Should I update my current rig???

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ea216363

Weaksauce
Joined
May 19, 2009
Messages
80
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
More or less general use with a bit of everything...getting into SLR and photography, gaming (Steam games i.e COD, CS etc...)
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
<400. Ideally tax and shipping to the minimum considering I live in CA
3) Where do you live?
CA
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.
Up to you guys depending on priority in terms of NEEDING to be upgrading (will explain below)
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
SEE BOTTOM
6) Will you be overclocking?
Yes if need be, send me links NOOB OC'er here :)
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
Currently running on 40" Samsung 120hz LCD HDTV
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Sooner the better
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
SEE BOTTOM
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? 32bit or 64bit?
64 Bit Windows 7 Home Premium


Sapphire 4830 w/ HDMI
BFG 550w
Corsair 4gb XMS2
Xigmatek XLF 120mm case fans (2)
AMD Phenom x3 710 2.6ghz w/ ASUS M3A76 Micro ATx mobo
WD 640gb HDD
Samsung DVD burner w/ lightscribe



Alrighty so ive had my comp for awhile now and it seems a bit sluggish im looking to strengthen it a little bit idk it just feels outdated to me haha
tidbits:
- recently reinstalled Win7 64 bit ....no bloatware or any junk in my comp just the essential apps and music
- 4 gb ram is that plenty or is it overkill to go 8gb
- PSU wise im looking to get a modular PSU... saw the corsair 650 not unless theres a better modular PSU :)
- graphics card wise can i upgrade it to something a little more beefy.... idk like 5830 haha err haha ... or maybe recommend an NVIDIA one
- CPU end... should i overclock my Phenom X3 710 (heard about 4th core unlocking) ...or can i move up ... is Phenom X4 worth an upgrade???
Any recommendations for CPU coolers.... looked into Corsair H50 or even the v8 although the size of that cooler migth be cutting it close within my Cooler Master 341 case
- SSD wise... i was thinking maybe an Intel 40gb x25-v would be sufficient enough... err or should i just save a couple bucks and go for the 80gb version... also looked previously into OCZ agility series but from what i read intel ssd are the cream of the crop at this point in time... or i could just go with another 640gb and run it in RAID?
- Fan controller... any recommendations looking for 3.5" slot

Thanks guys!
 
Considering the fact that's a DDR2 based setup, going for 8GB of RAM would have been a stupid waste of money. Besides, you don't need 8GB of RAM for the uses you've described. With that mobo, unlocking is impossible and overclocking will be extremely limited.

Just upgrade the video card to the XFX HD 5850 or XFX HD 4890 and you'll be set in the GPU department. That LS-550 PSU will be fine. The HD 5830 isn't at the right price point right now IMO to buy. No Nvidia card is at the right price point to warrant the upgrade costs from a HD 4830.

SSD wise, assuming that you upgrade the GPU to either the HD 4890 or HD 5850, that doesn't leave you with much cash to get a SSD. Since you're not exactly focused with your PC usage, can't really recommend a SSD in the first place. As for whether or nto to go with RAID 0, do you have backups of your data? If so, if you do get a second 640GB drive, RTFM on how to setup a RAID 0 array. Do note that RAID 0 only speeds up load times. So if shaving off a few seconds off your load times is important, go RAID 0. But again, make sure you have backups of your important data.
 
Have you tried unlocking with that Asus board? Set ACC to AUTO and EC Firmware to Hybrid, reboot, test, and then OC! ;)
 
haha nah never tried *NOOB!* but i think i should
think i saw a nice ocz agility/vertex ssd for some good prices lately...though if im gonna bite the bullet and get an SSD itll prolly be an 80gb Intel x25m

havent seen too many 5850s around what gives....is the thing like super limited or something hahah is it a downgrade to go with a 5770?
 
I Would probably go with a 5770 & a 40 GB SSD. Also are you going to need a larger case. How much room do you have in your case now since your running mATX.
 
yea ive been thinking of moving in that direction money wise..

case wise ive been frustrated in that if you want a small case it should be of the cube variety (well a Lian Li Q07 would prolly be the exception) ... my cooler master 341 isnt very appealing but it gets the job done haha... like the build for my brother i was very interested in the Lancool K62 with the Cooler Master 310 as a last resort haha

Plus ive been looking still at a modular supply for awhile now...been wanting to take the plunge and go Corsair
 
I Think your wants/needs are greater then your budget.. I Wouold probably do things in stages as you got the money. Start with your initial 400 being a Case, PSU & Video Card. That would allow some flexability & later do the next parts.. Next I would say would probably be a SSD & Then a New Mobo, CPU, Memory setup.. That will do your foundation (being PSU & Case) & whats going to give you the biggest performance gain 1st (being the Video Card).

Also the Lian Li PC-Q07 is a MiniITX. You would need to start from scratch to do it as you would need a new motherboard & most likely have to change to an intel Build.
 
 
I am partial to XFX over the others so I would say fo with them. Also though the one I linked has a different cooler on it & I think it would be a little quieter, not to mention its a few bucks cheaper.
 
bastage said:
I Would probably go with a 5770 & a 40 GB SSD. Also are you going to need a larger case. How much room do you have in your case now since your running mATX.
Click to expand...

idk if i would be one to necessarily need crossfire to play games.... i would assume i could get by easily with a strong single GPU ...

case wise... my CM Elite 341 has about 3-4 inches max till it hits near the front case fan so i would think something like a 5770 could fit no problem... then again idk how the end power cable will fit in there

i was thinking of going with a lancool k62 and buying the graphics card first then working towards an SSD and possibly new cpu err but maybe thats not in the near future well see as prices change...
 
I'd only recommend the HIS if one was so budget cramped that they can't afford the extra $10 for the $160 XFX that bastage linked to. Otherwise, pass on HIS.

That $190 Sapphire HD 5770 is a shitty deal considering that for $20 more, you can get the significantly faster HD 4890. I'd also pass on the $175 Sapphire card mainly because it's a Sapphire card.

As for which of the XFX cards to go for, depends on which cooler design you like most. I've used both and the temperatures are virtually the same AFAIK.
 
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Just an idea of what my setup is like haha... i was thinking of later expanding and getting an L-shaped desk for the corner with a monitor and dual output connecting it to the tv just in case i want 40" gaming view or i can always dim it down and lower it to just a 20-24" LCD monitor hehe

dnt mind the ugly cable management up front, swear it was much cleaner looking before i got my media carder reader...

as you can see my case is way outdated looks retro with that ugly grey haha
 
oooh pics! grey is still better than beige. black spraypaint can give it a more updated look, though. :p
 
theres like 3 different versions of the 5770 i think ... is that purely for looks or what?

man they had the intel x25v 40gb ssd for under a bill and they just sold out too! ...too bad i live in CA tax woulda negated the sale anyways haha


yea my case makes me sad haha really does need black paint tho ;)
 
bastage said:
I Would probably go with a 5770 & a 40 GB SSD. Also are you going to need a larger case. How much room do you have in your case now since your running mATX.
Click to expand...

i second this. if you can get a deal on a 4890 through eBay or here it would be an improvement on the 5770
 
good point...

u knoe i was thinking of just crossfire with another 4830 but my mobo doesnt support LAME! haha

was kind of curious on an SSD with that new Silverstone adapter that couples with an HDD but ill wait on that heh


i just bought some items to mod the side panel for window kit so well see how that goes
 
If i were you I'd upgrade the mobo, get Zalman Flex or Quiet cooler and overclock that cpu (maybe even it could unlock into x4 ?) .
After that i'd look around for cheap second hand gtx 260 or 4870/4890 or if you can go for new 5850.
 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130269

how bout this one...i was reading that crossfire 4830s would be up to par with a 4890 card... only thing with that is, with the linked mobo i wonder what kind of clearance i would have cause theres a pci express x1 slot in between and i have a dlink wireless card that fits in those slots...looks like it would be a tight fit and probably not good temps wise
 
i would just upgrade the video card and get an SSD.. so when u do get a new ocmputers, these 2 components can me used
 
ea216363 said:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130269

how bout this one...i was reading that crossfire 4830s would be up to par with a 4890 card... only thing with that is, with the linked mobo i wonder what kind of clearance i would have cause theres a pci express x1 slot in between and i have a dlink wireless card that fits in those slots...looks like it would be a tight fit and probably not good temps wise
Click to expand...

That board is a nogo for your purpose.. Thats an AM3 Board which would mean new CPU & Ram..

There isnt a decent mobo with 2x pci X slots in mATX form factor. (only one is a jetway which I dont exactly trust).. So again your back to a Video Card & Maybe a SSD. With all the SSD deals in the hot deals forum though you should be able to squeeze in an upgrade to a 80gb SSD or a 5830 for the video though..
 
There's no point in crossfire for 4830 if you sold the one you have you could probably buy 5770 or 4890 anyway.
And one powerfull card is always better than two slower ones (driver problems, heat, power usage)
 
couple items ive been noticing...

- my PSU is way too loud...sounds like a jet engine idk the thing that gets me mad for some reason *who wouldnt be mad if it sounds so loud* so ive been looking around for a more quiet and stronger PSU (maybe time to just upgrade to corsair modular :)

- tempted to try OC on my mobo so possibly looking now to get the right CPU Cooler for a good price (one of you mentioned the Zalman flex) ... how about the Xigmatek Red Scorpion or Tuniq Tower Extreme... so many CPU coolers to choose from... reviews sway to various ways.. kind of partial to xigmatek only bc i got like (2) 120mm led fans by them haha :D
...i havent yet measured my clearance so nothing too big haha


- just bought acrylic glass panel and other gear to mod my side panel for a nice window :)
 
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