Potentially upgrading

Jano

Jano

Jano

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Joined
31 Mar 2009
Posts
2,383
Location
Basingstoke, UK
I'm starting to have a few issues with my pc - Windows not booting due to a dodgy sata connection on the Mobo, USB 3.0 has never worked... While these issues aren't really the end of the world as a wiggle of the sata cable fixes the boot issue and I don't really use any USB 3.0 items, I'm wondering if it's time to upgrade. I don't think theres been too much in the way of improvements in the last 4 years or so but I could be wrong. Anyway, the system currently is -

Corsair 600t, no need to change this.
ASRock Z68 Extreme4 Gen3 Intel Z68 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard
Intel Core i5-2500K 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - Retail
two crucial SSD's, M4 128gb for Windows and programs, V4? I think 256gb for some games and a 2tb HDD for everything else.
Noctua NH-D14
EVGA SuperNova G2 1000W '80 Plus Gold' Modular Power Supply
XFX Radeon R9 290 DD Black Edition 4096MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card (R9-290A-EDBD)
Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800 C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit x2
Asus Xonar Essense STX sound card
30 Inch HP Monitor

Can I use the processer with any of the new motherboards or do I need to upgrade that, same with the ram I guess. If I can get away with just changing the motherboard to something that actually works I'd be happy, performance of the rest of the kit is perfectly fine?
 
if you can fix the sata issue I would stick with what you have.

for the sata problem can you not use a different sata port at all?

with USB 3 you normally need to get the manufactures USB 3.0 drivers for the mobo, I have to do the same on my system for USB 3 hardware to work.

if worse comes to worse try and pickup a replacement board, and keep everything else. that's what I would do.

what do you use the PC for?

I haven't checked but think all the current processors are socket 1150 and not 1155 so don't think you can use your current processor in 1 of them

maybe try the MM market as you should have access to it and see if anyone is selling a cheap mobo if you cannot fix the issues

only board I can find on OCUK was this one

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-123-AK&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1965

and at £39.95 it doesn't seem too much but depends if its the right form factor for your PC (its ATX)
 
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I wouldn't really change anything to be honest. Obviously you're having issues with the motherboard so I'd suggest getting a Z77 (from the MM?) and then look at getting a 2600k/2700k/3570k or 3770k if you feel you need more POWER!!!

I dont think you'll get massive gains with the new platforms but it does depend what you're doing.
 
I've tried just about everything to get the USB's working, nothing happens at all when you connect something to them, it's been the same since I got the board. I can change the sata port but the only ones free at the moment at Marvell ones I think, which from what I've read are pretty poor?

Very occasional gaming is what its used for these days, nothing major at all, I just don't have the time.
 
Jano said:
I've tried just about everything to get the USB's working, nothing happens at all when you connect something to them, it's been the same since I got the board. I can change the port but the only ones free at the moment at Marvell ones I think, which from what I've read are pretty poor?
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Get a Z77 board from the MM and leave it at that. Assuming you've overclocked your CPU, you'll be fine for another few years.
 
Jano said:
I've tried just about everything to get the USB's working, nothing happens at all when you connect something to them, it's been the same since I got the board. I can change the sata port but the only ones free at the moment at Marvell ones I think, which from what I've read are pretty poor?

Very occasional gaming is what its used for these days, nothing major at all, I just don't have the time.
Click to expand...

I would replace the mobo and keep the rest if that's the case.
 
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Yea overclocked to 4.4ghz I think - it's a good 3 and a half, 4 years old so would be surprised if OCUK still stocked them.
 
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