Major Upgrade - Need Suggestion

[asigh]

Hi,

Planning to go in for a major upgrade...below are my specifications...got the prices from www.yantraonline.net (http://www.yantraonline.net).

I will migrate the Hard Drives/Keyboard/Mouse/UPS/and TFT from my existent set up.

Should I go ahead..or wait a while..any suggestions..obviousily it should be a gaming set up...with functionality for software programming.

Thanks in advance for the expert advice

2104

[asigh]

I guess..the attachment is not working..below are the specifications...

1. CPU: Intel E8400 C2D x 1 = 8755
2. Motherboard: MSI P7N SLI Platinum x 1 = 8490
3. Memory: Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX x 2 = 9738 (4869 x 2)
4.GPU: Palit HD4850 x 2 = 23460 (11730 x 2)
5.Cabinet: Coolermaster Elite 330 = 2050
6.PSU: Corsair CMPSU-620HX 620W = 6485

Total : RS. 58,978

Also will I be able to run CrossFire on the MSI P7N SLI Platinum..??
Should I wait a while for prices to simmer down -- GPU/CPU..??
Suggestions for better deals..??

[asigh]

Guys....no replies..from all you experts..???

Help..!

[amrawtanshx]

The config. is pretty nice.

MSI P7N SLI Platinum should support Crossfire.
ATI 4850 are good VFM.So u dont need to wait much as its price is already well quoted.

[acewin]

why MSI P7N SLI ??
instead go for better P45 chipset based Asus P5Q(price 8.1K) or P5Q Pro(price 9K) in same price range, also P7N is not Crossfire certified mobo its just SLI mobo and SLI is more good for nVidia GFX cards
Get Sapphire HD4850 than Palit in around 11.5K, I could not get Sapphire online price but Palit is 11095 from lynx-india.
price of Coolermaster Elite 330 is 1600-1700 even with online shopping from.

For PSU check Corsair TX650W almost same price better in power management than HX620 I would say

Proccy E8400 is 8.1K

[asigh]

Also since I am going for 4 GB memory. Will I need 64-Bit XP OS. Do not really want to convert...since I will just migrate my two HDDs..to the new set up..?? I have heart 32-BIT does not recognize greater than 3 GB.

I dont want to format my drives for a fresh install..

Acewin:
Will research out the motherboard which you have mentioned. Thanks.

Also should I not go for xFire..and just get a HD4870. Will save a bit of money too.?

[amrawtanshx]

If u are going to add 4GB then u need to go for 64 bit version.

Whether going for 2*4850 or a single 4870 is a tough question.
2*4850 will use more power.4870 has better cooling.

[acewin]

Information on Vista RAM support (http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Vista-Maximum-Supported-RAM-44487.shtml)

for XP there is a little trick for getting 4GB reconized
4 GB is max XP can support, but you will need to do little work
you need not worry about Crossfire, get P45 based mobo and you have them.
and getting single HD4870 is also a good option(infact I would say better option).

And for everything I think if you want for a month that would be better, for the prices to cool off.

[Psychosocial]

2xHD4850 will consume more power and will run hotter than a single HD4870 so I suggest get the single HD4870. As per your motherboard requirements, acewin is right. Get a P45. Look at the Gigabyte models which support Crossfire.

BTW, I was amazed what you are getting for 58k. I got my PC for 56-58k+taxes before a year or so :(.

[forever]

^ Or better wait for the HD4850x2 instead of having them xfired. That would save you a lot in terms of going for a sli board.

[amrawtanshx]

^ Or better wait for the HD4850x2 instead of having them xfired. That would save you a lot in terms of going for a sli board.

Thats good too.
But HD 4870 is sufficient.

[Psychosocial]

^+123456789

[forever]

Thats good too.
But HD 4870 is sufficient.

Well that depends totally on how much horse power is he happy with. ATI claims the 4850x2 beats the relatively higher priced gtx 280. It could well be the new value for money card in the high end segment. My suggestion was to the original poster intending to go for a xfire. a 4850x2 would be a wiser choice than a 4850 crossfired setup.

[asigh]

Information on Vista RAM support (http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Vista-Maximum-Supported-RAM-44487.shtml)

for XP there is a little trick for getting 4GB reconized
4 GB is max XP can support, but you will need to do little work
you need not worry about Crossfire, get P45 based mobo and you have them.
and getting single HD4870 is also a good option(infact I would say better option).

And for everything I think if you want for a month that would be better, for the prices to cool off.

Okay guys, am stuck with three (3) "dilemmas"

1. HD4840 x 2 or HD4870 x 1. : Guess will see the price differentials before purchasing.

2. Getting the Asus P5Q or the MSI P7N SLI. : Will depend on the resultant of (1). If I go for xFire then P5Q else P7N SLI still seems good. (Though what is the general consensus here: are Intel chipsets better or nVidia chipsets (primarily the full bore -- highspeed North Bridges..for Intel and nVida respectively..??)

3. 4GB of Memory on 32-Bit XP. As per http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/PAEmem.mspx
Windows XP supports maximum 3GB, and can be furthar optimized using PAE. Anyone know any better tweak that will enable XP to see/utilize the full 4GB..!

Acewin:
Will check out the TX650W. Sounds good. :)

Also what all needs to be done to migrate from XP 32 BIT to XP 64 BIT. Is it a fresh install, or just a basic upgrade. Though I have also heard, not all applications support 64 BIT. There are issues with the threaded program API's. Dont really want to get into this mess...BUT I WANT 4 GB of RAM too...! :) :(

Thanks all for your contributions...!

[amrawtanshx]

1. 1*HD 4870 should suffice :).

Intel chipsets are definately better than nVidia ones.
If u want to utilise 4GB RAM .. Better go for 64 Bit one.
64Bit one enjoys less driver support & does not support 16 bit applications.
So if u dont use 16 bit applications .. Migrating to 64Bit wont be a problem.

[Psychosocial]

Okay guys, am stuck with three (3) "dilemmas"

1. HD4840 x 2 or HD4870 x 1. : Guess will see the price differentials before purchasing.

2. Getting the Asus P5Q or the MSI P7N SLI. : Will depend on the resultant of (1). If I go for xFire then P5Q else P7N SLI still seems good. (Though what is the general consensus here: are Intel chipsets better or nVidia chipsets (primarily the full bore -- highspeed North Bridges..for Intel and nVida respectively..??)

3. 4GB of Memory on 32-Bit XP. As per http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/PAEmem.mspx
Windows XP supports maximum 3GB, and can be furthar optimized using PAE. Anyone know any better tweak that will enable XP to see/utilize the full 4GB..!

Acewin:
Will check out the TX650W. Sounds good. :)

Also what all needs to be done to migrate from XP 32 BIT to XP 64 BIT. Is it a fresh install, or just a basic upgrade. Though I have also heard, not all applications support 64 BIT. There are issues with the threaded program API's. Dont really want to get into this mess...BUT I WANT 4 GB of RAM too...! :) :(

Thanks all for your contributions...!

1. HD4870
2.Get the ASUS P5Q in both conditions.
3.32Bit only supports 3.5GB. There are tweaks to unlock it, of one which you yourself mentioned.:D
4.TX650W ftw...... :D

[acewin]

64 bit OS supports 32 bit apps without any probs. so it is all good.
Fresh install always works good. Besides I think OS upgarade or updating with 64-bit disc may also work, I never worked with the 2nd part. Fresh installation is what I have generally done. BUt in any case you need 64-bit OS disc.

[asigh]

What are some examples of 16-BIT applications..?

[Psychosocial]

^who knows http://s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj44/visio159/Unismilies/101.png

[amrawtanshx]

Examples of 16 bit applications are ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16-bit_application

& http://kb.iu.edu/data/ahop.html

[asigh]

Okay..though OFF topic...here is a way to id 16-BIT applications...

Right-click the program's executable file and then choose Properties. If you see a Version tab, it's a 32-bit program.

Or, if the program is running, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Windows Task Manager. On the Processes tab, look in the Image Name column for the name of the program's executable file. If any 16-bit programs are running, you'll find an entry for Ntvdm.exe, the virtual DOS machine. Just above it in the list, you'll see indented entries for Wowexec.exe (the Windows on Windows subsystem) and the executable name of each 16-bit program running in that virtual machine.

I guess...then I will migrate to 64-BIT. 4GB ----> Yummy...! )

[acewin]

not just 4GB you can do max RAM upgrades, as much your mobo allows and that would be more than enough for coming 5-8 years. I do not think you really need more RAM now, that is why hardware is shifting on specialized specs, like GPU for hardcore rendering.

Soon prices will also come down for sound cards, once advancements start taking place in it.

[asigh]

Researching out the motherboards..suggested..by all. Will let you know.what transpires..!