Upgrade or New Build

billykeats

billykeats

billykeats

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28 Jul 2015
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Can't decide whether or not to upgrade or rebuild my PC as want a quieter system for music, videos, photos and streaming of KODI to my TV.

Current system:

MOBO: ASRock M3A770DE
Processor: AMD Athlon II X3 445 3.10 GHz
RAM: Crucial 8GB Kit (4GBx2) DDR3 PC3-12800 Unbuffered NON-ECC 1.5V
PSU: Ace Black 120mm Fan 500W
HDD1: Seagate ST3160318AS 160GB Hard Drive SATAII (OS)
HDD2: Samsung HD103SJ Spinpoint F3 1TB Hard Drive SATAII (Storage)
GPU: Sapphire HD 5450 512MB DDR3
Case: Casecom Black ATX Mid Tower Case

Option 1 - Upgrade
HDD1: OCZ ARC 100 Series 2.5" Internal SSD - 240 GB
GPU: MSI GTX 750 Ti OC

Option 2 - New Build
Processor: Intel Pentium G3258
HDD1: OCZ ARC 100 Series 2.5" Internal SSD - 240 GB (OS)
MOBO: MSI B85M-E45
GPU: MSI GTX 750 Ti OC
Case: Corsair Carbide 200R
Keep the RAM, PSU & HDD2

Would like help on which would be the best option if looking to have a quieter PC as it does seem to be overworking somewhere. Budget is £300 Maximum
 
Without spending any money, have you tried adjusting the CPU and case fan profiles in your BIOS (if it lets you that is)? I run 4x fractal design 120mm "silent series" 1000RPM fans @ 800rpm (controlled by BIOS), and my CPU fan is set to AUTO but is inaudiable when idle and gaming. My PC is dead quiet when idle, and I can only detect a slight increase in noise when gaming (GPU fan spins up but is barely audible).

Are you happy with your current spec, and does your GPU contribute to the noise?

*edit* I also ran a passive GPU for many years without any problems, but I have good case air flow and plenty of case fans. This GPU is cheaper to the one you have selected and doesn't have a fan:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-027-PL&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1854
 
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I am ok with my system although I get a bit of stalling which I think is down to the GPU.

I am only aware of a side fan on the case (Maplin bought 6 years ago hence why looking at the Cosair), PSU Fan and Fan on the Processor so not overly convinced it is cooling properly

Start up is slow even with most things switched of in msconfig hence the SSD upgrade

Had the MOBO and processor for about 3 years so was wondering if it was time to do a full overhaul
 
From everything you have described that you do on the PC, it doesn't sound like you need to do a full overhaul. Unless your encoding video (I presumed you meant watching it).

I would start with an SSD upgrade and see how you feel the computer performs. Your GPU is a bit basic but I think a 750Ti might be a bit OTT for your needs, unless you want to do a bit of light gaming too.

I am not clued up on the corsair cases but I am a fan of the Fractal Design ones. I really like their styling and build quality.

This one is a low cost with nice features like rubber mounted hard drive mounts (good for your old mechanical hard drives). It also comes with two "silent" 1200 RPM fans and the case also has a fan controller which is able to control 3 fans. So if they were not quiet enough for you, you could slow them down even more.

Fractal Design Core 2500 Midi Tower Case - Black £42.95 inc VAT
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-046-FD&groupid=2362&catid=3075

or there is this one with 2x 140mm 1000RPM fans with the same features as above and a slightly different internal layout and exterior look.

Fractal Design Core 3500 Midi Tower Case - Black £55.99 inc VAT
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-044-FD&groupid=2362&catid=3075

There are more expensive ones with additional features obviously but if you want to keep the costs down then I would be looking at these two, as long as you like the styling.
 
Thank you very much for your help so far fobose

The Fractal Design Core 2500 case looks very similar in design to the Corsair 200R

I will certainly look at installing an SSD and changing the case. Any recommendations on SSDs? Or is the OCZ suitable and reliable?

I am not sure that this is encoding by I do convert files recorded from the TV into files that can be watched on a tablet by my daughter. Would a better GPU help here?
 
I haven't really paid much interest in to which SSD's are good/bad etc and the only one I have ever used is the one in my sig which is an Intel 520 180GB. It was highly recommended at the time but its no longer available any more (3 years old now).

This one seems to be highly recommended along the forums and has a 5 year warranty (like my Intel). Hopefully some others can make some recommendations..

Samsung 250GB 850 EVO SSD 2.5" SATA 6Gbps 32 Layer 3D V-NAND Solid State Drive (MZ-75E250B/EU) £77.99 inc VAT
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-191-SA&groupid=701&catid=2104&subcat=2394

*edit* Oh and sorry for not answering your other Q's. Yes that is a form of encoding I guess, but it doesn't sound like your doing any HD encoding so if your happy with how long it takes to convert files I would leave your spec as it is. A new CPU would speed this up though, not a GPU.
 
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Option 2 sounds good but with the above recommended Samsung SSD instead, I have one and can vouch for it :)

Also as said no need for a new GPU if you won't be gaming, so you can stick with your current 5450.

And yeah it's always nice to consider a few cases before making a final decision.
 
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