What should I upgrade first? CPU or RAM?

[coldReactive]

Please also give reasons to your choice.

I'm upgrading from the 1035T 2.6GHZ to a whopping 1100T 3.3 GHZ Processor

as for RAM, I'm going from DDR3 1333MHZ 8 GB (2 x 4) to DDR3 1333MHZ 16 GB (4 x 4). New RAM also has heatsinks on top of each: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231442

This is for the Windows portion of my system. Mainly for MMORPGs / 3D App Recording via CamStudio or such.

Please note, the CAS Latency on the RAM Linked, and my current CAS Latency: http://i.imgur.com/k35wB.jpg

Both RAM sets use 1.5V, so no overvoltage would be seen.

[tangerine17]

8GBs of RAM is already a lot so definitely go for the CPU~

[Allwynd]

having more RAM compensates for slow CPU, but whatever you choose, it will be a wise choice - if you get more RAM now, later on better CPUs will come out and when you get that your PC will be a monster

[tangerine17]

RAM is getting cheaper though, while new CPUs will continually be expensive.

[coldReactive]

having more RAM compensates for slow CPU, but whatever you choose, it will be a wise choice - if you get more RAM now, later on better CPUs will come out and when you get that your PC will be a monster

I will have to get an AM3+ motherboard to support the newest AMDs though.

If I do that now, I have to stop gaming immediately, as I have not enough money for a new mobo AND Windows 7 Pro AND a new case for it. ( HAF-X + http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131667 + BIOS Upgrade to support AM3+ )

[Allwynd]

im interested.. the motherboard you linked.. does it have an integrated GPU and if so what it is?


but if you get that one and 16GB ram and analogically newer other components, you wont need to upgrade for 10 years probably

right now i have 768MB RAM and i can only imagine what it is like to have something like that

[coldReactive]

im interested.. the motherboard you linked.. does it have an integrated GPU and if so what it is?


but if you get that one and 16GB ram and analogically newer other components, you wont need to upgrade for 10 years probably

right now i have 768MB RAM and i can only imagine what it is like to have something like that

The motherboard I linked actually has an extra component that allows you to cross-link GPU Brands, but only certain PCI-E slots will allow certain combos. However, it should be noted that it is an E-ATX motherboard, and only a few tower cases are made to use those (HAF-X is one of them, but also allows usage of ATX-XL.)

[Allwynd]

cross link? you mean like using 2 GPUs one nVIDIA one ATI? (or intel)

[MinistryOvWar]

go for the better CPU?

isnt i7 a tad betteR?

not a expert lol

[coldReactive]

go for the better CPU?

isnt i7 a tad betteR?

not a expert lol

Threads aren't cores, so no.

[AznTechie]

Unless you're going to wait for Bulldozer, the only significant upgrade from the Phenom II X6 right now is Sandy Bridge. The i7 series may be dual-threaded quad cores, but the architecture is still superior to that used by the Phenom series. I suspect Bulldozer will basically get the same performance as the 2600 with the FX versions having unlocked multipliers like the 2600k at the same ~$300 range.

[coldReactive]

Well, with the HAF-X, what motherboard + 990X Intel i7 would you recommend? Pretty reasonably priced I hope.

[Sarnius263]

get the CPU upgraded mate, your ram is good enough as it is

[AznTechie]

Well, with the HAF-X, what motherboard + 990X Intel i7 would you recommend? Pretty reasonably priced I hope.

The 970 is much better value even if it's not unlocked if you want a hex-core i7. However, do take note that the i7 2600/k does match up to the Nehalem hex-cores in certain operations. The Phenom II X6 at the moment is perfectly fine if you want to wait for bulldozer, though. Penta-module coming out next year and the obvious quad-module coming out this year for the consumer market.

[coldReactive]

I see, I think I'll go with the 1100T then. I may upgrade to an AM3+ after Windows 8 comes out for bulldozer support.

[MinistryOvWar]

but the 3.3 GHz Phenom II X6 is a 6 core.

i7 has the Power Gate which is able to switch off cores which are not in use, saving switching and leakage power. Turbo Mode monitors the CPU use and in situations where there is significant load on a core the multiplier for that part of the CPU will be increased to further enhance performance.

i7 4 cores x 2 threads each= 8

can the AMD do the same wiv 6?

[coldReactive]

but the 3.3 GHz Phenom II X6 is a 6 core.

i7 has the Power Gate which is able to switch off cores which are not in use, saving switching and leakage power. Turbo Mode monitors the CPU use and in situations where there is significant load on a core the multiplier for that part of the CPU will be increased to further enhance performance.

i7 4 cores x 2 threads each= 8

can the AMD do the same wiv 6?

the new 3D Transisters have power leakage, from what I've seen on the CNET Article.

First post has been updated, please note my current cas latency (9-9-9-24) and the upgraded RAM's CAS Latency (7-7-7-21), both have the same voltage.

Would it be wise to see first what would happen if I upgrade the RAM if CAS would make a difference?

[AznTechie]

but the 3.3 GHz Phenom II X6 is a 6 core.

i7 has the Power Gate which is able to switch off cores which are not in use, saving switching and leakage power. Turbo Mode monitors the CPU use and in situations where there is significant load on a core the multiplier for that part of the CPU will be increased to further enhance performance.

i7 4 cores x 2 threads each= 8

can the AMD do the same wiv 6?

The AMD does underclocking to save power. Turbo turns down 3 cores and overclocks the other three for applications that don't need that many cores, too.