PC : Budget Upgrade

Dymetrie · 26-04-2012, 08:47

Following some hangs whilst loading, some startup repairs, and a bit of slowdown of my whole system; I'm wondering if it may be time to look at upgrading my PC.

Currently, I'm running Windows 7 x64 on an Athlon 64 X2 4200+ with 4GB DDR (just DDR, not 2 or 3 or a million) and an GeForce 8800 GT (512MB GDDR3) with a pair of 500GB HDD.

On occasion I get some lag in games (this could also be partly down to the wireless desktop, though), but overall this little machine does us rather well

Looking at a budget upgrade which to replace the tired old parts and put a bit of zing back into the machine. I currently have about £150 available and was considering just upgrading the mobo, processer and RAM (with an option to look at a decent sized SSD and a better GFX card when I have a bit more cash).

As you can tell from my current machine, I'm slightly out of touch with what anything is, so some advice on something which will give better performance, but at low cost, would be much appreciated

Dymetrie · 27-04-2012, 07:44

Ok, so I've put this together...

Is it any good?

I don't have a clue anymore!

divine · 28-04-2012, 17:27

I'm not entirely up to speed with this end of the market but i'd personally be looking at a Core i3 setup with 4GB RAM - I don't personally see much merit in 8GB yet, unless you're building some sort of editing powerhouse.

Dymetrie · 28-04-2012, 18:40

An i3 would push me over budget (at least double the price of the Llano!) and I'm kind of planning to sell off my old socket 939 parts to go towards funding an SSD or GFX card later in the year to get a bit more of a performance boost.

I've had a different setup (using a Pentium G840) suggested on Overclockers, which looks nice and solid (and a definite step up over my current system!) and that'll put me on the right socket to be able to slot in an i3/5/7 in the future if the munchkin stops costing as much

4GB of RAM is £25, 8GB is £40; so I'm happy to put the extra in for when I am doing RAM intensive tasks

I'll not be putting in my order until Friday, so if I can pull together some more funding then an i3 (at least) would certainly be something that I'd change to!

Feek · 29-04-2012, 11:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dymetrie

in the future if the munchkin stops costing as much

That never happens.

Dymetrie · 30-04-2012, 20:54

Actually...

With a few quid extra, this i3 build could well work

(obviously I'll not be paying for postage

)

Dymetrie · 04-05-2012, 18:40

Yay

Dymetrie · 11-05-2012, 13:09

Posted this on the blue place yesterday... Pretty damn pleased with the improvement (although yet to play any games

)

Original:

New:

Definitely think I'll be looking to pick up an SSD next

New SATA DVD drive (and Tangfastics

) has been delivered and will be installed tomorrow, most probably...

Feek · 11-05-2012, 16:11

That's a nice improvement - Is it still called Phoenix?

Dymetrie · 11-05-2012, 19:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feek

That's a nice improvement - Is it still called Phoenix?

It is, and the upgrade has knocked 10-15 degrees off the idle temps (although as it's an i3 the idle clock speed is half the full clock speed)

26-04-2012, 08:47	#1
Dymetrie A large glass of Merlot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Letchworth with a Lightsaber Posts: 5,819	Budget Upgrade Following some hangs whilst loading, some startup repairs, and a bit of slowdown of my whole system; I'm wondering if it may be time to look at upgrading my PC. Currently, I'm running Windows 7 x64 on an Athlon 64 X2 4200+ with 4GB DDR (just DDR, not 2 or 3 or a million) and an GeForce 8800 GT (512MB GDDR3) with a pair of 500GB HDD. On occasion I get some lag in games (this could also be partly down to the wireless desktop, though), but overall this little machine does us rather well Looking at a budget upgrade which to replace the tired old parts and put a bit of zing back into the machine. I currently have about £150 available and was considering just upgrading the mobo, processer and RAM (with an option to look at a decent sized SSD and a better GFX card when I have a bit more cash). As you can tell from my current machine, I'm slightly out of touch with what anything is, so some advice on something which will give better performance, but at low cost, would be much appreciated __________________ Khef, Ka and Ka-Tet.... Last edited by Dymetrie; 26-04-2012 at 08:51. Reason: Don't know my own processor, it seems!

27-04-2012, 07:44	#2
Dymetrie A large glass of Merlot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Letchworth with a Lightsaber Posts: 5,819	Ok, so I've put this together... Is it any good? I don't have a clue anymore! __________________ Khef, Ka and Ka-Tet....

28-04-2012, 17:27	#3
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	I'm not entirely up to speed with this end of the market but i'd personally be looking at a Core i3 setup with 4GB RAM - I don't personally see much merit in 8GB yet, unless you're building some sort of editing powerhouse. __________________

28-04-2012, 18:40	#4
Dymetrie A large glass of Merlot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Letchworth with a Lightsaber Posts: 5,819	An i3 would push me over budget (at least double the price of the Llano!) and I'm kind of planning to sell off my old socket 939 parts to go towards funding an SSD or GFX card later in the year to get a bit more of a performance boost. I've had a different setup (using a Pentium G840) suggested on Overclockers, which looks nice and solid (and a definite step up over my current system!) and that'll put me on the right socket to be able to slot in an i3/5/7 in the future if the munchkin stops costing as much 4GB of RAM is £25, 8GB is £40; so I'm happy to put the extra in for when I am doing RAM intensive tasks I'll not be putting in my order until Friday, so if I can pull together some more funding then an i3 (at least) would certainly be something that I'd change to! __________________ Khef, Ka and Ka-Tet....

30-04-2012, 20:54	#6
Dymetrie A large glass of Merlot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Letchworth with a Lightsaber Posts: 5,819	Actually... With a few quid extra, this i3 build could well work (obviously I'll not be paying for postage ) __________________ Khef, Ka and Ka-Tet.... Last edited by Dymetrie; 30-04-2012 at 20:59.

04-05-2012, 18:40	#7
Dymetrie A large glass of Merlot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Letchworth with a Lightsaber Posts: 5,819	Yay __________________ Khef, Ka and Ka-Tet....

11-05-2012, 13:09	#8
Dymetrie A large glass of Merlot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Letchworth with a Lightsaber Posts: 5,819	Posted this on the blue place yesterday... Pretty damn pleased with the improvement (although yet to play any games ) Original: New: Definitely think I'll be looking to pick up an SSD next New SATA DVD drive (and Tangfastics ) has been delivered and will be installed tomorrow, most probably... __________________ Khef, Ka and Ka-Tet....

11-05-2012, 16:11	#9
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	That's a nice improvement - Is it still called Phoenix? __________________