Looking for some well priced upgrades...

[TheMuffinMan]

My birthday is coming up in just over a month and my wife wants to get me some upgrades for my PC.

The 2 things I need to upgrade are my RAM (only have 2GB) and my Processor (Core2 Duo 2.66GHZ).

Upgrading my processor might require a motherboard upgrade.

This is my current motherboard:
Newegg.com - ASUS P5N32-E SLI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

Supported CPU

• CPU Socket Type LGA 775
• CPU Type Core 2 Quad / Core 2 Extreme / Core 2 Duo
• FSB 1333/1066MHz
• Supported CPU Technologies Intel Quad-core CPU Read

Memory

• Number of Memory Slots 4×240pin
• Memory Standard DDR2 800
• Maximum Memory Supported 8GB
• Channel Supported Dual Channel

Id like to upgrade to a quadcore processor and at least 8GB of RAM (yes I have Windows 7 64-bit) for as good a price as possible without getting crappy parts.

Any suggestions?

[Bubba]

I have been looking at upgrades myself. It all comes down to how much bang for the buck do I want. My limit is about 200 to 300 bucks or so and then it becomes a new system time. I looked at quads and the bang for the buck seems to be the 9400 or 9450 series at about 180 or so and 8 Gig of ram to round out to 300 or a bit more depending. My graphics are adequate at 8800 GT (I think) and the new quad should help on the WOW redraws from the info I have.

My monitor crapped out on me and I got a new 24" from Frys after Christmas for 170 bucks, no rebate so for now Im happy. And if I get my old 22" Samsung working again, looking at sites now, then I will be happier.

So for about 1K you could get a great I7 system or 300 you could update the old and overclock.

So Mr. Phelps this tape will self destruct in 10 seconds .. 10 ... 9 .... 8.

[EaTCarbS]

You should be able to go quad core and 8gig RAM without having to upgrade the mobo

EDIT: Most boards that i've seen that run core 2 duo will also run core 2 quad.

[Ualaa]

You can go to a quad core on that board.
And the ram to 8gb as well.

If you have the budget (not cheap), an i7 or i5 based system (new motherboard, ddr3 ram, and the processor) will be a huge improvement over any combination of upgrades to the current system.

However, if a thousand bucks is too much to spend, I'd look at 4x 2GB sticks of ram (8gb total), a quad-core of some sort, and a low-end g1 SSD purely for the wow folder. They will all be huge upgrades to your current system.

[Bubba]

How will, specifically, the SSD help me? redraws changing realms? And I read about the life of teh SSD is pretty poor, or what i read seemed that way. It was talking about memory failure rates and such and how the memory life was only a handful of charges to the Ram.

[TheMuffinMan]

If it is one thing I DEFINITELY dont need to upgrade it is my monitors....

3x22" widescreens....

When I am raiding/soloing (not MBing) I play WoW at 5040x1050 resolution heh

[Bubba]

5040x1050 resolution heh
How does that work? does the image get squished or does it translate into an actual wider field of vision? I would guess the field is set at 45 degrees so that would mean a 135 degree field?

[Poyzon]

5040x1050 Geez. Now where can I get 3, 22" bezel-less monitors (cheap)?

[burningforce]

you are going to be paying a premium for ddr2 800 memory. prices still have not come down.

depending on what processor you pick, you are looking at $350+ for both memory and processor.

a 4gb (2x2gb) set will run you $89+
processor will run you $249+

If I was you I would save for a i7 or just upgrade cpu and only get 2x2gb of memory for now, then get another set of memory down the line.

[TheMuffinMan]

Originally Posted by Bubba

5040x1050 resolution heh
How does that work? does the image get squished or does it translate into an actual wider field of vision? I would guess the field is set at 45 degrees so that would mean a 135 degree field?

With the release of WotLK, WoW now supports ultra wide setups... thus resulting in a wider field of view (dont know the actual degree though)