Hi guys.. Looking to upgrade my rig.. But have a few specific questions as well. So i'll include those at the end of the template
Q: What is your budget?
30k (can go in for upgrades spread out over a few months but not more than 60k in total)
Q: What is your existing hardware configuration
CPU - Intel Q9550
Motherboard - Asus P5Q (P45)
GPU - ATI HD4850
RAM - Transcend 2X2GB PC6400
Monitor - BenQ G2412
Audio - Asus Xonar DX
SMPS - Corsair TX650
Case - CM690
Boot drive - Seagate 500GB 7200.12
Other drives - Seagate 500GB 7200.12, 1TB 7200.12, Samsung DVDRW
Key/Mouse - IBall wireless, MX 518 for gaming.
Speakers - Creative T6060 5.1
Q: Which hardware will you be keeping
Monitor - BenQ G2412
SMPS - Corsair TX650
Case - CM690
The HDDs, DVD drive, speakers and keyboard and mouse of-course
Q: Which hardware component are you looking to buy (component name). If you have already decided on a configuration then please mention the (component brand and model) as well, this will help us in fine tuning your requirement.
CPU - Not sure
Motherboard - any compatible motherboard
GPU - Not sure
RAM - Not sure
Audio card - Not sure
HDD - Want to go in for SSD
Want to get a bluray drive
Will go in for a larger monitor at some point in the near future. Probably around Diwali. Or might end up getting a TV. If i get a larger monitor please keep in mind the increased resolution while suggesting.
Q: Is this going to be your final configuration or you would be adding/upgrading a component in near future. If yes then please mention when and which component
Final Config.
Q: Where will you buy this hardware? (Online/City/TE Dealer)
Bangalore
Open to online purchase
Q: Would you consider buying a second hand hardware from the TE market
No
Q: What is your intended use for this PC/hardware
1) Gaming
2) Browsing
3) Desktop Processing
4) Download rig, 24x7 operation
5) Watching HD movies
6) VMWare (Running Linux in VM on Windows 7 64bit Ultimate)
7) Video Encoding (Mostly fraps videos and home videos, blurays if i get the drive)
8) Software development (.Net, usually have SQL server running as well)
Q: Do you have any brand preference or dislike? Please name them and the reason for your preference/dislike.
None. Open to all suggestions
Q: If you will be playing games then which type of games will you be playing?
I play and replay almost every kind of game. Crysis 2, COD, Witcher 1/2, Assasin's Creed, Starcraft2, Minecraft.. Long list
Q: What is your preferred monitor resolution for gaming and normal usage
Gaming - 1920x1080
Desktop - 1920x1080
Q: Are you looking to overclock?
No
Q: Which operating system do you intend to use with this configuration?
Windows 7 64 bit Ultimate (Already have the original)
Linux - Fedora/Ubuntu running in VMs
Questions :
1) I have to upgrade my graphics card soon. It seems to be dying a slow death with random graphic corruptions and all. Should i wait for it to completely die :ashamed: before i buy a new one? It might not handle everything at maximum but i was still able to play Crysis 2 at maximum resolution with the effects turned down with zero lag.
2) Is upgrading the rest of the system going to give me a performance boost worth the price? It handles most things (gaming etc) without lag. The only time i have lag is when VMs are running and i start doing other stuff as well. But with the next architecture change due next year i see no reason to wait either.
3) I'm not happy with the Xonar. Driver support is horrid. And I've been listening to the sound on my roomy's XFi and it sounds much better with a lot more bass. It also does more justice to 6 channel audio as well. Plus the motherboard i have has just one PCIe x1 lane that is free and its right under the gfx card. They both really don't get along and i've had to break up the quarrel a few times Now they sit happily because i put an insulating material between them but it can't possibly be a long term solution.
4) SSD and faster/larger RAM. These seem to be the two things that will definitely increase performance more than anything else. Another option I've had in mind is to get a new 2TB drive and dump the data from the 500GB drives on this. Then put the two 500GBs in RAID 0. Please advice what to get/do.
That's a really long post. For anyone who actually reads through the whole lot, Thanks in advance :clap:
Q: What is your budget?
30k (can go in for upgrades spread out over a few months but not more than 60k in total)
Q: What is your existing hardware configuration
CPU - Intel Q9550
Motherboard - Asus P5Q (P45)
GPU - ATI HD4850
RAM - Transcend 2X2GB PC6400
Monitor - BenQ G2412
Audio - Asus Xonar DX
SMPS - Corsair TX650
Case - CM690
Boot drive - Seagate 500GB 7200.12
Other drives - Seagate 500GB 7200.12, 1TB 7200.12, Samsung DVDRW
Key/Mouse - IBall wireless, MX 518 for gaming.
Speakers - Creative T6060 5.1
Q: Which hardware will you be keeping
Monitor - BenQ G2412
SMPS - Corsair TX650
Case - CM690
The HDDs, DVD drive, speakers and keyboard and mouse of-course
Q: Which hardware component are you looking to buy (component name). If you have already decided on a configuration then please mention the (component brand and model) as well, this will help us in fine tuning your requirement.
CPU - Not sure
Motherboard - any compatible motherboard
GPU - Not sure
RAM - Not sure
Audio card - Not sure
HDD - Want to go in for SSD
Want to get a bluray drive
Will go in for a larger monitor at some point in the near future. Probably around Diwali. Or might end up getting a TV. If i get a larger monitor please keep in mind the increased resolution while suggesting.
Q: Is this going to be your final configuration or you would be adding/upgrading a component in near future. If yes then please mention when and which component
Final Config.
Q: Where will you buy this hardware? (Online/City/TE Dealer)
Bangalore
Open to online purchase
Q: Would you consider buying a second hand hardware from the TE market
No
Q: What is your intended use for this PC/hardware
1) Gaming
2) Browsing
3) Desktop Processing
4) Download rig, 24x7 operation
5) Watching HD movies
6) VMWare (Running Linux in VM on Windows 7 64bit Ultimate)
7) Video Encoding (Mostly fraps videos and home videos, blurays if i get the drive)
8) Software development (.Net, usually have SQL server running as well)
Q: Do you have any brand preference or dislike? Please name them and the reason for your preference/dislike.
None. Open to all suggestions
Q: If you will be playing games then which type of games will you be playing?
I play and replay almost every kind of game. Crysis 2, COD, Witcher 1/2, Assasin's Creed, Starcraft2, Minecraft.. Long list
Q: What is your preferred monitor resolution for gaming and normal usage
Gaming - 1920x1080
Desktop - 1920x1080
Q: Are you looking to overclock?
No
Q: Which operating system do you intend to use with this configuration?
Windows 7 64 bit Ultimate (Already have the original)
Linux - Fedora/Ubuntu running in VMs
Questions :
1) I have to upgrade my graphics card soon. It seems to be dying a slow death with random graphic corruptions and all. Should i wait for it to completely die :ashamed: before i buy a new one? It might not handle everything at maximum but i was still able to play Crysis 2 at maximum resolution with the effects turned down with zero lag.
2) Is upgrading the rest of the system going to give me a performance boost worth the price? It handles most things (gaming etc) without lag. The only time i have lag is when VMs are running and i start doing other stuff as well. But with the next architecture change due next year i see no reason to wait either.
3) I'm not happy with the Xonar. Driver support is horrid. And I've been listening to the sound on my roomy's XFi and it sounds much better with a lot more bass. It also does more justice to 6 channel audio as well. Plus the motherboard i have has just one PCIe x1 lane that is free and its right under the gfx card. They both really don't get along and i've had to break up the quarrel a few times
Now they sit happily because i put an insulating material between them but it can't possibly be a long term solution.4) SSD and faster/larger RAM. These seem to be the two things that will definitely increase performance more than anything else. Another option I've had in mind is to get a new 2TB drive and dump the data from the 500GB drives on this. Then put the two 500GBs in RAID 0. Please advice what to get/do.
That's a really long post. For anyone who actually reads through the whole lot, Thanks in advance :clap:
