What are the options here please

stone · 10 Sep 2011 at 21:01

Hi

Have the below which I dont really want to refit with a new system just want to revamp / freshen it up as I think it will run for a while yet what do you think ??

psu OCZ 600
Asus P5q rev1
Intel Q6600
ATI HD3600
2 x 2kit OCZ PC2 6400 in (000 & 002) using 3328

Windows XP SP3

Use no gaming, photoshop and video editing.

Will putting SSd in be of benefit (currently 2 x 500 gig Sami in raid and a seperate scratch for PS)

If I up the ram will I benefit if so which & how much bearing in mind I will upgrade to new system later.

Be greatfull

Stone

R088ieS86 · 10 Sep 2011 at 21:05

Exactly what you said.
Up the RAM to 8GB and add an SSD is the best way to see decent results from your rig.

Put your OS and programs on the SSD, keep the 2x500GB for data / backup drives and obviously keep the scratch disk for a scratch disk.

stone · 10 Sep 2011 at 21:14

Thought I might be on the right lines.

I need a little help really on which ssd and ram so I could take it forward to Gen 3 when I rebuild which is on the horizon

Predicament · 10 Sep 2011 at 22:10

Doubling your RAM would be step 1

Reaper 392 · 10 Sep 2011 at 22:10

the motherboard (almost certainly) doesnt have any SATA 6GB/s sockets. it also uses DDR2 which is very expensive compared to the dirt cheap DDR3. so, yes you will see a benefit from the extra RAM if your doing big enough stuff on photoshop to use more than 4GB, but it will be a relatively expensive upgrade (£50) that you couldnt carry over to your next rig. also the SSD will be slowed down a lot by the SATA 3GB/s ports. it will be the same speed as the older SATA 3GB/s drives until you upgrade your motherboard

*edit*
i think the main question to ask is will you get a better upgrade by spending £185 on an SSD and another 4GB DDR2 kit or by spending £205 more on an i3 2100, 8GB RAM and a new motherboard.
since ive never used photoshop, the Q6600, the i3 2100 or an SSD in my life i cant exactly answer that one

Predicament · 10 Sep 2011 at 22:14

Reaper 392 said:
the motherboard (almost certainly) doesnt have any SATA 6GB/s sockets. it also uses DDR2 which is very expensive compared to the dirt cheap DDR3. so, yes you will see a benefit from the extra RAM if your doing big enough stuff on photoshop to use more than 4GB, but it will be a relatively expensive upgrade (£50) that you couldnt carry over to your next rig. also the SSD will be slowed down a lot by the SATA 3GB/s ports. it will be the same speed as the older SATA 3GB/s drives until you upgrade your motherboard

The £50 is relatively inexpensive compared with a £250+ upgrade if you went with an i5

The performance gain is massive however

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/53?vs=288

Reaper 392 · 10 Sep 2011 at 22:18

Predicament said:
The £50 is relatively inexpensive compared with a £250+ upgrade if you went with an i5

The performance gain is massive however
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/53?vs=288

ooh, i forgot anandtech did a benchmark involving photoshop. if you check my edit you'll see that an i3 2100 + motherboard + 8GB RAM is pretty much the same price as 4GB DDR2 RAM and an SSD. an i5 2500k and a p67 motherboard would push that up another £80

the reason i said it was expensive is because you couldnt carry it over to another upgrade

R088ieS86 · 10 Sep 2011 at 22:21

For now I'd get some 2nd hand 2x2GB DDR2 sticks.
As for the SSD get a new one capable of using the SATA 6GB/s ports and speed. You will notice the difference even @ SATA2 speeds! Have a look at the Crucial M4 range
And the good news it can only get quicker when you upgrade your rig!