Fast PC for basic use!

tomdoughnut · 25 Nov 2015 at 19:59

Hi everyone!

I'd like to think I'm pretty good at choosing out parts when it comes to higher end PC's but I really don't know what to pick when it comes to lower end systems.

My mum uses her PC like most mums, browses the web, looks at pictures and videos etc. She does however sell a lot on ebay and therefore usually has loads of tabs open, images open and so on. She currently has an OK PC. Here are the main parts

Specs

CPU - AMD Athlon II X2 220
RAM - 4GB DDR3
Integrated Graphics (Nvidia)

I just added an SSD to her system and obvioulsy it's much faster but it still struggles a bit when opening lots of tabs and such. I was just wondering what else would be worth upgrading. Would it be worth upgrading the CPU, adding more RAM and/or adding a dedicated GPU. If anyone can help and give me some adive I would be super happy!

Many thanks,

Tom

mickyflinn · 25 Nov 2015 at 20:07

What motherboard is it ?

tomdoughnut · 25 Nov 2015 at 21:06

Think it's called the DA061L-3D. Here's a link to a page that's selling it for a better look http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Acer-eMac...DA061L-3D-09178-1M-48-3BU01-01M-/300809408000

Threepwood · 25 Nov 2015 at 21:38

More ram for lots of open tabs yeah.

The slowdown you are experiencing is when you run out of system ram and the system has to dip into virtual memory.

lude1962 · 25 Nov 2015 at 21:57

CPU - AMD Athlon II X2 220, Sockets Socket AM2+
Socket AM3

you need to recheck the board model etc, very limited upgrade options for am2+/am3 cpu wise

lude1962 · 25 Nov 2015 at 22:10

may be worth cpu and mobo upgrade

My basket at Overclockers UK:

1 x Intel Pentium K Anniversary G3258 Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail= £53.99
1 x Asus H81M-K Intel H81 (Socket 1150) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard= £39.95

Total: £103.84
(includes shipping: £9.90)

old amd Single Thread Rating 938, CPU Mark 1653
Pentium " 2175, " 4003

tomdoughnut · 25 Nov 2015 at 22:32

Thanks for the help so far guys.

I was thinking something like this then

My basket at Overclockers UK:

1 x Intel Pentium K Anniversary G3258 Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail= £53.99
1 x Asus H81M-K Intel H81 (Socket 1150) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard= £39.95
1 x Kingston HyperX Savage Red 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-19200C11 2400MHz Dual Channel Kit (HX324C11SRK2/8)= £38.99
1 x Fractal Design Core 1000 USB2 Midi Tower Case - Black= £26.99

Total: £171.02
(includes shipping: £11.10)

I can get some of the components cheaper at other places and I'll be waiting for the black Friday deals before I buy anything but this will probably be pretty much what I go for in the end. Would it be worth getting a GPU then? And if so which one?

Threepwood · 26 Nov 2015 at 11:33

The G3258 is a great little CPU, and I would defo recommend it.

You will be able to overclock it to 4.0-4.2 with that board and with the stock cooler.

I doubt your Mum will need to add a gpu.