosair, PC P&C, Antec EA series. This PSU will last a bit longer and might last 2-3 video card upgrades. Even if you move on to i7 or i5 the PSU would work fine with those systems.

2. Video Card - I'd go with the HD4770, HD4830 or for Nvidia the 9800GT

3. Add +2gig DDR2 - This is tricky because you want to spend money wisely depending on what next motherboard+CPU you want to use. If your sticking with socket 775 then maybe getting 4gig of 800 - 1066mhz ram might make more sense. If you're considering i7 or i5, then getting 2 gigs of DDR2 667mhz ram is the better choice.

Reply to flyin15sec

Well you gonna bottleneck pretty much any video card upgrade unless you overclock that processor.
Get DDR2 800: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820178219
This psu would be perfect for you
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] _-17341012
Only $29.99 after rebate and this promo code: EMCLSLS25?

Message edited by zipzoomflyhigh on 05-06-2009 at 11:29:39 PM

------------------------------ P965/Q6700@3.15 8MB HD4850 OC Edition
4GB Corsair XMS 800
Vista64/Win7
Fatality 550w/Antec 300
Reply to zipzoomflyhigh

Memory:
The different brands of memory don't make them faster or slower.
It's the speed (667 Mhz) that makes a difference.
Also if your motherboard can take faster memory like 800Mhz or better I would go that route cause the price will be about the same.
Also memory speed is based on "CAS Latency" OR "CL". When you see the numbers like this 6-6-8-12. You don't really need to pay much attention to all of those numbers just the first one. That one is the CAS Latency. Also, I would up the amount to 4 GB (if your motherboard is capable).

Power Supply:
Personally I like power supplies that use the single rail design. One of the best power supply companies out there is "PC Power and Cooling". I just bought a 610 watt power supply from them that will have enough power for me to upgrade to just about anything. It's important to have plenty of amps available that is why I like "PC Power and Cooling".

Reply to dark_lord69

"Well you gonna bottleneck pretty much any video card upgrade unless you overclock that processor." -zipzoomflyhigh

-I agree, if I was you I would get an E8500 or E8400.. those would be able to keep up with a high end video card.

Reply to dark_lord69

E6700 is the fastest cpu that board will take.

His processor is capable of running faster than a E8400 if he had a good aftermarket cooler, although I doubt it with a i946 chipset.

Message edited by zipzoomflyhigh on 05-07-2009 at 12:51:31 AM

------------------------------ P965/Q6700@3.15 8MB HD4850 OC Edition
4GB Corsair XMS 800
Vista64/Win7
Fatality 550w/Antec 300
Reply to zipzoomflyhigh

thanks guys, you know i'm thinking to use the parts to later upgrade the mainboard and the procesor, maybe i'll be using a i7 processor, so if you give me sugestions thinking about this would be nice, and about overclocking the processor i'm gonna try it,

edit: and i dont think my MoBo supports 800Mhz ram.

Message edited by eestebanjjosue on 05-07-2009 at 01:11:25 AM

Reply to eestebanjjosue

Memory you buy now for your motherboard will not work for an i7 setup. That is why you should think about what you plan on upgrading in the future.

If you choose i7 or i5, then get cheap DDR2 667mhz ram for now.

If you are considering socket 775, then getting DDR2 800 or 1066mhz ram will work, because you can reuse the ram.

800 or 1066mhz ram is backwards compatible, to run as 667mhz ram.

Reply to flyin15sec

Hey guys its a good idea to overclock my processor but do you think its posible to reach the performance of a e8400? and how would i do that?
Remember that my MoBo is an intel D946GZIS and i'm using the stock cooler

From what i've been reading its posible to oc to 3.2 Ghz but whit a 800Mhz ram, so i'm not sure what to do right now since my MoBo supports only 667Mhz, and from what i read it can take up to 2.4 - 2.6 Ghz

Thanks in advance, you know i'm learning a lot from you guys

Reply to eestebanjjosue

p35 mobo..
e7400.. (bang for your benjamins)

a 500watt psu.. (a good 500watt psu will cost you about $70)

Reply to binwhui

Yes its possible your E6400 can be faster than a E8400, however with that crappy mobo I doubt you'll get anywhere near that kind of performance.
I got my E6300 1.86ghz at 3.45ghz with DDR800 at 866mhz.
Dont buy 667, buy 800, its backwards compatible and the prices are the same for either.
You need to decide now what you want to do in the future because all current platforms use DDR3 now.

A p43 and a E5200/E7XXX with DDR2 800 would be a great budget choice for you and easily go to 3-3.5ghz.

You can get a good quality 500w psu right now for $29.99 after rebate and promo code: EMCLSLS25 at Newegg. OCZ is very fast with their rebates, but this deal wont last long.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] _-17341012

Message edited by zipzoomflyhigh on 05-07-2009 at 02:05:51 PM

------------------------------ P965/Q6700@3.15 8MB HD4850 OC Edition
4GB Corsair XMS 800
Vista64/Win7
Fatality 550w/Antec 300
Reply to zipzoomflyhigh

Ok thanks everybody, you know i'm gonna try to oc my pc but first i'll get some extra ram, i'll be buying a 800 mhz ram or a 667 not sure, then i'll be trying to oc, it's a personal objective right now jeje

from what i've heard its possible to use clockgen to oc without using the mainboard bios, if i manage to do that i'll be publishing my results, any way you guys wait a while till i get the needed ram and psu, and also i must learn some basics about oc, cause i dont want to mess my pc.

if you have any suggestions (or cautions) remeber that they are welcome.

Reply to eestebanjjosue

i'm using speedfan to test my cpu and i found something interesting, my cpu at idle runs at 57ºC or 60ºC, so its too hot right now and with stock config, so i stressed it and went to high in a minute (80ºC), not sure if its an anormal temp or a missreading.

Any idea whats happening?

Reply to eestebanjjosue

Thats not good. Try core temp and see if it jives with speedfan. Ideally you want to stay under 60c at full load.
Its possible you dont have enough airflow in your case or your cpu fan is improperly mounted.

------------------------------ P965/Q6700@3.15 8MB HD4850 OC Edition
4GB Corsair XMS 800
Vista64/Win7
Fatality 550w/Antec 300
Reply to zipzoomflyhigh

Yes, i read an article about that and make some modifications to my case and clean some of my components and temperature got around 40º-45º at idle, its still to hot, i'm going to try and use some termal paste (not sure if thats the name) to reduce the temperature.

I see that you have an E6300 O/C, can you tell me what temp readings you get? (at idle and full load)

my readings are:

at idle full load
core temp 40º over 70º
tat 45º over 75º
speed fan 46º over 75º

Reply to eestebanjjosue

idle 52c, full load 58c with stock voltage, these are the temps in the hottest part of the day when my computer room is 82f.
Dont worry about idle temps, its load temps that are important. New thermal paste probably wont help you.

Message edited by zipzoomflyhigh on 05-11-2009 at 01:16:53 PM

------------------------------ P965/Q6700@3.15 8MB HD4850 OC Edition
4GB Corsair XMS 800
Vista64/Win7
Fatality 550w/Antec 300
Reply to zipzoomflyhigh

ok, what tool do you use to stress the cpu, cause i'm using occt and the tat option to workload 100% and get temps around 70º, also i presume i can use some termal paste because i added another fan and made some experiments to see if i can get a better temp but i doesnt work, i think the termal paste that i'm using is not a heat-translator, so thats why the stock fan its not cooling it properly.

Reply to eestebanjjosue

TAT is fine, or you can download prime 95.

What thermal paste do you have, the stuff that came with the stock fan? That should be fine.

Either your case has no airflow, you have a very hot computer room, OR, your cpu fan is not mounted properly. Its very easy to not have all 4 pins pushed in all the way.

------------------------------ P965/Q6700@3.15 8MB HD4850 OC Edition
4GB Corsair XMS 800
Vista64/Win7
Fatality 550w/Antec 300
Reply to zipzoomflyhigh

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