Upgrade - Check My Spec Please

doyler78

doyler78

doyler78

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Joined
24 Oct 2003
Posts
123
Location
Co Down, Ireland
My current setup (in sig) is extremely out of date however it has been ok for my uses until recently.

I wanted to start running a virtualised linux os however my lack of memory and processing power let me down very badly so much so that it is really unusable so time to upgrade. Funds are short so what I'm looking to do is to build a flexible system which I can build upon over the next year. I also use Photoshop CS5 which also is rather slow. I don't do any any video or music encoding or at least anything that taxes my current system. It's all really office applications, database work, photoshop & playing about with linux via VM.

To that end I have come with what I think is a relatively flexible system:

Gigabyte GA-880GA-UD3H AMD 880G (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard Gigabyte GA-880GA-UD3H AMD 880G (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard £79.99
(£68.08) £79.99
(£68.08)
AMD Athlon II X4 Quad Core 640 3.00GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail AMD Athlon II X4 Quad Core 640 3.00GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail £75.19
(£63.99) £75.19
(£63.99)
Patriot Viper 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C7 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (PVS34G1600LLK) Patriot Viper 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C7 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (PVS34G1600LLK) £63.44
(£53.99) £63.44
(£53.99)
Coolermaster Elite 430 Windowed Case - Black Coolermaster Elite 430 Windowed Case - Black £37.99
(£32.33) £37.99
(£32.33)

I have a 460watt power supply which has served by current system well for 6 or 7 years and doesn't seem to be causing any problems so will stick with it for now and upgrade later.

I plan on using the onboard graphics on the mobo. I plan on upgrading that first mid next year. Will the onboard graphics be fine for me?

I chose the mobo just with an eye to the future as AM3 from what I read will be around for a while and even if it isn't then I still have the phenom ii x6 processor which I can call on if needed. I've gone this approach as I really got caught with my current build as I went AGP and socket 939 just at a time when all things were changing hence why I have taken so long to upgrade as I've had no real upgrade options.

I have 3 sata hard drives in my current system (2 Samsungs - 1x200gb and 1x1TB & 1 Maxtor 160gb on which the operating system is installed).

I have 2 DVD writers.

So think I've covered anything.

So any suggestions?
 
Looks good
When you say you plan on "upgrading that first next year", do you mean the gfx? adding a dedicated card? or the mobo itself?
As a separate one of your first upgrades for your use should be to add an additional 4 gig of RAM as that will help quite a lot with your virtualisation and Photoediting
 
The plan was to add 1) gfx card then 2) power supply and then 3) was more memory.

I take it you think the onboard graphics will be more than adequate for my use and therefore not worth worrying about?

Power supply I was only thinking of upgrading because its getting on a bit however as I said it doesn't seem to be causing any problems so not necessary really.
 
Yeah not heard of that one before, which is never a good sign when it comes to PSUs, but a quick google reveals one review where says it did OK, upto you, that system shouldnt be stressing it really anyway but I do prefer to err on the side of caution when it comes to PSUs, maybe get a new Antec or Corsair (or similar) when you can
 
Yeah I will definitely upgrade the psu. May even do it on this order. What size output do you reckon would be enough for me with a bit of headroom?
 
Do I need a cpu fan for the above or will the stock fan be sufficient? I'm guessing sufficient if I don't overclock.

I probably will overclock sometime. My current systems is overclocked from 2.4 to 2.7ghz so nothing too overboard and that's on a stock fan.
 
Hey
Yeah if you plan on clocking youre best adding an aftermarket cooler, something like the Freezer Pro 7 should do
Re the RAM no the Patriot is better as it has lower latency (cas7 vs cas9 of the Corsair) the Corsair gets recomended a lot as the Patriot stuff isnt suitable for Intel builds and the Corsair stuff is low profile as well as having Corsair stamped on the side (lol)
 
Ok all arrived today however looks like my current cpu will not work as it only has 20 pin main power connector and 12v 4 pin cpu power connector and the this mobo is looking for 24 & 8. Looks like power supplies have moved in the last 6 years. I was just looking at its output and didn't even consider that the connectors may have changed. Looks like I have to get that power supply now. Another set of delivery charges which are already very high for NI. Oh well that'll teach me :D:(
 
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Well I spent a little more on this pc build than I had intended. Oh well let's hope it lasts as long as my current one.

After deliberating most of the day I finally decided on a Antec Truepower 640watt modular psu. I got put off a bit by the Corsair CX430 watt because of comments about it being over rated and not as good as it previous version, etc.

Now the wait for the psu begins.
 
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