Upgrade from Core2Quad...

I've been tossing the idea back and forth in my mind for a while now.. should I upgrade my current machine? I built this (see below) just over 5 years ago and have added a number of upgrades along the way. Now I'm considering swapping out the CPU, Motherboard and RAM but unsure if I should upgrade or just hold out for something better to come along.

Core2Quad Q9400 2.66Ghz@3.2Ghz on a Zalman 9700
6GB DDR2 800
Gigabyte EP45-UD3R

I have to admit that CPU has been the best processor I've ever had. It was worth every penny paid for it back in 2009.

I'd reuse my these components:
120GB SSD
2TB HDD
2GB Radeon 7870 Ghz Edition
BFG 650w PSU
DVD Burner
the case is a 50/50 at the minute..

I'm leaning heavily towards the octa-core FX-8320 (with aftermarket cooling) pared with a 970 based M/B plus 8GB DDR3 1600. My reasoning behind this is in part due to it standing up very well in terms of performance in games vs the i5's. I also run VM's and that's the only area of slowdown I've noticed with the C2Q. I'm also very tempted by the price/performance ratio of the 8320. It's currently about $90 cheaper than an i5 3570k. The 8320 is on sale at Amazon for $130 shipped. I'd love to splash out like I did 5 years ago but unfortunately can't due to new car payment and in the years since acquired a mortgage. Therefore I'm on a budget in the $300 - $350 level. :major

 

Coincidence you ask about this and I see it now. My sons just brought me a computer that someone threw out on heavy trash day, and it has a Core2quad processor. The motherboard is a bit flaky, which is why it was kicked to the curb (Old Acer machine). I can get it to work, but it doesn't always come on . . . so I shelled out $39.99 and ordered a new old stock ASUS board off eBay. I'm going to set it up as a computer for my wife . . . along with it's 4 gigs of RAM and it's 500 GB sata drive, all which work fine (I've said it before, I'll say it again . . . I am AMAZED by what people throw away . . . ).

Anyway - the question of an upgrade all depends what you want to do with your computer. If you are one of the bleeding edge, die hard overclockers then, yes - upgrade. But if your computer still does what you need it to do, then no . . . or upgrade some components of that computer, like RAM, or a better video card (although the one you have is pretty nice).

All depends on what you want. I understand wanting to upgrade just for the upgrade's sake, though. New toys are nice

 

I too am shocked when I find out people will toss out a perfectly good computer! Unbelievable.. you got yourself a decent computer for $40! I wish people would recycle or give away these things before leaving them on the curb.

I don't need to be on the bleeding edge if so I'm far, far behind lol! My computer still fulfills it's role without any major issues although in some cases it does show it's age. I'm quite sure this will be the last video card this processor drives. I believe I've reached a point where the CPU can only do so much. I could upgrade the RAM but for the same money I could easily get double the DDR3 vs the older 2 I'm still running.

 

I tend to be way behind the cutting edge as well, lol.

I was still using a P4 3.0E P4P800SE motherboard computer that I originally built in 2004. It had gone through several upgrades over the years, and was still my main PC till the summer of '12, when my sons tricked me into going to Fry's with them (to get my youngest son's fiancé some stuff for a build). I needed some new batteries for my UPS . . . but instead they bought me a P8P67 board and a cool case (dang thing even has effect lights :-D). I bought an i5 2400 processor and 8gb of RAM (I had hard drives and a decent video card for it already). I went to spend about 30 bucks and ended up spending about 300 . . . I mean, I HAD too. Couldn't disappoint the kids I told them they didn't need to buy me the case, as I had several old cases sitting around . . . they just looked at me sadly. They knew I'd have put the board in an old eMachines or HP case (and they were right . . . though I do mod the cases for more fans . . . ).

Another good thing about upgrading is you can use your old system to play with overclocking . . . do things you would have been hesitant to do when it was your only PC.

I still have my old "main" computer. It is now running Windows 7, has an HD 3850 AGP card, and two 250gb SATA hard drives. It scores pretty well on the Experience Index with a modest overclock. I'd upgrade the RAM to it's max of 4GB, but the cost is too much. It'll be waiting in the shadows in the event my new computer takes a dive.