Considering an upgrade - Opinions?

I've been toying with the idea of upgrading my CPU and/or motherboard. My current motherboard is a BioStar TA780-M2+ (more info: http://www.biostar-usa.com/app/en-us/mb/content.php?S_ID=344) and I've been very happy with it overall. My current CPU is an AMD64 X2 5400+, stock speed 2.80ghz. I'm also very happy with this item. Due to the limits of the AMD780 chipset, I'm restricted to using CPUs of 95w or less. This means that many of the newer quad core AMD chips are out of reach, except for the 810 (2.60ghz), and one version of the 910 (model HDX910WFK4DGI) and one version of the 925 (model HDX925WFK4DGI). My research shows me that these two 9xx series CPUs are basically impossible to find or have not been officially released and are in 'development'. I have found several on-line sellers that mention these 9xx CPUs but they are either perpetually out-of-stock, or based in Europe or Asia. So, due to limits on my CPU upgrade-ability, I've also been thinking about upgrading my mobo to one that will accept the new AMD chips, and one with SLI so I can add a 2nd GTX260 in the future if needed. If I were to stay in my current motherboard, the CPUs I'm looking at would be these: AthlonII 550 X2 3.1ghz; AthlonII 250 X2 3.0ghz; PhenomII X3 710 or 720, 2.60ghz and 2.80ghz; PhenomII 810 X4 2.60ghz. Obviosuly, the 810 X4 is the most expensive of the chips listed at about $140US. What I'm really torn over is: should I buy a new SLI mobo and run it with my old CPU until I have enough money to get a quad core 940 or 955 or whatever new CPU comes out -OR- do I go the frugal route and stay in my current mobo and get a CPU that will run until my next complete platform rebuild? If I was to the frugal route, which CPU do you folks here at MG think would be the best upgrade from my current X2 5400+, as in best-bang-for-the-buck? Don't immediately say "duh! The quad core is the best". I've read some amazing things about the 7xx series of tri-cores....

Thanks.

(some of you may be thinking: "if you're happy with your current rig, why spend the money to upgrade?"; and the answer is this: I want to LOL more software will be coming out in the next year that will be more multi-core friendly, and I'd like to be able to take advantage of it, besides, I want new toys!! say this last part with a serious whine like an overly tired and hungry 8 year old at a toy store LOL)

 

I know the X3 740 was "supposed" to be released in June 2009, but obviously this didn't happen. The 740 is the CPU I'm kind of waiting for, three cores at 3.0ghz at 95w. There's also an X4 820 coming out soon (???) at 2.80ghz, also 95w. However, I've seen some SICK overclocks on the AthlonII 550... someone got it up to 4.70ghz!!! I'm sure it was on LN or dry-ice cooling, but that's just freekin' crazy!

 

yo dlb,

If you go with a SLI mobo are you gonna buy another gtx 260 or wait and save money for that and a quadcore cpu?

I wouldn't go with the frogal route even though you can get the Phenom 720 I'm sure with that mobo you wouldn't have good OCing capabilities.

So SLI mobo is the way as you can have 2x GTX 260's and a good quad core CPU, btw the Phenom 720 can be OC'ed to 3.7GHz:
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/phenomii_720_810_am3/

So it would be a good idea getting it as even though it is cheaper than many other Phenom's it has the same performance abilities.

Dacads

 

Hiya dlb, why not go all out and buy this mobo , this RAM, this CPU

:-D :major

Might cost you a mint but I rekon it'd be worth it

Also yu might need to upgrade your PSU

And a Video Card upgrade sounds awesome too

 

@ Drizzles
Boy you need deep pockets for that upgrade.

I have one rig with an Asrock P45R2000 mobo and Intel Q6700 CPU with 6gb Patriot DDR3 plus GTX295 and it runs soooo fast.
I am toying with building an I7 rig at the moment and am looking around for what parts i want/need and the cost.
My local dealer has offered me an I7 CPU for $750 which is much less than the one on Newegg.

 

Is it an Extreme but?? ... I wish I had pockets that deep lol ..... maybe when I win the lotto. lol ....I actuallly priced an entire rig of NewEgg the other night .... aprrox $14000 USD lol ... mind you thats 16GB RAM those components there 4 OCZ SSDs in RAID 0 ... like the maddest system ever

 

That's WAY too much money. I think my first post kind implied that this is not a "money is no object" type of thing. That's why I was wondering if I should get the new motherboard and . . . .

So anything over $150 right now is completely out of the question. I'm looking at maybe $300 max split into two purchases (not counting a possible 2nd GTX260 video card for SLI sometime WAY further down the road).

$1000 for a CPU?!?!?! Watercooled video card for $700?!?!?! A 1500w PSU?!?!?!? $330 for a mobo?!??!!? 6gb of RAM for $300?!?!???!!!!? MADNESS! LOL roflmao Does the word "overkill" mean anything here? LOL Why would that system require a 1500w PSU? Maybe a quality 650-800w, but not a 1500w.

 

I personally think the Intel Quads are Superior but then I am bias i have 2 of them a Q6600 and a Q6700 (that is lightning fast) but they do not come cheap and a new mobo would be required so maybe wait a little longer and save the extra $s.

No doubt the AMDs are just as fast, I have only read reports on them and never owned one.

 

Lol just for kicks

 

OCZ StealthXstream 700W,Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R , E8400, 2GB G.Skill PC8500,Sapphire Radeon HD 3850 [512MB], Seagate 250GB SATA II X2 in RAID 0, Samsung SATA DVD burner.

Works for me.:-D

BTW You don't need a motherboard with 2 PCI-E slots.
A 2X nodo card eliminates that .

 

lol dude who cares how many slots it has ... its awesome .... wish I had one and the stuff to go with it ......

 

I have been doing a "running upgrade" .
Replacing one part at a time.
What I listed is my current upgrade,

OCZ StealthXstream 700W,Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R , E8400, 2GB G.Skill PC8500,Sapphire Radeon HD 3850 [512MB], Seagate 250GB SATA II X2 in RAID 0, Samsung SATA DVD burner.

except for the E8400. [It should be here tomorrow.] :-D

At the moment I'm running my old Xeon 3070 C2D 2.66GHz [OC'd to 3.2GHz]

I was going to go with a "quad core" but considering there isn't much I do that would benifit from a quad I decided to go with a good ,newer , C2D .

Oh yeah, I'm running XP Pro SP3.
Won't do a newer MS OS .
MS has become WAY too intrusive.
I will be switching to Ubuntu Linux full time when XP dies]

 

Lol windows won't die, are you unaware of Windows 7, loads of people have already got the RC

 

I am fully aware that Windows won't die.
XP will, just as 95,98,98SE,ME,& Windows 200 have .
[By "die" I mean "end of support"]

I am well aware of Windows 7.
I have tried it.
7 = Vista refined with UAC toned down.

What I ment by MS being too intrusive is I don't need & won't have a OS that keeps track of what I do with MY computer & keeps in touch with MS 42 different ways.
If I change ny video card or add memory it's none of MS's business.
It's none of MS's business what I install or remove software/program wise.

All MS needs to know is they got paid for the OS I'm using.

With XP I install "WGA" long enough to do custom updates to get what I want & then remove it.

I don't need , or want, a MS nanny .