The time has come

Laser man · 26 Nov 2010 at 18:09

My PC's current specs are:
AMD Phenom II X4 965 CPU
Asus M4A79XTD evo mobo
Sapphire 5670 1gb gpu

1tb samsung F3 hdd
CM scout case
700 watt coolermaster silent pro PSU
6gb HyperX RAM
Ok, I want to upgrade and the budget is a max 500 but I want to have the biggest impact with the least money, fire away!

RJC · 26 Nov 2010 at 18:15

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-109-MS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1866

and

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-047-OC&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=910

Laser man · 26 Nov 2010 at 18:26

Would I simply do a clean install of Windows onto the SSD? If so, do I just use my old Windows copy or do I need another?

RJC · 26 Nov 2010 at 19:15

You can reuse your windows copy.

OEM is tied to the board it was originally installed on, Retail can be moved to another machine, belongs it is uninstalled from the previous machine

Liampope · 26 Nov 2010 at 19:20

Have you got a decent cooler? If not, get one and overclock that CPU too.

R088ieS86 · 26 Nov 2010 at 19:22

The above +
If your running your CPU @ stock then a decent cooler could also be added for some overclocking...
Bit of a favourite: Titan Fenrir Evo CPU Cooler

Troezar · 26 Nov 2010 at 19:27

Some good advice, you'll see a big improvement.

Laser man · 26 Nov 2010 at 19:30

My CPU is at 4ghz with an H50

hybrid572 · 26 Nov 2010 at 19:59

Yeah, do what RJC said.

VFM Addict · 26 Nov 2010 at 20:01

Yep, go with the gcard and the ssd RJC suggested.

EDIT - Unless your monitor, which you don't mention, needs an upg?

Laser man · 26 Nov 2010 at 20:12

My monitor is a samsung syncmaster 2333, I don't know what the general opinion of it is, but it suits me fine

hybrid572 · 26 Nov 2010 at 20:14

Laser man said:
My monitor is a samsung syncmaster 2333, I don't know what the general opinion of it is, but it suits me fine

It can do 1080p, that's all you need.

Laser man · 26 Nov 2010 at 20:17

Thought so, would a bigger SSD like this, be worth it?

lukext · 26 Nov 2010 at 20:21

SSD should definitely be on you list! Either an OCZ vertex 2 or a Crucial C300. Pick a size to suit your budget. Regarding graphics, 6870 or if your feeling green, 470.

Regarding SSD size, make a list of things you would like/ think might benefit from an SSDs speed such as windows, general programs such as office, firefox etc. take a note of their required HDD space and then total it up. Remember you would want expansion space and you dont want to totally fill the disk 100%.

Laser man · 26 Nov 2010 at 20:32

Definitely a vertex as my mobo doesn't have sata 3 and I've got quite a few steam games ready for the boost

Harvey616 · 26 Nov 2010 at 21:21

Definately go with RJC suggestion, and OC as well

welshdragon · 26 Nov 2010 at 21:26

Graphics card dude - AMD 6870

lukext · 26 Nov 2010 at 21:30

Don't disregard the C300 just because you don't have sata 3. The C300 is still the better drive even on sata 2. Vertex 2s can be had for cheaper however.

Check out some benchmarks on load times for games and op systems such as those on custom pc's website. Sandforce drives (ie the vertex 2) doesn't like incompressible files as much as compressible due to the way the controller handles data. Crucial C300s don't suffer from this.

Basically:
-the C300 suffers from lower write speeds in smaller capacities models (but realistically how often do you write compared to read?)
-the Vertex's speed heavily relies on the compressibility of the data your reading/writing so will rarely achieve its max stated speed.

I have both drives and they are both good. personally, if you can afford the extra, id go with the C300.

Laser man · 27 Nov 2010 at 21:11

Should I get a bog-standard 6870 or try and get one with a nice cooler? as the stock cooling does get a bit noisy

welshdragon · 28 Nov 2010 at 10:10

As far as I am aware they are all reference at the moment with some clocked slightly higher at the factory. Which means they are all the same and the only one I've seen so far with the different cooler is the MSI Twin fan one. I don't know how noisey these are compared to standard but my assumption would be 2 fans running at lower speed and potentially quieter than a card with one fan? And I personally would choose one from a company with a good warranty/customer service in lieu of cards all being more or less reference.

I'm just going by the ocuk website so as for what competitors offer, I don't know.