• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

Need help upgrading system

Chevy-SS

Chevy-SS

Limp Gawd
Joined
Feb 5, 2007
Messages
310
My current computer is in need of an upgrade.
Also, it's time to migrate away from Windows XP to Windows 7.
So, in summary, I need recommendations for:
* Mobo
* CPU
* Ram
* SSD

Many thanks for any help! Dave F. in Rhode Island
-----------------------------------------------------------------

1) What will you be doing with this PC?
Some gaming, office work, and some graphics

2) What's your budget?
Budget at around $600 to $700

3) Which country do you live in?
I live in USA (Rhode Island)

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
Asus A8N SLI S939 Deluxe mobo - REPLACE
AMD x2 4800+ CPU - REPLACE
2GB Patriot DDR ram - REPLACE
SSD - want a good one, around 100GB
Win XP Pro - REPLACE with Windows 7


5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
Case (unknown brand - would prefer to reuse this, pic below)
Antec True 550 EPS 12v - REUSING
EVGA GTX460SE 1GB - REUSING
1+ Terabyte HD total - REUSING for storage
Dell 3007WFP Monitor - REUSING


6) Will you be overclocking?
NO

7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
2560x1600 , Dell 3007WFP 30"

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
ASAP

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video (as a backup or main GPU)? UEFI? etc.
No extra features needed

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
NO. I want Windows 7 Home Premium

Here a pic of the case. I think my current mobo (Asus A8N SLI S939 Deluxe) is standard ATX, but not sure. I really like this case so I'd like to keep it:
Home_comp_side_view.jpg
 
Last edited:
The case does look like standard ATX to me.

What is that card I see in the bottom of your case? do you intend on reusing it?

Given your budget i'd think it makes sense to get an haswell i5. May as well go for the top non-k model as the price difference across the range seems fairly small.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116898 i5-4670- $220

Since you won't be overclocking and don't need any special motherboard features there is no point in spending vast ammounts on the motherboard. On the other hand you seem like the kind of person who keeps computers for a while so going too low and giving your self no expansion room doesn't seem like a great idea either. Something like

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128629 Gigabyte GA-B85-HD3 $89

For ram i'd just get the cheapest 2x4GBGB kit I could find from a reputable brand
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148543 2x4GB $57

Win7 home premium OEM will add another $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

Total so far about $470

I'll let someone else make reccomendations on the SSD.
 
Another thing, do I see a floppy drive in there? if so do you want to keep it?

Because if so that may mean a far more careful process of choosing a motherboard.
 
And what about the optical drive(s)? if they are IDE ones then you are likely to need to either replace them, get a controller card or look very hard for a motherboard with IDE.
 
No need for an i5-4670 when the i5 4570 will preform just as good. You're not gonna notice a 200 Mhz difference.

Get a 2x8GB kit not a 2x4GB kit. You're limiting yourself from future growth. With a 2x8GB kit, you'll be able to max out at 32GB should you need to in the future.

Get the Samsung 840 250GB SSD.

I also highly recommend you replacing that rats nest of a PC case with something much better, such as the NZXT Source 210 Elite case for around $50.
 
In addition to what Skillz and plugwash has said so far (especially about the case), you will be needing a new PSU as that PSU is quite old and wasn't that high quality in the first place when it was released. I recommend getting the XFX 550W from Amazon.com for $62:
http://www.amazon.com/XFX-ATX-550-Power-Supply/dp/B004RJ8EKI/
 
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
the case is a Chieftec Dragon (or given the Antec PSU, probably their variant, SX1040 or whatever). I imagine 50% of us owned one at one point. I did and 3 of my friends did as well. One of them still uses it with a Sandy Bridge setup.

I always found the HDD cages a bit annoying especially with a long video card, but for the most part the case has a decent amount of space inside it.
 
dandragonrage said:
the case is a Chieftec Dragon (or given the Antec PSU, probably their variant, SX1040 or whatever). I imagine 50% of us owned one at one point. I did and 3 of my friends did as well. One of them still uses it with a Sandy Bridge setup.

I always found the HDD cages a bit annoying especially with a long video card, but for the most part the case has a decent amount of space inside it.
Click to expand...

Never owned one but I've worked on enough PCs with those exact cases to know that their cooling isn't the best for a modern PC.
 
Seeing as how quality cases can be had for real cheap there is no point at all in keeping that case. Just the cable management features in modern cases alone is worth the $50 for the case I recommended.
 
Danny Bui: Never owned one but I've worked on enough PCs with those exact cases to know that their cooling isn't the best for a modern PC.
Click to expand...

Since all the fans are 80mm at best in that case, I agree time to replace the case...
 
LOL, I knew I'd get my chops busted about the "rat's nest". That's OK, I'm strictly a part-timer when it comes to building computers. :)

So, here's my revised parts list, based on all you guys great comments. Thanks very much for the help!!

http://www.amazon.com/NZXT-Source-2...68&sr=1-2&keywords=NZXT+Source+210+Elite+case ; NZXT Source 210 Elite case $50

http://www.amazon.com/XFX-ATX-550-Power-Supply/dp/B004RJ8EKI/?tag=hardfocom-20 - ; XFX 550W PS from Amazon $61

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E36XNQ0?tag=intercept-kb-20 ; Gigabyte GA-B85-HD3 $89

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-i5-4570...e=UTF8&qid=1378330250&sr=1-1&keywords=i5-4570 ; i5-4570- $189

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006YG9EEW/?tag=hardfocom-20 ; Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB Kit (8GBx2) DDR3 $115

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-120GB...8330997&sr=1-5&keywords=Samsung+840+250GB+SSD ; Samsung 840 Series 2.5 inch 120GB SATA $90

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004V9AMI6/?tag=hardfocom-20 ; Mushkin Enhanced 3.5-Inch to 2.5-Inch Drive Adapter $5

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CE58ZYC?tag=intercept-kb-20 ; Samsung Optical Drive SH-224DB/BEBE $21

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004Q0PT3I?tag=intercept-kb-20 ; Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64bit (OEM) $91

Can someone give me a direct link to the correct ram? I'd like to get 2x8 (done!)

I don't need a floppy drive, but I guess I might have to grab an optical drive, as mine are IDE. What's the interface nowadays - SATA? (SATA optical drive added to list!)

Many thanks
 
Last edited:
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
IMO keep the case. These people are making a fuss over nothing. Computers are getting more efficient now. 80mm fans do the job just fine even if 120mm are a bit better. You don't need a million CFM of airflow. Main issue with this case is using long video cards while keeping both hard drive cages and, for some people, the overall size of it. Some of you guys are just too damn fickle.

If you were buying a case, this case is obviously not the one to buy today. But honestly, I'd have saved some money if I just stuck with mine because it WORKS JUST FINE!
 
dandragonrage said:
IMO keep the case. These people are making a fuss over nothing. Computers are getting more efficient now. 80mm fans do the job just fine even if 120mm are a bit better. You don't need a million CFM of airflow. Main issue with this case is using long video cards while keeping both hard drive cages and, for some people, the overall size of it. Some of you guys are just too damn fickle.

If you were buying a case, this case is obviously not the one to buy today. But honestly, I'd have saved some money if I just stuck with mine because it WORKS JUST FINE!
Click to expand...

Yeah man, I agree with you. ;) But it appears I can build a whole new computer for only an extra hundred bucks or so (case & PS). This gives me a fully functional spare computer to use in my garage or something. Thanks.................
 
Last edited:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006YG9EEW/?tag=hardfocom-20

Yes you'll need an SATA optical drive if you intend to install windows with it. You could borrow one from another computer then put it back if you have a SATA drive laying around otherwise they're under $20. Just get the cheapest you can find. They're all made by the same company basically.
 
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
dandragonrage said:
IMO keep the case. These people are making a fuss over nothing. Computers are getting more efficient now. 80mm fans do the job just fine even if 120mm are a bit better. You don't need a million CFM of airflow. Main issue with this case is using long video cards while keeping both hard drive cages and, for some people, the overall size of it. Some of you guys are just too damn fickle.

If you were buying a case, this case is obviously not the one to buy today. But honestly, I'd have saved some money if I just stuck with mine because it WORKS JUST FINE!
Click to expand...

Excuse us for having standards:D
 
I recommend switching out your motherboard to the MSI B85-G41 PC MATE ($79). It has all of the same (key) features as the Gigabyte GA-B85-HD3 for less.

I second Skillz' RAM recommendation.

Grab this DVD burner while it's on sale:

$15 - Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE SATA DVD burner (included $5 discount promo code EMCXLXT226, expires 9/9)

If you're reusing your old case, you'll need a mounting adapter or bracket for SSD. You can find some that support either one drive or two.
 
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
tiraides said:
I recommend switching out your motherboard to the MSI B85-G41 PC MATE ($79). It has all of the same (key) features as the Gigabyte GA-B85-HD3 for less.

I second Skillz' RAM recommendation.

Grab this DVD burner while it's on sale:

$15 - Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE SATA DVD burner (included $5 discount promo code EMCXLXT226, expires 9/9)

If you're reusing your old case, you'll need a mounting adapter or bracket for SSD. You can find some that support either one drive or two.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much! I added most of your stuff to my list. As far as the mobo goes, I don't care about $10 here or there. But thanks for the thought!

Dave
 
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
plugwash said:
Another thing, do I see a floppy drive in there? if so do you want to keep it?

Because if so that may mean a far more careful process of choosing a motherboard.
Click to expand...

Many thanks plugwash! I added virtually all of your stuff to the list. That floppy is just a remnant from an 8-year old build, LOL. I hate floppies, and so does my girlfriend..... ;)
 
Chevy-SS said:
Thank you very much! I added most of your stuff to my list. As far as the mobo goes, I don't care about $10 here or there. But thanks for the thought!

Dave
Click to expand...

I know that there's only a $10 to $15 difference between the board, but Amazon has the MSI B85-G41 PC MATE in stock. You're grabbing the Gigabyte GA-B85-HD3 from a third party (Circuit City, which is part of the Tiger Direct chain of computer stores), so there's no guarantee that you'll have free shipping when you finally make your purchase.

Switching gears, when are you going to buy a new video card? I can't imagine the GTX 460 being that great at a 2560x1600 resolution.
 
tiraides said:
.....Switching gears, when are you going to buy a new video card? I can't imagine the GTX 460 being that great at a 2560x1600 resolution.
Click to expand...


Well, I'm not much of a gamer these days. Battlefield 2 is about all I play right now, and even that is very limited. I am guessing that these new parts will easily accomodate a new card, when needed???

Thanks
 
tiraides said:
Switching gears, when are you going to buy a new video card? I can't imagine the GTX 460 being that great at a 2560x1600 resolution.
Click to expand...

Heh, yeah, could be better. I use a GTX 460 768MB (remember, the 1GB model was fairly faster than mine) and I play World of Tanks at 2560x1440... had to turn settings down from high @ 1080p to mostly medium @ 2560x1440. A lot of games would be even more difficult than WoT. Personally just waiting on Maxwell before I consider an upgrade... Kepler isn't an impressive enough upgrade over Fermi.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top