Motherboard/CPU recommendation needed.

[mtxbass1]

I'm looking to upgrade to either a new AMD (AM2?) or Intel processor (Dual core) and motherboard.

I would like to keep my existing ram (Kingston HyperX PC3200 DDR400).

I also would like to keep my existing video card (GF6800 OC) which is AGP.

Can someone recommend a motherboard/cpu combination that would work with these components?

Edit: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813157092

Does anyone have any experience with that board?

I'm not really looking "long term" here. A year or so at the most before I upgrade to something else.

[fmarxnge]

I don't think I've ever seen an AM2 socket mobo with an AGP slot so I'm pretty sure that won't work. As for the RAM, anyone new mobo for the most part will support older RAM, but you might be limiting the performance.

[mercilessming]

Sorry that this goes outside what you want as far as buyign newest tech processor wise but I would suggest

Asrock
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813157081
66.99 rock solid board with AGP and PCI-E 16x

a 939 AMD cpu real cheap but still high end

this way you keep your memory and use it to it fullest and you keep your agp card (and when you go pci-e) you have the ability to go four monitors, because this board can run an AGP and a PCI-e card at the same time....NOT sli however.

so if you go say amd single core 3500+ 100 dollars (as low as I would suggest processor wise) you spend just 166 dollars to have rock solid system that can play anything out there and majority with all eye candy at 1024x768

Yeah I know socket 939 is dead and future upgrades will be no more but really how many times does one upgrade just the processor out of necessity, usually necessity means complete upgrade anyway (mobo/cpu). This way you have the extra cash to buy an even better Video Card when that upgrades comes and that is what matters most with Games.

Also AM 2 seems to be disappointing many that come from 939 platform.






I'm looking to upgrade to either a new AMD (AM2?) or Intel processor (Dual core) and motherboard.

I would like to keep my existing ram (Kingston HyperX PC3200 DDR400).

I also would like to keep my existing video card (GF6800 OC) which is AGP.

Can someone recommend a motherboard/cpu combination that would work with these components?

Edit: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813157092

Does anyone have any experience with that board?

I'm not really looking "long term" here. A year or so at the most before I upgrade to something else.

[tehweezner]

i think you should simply wait. what you want is Conroe/core 2 duo, which is a much better performer than AMD's current lineup. it should be pretty widely available at the end of the year, and should last you a while.

you'd need DDR2 ram and a PCI-E vid card but the improvement would be fairly drastic. is your 6800 a 6800GT or regular? you should be able to get decent money on ebay for it.

i've got a athlon 64 system w/7600gt and i won't be upgrading until maybe late next year cuz i got this system last summer. you don't want to upgrade twice to go up to conroe. just wait a little longer, and sell all your components and do a solid Core 2 duo system. check the benchmarks and anandtech.com, it's pretty amazing what Intel has pulled out.

[SOSTrooper]

Sorry that this goes outside what you want as far as buyign newest tech processor wise but I would suggest

Asrock
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813157081
66.99 rock solid board with AGP and PCI-E 16x

a 939 AMD cpu real cheap but still high end

this way you keep your memory and use it to it fullest and you keep your agp card (and when you go pci-e) you have the ability to go four monitors, because this board can run an AGP and a PCI-e card at the same time....NOT sli however.

so if you go say amd single core 3500+ 100 dollars (as low as I would suggest processor wise) you spend just 166 dollars to have rock solid system that can play anything out there and majority with all eye candy at 1024x768

Yeah I know socket 939 is dead and future upgrades will be no more but really how many times does one upgrade just the processor out of necessity, usually necessity means complete upgrade anyway (mobo/cpu). This way you have the extra cash to buy an even better Video Card when that upgrades comes and that is what matters most with Games.

Also AM 2 seems to be disappointing many that come from 939 platform.



I must say that this is a good suggestion if you really want to upgrade 'right now' while spending very little. Without having to spend a fortune, you can get good enough performance with this upgrade that can easily last you another year if you dont plan on playing games at high details. Socket AM2 boards are not your option because you'll have to fork out money for new DDR2 RAM. It seems like money is tight for you since you wanted to keep numerous parts. For well under $200 you can do what mercilessming suggested which makes a lot of sense for a low budget upgrade. There's no real need to 'wait' for core 2 duo if you're on a budget. Just upgrade now and enjoy it. When you have more money in the future, then upgrade to the newest stuff then.

[mtxbass1]

Money isn't really tight, it's just I don't want to drop serious cash on memory and a video card all over again. I use this computer for development, so I'm not playing many games on it at all.

The AMD route that someone suggested looks good, although I hear that ASRock board isn't too great. The Intel version that I linked to in the original post seems to be a better board (between those two).

The card is a 6800 GT 256MB.

Again, I would wait, but I know that in a year from now I'll probably scratch this entire system anyway. This would be more like a "place holder" upgrade. I'm currently running an AMD 2400 on an Nforce2 MB (Asus A7N8X deluxe). I just need a little bit extra "oomph" for what I'm doing nowadays on this box without dropping a serious amount of cash.

[SOSTrooper]

Well either way, Intel or AMD, you can upgrade either for less than $200. Intel will probably run you a few $10s more unless you go w/ the slowest Pentium D 805 model (2.66GHz) for $97. The next step up is $145 w/ the 2.8GHz. I won't get into Intel vs AMD debate here, it's entirely up to you on which you would like, either are fine upgrade for a budget. It might not be as big of a jump I would like if that was my PC now that you mention you have a 2400+ and A7N8X Deluxe. If the things you do on your PC can benefit from having a dual core processor, go for the Intel.

[mercilessming]

Whatever you chose don't think of the Asrock dual sata 2 board I suggested as a problematic board. Mine worked so great that a buddy bought one and he has no complaints. The only thing you might have to do is go in the bios and Set the memory manual to run in Dual Channel Mode. It is one of the highest rated 939 pin boards on Newegg, by rateing and by number of rateings.

I develop on mine as well, even when i had just a single core 3500+ installed Visual Studio 2005 team Edition pops up in seconds the first time and milliseconds after that.

I haven't even needed to upgrade firmware from 1.3 version it comes with when I swapped processors out to a AMD x2 4600+, not a needed upgrade but the geek factor kicked in and at the price I couldn't resist. got it at www.clubit.com for 239.99 and AMD x2 for 939 don't get much faster than the 4600+, I think they make a 4800+ and thats it for 939.



The AMD route that someone suggested looks good, although I hear that ASRock board isn't too great. The Intel version that I linked to in the original post seems to be a better board (between those two).

[mtxbass1]

Whatever you chose don't think of the Asrock dual sata 2 board I suggested as a problematic board. Mine worked so great that a buddy bought one and he has no complaints. The only thing you might have to do is go in the bios and Set the memory manual to run in Dual Channel Mode. It is one of the highest rated 939 pin boards on Newegg, by rateing and by number of rateings.

I develop on mine as well, even when i had just a single core 3500+ installed Visual Studio 2005 team Edition pops up in seconds the first time and milliseconds after that.

I haven't even needed to upgrade firmware from 1.3 version it comes with when I swapped processors out to a AMD x2 4600+, not a needed upgrade but the geek factor kicked in and at the price I couldn't resist. got it at www.clubit.com (http://www.clubit.com) for 239.99 and AMD x2 for 939 don't get much faster than the 4600+, I think they make a 4800+ and thats it for 939.

So with that board, and say an X2 4600+ I'd be able to use the rest of my stuff (one would think). I'm looking pretty strongly at that board now.

I wonder if I should just eBay the 6800 and upgrade everything instead...

[SOSTrooper]

I think your 6800GT is fine... since you say you don't play too much games. You can upgrade the video card later if you find a game you're playing requires a faster video card. For now the ASRock board and 939 CPU looks fine and should serve you well for another half year to a year or so.

[tehweezner]

yeah good advice all around. if it was me, i'd just wait longer until i could get a completely new platform, but if you need results now then the upgrade path suggested is definitely solid and smart.

[mtxbass1]

I'm looking at that 939/mb combo. Thanks for the help guys.