Upgrading suggestions

[Doogiehowser]

Hello, within a month or so i will have funds to get a upgrade for my sig rig, i just dont know which one to choose. my options are as follows.

1. Replace my q6600 with a q9550 (my 6600 has a very high vid, my oc is limited) and add a 4870 1gb for some xfire.

2. Just get a 4870x2 and either sell my current card or run crossfirex. If i sell the card, i could then add a 2nd hdd to get a matrix raid configuration set up. Or use the money for upgrading a processor.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks ahead of time.

[bda1967]

You need to crank up your CPU or you'll just bottleneck your GPU(s) no matter which way you go with the video cards. Get a E8400/8500 and overclock it to 4.0+ GHz and buy a second 4870 to crossfire on that X48 MOBO if you want more performance.

[Doogiehowser]

You need to crank up your CPU or you'll just bottleneck your GPU(s) no matter which way you go with the video cards. Get a E8400/8500 and overclock it to 4.0+ GHz and buy a second 4870 to crossfire on that X48 MOBO if you want more performance.

Right on. Previously with a zalman 9700led, i tried to get a 3.6 clock with a 1.5vcore and was unable to get it stable, also temps were horrid. Since i recently got a TRUE120 and lapped both cpu and cooler, i was able to get my current clock of 3.3ghz with only a .05vcore increase (my VID is 1.325v). Although i have tried to increase the clock, the voltage increase seems to go up expodentially. I havent tried all that much with it though. Well, if im unable to achieve 3.6ghz ill just go with my first option of q9550 and 4870 1gb. Ive heard/read that with the new stepping, those quads can get very close, if not achieve the 4ghz mark. I would go with the e8400/8500 but the 2 extra cores really help with what i do, other than gaming. Ty for the response.

[bda1967]

The new quads are pretty awesome so hitting 4.0GHz with them is pretty reasonable and if you need the extra cores, then go with a Q9550. You should a least be able to hit 3.8GHz with it and that's about the minimum I think that you want to be at.