Source
r/buildapc•
dalp

[Build Help] Upgrade around q6600 or New Build?

Current System

  • Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
  • Whatever motherboard comes with a Dell Inspiron 530 and supports a Core 2 Quad.
  • 3gb 800mhz RAM (2x1, 2x512) (4x1 would be max)
  • ATI Radeon HD 4550 1gb
  • 2 500gb SATA hard drives
  • Generic Dell 350w PSU
  • Xonar DG Sound Card
  • 32bit Vista

Have but not in current system

  • Win7 64bit Ultimate (thanks school!)
  • Seagate Barracuda 1tb

Uses

  • SC2, TF2 (Currently running very low settings and normally disable second monitor.)
  • Probably in the future: Diablo 3, Dota 2
  • Running 2 1920x1080 monitors.

So my current computer has started feeling pretty sluggish, and from reading this subreddit, I've become increasingly worried my PSU is under-qualified for the job, so I think it's time for something new.

I guess my main question is, just how dated is the q6600? Would saving some money and only buying a new case, PSU and video card see huge improvements? Or is the mobo/RAM/CPU so dated that I need to start from scratch and $500-$600 system would be a better choice?

Budget

  • $500-$600 USD

Posted Nov 8, 2011, 11:47 PM UTC

511
cssplayer•

Just start from scratch, especially since you have an OEM motherboard.

4
nubbinator•

Normally I'd say overclock your CPU and upgrade your GPU and PSU since at 3GHz+ the Q6600 still holds its own and is a great CPU. However, your Dell mobo likely prevents you from overclocking. At a $500-600 budget, you'll only be getting a minor upgrade to your current system since you'll be using an AMD CPU at that price point.

Assuming you have a retail version of Windows, you could look at doing a $250-350 upgrade. Get yourself a mobo like this one, a decent, but cheap heatsink (something like the Xigmatek Dark Knight would be good and cheap), a good, cheap 500-650w PSU, and a 6870, 6950, or GTX 560 Ti.

Alternatively, you could do a new build, but, at stock, the Q6600 is on par with the Phenom II X4 955, the CPU you'd likely be buying.

2
dalpOP•

So would I basically need to go all the way to i5-2500k + GTX 560 Ti to really make a big difference?

1
nubbinator•

No, once you start getting the 955 up toward 4GHz, you'd see a difference or if you went with a 970, 1090T or some of the lower end Sandy Bridge i5s or higher end i3s.

On the GPU front, you'd see a performance bump from just about anything, even a 5670. The 4550 is not a gaming card. You could spend $100-160 on a 5770/6770 on up to a 6870, or a GTX 460 on the Nvidia side, and you'd notice a definite improvement.

2
Legitimidget•

The 5670 is a very good low end card. I think a 6770 or 6870 would be more what he'd be looking for though. And a new PSU would definitely be in order.

1
nubbinator•

I think a 6770 or 6870 would be more what he'd be looking for though.

Which is why I recommended them.

1
dara1989•

For $600 a new build with a Intel 2500k would be possible I think. You are looking at 200 for the cpu, 150 for mobo + 8GB ram, 100ish for case + psu, and 150ish for a new graphics card. That will be one hell of an upgrade and capable of playing all newer games quite nicely.

I went from a Q6600 to a 2500k last year and it was a pretty big difference.

1
sidevotesareupvotes•

The games you play aren't very system intensive. Just get a Radeon 6850/70 for ~$170 and you're good to go. There's no reason to spend 500+ replacing cpu/mb/ram.

1
dalpOP•

But that wouldn't fit in my case, so I need a new case. And there's no way I could run that on my PSU, so I need a new one. And then I just keep going...

1
blanketninja•

Nah you'd just stop there; that GPU will require a new psu and maybe a new case, and your mobo should fit into the new case.

1