Thinking of upgrading my computer

[bigwater]

I'll probably take some heat for this, but you don't need anything but a thorough scrubbing of your system.

Vmware EXSi is free now. Download it and set up sandboxes for your various applications so that each runs under it's own separate memory spaces. Strip down Windows in as many different flavors as you need. Want a gaming only machine? Strip down a version of Windows so it only consumes the resources needed to run the games. Need word processing, spreadsheets and financial apps? Strip down another install of Windows tailored to those needs. Need an email and internet browsing machine? Load a light version of Linux.

Hot key between the various installs to do what you need to do when you need to do it.

Point is you can sandbox all of your needs on one computer without burdoning the system to be prepared to run everything you might ever use. Keep in mind that man went to the moon on an 8 bit processor. The only way that could be done was it was taylored for a specific purpose. Sandbox your os' and your apps from each other, and you can do just about anything you want to do on the existing hardware you've got... even go to the moon.

[1361]

If you're gonna use old technology for your upgrade, I recommend maxing out your processor. I would ditch the core 2 duo for a quad core after reading this comment "A lot of multitasking with cpu intensive applications". I wouldn't even bother with less than a Q9400. If you're set on the core 2 duo, at least the E8600

Just my 2 cents

[Dan]

Was thinking of something like this actually http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Pu...umber=11025346

[Wayne Luke]

Ahh... ok.

You would seen an improvement with a new motherboard and processor. A 2.66 ghz or 3.0 ghz dual core would speed up processing nicely. However then your bottleneck will be memory and possibly your hard drive.

[Floris]

What are you doing, that requires a faster CPU? I am running on a Quad 2.66GHZ Xeon 5300 and it feels "normal" like my Dual 1.25GHZ felt when I had it in 2003-2008.

5300 <--- isn't that one 2 cores, and not 4? .. or do you mean you run 2x CPU = 4cores total. like my mac pro.

[Dan]

You can get the basics with the free trial. I just downloaded it and ran it under the Windows 7 Beta 64-bit.

Ahh... ok.

[Wayne Luke]

You can get the basics with the free trial. I just downloaded it and ran it under the Windows 7 Beta 64-bit.

[Dan]

Yes but according to the site I need to buy it to get the 64bit benchmarks.

[Wayne Luke]

Sadly I wouldn't be able to run it as I run 64-bit os.

Geekbench runs under a 64-bit OS just fine.

[Dan]

Sadly I wouldn't be able to run it as I run 64-bit os.

[harmor]

That's a good thing, but what If I don't have the money budgeted next year huh? I have the money budgeted now. And personally I don't think my computer runs fine. It can always be better.

You have a better CPU, more RAM, and a better video card. I have a Radeon 9200SE (which doesn't even have pixel-shading 2.0)

I'm curious what your score is on Geekbench compared to mine.

[Dan]

That's a good thing, but what If I don't have the money budgeted next year huh? I have the money budgeted now. And personally I don't think my computer runs fine. It can always be better.

[harmor]

So I'm considering upgrading my computer but I really don't want to spend a lot of money on it (Maybe 500$).

I'm currently running the following:

• ECS nForce 570 Motherboard
• Intel Core 2 Duo E2160 1.8Ghz CPU
• 4GB PC2 5300 RAM
• nVidia GeForce 8800 GTS OC 640MB

I'm thinking my current block on performance is the CPU/Mobo.

What does everyone think?

I was thinking of getting an i7 but looks like a tad on the pricey side but it might be worth it. If so any suggestions on a motherboard to go with one?

I'm using an AMD 2GHz CPU and 2GB's of RAM on XP and my computer runs fine.

If your computer is running fine you do not need to buy anything. Hold on to the money and wait a year. Any motherboard you have your eye on now will drop in price and you can buy an extra stick of RAM and/or another hard drive.

[Dan]

A lot of multitasking with cpu intensive applications.

(Add some gaming in there too)

[Mac Write]

What are you doing, that requires a faster CPU? I am running on a Quad 2.66GHZ Xeon 5300 and it feels "normal" like my Dual 1.25GHZ felt when I had it in 2003-2008.