Is it better to upgrade?

[mtspeir]

I'm a complete beginner and my research so far has led to lots of confusion.

Trying to build a computer, while not wasting money if I dont need to. I have an Asus A8N-SLI deluxe mobo, with AMD Athlon64 +3700.

Should I buy a new mobo(was looking at the MSI p55a Fuzion), RAM, and processor, or just upgrade off my old board?

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

[RicheemxX]

For you, you'd be much better off building new rather than upgrading. That's an old board, with old ram and very little potential for an upgrade path. Something totally new would give you more options at a much better price. The initial cost might be higher, since you are building something completely new but it would give you a much better price/performance ratio.

What is the intended use for the system?
What is your budget?

[mtspeir]

Im using it primarily for games and movies. ith board, processor, and ram I would like to spend around $500ish. More if the wife doesn't find outhow much it really is :P

I dont know too much about different brands but from looking around i was thinking of P55a Fuzion and Intel Core i5 processor. Would that work?

[ShyguyXPC]

don't limit yourself to just one brand of board, shop around for various brands, MSI is good, And I usually go for their boards, but there are several other brands out there as well, Gigabyte, EVGA, Biostar, Asrock, etc, etc.


Do you JUST need the CPU, Mobo & RAM? What about Drives, Operating system, Graphics Card? Case, Power Supply? Etc?

What Games are you referring to?

[mtspeir]

I have the case, case fans, Starlogic 500w atx ps, two GeForce 6600GT cards(will upgrade) two old dvd drives (will upgrade).

So I need the MoBo, CPU, RAM, hard drive I think. I saw someone talking about a SSD I dont know if I need one. I will be running Windows 7 on it.

The games I want to play(when released) are Battlefield 3, ME3, Skyrim.

[mtspeir]

Ok so I have been looking around some more and alot of people seem to recommend the
Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3, I found one on newegg.com for $150, or there is one for $90 more, the Gigabyte GA-z68XP-ud3-iSSD(built in Intel 20gb SLC SSD, Virtu 2way SLI). Are these mobo's worth looking at(if so which one). Or is there another Mobo with more bang for the buck?

[stroyal]

That second board is half your budget' ($250) even the first one is not what you want for a $500 budget

Add in video card, for any kind of game performance, will be at least $100 (the beginning of high performance gaming) $200 to get into mid high performance

Hard drive $60 for a good mechanical drive 750GiG
i5 CPU $180 or more
Ram $30
Power supply $50 (big enough for 1 graphics card)
What are the specs on the Starlogic, just for grins,. We don't recommend non brand names.
DVD $20
Win 7 $100

You are well on your way to an $800 system

Basically if you want the most bang for your buck ($500), you need to be looking at a sub $100 board, and forget the SSD.


So do you want to stick with $500, or go for more

[mtspeir]

Projects are made to go over budget As long as I have a good system where I dont have to stop at the store and think "Can my pc handle this game"

From what I have found so far most people recommend the i5 2500k processor. Finding a mobo is proving to be alot more difficult. I dont really want to spend over $150 for a board.

As for the power supply it is as old as the rest of the system so I suppose I should replace it too.

[stroyal]

I5 2500K $220
Newegg.com - Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
Motherboard $115
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Memory $26
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT
Hard Drive 750GIG $59
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD7502AAEX 750GB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Video card $127
Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE Vapor-X 100327VXL Radeon HD 6750 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
Burner $20
Newegg.com - LITE-ON DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 - CD / DVD Burners
Power supply $46
Newegg.com - Antec VP-450 450W ATX 12V v2.3 Power Supply
$613 no operating system, including shipping


I went with the cheaper Z68 board so you can add the, so to speak SSD swap file drive, that came with the other board.
That is not for storage of the operating system, it just speeds thing up, and only the Z68 boards have it.

You can get a non Z68 I5 board for about $59, if you want to spend more on the video card
or a Z68 with 1 PCI-e for $100 or 2 PCI-e slots, but the second one is only 4X
The one I picked, the second slot is 8X

The power supply is only for 1 video card

The video card is as I said, the beginning of high performance gaming, but it is no slouch.

If you are not overclocking, the non K is just as fast, for less, it just doesn't have the unlocked multiplier.

Hopefully Shyguy will check back, with his own list, or at least tweak mine.
You'll see why.

I can pick a system, pretty good by price, but not being a gamer, it is harder for me to pick by gaming performance.

Flight Sim, is the only game I play.

Welcome to TechIMO!

[stroyal]

I'll check back in the morning.

[ShyguyXPC]

If your not going to Overclock forget the 2500K, and save a few bucks and get the regular 2500. Or even the i5 2400 would be fine as well.





Here's a quick list, with Intels top end Dual core instead.

Newegg.com - LITE-ON DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 - CD / DVD Burners

Newegg.com - HEC Blitz Black Steel Edition ATX Mid Tower Computer Chassis Gaming Case w/ Front Blue LED 120mm Fan & Top 120mm Fan

Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD7502AAEX 750GB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Newegg.com - HIS H687FN1GD Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

Newegg.com - SeaSonic S12II 520 Bronze 520W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 12V V2.91 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Newegg.com - Patriot Gamer 2 Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model PGD34G1333ELK

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-Z68P-DS3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s ATX Intel Motherboard

Newegg.com - Intel Core i3-2130 Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz 2 x 256KB L2 Cache 3MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I32130

Subtotal: $621.92 Before shipping.

Another $100 for Windows 7 64-bit.

This set up has a "Slower" CPU, more accurately its got less cores, but is still a VERY Fast CPU for gaming (Few games still really use Quad cores), GPU is MUCH better performing which is what you want.

The Motherboard is capable of Crossfire (no SLI for Nvidia Cards, but you can still use a single Nvidia card in it just fine, the one Stroyal linked to is a GOOD board, but the layout of the SATA ports is poorly designed seeing as they are right behind the x8 PCIe slot if you used a 2nd card in that slot, it would cover the 2 SATA III ports and possibly 2 of the SATA II ports, the 3rd PCIe x16 slot only runs at x4 bandwidth, so its even half as fast as the 2nd one, good for lower to mid range cards, but upper midrange cards like the 6870 and certainly the 6950 you would want an x8 slot), for a 2nd 6870 if you wanted.

The PSU is more than enough for the system, Seasonic is THE Name in Power Supplies on the market, so its a TOP top brand name. Though for dual 6870's I'd probably swing a 600-650W PSU just in case.

But the Hard drive (Same one Stroyal linked to) is 3rd Gen SATA, though I doubt it would even exceed 2nd Gen SATA Speeds, but for the price its a good deal, with 64MB Cache, and 3/4 of a Terabyte of storage, The regular 2nd Gen SATA model of this drive with only 32MB Cache goes for about $10-20 more normally.

And The Case is a VERY good cheap priced Mid size case with good ventilation and fan sizes/placement, plus its some pretty good materials and construction for a $40 case (have this case for my brothers PC I built)

I don't know if you'd be able to run BF3 or Skyrim at max settings (no way to know until the games come out) but it should run pretty good as it stands with this setup. adding a 2nd 6870 and a bit better PSU, and it should run even better yet.




The Other thing right now, is that AMD's new CPU's and platform should be showing up in the next couple/few weeks, to a month, from the sound of it. I'd wait and hold off doing a system build AT LEAST until those come out.

They may be as fast as Intel hardware now, and cost less.... Or they may cost similar, and Intel may drop prices on current hardware to be competitive, in which case you might be able to nab a quad core for less, or even some motherboard prices may drop.

[ShyguyXPC]

To Complicate things even more, PCI Express 3.0 is to debut soon. Some Intel Based Motherboards from Asus, already have PCIe 3.0 capability, but until Intels Ivy Bridge Based CPU's are released you can't use PCIe 3.0 on it (PCIe controller is built into the CPU these days, so until the chips are sold to consumers, your stuck with 2.0 on current chips, which is fine, since 2.0 has yet to be fully saturated, and 3.0 would only be beneficial for those running 2 or more top end cards currently)


Also besides AMD's new CPU's coming VERY soon. Later this year, in the next quarter, AMD's new Radeon HD 7000 Series should be debuting as well.

Leaked info on the new 7000 series cards (not sure how accurate this is, but should be interesting, with the 7900 series early next year): AMD Radeon HD 7900 to Utilize New XDR2 Rambus Memory


Once these 7800 models come out in the next few months, should briefly drive 6800/6900 model pricing down a bit as well.

[mtspeir]

I don't want to wait a few months really, right now I am using a low end computer that struggles with warcraft on low settings.

Couple of more questions though.

1. I plan on using ebay for some of the components, are there any items that SHOULD be bought new from newegg(like buying a used hdd vs new one)

2. If I save money with ebay should I spend it on better processor, mobo, or gpu.

I was looking at Newegg.com - GA-Z68P-ud3, it has usb 3.0 I dont know if I need that but I do have an external that is usb3.0. Its $50 more that the board you showed me.

Btw I already have the computer casing from my old one, so with your previous setup I would be around 580 without the case.

I plan to start buying the stuff I need tomorrow, so any last minute suggestions are appreciated. Thanks so far!

[stroyal]

If there is one component, you should not buy used, it is a hard drive.

Besides, fans, it is the only thing that can ware out.

Your USB3 external will run on USB2, just not as fast.

I'd have to shop around, but the $50 can't be just for USB3, it probably has something else, like Firewire, or external SATA.

I can't compare, because your link doesn't work. and if I try GAZ68P, I get a board with no USB3.

You can always add it.
Newegg.com - pci to usb3


I'm fixing a virus riddled computer right now, but I can look later. if Shyguy doesn't answer first.

[mtspeir]

Sorry bout the link, I don't know how to post links like you guys do( a tribute to my vast computer knowledge maybe?) Either way the mobo I was looking at was ga-z68Xp-ud3, but after looking some more and your post I figure I will just get the oneshyguy recommended.
Thanks

[stroyal]

Just copy the URL at the top of the browser. Where it says http, just left click it, and it will hight light, then right click it, and copy.
Then just paste it to thread.

[stroyal]

Yep that other board has Firewire, and USB3, and pretty much, nobody needs Firewire.

USB, exists, because Apple, was so unreasonable, about their license price, for Firewire, most manufacturer went with USB

[ShyguyXPC]

Just copy the URL at the top of the browser. Where it says http, just left click it, and it will hight light, then right click it, and copy.
Then just paste it to thread.

for individual/few items I do that, for whole lists of systems like I post, I add everything to the cart, then I view the shopping cart, and each item in the cart has a URL Hotlink to its page, just Right click the link, copy or Copy Link Location (for Firefox users), then paste it in the browser, this way all your items are all in one location and its quick and easy instead of surfing through newegg trying to find all the parts.




Should also add, besides the Hard drive, DO NOT buy the Power Supply used on Ebay either, at the least make sure its NEW and from a Retailer selling through Ebay.


the Power Supply is the Heart and Soul of a PC, its is THE one part you do not want to skimp out on.


If it were me, for a new PC, I wouldn't even Bother with Ebay, just buy Recertified or Open Box Drives From Newegg.

Or even Search other sites like Tigerdirect, Directron.com, Geeks.com, as they sometimes have good deals on drives and other parts also.





Here's a good similar priced board with the same chipset, different brand, and most of the same upgrade options, as well as has USB 3.0:

Newegg.com - BIOSTAR TZ68A+ LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard



Here's some decent Recertified cheap priced Hard drives: Newegg.com - Computer Hardware, Hard Drives, Internal Hard Drives, Recertified, 7200 RPM, 32MB

This one in particular is a good priced one: Newegg.com - Recertified: Western Digital Caviar Black WD7501AALS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive -Bare Drive

I think I paid $60 brand new of that same drive.


Otherwise this Seagate would be ok as well: Newegg.com - Recertified: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3750528AS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

[mtspeir]

Hey shyguy I am getting the mobo you recommened, the GA-z68p, I do have a question about the power supply. You recommened the seasonic 520w. Does that leave me room to upgrade in the future or would I need another power supply if I plan to upgrade?

Not sure how I tell how much power I need either. video card says it needs 500w, ok check, then the processor has "thermal design power" 65w. Wouldn't that mean I need a stronger psu or am I missing something?

[stroyal]

Of course the power supply, I kept thinking there must be something else that wares out.. It's been a long day.

And, I also agree with not using E-Bay at all, but I have never had much success, in talking E-bay users out of it.

I couldn't even talk my wife out of it. She had to learn, on her own.
But not till after, like 500 purchases, though.