Upgrade to 4 year old system

MontyUK · 23 Sep 2009 at 20:20

I am still using a system based on these components:
Epox EP-5EGA+Intel 915 VGA (MB-041-EP)
Intel P4, 540J Prescott 3.2GHz (800FSB) (CP-058-IN)
OCUK Value 1GB (2 x 512MB) PC3200 184pin DDR Memory Dual Channel kit (MY-004-OK)

It's running OK but probably could be faster. So without spending much money, what is the order to change things in? Would a graphic card make an improvement?

Would there be a great deal of difference in speed for Photoshop, web access, Word.

No games requirement at all.

Indy500 · 23 Sep 2009 at 20:22

More RAM I guess, other than that I can't see anything to upgrade there without ditching the lot. Perhaps a better hard drive, don't know what you have now.

MontyUK · 23 Sep 2009 at 20:42

The hard drive is OK and I use an external back up drive as well.

Would a graphic card help. At the moment it uses the onboard one?

Would it be worht replcaing ditching the lot?

Indy500 · 23 Sep 2009 at 21:29

MontyUK said:
The hard drive is OK and I use an external back up drive as well.

Would a graphic card help. At the moment it uses the onboard one?

You say you don't play any games so that won't do much for you. Depending on how much multitasking you do, 2GB RAM would be a better upgrade.

clv101 · 23 Sep 2009 at 21:31

If you're not gaming a graphics card won't improve things much.

Best bet is to dump JUST the MB, CPU and RAM.

Keep everything else and just pick up a basic MB, CPU and RAM bundle. Anything based around a 2GHz+ Core2Duo chip will be WAY faster than your current system. Keep your case, PSU, drives...

AnDyR0o · 24 Sep 2009 at 09:23

I think what clv101 said is probably spot on a basic new mobo, cpu and ram would improve your system quite significantly

MontyUK · 24 Sep 2009 at 14:59

Thanks for your advice.

Are there any recommended MBs and CPUs? This PC isn't even used for audio so doesn't need any bells or whistles, just basic stuff.

I was also thinking about dropping a silent PSU in, is this one really silent? OCZ StealthXStream 400w Silent Power Supply.

mollymoo · 24 Sep 2009 at 15:24

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BU-029-OE&groupid=43&catid=339&subcat=

I'm sure that would serve you well

What have you got to spend ?

mollymoo · 24 Sep 2009 at 15:30

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-273-IN

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-038-KS

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-367-AS

£143.30 with shipping

AnDyR0o · 24 Sep 2009 at 15:45

MontyUK said:
I was also thinking about dropping a silent PSU in, is this one really silent? OCZ StealthXStream 400w Silent Power Supply.

I have had one of these in the past and the one i had was no where near silent, this may have just been an issue with mine. To be honest when it comes to PSUs i prefer quality so i tend to go for corsairs