Upgrade-2008 Parts List

The following cost about $600 at newegg.com:

• MSI P35 Neo2-FR LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard, Retail, $120

• Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600, Retail, $210

• Patriot Extreme Performance 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model PDC24G6400LLK, Retail, $88

• VisionTek 900241 Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card, Retail, $190
  (The Maximum PC choice is the VisionTek Radeon HD 4870 card, which is a little faster but costs $300.)

In addition, I had to upgrade my 380W power supply (in an Antec Sonata case) to something over 600W. Diverging from the Maximum PC choice (which wasn't available at Newegg), I picked up a 650W Antec Earthwatts power supply at Fry's. Note that this power supply only has one 6-pin PCI-E connector, while the Radeon HD 4870 (which I chose to downgrade to a 4850) requires two such connectors. However, VisionTek includes an adaptor cable that connects a 6-pin PCI-E connector to two PATA-style power connectors (i.e., the older, pre-SATA, four-pin hard-drive power connectors).

[Update 2009-08-18: The CPU fan and case fan failed over the summer, presumably due to the ambient temperature going too high. Both fans were hard to turn by hand. The CPU seemed to sense the overtemp and power down in time to save everything from heat damage. It seems likely the case fan failed first, being many years older. I suppose this is an example of how one cannot use a nice case ``forever''.]

[Update 2013-01-13: The GPU fan fan failed after being off for a month (winter break). Replaced with a $40 Sapphire Radeon HD 6450 1 GB DDR3 HDMI/DVI-D/VGA PCI-Express Graphics Card 100322L. ]