HDD + RAM for old PC

Nameless_87 · 14 Feb 2017 at 08:50

Hi,

My home PC is a bit old (the one in my sig) but is still working fine for the most part, so I'm trying to extend its life for another year or two. I only use my PC to watch movies, convert some blu-rays that I buy into mkv, browsing, social media, etc, so nothing that heavy.

I've been out of the tech game for years now, so not really sure what to look for.

1. One of my storage HDD just went kaput (a lot of bad sectors), so I'm looking for a 2TB one for storage. Any ideas?

2. Also, RAM is only 6GB (6GB Corsair Dominator DDR3, PC3-12800 (1600) CAS 8). Was thinking to change that and put in 2 x 8GB ones, but not sure what my motherboard will handle.
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5
CPU: i7 920 D0 (overclocked to 4GHz)

3. One last thing, the sound card I have... Auzentech X-Fi Forte, ever since I upgraded to windows 10, I canot get it to work properly. Sound comes out the speakers, but not the headphones, and I can't get its software to work. Anyone know where I can get windows 10 compatible software for this sound card?

4. The other option is to sod all and go for a new CPU + RAM + MOBO + SSD + Storage HDD. Don't need GFX as I don't play games anymore, the case and PSU I can re-use. The SSD is only SATA 2 so I would want to change that one.

Any help on the above points is appreciated!

Tealc · 14 Feb 2017 at 11:50

I recently upgraded my RAM from 3 x 2GB to 3 x 4GB. I read somewhere that the support on the ex58-ud5 is only for 4GB per module so wasn't going to risk it. In the end I bought 4 sticks of RAM and only use 3 sticks. I don't use more than about 9GB in gaming so 12GB is fine. If in the near future I find 12GB insufficient I can always go dual channel and use all 4 sticks.

I got my RAM off the MM so just grabbed whichever DDR3 1600MHz came along, so it's a bit slower than the CAS 9 I originally had. Apparently this has very little effect on gaming so it doesn't matter to me.

Lemin · 14 Feb 2017 at 12:43

Supports 3 channel DDR3 2100+ memory, could get 3 4gig sticks, but wouldnt bother myself.

My basket at Overclockers UK:

1 x Seagate BarraCuda 2TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache HDD - OEM (ST2000DM006)= £67.99

Total: £76.69
(includes shipping: £8.70)

Nameless_87 · 14 Feb 2017 at 13:32

So regarding RAM, I would need to get 3 sticks of 4GB since it's tripple channel?

And which ones should I get?

ubersonic · 14 Feb 2017 at 14:47

Nameless_87 said:
So regarding RAM, I would need to get 3 sticks of 4GB since it's tripple channel?

No, put two sticks in a tri/quad channel board and it will simply run in dual channel, put 4 in a tri-channel board and it will again run in dual channel (have to put them in the right slots IIRC). 2x4GB will work fine and give no performance loss compared to 3x2GB*, if you wanted to be super cheap about it you could just grab a used 2GB stick for peanuts to get 4x2GB.

*Not "technically" true, however it is in practice (if you were doing anything that actually made use of having three channels you would have been forced to upgrade to a newer system by now).

Nameless_87 · 14 Feb 2017 at 15:40

But what if I want 12GB minimum?

Is it good to go with 3x4GB triple channel?
Or better to go with 2x 8GB dual channel RAM for example?

At the moment I have 3x2GB triple channel.

The board has 6 RAM slots.

Edit - nvm, forgot that 1366 boards don't officially support 8GB, so I might go with 3x4GB as they are not that expensive

pandem0nium · 14 Feb 2017 at 18:37

Try these drivers for the sound card.

http://danielkawakami.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/sb-x-fi-series-support-pack-37.html

Tealc · 14 Feb 2017 at 18:45

Check you RAM usage when using the machine. It doesn't sound like you really need more than 6GB if you are only ripping, browsing and viewing movies.

Personally I only needed more for gaming. I didn't come close to the 6GB with anything else.

Nameless_87 · 15 Feb 2017 at 08:04

pandem0nium said:
Try these drivers for the sound card.

http://danielkawakami.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/sb-x-fi-series-support-pack-37.html

Thanks, will try them out!

Tealc said:
Check you RAM usage when using the machine. It doesn't sound like you really need more than 6GB if you are only ripping, browsing and viewing movies.

Personally I only needed more for gaming. I didn't come close to the 6GB with anything else.

I checked usage yesterday while watching a movie and ripping at the same time. Peak was at about 4.5GB out of 6GB.

ubersonic · 15 Feb 2017 at 12:56

Nameless_87 said:
But what if I want 12GB minimum?

Simple/cheap solution is to buy a 2x4GB kit and combine it with two of the 2GB sticks so you have 6GB in two channels.

I.E put a 4GB stick in the first slots of channels 1 and 2, then put a 2GB stick in the second slots of channels 1 and 2.

MassiveJim · 15 Feb 2017 at 13:41

HDD, really depends on your budget.
if you can stretch to a WD Black then the increased performance and 5 yr warranty win it hands down for me.
that and the fact that generally they are more reliable.

Habakkuk · 17 Feb 2017 at 08:36

I recommend the WD Black hard drive as well - they're the industry leader.

The Green and Blue lines were combined into the Blue line recently, so if your funds don't stretch you could get a Blue drive instead.

You'll go from a 5 year warranty to a 3 year warranty though.