budget upgrade spec please

didgemaster · 25 Apr 2010 at 16:14

Hi all

My old man's PC has given up the ghost and its really too old to start changing out parts - I want to change the guts of it cheaply. He uses it for writing documents and surfing the web (plays yahoo bridge a lot) so nothing demanding

I already have the case, PSU, AMD Athlon II X4 620 and an 8800gt I will need a Motherboard, RAM and a wireless card to go with these - at present he has 2X 160gb HDD in RAID 1 configuration which I would like to be able to setup on his new build

Can you spec some components please looking to do it for about £120

Thanks in advance

mrfun1981 · 25 Apr 2010 at 16:28

I doubt it very much that you will be able to get the parts from here with that budget, it might be best if you look at getting some 2nd hand parts

iTek · 25 Apr 2010 at 16:32

Are you preferring to use DDR3 or DDR2?

I would recommend looking the MM section. You could easy get a AM2+ bundle for that money.

BTW the 620 is what i'm using, very good budget chip

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 25 Apr 2010 at 18:03

didgemaster said:
Hi all

My old man's PC has given up the ghost and its really too old to start changing out parts - I want to change the guts of it cheaply. He uses it for writing documents and surfing the web (plays yahoo bridge a lot) so nothing demanding

I already have the case, PSU, AMD Athlon II X4 620 and an 8800gt I will need a Motherboard, RAM and a wireless card to go with these - at present he has 2X 160gb HDD in RAID 1 configuration which I would like to be able to setup on his new build

Can you spec some components please looking to do it for about £120

Thanks in advance

I would look at these parts:

Gigabyte GA-MA78LMT-S2 ~ £56

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-253-GI&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1481

OR

Asus M4A78LT-M LE ~ £58

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-373-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1481

Corsair Value Select 2GB (1x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz ~ £55

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-234-CS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=

Sweex LW312 300Mbps Wireless PCI Network Adapter ~ £17

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-000-SX&groupid=46&catid=1597&subcat=

However the RAM will be only running in single channel mode.

I would also look at the MSI 770-C45 and MSI 770-G45 motherboards too.

didgemaster · 26 Apr 2010 at 07:26

With and AMD Athlon II X4 620 does DDR2/DDR3 make a huge difference in performance? This seems to be the major decision that I have to make

iTek · 26 Apr 2010 at 07:58

Will you be running the chip at stock speeds I.e. 2.6ghz?

didgemaster · 26 Apr 2010 at 08:09

iTek said:
Will you be running the chip at stock speeds I.e. 2.6ghz?

I had heard that 3GHz is quite easily obtainable - so I will possibly be overclocking. would the main reason for going DDR3 be the ability to overclock

iTek · 26 Apr 2010 at 08:19

No not at all...

I am using DDR2 1066Mhz memory as you can see from my signature i'm at 3.5Ghz.

3Ghz is a good starting block, it will require no extra voltage infact you will be able to reduce the vcore voltage if you want to.

I personally find my DDR2 memory excellent for all my needs, I suppose the DDR3 option will future proof your system for you, with the introduction of these new 6 Core AMD processors, I don't if they will support AM2+ Motherboards someone might know?

Its all about budget, you will be able to get 4gb of memory for close to £50 (DDR2) a Motherboard for £50 (AM2+) and then your wireless card.

didgemaster · 26 Apr 2010 at 13:16

iTek said:
4gb of memory for close to £50 (DDR2)

where? could you mail me a link, the only places that show that price on google are out of stock with no eta 4GB DDR2 800 is around £80!

Marine-RX179 · 26 Apr 2010 at 15:14

CAT-THE-FIFTH said:
I would also look at the MSI 770-C45 and MSI 770-G45 motherboards too.

Yea. The MSI 770-C45 is a decent board that's a good overclocker, usings DDR3 rams as well as priced at just around £50. It's a real shame that OcUK doesn't sell it.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 26 Apr 2010 at 15:17

There is even a DDR2 version of the MSI 770-C45 too.