Upgrade CPU and RAM?

[bisk]

I'm using a Dell Dimensio E520 for a file server and Virtual Machine host. I have an Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 with 4GB of RAM (4x 1GB PC2-5300) in it right now. I'm considering getting an Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 as this seems to be the fastst CPU available for my computer. Also, I was thinking about getting 8GB of RAM (4x2GB). How much will this cost? What and where should I get the parts. How much can I sell the used parts for?

Thanks!

[Snicla]

If you are going to get 8gb of ram you need a 64bit OS.

[mr_raider]

The Quad will help immensely when running virtualization software. As for 8 gigs of RAm, 4 should be enough but ti depends on what your Guest and host OS is.

[bisk]

Thanks for the replies. I kept an eye on the memory and CPU usage over the weekend and it looks like my CPU utilization is usually quite low (around 10% most of the time); it's acutally my memory usage up around 3.2GB most of the time, so I think I'm going to sell my RAM and buy 4 x 2GB sticks.

What would be a reasonable price to sell the RAM?

Also, if I were to future proof my purchase to that I can upgrade to the Q6600 when I get the cash, what speed of RAM will I need (all the different FSBs on the CPUs and different versions of DDR2 make it difficult to understand).

[killoverme]

just curious why do people do virtual machine host?

its like extra computers right?

[bisk]

That's correct. You're running a "soft" computer inside of your physical computer. This way I have a virtual downloading computer in the off chance that I download something that has a virus in it, it doesn't blow up a computer that I use for other stuff.

[bisk]

I've been able to find the Q6600 for about $230. What DDR2-800 RAM should I look at getting...the cheaper the better