Rolling upgrade

Flenser · 20 Jun 2007 at 16:20

I'm in the process of doing a rolling upgrade on my old skt 754 3000+, 512mb DDR, GeForce 6200 AGP system by gradually replacing existing components.

I've already installed a few future-proof components after hardware failures, a DVD/RW (Lite-ON LH-20A1S-11C 20x DVD±R, 8x DVD±DL, DVD+RW x8 / -RW x 6, DVD-RAM x12, SATA) and a SATA HDD (250 Gb Seagate ST3250620AS Barracuda 7200.9, SATA300, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache, 8.5 ms, NCQ) that will be carried across to the new system with a PSU shortly to follow (probably a modular Hiper, Tagan or Antec TBC).

I was going to go with an AM2 4200+ coupled with an ASUS M2N-E VM as I've built a couple of systems for family with this spec but after some serious lurking around here I've decided that an Intel processor and Gigabyte mobo might be a better option.

Due to the recent birth or a second daughter I'm limited on outlay, hence the gradual upgrade utilising existing kit (my old Antec Super Lanboy case is getting reused!).

The problem I now have is that my current mobo/processor/RAM/graphics wont be compatable with the new system in any form and therefore I need to take a significant hit in a one-er.

I be grateful if someone could spec me a mobo/processor/RAM combo, preferably with onboard graphics in order to limit the cost until I can add a decent card.

Bang for buck appreciated.

{edited for fat fingers}

supernova9 · 20 Jun 2007 at 16:20

Total budget?

Flenser · 20 Jun 2007 at 16:26

supernova9 said:
Total budget?

Excluding the existing bits and the PSU that I've budgeted for already, not a lot.

I can manage £100-150 but there may be *some* stretch built into that... if I delay slightly.

Munky1080 · 20 Jun 2007 at 16:33

Problem Solved!
You are doing a running upgrade like I just did.
Get the Asrock 4CoreDual-VSTA motherboard, it'll take your AGP card and your DDR ram, for £47 inc VAT and get the Intel e2160 for £63 inc VAT...then wait a month and get a new video card and wait another month and get more RAM..

I came from a P4 3Ghz onto the rig in my sig and I tell ya, it's night and day, and it was cheap compared to all other upgrade paths...
EDIT: forgot to mention the board has a pci-e 4x slot and can take ddr2 ram as well.

Flenser · 20 Jun 2007 at 17:52

Munky1080 said:
Problem Solved!
You are doing a running upgrade like I just did.
Get the Asrock 4CoreDual-VSTA motherboard, it'll take your AGP card and your DDR ram, for £47 inc VAT and get the Intel e2160 for £63 inc VAT...then wait a month and get a new video card and wait another month and get more RAM..

I came from a P4 3Ghz onto the rig in my sig and I tell ya, it's night and day, and it was cheap compared to all other upgrade paths...
EDIT: forgot to mention the board has a pci-e 4x slot and can take ddr2 ram as well.

Ah, I didn't know such a beast existed! Many thanks. :cool:

fobose · 20 Jun 2007 at 18:20

I wouldn't mind going that route, as I want a C2D but the Asrock mobo only comes with 2 SATA ports IIRC, I use 3 atm and will be using 5 soon enough and if I decide to get a SATA DVDRW that'll be 6 so I will also need to get a decent PCI SATA RAID Controller to, which having 4 devices on would suck

steve258 · 20 Jun 2007 at 18:39

Flenser said:
Ah, I didn't know such a beast existed! Many thanks.

Yep will go for the asrock route and perhaps even an E4300 since you have upto £150 to spend at 1 go.

OT: Your sig is way too big mate, either 4 lines of text with each not exceeding 400px long or have 1 image (400x75px 20kb max) and have 1 line of text directly above or beneath it.

Flenser · 20 Jun 2007 at 18:47

steve258 said:
OT: Your sig is way too big mate, either 4 lines of text with each not exceeding 400px long or have 1 image (400x75px 20kb max) and have 1 line of text directly above or beneath it.

Apologies to the dial-up crew.

Sorted now.

SATA ports might be an issue on the Asrock then?

Flenser · 20 Jun 2007 at 19:28

On the subject of the PSU, I was thinking Corsair HX520W... modular, quiet, plenty of molex/SATA/etc.

Munky1080 · 20 Jun 2007 at 21:04

Flenser said:
On the subject of the PSU, I was thinking Corsair HX520W... modular, quiet, plenty of molex/SATA/etc.

a good choice indeed, i've just picked up an Enermax Noisetaker 600w, a bit of overkill for my system i know, but it was in the b-grade section for £40

by the way, if you choose to go the asrock/e2160 route, i've bought a cheap Arctic Freezer 7 Pro HSF for £18 i think it was, and i've gotten over a 50% overclock. If you are tempted to overclock a bit, you'll be quite satisfied with that chip.

Flenser · 24 Jun 2007 at 20:01

Munky1080 said:
a good choice indeed, i've just picked up an Enermax Noisetaker 600w, a bit of overkill for my system i know, but it was in the b-grade section for £40

by the way, if you choose to go the asrock/e2160 route, i've bought a cheap Arctic Freezer 7 Pro HSF for £18 i think it was, and i've gotten over a 50% overclock. If you are tempted to overclock a bit, you'll be quite satisfied with that chip.

That mobo is pretty cheap so the e2160 route is looking good.

I'll wait until the 22nd of July and see where that leaves me.