Is a processor upgrade worth it?

After months of deliberation I have now decided I really need a new computer. I just have one or two things to sort out and one is whether it is worth paying an extra 50 GBP for a processor upgrade. I am using the OEM's online customiser.

Standard Processor with model I have chosen is
Intel® Core™ 2 Quad Q6600 Quad Core Processor(2.4GHz,8MB Cache,1066MHz

Upgrade processor at an extra 50 quid is
Intel® Core™ 2 Quad Q9300 Quad Core Processor(2.5GHz,6MB Cache,1333MHz)

Note the more expensive processor has a smaller cache but it is the faster bus and clock speed I am looking at in that one.

As ever Angie, it depends... what do you intend to use it for?
If you want to invest £50 now to save you upgrading later, that's a good enough reason since the faster bus speed means you can upgrade the RAM later...talking of which... what RAM is paired with the Q9300?

Noo both processors are paired with 8GB 800mhz DDR2 and I have chosen a 512MB Nvidia card. I will be doing lots of graphics intensive stuff and sound recording and other audio things too and lots of multitasking. I am also into Train Sim and Flight Sim. It will initally run Vista Home Premium.

OK, DDR3 will match the bus speed if the motherboard can take DDR3 - linky to what you are looking at please? Nvidia card... which one?

Hope this link works for you as it is part of my logon stuff. If not I can copy and paste the spec.
http://www.meshcomputers.com/Default...ION&KEY=975442


I have not yet added my second hard drive.

requires me to login... meh, paste the spec please

Intel® Core™ 2 Quad Q9300 Quad Core Processor(2.5GHz,6MB Cache,1333MHz) [upg £ 50.00]
Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium Edition with SP 1
New MESH Midi-TowerATX Case + 550W PSU
PCI-Express Mainboard - SLi nForce 750i SLi - Intel Core2Duo/Quad Core - ATX
8GB DDR2 800MHz Memory (4 x 2GB)
500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive with 16MB Buffer [upg £ 25.00]
LightScribe Super Format 20x Dual Layer DVD Writer +R/-R/RW/RAM [upg £ 5.00]
LightScribe Super Format 20x Dual Layer DVD Writer +R/-R/RW/RAM [upg £ 25.00]
512MB nVIDIA GeForce 9800GTX - Dual DVI, HDTV, TV-Out [upg £ 25.00]
Without 22" Widescreen Monitor [upg £ -90.00]
Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Sound Card [upg £ 49.00]
Logitech Cordless Keyboard & Cordless Optical Mouse
Free Microsoft® Works® 8.5 + Limited Microsoft Office Trial
Free Cyberlink Video Editing Suite - 7 titles (oem)
Joystick JS256 [upg £ 9.00]
6x USB 2.0 Ports (8x possible on motherboard)
Network Ready integrated 10/100 Ethernet
Multi-format Memory Card Reader (ATX)
1 Year Hardware Warranty - Back to Base (UK Mainland only)

I have not yet added the second hard drive but I see the 500GB one is only £25 more than the 250GB one.

10p a gig... go for it!

here is the mainboard The fastest ram you can put in it is 800mhz. The ideal situation is that the RAM and Processor run at the same speed... obviously that's not going to happen, the processor is going to be waiting on the RAM all the time with the Q9300

Spend the money on more hard drive space!

Thank you Noo I had not thought of that. There are loads of other models to choose from so I will see if any offer faster RAM. If not I will do as you suggest and buy more storage space instead.

By the way I can have two 256MB Nvidia cards in SLi configuration instead of the 512MB card for £25 less.

I have just found I can upgrade the m/bd for an extra £66

PCI-Express Mainboard - SLi nForce 780i SLi - Intel Core2Duo/Quad Core - ATX[upg £ 66.00]

You have to pay £1600 before you get a machine with DDR3 1333mhz memory so it's not worth having the better board and processor.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MorseLady

Thank you Noo I had not thought of that. There are loads of other models to choose from so I will see if any offer faster RAM. If not I will do as you suggest and buy more storage space instead.

By the way I can have two 256MB Nvidia cards in SLi configuration instead of the 512MB card for £25 less.

I have just found I can upgrade the m/bd for an extra £66

PCI-Express Mainboard - SLi nForce 780i SLi - Intel Core2Duo/Quad Core - ATX[upg £ 66.00]

You have to pay £1600 before you get a machine with DDR3 1333mhz memory so it's not worth having the better board and processor.

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OK, but which nvidia cards? the 9800gtx is quite a good card.

As far as I could see the SLi nForce mobo was the standard board....?

DDR3 is reallllllllly expensive.... the trick is to get a board that does both ddr2 and ddr3... with ddr2 in it for now but you don't have that luxury at Mesh. Which model are you configuring?

OMG thanks for suggestions but I am not building it myself, I am buying from Mesh and choosing options and upgrades.

Noo the model is Mesh Elite Pro 6600 SLi but in view of what I have learned on here I am starting again and looking at other OEMs too. I might even try the Savastore configurator iuf it's still in action because it won't let you choose inconpatible components and it lets you do all the choosing basing its options on what processor and m/bd you choose and has much more to choose from.

I think savastore stopped doing build to order.... have you looked at Novatech?

You know, given your circumstances, you may want to consider a Dell and get their on site warranty service...?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NooNoo

You know, given your circumstances, you may want to consider a Dell and get their on site warranty service...?

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Even with Dell, watch your prices. The onsite warranty service is a little mis-leading. They will send a tech onsite to replace parts, however you are still expected to troubleshoot over the phone. On the good side, they can do things that most business's won't do, like a full out replacement system if the problems go on for too long.

If however your priority is to never touch the inside of your computer, go with a local whitebox builder who has a good reputation.