upgrading time: system check
 

I got rid of my 1.6Ghz A64, and I'm looking for some new toys to play. Main goals are software development, mild gaming, overclocking (not insane OC'ing, just aiming for better performance for money).

Processor:
Intel Core 2 E4300 boxed: 111 euro
Memory:
Geil 2*1GB DDR2 800 CL4: 88 euro
Videocard:
GW 8600GT passive: 119 euro
Motherboard:
Gigabyte P965 DS3 1*PCIe 16x: 94 euro
or Gigabyte P35 DS3 2*PCIe 16x: 144 euro
or Biostar P945 A7B 1*PCIe 16x: 59 euro

The processor, memory seems like great value for money. The videocard isn't the fastest around, but it's passively cooled and should be able to handle most games in a mediocre resolution. 250 euro for a 8800GTS 320Mb is a bit too much, everything in between is just not great nor cheap. :)

My main doubt is the motherboard. I could go for the latest and greatest Gigabyte with a P35 chipset, which is sure to offer great overclocking fun and solid performance. On the other hand, it's 85 euro more expensive than the cheapo Biostar A7B, based on the P945 chipset. The biostar doesn't offer many features, but performance doesn't suck, and it offers some nice overclocking features. Or, I could go for the in between solution and get a Gigabyte DS3 based on the P965 chipset.

Comments?

P945 good OC? first see than believe. P35 very good OC, P965 good OC, would go for €94 DS3

Not good, but decent according to this review:
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=837&pageID=1767

Then again, it might be a shame to bundle such a processor and DDR2 800 CL4 ram with a cheap, not that great oc'ing motherboard.

945 sucks, believe me.

Had two mainboards with that chipset ;).

Sucks on which ground? Overclocking? Stability? Performance? Or all three? :P

Hmm, the 'great' revision of the Gigabyte P965 DS3 (rev3.3) is 119 euros. I'd better get the P35 one than, it's not that much more expensive.

No options for overclocking :p

did you click his link? that Biostar board has OC options.

Darn, the Biostar is an option again. :D

Good topic about P945 + Core 2 overclocking:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...t=biostar+p945

Most boards don't have a problem with running at 299FSB, which makes a E4300 run at 2.7Ghz and a E4400 run at 3.0Ghz. That's not too shabby for a 59 euro board. I highly doubt I'd run any higher than that anyway, except for e-penis purpose.

not quite, did you check their OC? nothing worth mentioning, my 3ghz P4 does 3.6ghz with a €40 Asrock board; their P4 has problems making it past 3.1ghz on the P945.