Buying a new motherboard & processsor - Need Advice!! 5

[basepointdesignz]

Hi,

At the moment I have a MSI motherboard (don't ask me what model, cos i have got a clue) with a P4 3.0Ghz processor..

I'm at the stage where i want to upgrade but being a bit behind the times for a while, i need to get my head around the concept of which of these new Core Duo processors would be the equivilent so i can gauge the baseline of what i have already, so can someone explain to me what core duo / dual core processor would be the next step up from what i have, oh and a brief reason why..

I know that this question has no doubt been asked a million time already, so my apologies..


Cheers,

Paul
basepointdesignzltd..
P4 3.0Ghz / 2GB RAM
XP Pro SP2
Sapphire X1950 512MB Dual-DVi Graphics Card..

 

[jlockley]

comparative shopping:

It looks like a good, reasonably priced and reliable system, but what is it with these people that they won't give you the motherboard information???

I assume it discourages shopping. So let's. Let's look at overclockers.com. (just enter the board name and UK on Google search and see who comes up)

Overclockers.com offers the same board for 39 pounds and the chip for 44, which by my reckoning is about 83, and the Corsair value chip set is something like 45, which all comes out to ten pounds less, worth the difference if they assemble and test the board, but not if you don't get information.

So here is some information:

From Tiger Direct.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2768824&body=REVIEWS

Same board at NewEgg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131068

In Britain:
Here's the board alone from another UK store (I kind of like this place)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-177-AS&tool=3

(Here a fairly affordable Intel package from the same group

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BU-036-OK&tool=3)

OK, about the Board:

It is the
Asus M2N4-SLI NVIDIA Socket AM2 ATX Motherboard, and it looks like a solid board. I have been considering it if I go AMD. When you speak to these people, ask them, "you show the m2n4-sli with the Nvidia chip set. This is the board that will be included, right", just to be sure.

What is important for you will probably be the two Ide slots, which will allow you to upgrade to SATA when you need to.

ASUS boards have a tendency, apparently, to run a little hot on the northbridge, so an extra case fan (cheap, generally) wouldn't be a bad idea.

BUT, I would make a suggestion:

google this with UK (which will get you local suppliers). Make a couple of calls with your credit card out of reach. Ask the techs what would be a comparable Intel chip set up. TAke notes and google.
Have your entire Belarc report when you do, so you can answer questions.

Among the questions you are going to ask are rma policies (return). Make sure they know what components of your computer you want to maintain.

BTW, please post the entire Belarc hardware report here.

ANOTER sodden thought. How old is your computer. What kind of case do you have?