Upgrade suggestions...

riddler · 1 Mar 2013 at 10:34

Current spec:
- OcUK Value IP35-S Intel P35 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
- Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz
- 4GB RAM
- GeForce 8800 GT

I've got about £200 to upgrade.

Looking at the new socket processor I'm guessing it would probably be more viable to continue saving and just scrap this junk :/

RJC · 1 Mar 2013 at 10:35

How much gaming do you do?

riddler · 1 Mar 2013 at 10:38

RJC said:
How much gaming do you do?

For a long time, none on the PC. I feel like making a come back though, it would be nice to have the option of playing the latest releases although I don't intend too.

I thought I could get away with a new graphics card and processor but it looks like I'll need a new motherboard too.

Deceptor · 1 Mar 2013 at 10:45

DDR2 ram yeah? Seems like you'd need a overhaul. You could just upgrade the graphics but that CPU is feeling its age now.

Doomedspeed · 1 Mar 2013 at 10:49

Yeah, that CPU won't hack it for long. You'll need a new motherboard/CPU/RAM and GPU. You got a budget in mind?

sypher365 · 1 Mar 2013 at 10:57

riddler said:
Looking at the new socket processor I'm guessing it would probably be more viable to continue saving and just scrap this junk :/

Save up for a new build then turning the old bits into a htpc, although one upgrade you could do that would give it a small boost would be add a SSD if don't already have one and that can be moved to the new system when you have enough for that.

Blue160 · 1 Mar 2013 at 11:07

riddler said:
I'm guessing it would probably be more viable to continue saving and just scrap this junk :/

Pretty much this

New CPU, motherboard ram and graphics definitely required. Probably a new PSU as well given the age of the old system. If your HDD or optical drive are SATA they'll transfer across, but IDE drives will be no use. You're probably best off selling the old machine as a complete unit or using it for media streaming and starting again from scratch.

areksnumbr1sxylady · 1 Mar 2013 at 11:56

might as well buy new system.. I cant see what can be savaged apart from maybe HDD and PSU.

Scott C · 1 Mar 2013 at 18:37

riddler said:
I thought I could get away with a new graphics card and processor but it looks like I'll need a new motherboard too.

You could get yourself a new graphics card and see how you get on before deciding whether to scrap the current system?

The E8400 could hold up better than you think and, if not, you already have a graphics card for your new system.

freddie64 · 2 Mar 2013 at 08:20

Scott C said:
You could get yourself a new graphics card and see how you get on before deciding whether to scrap the current system?

The E8400 could hold up better than you think and, if not, you already have a graphics card for your new system.

Agree with this.

A mate of mine is using a very similar rig with a 5850 gpu and cpu overclocked to 4ghz and he is playing most games ok (may not be highest settings).

snips86x · 2 Mar 2013 at 08:27

Trinity would be a good start:

YOUR BASKET
1 x AMD A8-5600K Black Edition 3.60GHz (Socket FM2) APU Trinity Quad Core Processor (AD560KWOHJBOX) £83.99
1 x GeIL EVO Leggera 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-14900C10 1866MHz Dual Channel Kit (GEL38GB1866C10DC) £49.99
1 x MSI A55M-E33 AMD A55 Chipset (Socket FM2) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £40.99
Total : £185.77 (includes shipping : £9.00).

You could start here and if you feel you need more power, either upgrade the motherboard to a A85x or go for an Intel rig.