Upgrade mobo, CPU, ram for app performance  | |
October 14th, 2009, 11:02 AM
|
#1 (permalink)
| | Mobile Member
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: S. Central PA
Posts: 3,601
| Upgrade mobo, CPU, ram for app performance
I wanted to run this by some people on here first since I dont do as much with my desktop PC anymore. I built it in 2005 and have left it pretty much the same since then, with the exception of adding/changing HDD's for more storage/RAID arrays.
Current desktop specs (sorry my sig went mobile when I did )- ASUS A8N SLI Deluxe Motherboard w/ AMD 4200+ X2 processor (@ stock 2.2Ghz speed)
- 2GB of DDR-400 (4x512MB sticks) and a Geforce 8600GT PCI-Ex graphics card (no need to upgrade grfx since I dont use it for any gaming)
- Where I have added to the system would be the amount of HDD's I have, mainly because I use this computer for Photoshop (currently CS3, contemplating CS4.. maybe XP x64) and Lightroom (currently 2.1, contemplating free update to 2.5 and see if possibly XP x64 would show an improvement). All HDD's mentioned are 7200RPM SATA II drives and they are as follows: 2x 320GB in RAID 1 for the OS, 3x500GB in RAID 5 (data/photos and backed up by a 1TB firewire), and a lone 320GB as the scratch disk for photoshop/large file xfers.
What would be a decent improvement if I wanted to just upgrade the core of my system, like the motherboard, new processor (is QC within my budget), and 2x2GB sticks of RAM. My budget would be around $300 or less if possible. I've seen emails from TigerDirect and NewEgg in the past for barebones kits anywhere from $200 - $500, but I'm not sure if they have any currently that would prove to be a peformance booster. I saw one awhile back for a Pentium D... I'm not really looking for that kind of a processer
EDIT: OK, so maybe I'll get this started a little bit. What do you think of the links below? I'm assuming Intel is probably the way to go, right? (I need to find a board that has RAID and can support 6 SATA HDDS) Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more! (a bit on the high side, but what RAM??)
or a bit cheaper MSI X48C Platinum Motherboard & Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 Processor w/ Fan Bundle at TigerDirect.com
or it looks similar but a different MB XFX nForce 750i SLI Motherboard & Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 Processor w/ Fan Bundle at TigerDirect.com
or Intel DG41TY Socket 775 Motherboard & Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 Processor w/ Fan Bundle at TigerDirect.com
and cheaper still Intel DG41RQ Socket 775 Motherboard & Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 Processor w/ Fan Bundle at TigerDirect.com
and for RAM I was thinking of this Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 - Desktop Memory
__________________ Thinkpad T61 14.1" wide | WinXP Pro | C2D T8300 CPU | 3GB DDR2 | 160GB HDD | AGN & WWAN
Lenovo S10 10.2" LED display | 1.6Ghz Atom CPU | 1GB DDR2 | 1.3mp webcam | B/G WiFi | 160GB HDD
Last edited by ShuckyD : October 14th, 2009 at 02:46 PM.
|
| |
October 14th, 2009, 02:47 PM
|
#2 (permalink)
| | \m/(°-°)\m/
Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: In my room
Posts: 12,765
| |
| |
October 14th, 2009, 02:51 PM
|
#3 (permalink)
| | Mobile Member
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: S. Central PA
Posts: 3,601
|
I like it, that Gigabyte board however doesnt look to support a RAID 5 array. Also I just thought about it, I'd have to do alot of data transfers if I swap this out because the arrays would be wiped
I would go the little extra and get that Phenom II X4 chip too. So it looks like AMD is currenly more bang for your buck  |
| |
October 14th, 2009, 02:55 PM
|
#4 (permalink)
| | \m/(°-°)\m/
Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: In my room
Posts: 12,765
|
Yeah, I didn't think about that either. I'm not sure if the same RAID controller that's on your board is even made anymore TBH. That would save you a head ache, but it sounds to easy so it must not be the case. (at least that's the way it is with my day to day)
Maybe if you got a dedicated RAID card, and just rebuilt your arrays this one time, you could then transfer that from system to system later on. Short of that, I'm not sure of any way to get around you having to rebuild.
Anywho, RAID 5 you say? Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards
That supports it. |
| |
October 14th, 2009, 02:59 PM
|
#5 (permalink)
| | Mobile Member
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: S. Central PA
Posts: 3,601
|
Except that board only does up to DDR2 speeds  I like that RAM and the CPU and their in my cart already, the board I'm still searchin... |
| |
October 14th, 2009, 03:04 PM
|
#6 (permalink)
| | \m/(°-°)\m/
Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: In my room
Posts: 12,765
| |
| |
October 14th, 2009, 03:09 PM
|
#7 (permalink)
| | Mobile Member
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: S. Central PA
Posts: 3,601
|
Cool: $373 was my total shipped  should be here for a weekend build.
I'm selling my old mobo, CPU and RAM for $125 if you know anyone interested. ( I dont want another project to put $$ into  ) |
| |
October 14th, 2009, 03:21 PM
|
#8 (permalink)
| | \m/(°-°)\m/
Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: In my room
Posts: 12,765
| 
Hmmm.. that's a stellar price. Maybe see if one of the folders has the money.  |
| | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | |
Similar Threads | | Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post | | Upgrade Mobo, Cpu, Ram and Video Card | DoubleK | General Tech Discussion | 5 | August 12th, 2009 11:52 PM | | mobo and ram upgrade | modfreak33 | Motherboards | 4 | March 11th, 2008 07:07 PM | | high performance ram and cpu for rendering | italiamodena575 | Processors, Memory, and Overclocking | 5 | October 29th, 2004 08:24 PM | | Hmmm, getting worse performance after upgrading CPU and mobo... | ZeroAce | Technical Support | 6 | June 29th, 2004 02:26 PM | | vid card...ram upgrade...little performance boost | Mr.Drive | Technical Support | 3 | April 25th, 2004 09:14 AM | |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | | | Most Active Discussions | | | | | Recent Discussions  | | | | | |