[evilking]

Current specs:

Abit IP35-E Motherboard
E4300 CPU with stock cooler
8800GT
2x1gb Kingston 800mhz DDR2 crapram
500gb SATA2 HDD
80gb IDE HDD
Antec Sonata II case
500W Antec Earthwatts PSU


I have the RAM and CPU going for another build, so I need to upgrade at least those.
Budget is max 300 bux, but I don't want to pay for any blinkenlichten like most of you do.
Max doesn't mean the minimum to spend.

So, what CPU and RAM would be recommended? A nice cooler too if it would be cheap.
RAID setup is interesting too, would a cheap controller and a second 500gb be a feasible solution to fasten the system up?

Edited:

Ohhh and I do other things than playing vidiya games, so a quad would probably be the best CPU.

[TropicalV2]

Country?

[Yumyumbublegum]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115041
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ezer%207%20pro
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231122

[evilking]

Finland, but the relative pricing between different components are quite the same, I can use google.

Names, hardcore comparasion charts is what I need.

[PrismatexV6]

US?
I'm too lazy to find out what FSB your motherboard supports (I'm about to take a nap), so I say get a Q9550 ($220 with free shipping on Newegg last I checked) and 4GB of DDR2 1066, which can be had on Newegg for about $48, give or take a few bucks and maybe free shipping.
Cooler-wise, I'd look at a Xigmatek HDT-1283, Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro, or Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer 120mm.

[KrAzY_nikomo]

Tip:
Newegg + http://www.myus.com

[evilking]

KrAzY_nikomo posted:

Tip:
Newegg + http://www.myus.com

Been thinking that, but the customs make it just as expensive.

And it feels that almost all US packages get caught there.

[Aurora93-Alt]

E8400, get 2GB more RAM, DDR2 800 RAM isn't crappy unless the timings are horrible

[Odellus]

uh there's nothing wrong with your RAM

[Aurora93-Alt]

Odellus posted:

uh there's nothing wrong with your RAM

Unless the timings are horrible.

[evilking]

Aurora93-Alt posted:

E8400, get 2GB more RAM, DDR2 800 RAM isn't crappy unless the timings are horrible

It is quite crap as you can't OC it that much as better RAM, and the timings are quite bad.

[PrismatexV6]

Kingston is good RAM.
DDR2 800 is quite overclockable if you get good stuff with nice heatspreaders. I've got OCZ DDR2 800 @ 943MHz and 5-5-5-15.

[evilking]

I get like 870 tops with copper headspreaders, it just doesn't POST after that. My mushkin with better timings went over 1000...

[PrismatexV6]

Ah.
Then get 4GB 2x2GB of nice stuff.

[Aurora93-Alt]

Find some Corsair XMS or Kingston shit.