My low 5.7 rating =( Help!

[Nayamin]

I have an Alienware PC that I purchased around November of 2008 for much more than it was worth. Id like to make some upgrades to it and would appreciate any advice. I'd like to upgrade the processor but Im not sure which one would fit in my motherboard. Video card, RAM, anything else you folks can recommend to improve my WEI. I dont know tons about hardware, but feel confident that I can swap out a few things if Id know what to buy. Here's what Im currently running:

Processor
Name: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8500 @ 3.16GHz
Manufacturer: GenuineIntel
Caption: x64 Family 6 Model 23 Stepping 6
Version: Model 7, Stepping 6
Current Clock Speed: 3166MHz
Address Width: 32Bits
Data Width: 64Bits
Socket Designation: Socket 775

RAM
Memory Module 1
Capacity: 2048MB
Bank Label: DIMM #1
Mem_Type: DDR3
Mem_Frequency: 1066 MHz

Memory Module 2
Capacity: 2048MB
Bank Label: DIMM #2
Mem_Type: DDR3
Mem_Frequency: 1066 MHz

BIOS
Manufacturer: Phoenix Technologies, LTD
Name: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Version: 6.00 PG
Version: ALWARE - 42302e31

Motherboard
Manufacturer: alienware
Product: alienware
Serial Number: 1
Version: 2
Verify correct motherboard
Audio settings for DVD playback set to 4 Speakers
Power settings optimized

Video Adapter
Caption: ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2
Adapter RAM: 1024MB "2GB total memory"
DriverVersion: 7.01.01.809 "Updated newest drivers today"

Hard Drives "RAID"
NVIDIA STRIPE 465.77G
Model: NVIDIA STRIPE 465.77G
Size: 500GB
Total Heads: 255
Total Cylinders: 60802
Total Tracks: 15504510
Tracks Per Cylinder: 255

Benchmarks
3DMark 2006
3DMark Score: 14,947.00 3DMarks
SM2.0 Score: 6,384.00
HDR/SM3.0 Score: 8,628.00
CPU Score: 2,777.00
Game Score: 0.00 Points
SM2.0 Graphics Tests
GT1 - Return To Proxycon: 51.82 FPS
GT2 - Firefly Forest: 54.58 FPS
CPU Tests
CPU1 - Red Valley: 0.87 FPS
CPU2 - Red Valley: 1.41 FPS
HDR/SM3.0 Graphics Tests
HDR1 - Canyon Flight: 106.60 FPS
HDR2 - Deep Freeze: 65.95 FPS
Call Of Juarez DX10
Minimum: 19.17
Maximum: 150.9
Average: 62.68
Unreal Tournament 3 Demo
Customer Information:
Average FPS: 59.71 FPS
Time Spent Over 30 FPS: 99.77 percent of total benchmark time was spent above 30 FPS

[Yabby]

Only thing you really need to upgrade is your Processor. Maybe a little ram but most people, even gamers don't use 4gigs of ram. Unless they are hard core multasker's. Ether way your score is based off your lowest score which pretty much tells you want you need for a higher score lol.

[Isiolia]

Instead of looking at the Experience score, is there something that you're trying to do with the machine where it's coming up short?

In terms of upgrading the CPU, you don't have a whole lot of headroom on that platform. Most notably, you could go to a quad core. You could also (likely) get a fairly good overclock from it. I ran my E8500 (before I repurposed it into a server) at 3.8Ghz, and it could easily have done 4Ghz if I was less fussy about heat and/or got a better cooler than the Freezer 7 Pro that's on it.

There are certainly better video cards out there now, but for things that support Crossfire your 4870s should still be decent.

An SSD would be faster than your software RAID0 as well.

As mentioned, your WEI is keyed to your lowest score. If you're simply out to increase that, for whatever reason, look and see what's scoring low and you know what you need to upgrade to boost it.

[Crowort]

Without an SSD you can't get higher than 5.9 anyway irrc. The score you can get on a normal HDD is 5.9. My i5 750 based PC gets 5.9 even thou everything bar the HDD score >7. You really need to look at what Isiollia said and not just aim for a higher number in WEI.

[chiyio]

Without an SSD you can't get higher than 5.9 anyway irrc. The score you can get on a normal HDD is 5.9. My i5 750 based PC gets 5.9 even thou everything bar the HDD score >7. You really need to look at what Isiollia said and not just aim for a higher number in WEI.

this is correct, my i7 980x is stuck at 5.9 because of my harddrives

[jmc]

In terms of upgrading the CPU, you don't have a whole lot of headroom on that platform. Most notably, you could go to a quad core. You could also (likely) get a fairly good overclock from it. I ran my E8500 (before I repurposed it into a server) at 3.8Ghz, and it could easily have done 4Ghz if I was less fussy about heat and/or got a better cooler than the Freezer 7 Pro that's on it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ore%202%20Quad

This is pretty much what your looking at for a new CPU, unless you upgrade your motherboard as well.

[Olo401]

IF you're gonna upgrade the CPU on this badboi, try to get one of the older models that have 12MB cache (Q9450/9550/9650). I've got an E8400, just a step below yours, and have been looking to get a Q9450 for a while now..

Also, how the hell are you running DDR3 on a two year-old Alienware box? They only recently (like this fall) started making P45 boards capable of using DDR3.

[Nayamin]

Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007671%2060000585 1%20600005562&IsNodeId=1&name=Core%202%20Qua

This is pretty much what your looking at for a new CPU, unless you upgrade your motherboard as well.

Thanks for the direction. Any idea why this "Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 Yorkfield 3.0GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80569Q9650" faster quad core is cheaper than this "Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550S Yorkfield 2.83GHz LGA 775 65W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80569Q9550S" by 20 bucks?

[Nayamin]

IF you're gonna upgrade the CPU on this badboi, try to get one of the older models that have 12MB cache (Q9450/9550/9650). I've got an E8400, just a step below yours, and have been looking to get a Q9450 for a while now..

Also, how the hell are you running DDR3 on a two year-old Alienware box? They only recently (like this fall) started making P45 boards capable of using DDR3.

Not sure, but this is how I bought it. I havent done any upgrades to the PC since I purchased it in Nov of 08 so they for sure offered it then O_o

[Nayamin]

So I guess I'll get one of these two, but Im stuck on deciding which. One seems faster but its cheaper and Im not sure why its cheaper than the faster CPU.

Slower one thats more expensive "unless im missing something":

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550S Yorkfield 2.83GHz LGA 775 65W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80569Q9550S

* 1333MHz FSB
* 45 nm Yorkfield
* 12MB L2 Cache

* Series: Core 2 Quad
* L2 Cache: 12MB
* Manufacturing Tech: 45 nm
* 64 bit Support: Yes
* Model #: BX80569Q9550S
* Item #: N82E16819115210
* Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy

*
* Now: $349.99
*
* Free Shipping

Faster one thats cheaper:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 Yorkfield 3.0GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80569Q9650

* 1333MHz FSB
* 45 nm Yorkfield
* 12MB L2 Cache

* Series: Core 2 Quad
* L2 Cache: 12MB
* Manufacturing Tech: 45 nm
* 64 bit Support: Yes
* Model #: BX80569Q9650
* Item #: N82E16819115130
* Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy

*
* Now: $329.99
*
* Free Shipping

[CoronA1979]

this is correct, my i7 980x is stuck at 5.9 because of my harddrives

Shame on your for running a $1,000 CPU with platter HDD's!

My 980x loves my Intel 80gb x2 RAID0 and the standalone 120gb OCZ Agility

[Nayamin]

BG geniuses!!! WRU? Which one between the two? The only difference Im seeing is how much power each uses, something that isnt important to me. Does one OC easier than the other?

[CoronA1979]

BG geniuses!!! WRU? Which one between the two? The only difference Im seeing is how much power each uses, something that isnt important to me. Does one OC easier than the other?

I have no idea why the faster step is cheaper - doesn't make much sense.. Looking @ the spec's it is the same chip just clocked slightly higher. . .

If it's between the two - get the 9650

[Olo401]

Thanks for the direction. Any idea why this "Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 Yorkfield 3.0GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80569Q9650" faster quad core is cheaper than this "Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550S Yorkfield 2.83GHz LGA 775 65W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80569Q9550S" by 20 bucks?

The Q9550S was released after those three that I mentioned earlier were discontinued, so the price on the old ones is cheaper b/c of markdown. The only difference between it and the original Q9550 is low power design (65W instead of 95) so I imagine the overclock threshold will also be lower. If it's just between the two of 'em I'd get the 9650.

[chiyio]

Shame on your for running a $1,000 CPU with platter HDD's!

My 980x loves my Intel 80gb x2 RAID0 and the standalone 120gb OCZ Agility

I tend to run a ton of shit with VMware workstation, plus a bunch of steam games. SSD just wasn't large enough for me yet. I figure in a year or two when I can get 2x500 ones for a nice sized raid I'll upgrade.

[Nayamin]

I have no idea why the faster step is cheaper - doesn't make much sense.. Looking @ the spec's it is the same chip just clocked slightly higher. . .

If it's between the two - get the 9650

Thanks a ton for the advice. I went ahead and ordered the 9650. After I get that installed, I'll see about upgrading the video cards next.

[nayaminfenrir]

Sooooo, I've made a few improvements to my system. Unfortunately the new improvement came with an additional problem that I've never encountered before.
First the upgrades:

-Upgraded processor to: Quad Q9650
-Upgraded to Windows 7 Ultimate 64 "which wiped my HD clean because was running a 32bit OS before"
-Upgraded all my ram to 8GB of Corsair DDR3 1600MHz

The PC runs MUCH faster than before, seems like a monster now. However, 2 times now when I booted up and the windows 7 animation came up the PC froze. I had to hard reboot to get it started and then it ran fine. Any idea whats causing this?

Had to make a new BG acct cause I forgot to backup my info before i upgrade OS. Lost all my ffxi macros too ; ; /RAGE!

[xopher]

The WEI final score is determined by the lowest performing piece of hardware.

Which piece is giving you a 5.7?

[nayaminfenrir]

The WEI final score is determined by the lowest performing piece of hardware.

Which piece is giving you a 5.7?

All my performance issues were resolved with my recent upgrades. The only issue remaining is it has frozen twice during bootup and I cant figure out what would cause that.

[Rockstaru]

I wouldn't count on being able to run SSDs in RAID--there isn't yet a RAID controller that will pass TRIM commands to two SSDs in a RAID0.