Q for all the PC experts

[#Darren]

My old system:

550watt power supply
Intel core 2 duo e6600 processor(2.4 ghz per core)
video card nvidia 7600 GT
a 160GB hard drive.
The motherboard is a Gigabyte P35-DS3P ultra
durable type, they have solid state capacitors for longer life and 4 GB of ddr2 1033 Mhz ram.

My possible new system:

a HP Elite 180a PC.


-------------------------

Will this be an UPGRADE in ALL areas? And should it play Hi Def Video without any lag or glitches when run over a duel monitor setup?

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by iDarren

My old system:

550watt power supply
Intel core 2 duo e6600 processor(2.4 ghz per core)
video card nvidia 7600 GT
a 160GB hard drive.
The motherboard is a Gigabyte P35-DS3P ultra
durable type, they have solid state capacitors for longer life and 4 GB of ddr2 1033 Mhz ram.

My possible new system:

a HP Elite 180a PC.


-------------------------

Will this be an UPGRADE in ALL areas? And should it play Hi Def Video without any lag or glitches when run over a duel monitor setup?

It's a 350 watt power supply - big choke point if you're going to upgrade the graphics card from the Nvidia GE230 it comes with. Since it uses the i5 processor, it will be a step up from your Core Duo - but not a quantum leap.

There are a lot of tradeoffs here. It's not a cheap machine, and I'd have reservations about spending that much for a GE230 and possibly not having enough power to upgrade it. I really can't say if the GE 230 will have problems with a dual monitor setup, but I'd definitely avoid problems and go with a higher end video card to future-proof it.

[Polygon]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dog

It's a 350 watt power supply - big choke point if you're going to upgrade the graphics card from the Nvidia GE230 it comes with. Since it uses the i5 processor, it will be a step up from your Core Duo - but not a quantum leap.

There are a lot of tradeoffs here. It's not a cheap machine, and I'd have reservations about spending that much for a GE230 and possibly not having enough power to upgrade it. I really can't say if the GE 230 will have problems with a dual monitor setup, but I'd definitely avoid problems and go with a higher end video card to future-proof it.

I've got to agree.

It seems that you built the current system you have, why not build a new one? You will get a better computer for less money.

EDIT: Just looking up a bit and I've noticed the model of mobo, and MSI MS-7613, is using a socket 1156. Now, this is something else that can hold you back on upgrading. It mind as well be a dead socket as they it won't be long until it's not even being made anymore. I suspect the i7 870 will be the last processor we see for it.

Just something to keep in mind.

[ryoohki]

Originally Posted by Polygon

I've got to agree.

It seems that you built the current system you have, why not build a new one? You will get a better computer for less money.

EDIT: Just looking up a bit and I've noticed the model of mobo, and MSI MS-7613, is using a socket 1156. Now, this is something else that can hold you back on upgrading. It mind as well be a dead socket as they it won't be long until it's not even being made anymore. I suspect the i7 870 will be the last processor we see for it.

Just something to keep in mind.

The 1156 is not dead it just came out. It's a cheaper version of the X58, with motherboard price around 100-160 like AMD platform. the X58 (1366) will always stay the Elite plaform (Xeon processor and high performance machine) while the 1156 is main stream with the I3, I5 and a couple of I7

1366 will accept the new 6 cores processor that will sales for 1000$+ (XEON), by the time those are 200$, both the 1156 and 1366 will be dead..

[Polygon]

Originally Posted by ryoohki

The 1156 is not dead it just came out. It's a cheaper version of the X58, with motherboard price around 100-160 like AMD platform. the X58 (1366) will always stay the Elite plaform (Xeon processor and high performance machine) while the 1156 is main stream with the I3, I5 and a couple of I7

1366 will accept the new 6 cores processor that will sales for 1000$+ (XEON), by the time those are 200$, both the 1156 and 1366 will be dead..

Those are fair points. However, it doesn't support triple channel memory. Which I will admit the performance difference is currently marginal at best, who's to say the difference it will make in a few months.

I personally have an 1156 i7 system right now. I'm not against it, I just don't think it won't be a long lived socket sort of like the AMD 939 was. Could I be wrong, of course.

[Offender_Mullet]

iDarren, I wouldn't waste your $$$ on that HP. Upgrade your hard drive, graphics card & power supply instead.

[ryoohki]

Originally Posted by Polygon

Those are fair points. However, it doesn't support triple channel memory. Which I will admit the performance difference is currently marginal at best, who's to say the difference it will make in a few months.

I personally have an 1156 i7 system right now. I'm not against it, I just don't think it won't be a long lived socket sort of like the AMD 939 was. Could I be wrong, of course.

Off course, the LGA775 stayed a long time too, and it's still present. Both 1156 and 1366 are very new (1366 about 1 year and 1156 about 6 month)