Budget CPU/MoBo/RAM

[Berethorn]

Thinking of upgrading my parent's office PC to something modern and straightforward for running Win 7 64bit. No gaming - the most strenuous thing it would have to put up with might be Adobe Illustrator, photo browsing, handling large vector files, etc, but I like the get the best I can for future longevity.

I only need to upgrade the CPU, motherboard, and RAM. I have a sufficient graphics card, case, HD, PSU, etc.

Which combination of those three could I get for $300, give or take? I don't mind either AMD or Intel, it's whatever has the best performance for the price. 4GB of RAM should do. I could very easily pick a combo on my own, but in doing so I might pass over some over-performing pieces of hardware that you guys know about, or miss a chance to get something much better for just a bit more money.

Thanks for looking.

[pam123]

For AMD consider this :

Newegg.com - ASUS M4A77T/USB3 AM3 AMD 770 USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

Newegg.com - AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor ADX640WFGMBOX


Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Ultra Stable Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M2A1333C8

[glc]

Please list the exact components you already have by brand and model.

[Berethorn]

Thanks, looks like good stuff, pam, and well under budget too.

I have the Sapphire Radeon x1650Pro 256MB that I took from my computer when it needed an upgrade.

Have an older Seagate 500GB SATA2 ST3500320AS. It's been running very well, it was the primary on my own PC until yesterday.

The case is smallish, ATX, I forget the brand but it has decent airflow. If it isn't big enough I have a spare tower case.

PSU might need to be replaced, I forget which one it is and don't want to take it out to find out. I'm well aware of the importance of a quality PSU and will get one per recommendations on this forum if necessary. Would an Antec 500w be sufficient for this build?

[glc]

I built a machine a couple years ago with a 1650 Pro, and a 430 watt Antec Earthwatts handled it just fine. I don't think I'd go less than 400, and it needs to be ATX 2.x with decent amps on the +12v rail or rails.

[Rev_pizzaguy]

I might try this mobo: Newegg.com - ASUS P7H55-M/CSM LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

paired with this cpu: Newegg.com - Intel Core i3-540 Clarkdale 3.06GHz 4MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80616I3540

and the same ram: Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M2A1600C9

[Rev_pizzaguy]

Originally Posted by Berethorn I have the Sapphire Radeon x1650Pro 256MB that I took from my computer when it needed an upgrade.

Is that card pci express? Seems I remember most x1650's were AGP, in which case you can't use it. Also, performance of that card is very close to the level of the new integrated Intel HD Graphics in the core i3/i5 series.

[Berethorn]

Yes, this one is PCI Express. And it's good to know I can run it with 500w or less, it will make buying a good new one less costly.

But hold on, are you saying I can get onboard video from something like the i3-540 that is better than a x1650pro PCI-E? Would I need a special mobo for that? Onboard video on the CPU is new to me.

You both recommended the same RAM (and I have XMS DDR2 in my current build)... is there a big difference between CAS 8 and 9? And if cost were not a factor is there any reason to go with 1333MHz over 1600Mhz? I'm sure the gain would be marginal at best, but would 1600 be less stable? I ask this mainly to keep my options open in case there are sales on other versions of XMS.

[Rev_pizzaguy]

The lower the CAS#, the better the latency. You want low CAS if you can. If they have 1600MHz ram on sale for cheaper than the 1333MHz, by all means, go for it.

Replaced motherboard in above post (H55 chipset does onboard video, P55 doesn't, my mistake). If you look up benchmarks, Intel HD Graphics performance in 3DMark06 and the x1650 Pro's performance are both right about a score of 2K. Even a basic card like a Geforce G210 or ATI HD 5450 will give you a score around 3K (and you can pick up those cards for as little as $9.99 sometimes).

Found a better deal on memory, too. Edited link above.

[Berethorn]

The new memory you linked is CAS 9 instead of 8. You don't think there's an appreciable difference between the two then?

I'd love to start with onboard video, it would probably be useful for quite a while, at which point I could get an even better GPU for even cheaper.

[glc]

I would go with the P7H55M-Pro (only $5 more and more features) and 1333 speed 1.5 volt ram for best stability.

You will NEVER notice the difference between CAS 9, 8, or 7 ram or 1333 or 1600 ram in that type of build.

[Berethorn]

That's what I like to hear. It's easy to get caught up in the numbers without having any idea of the real world performance.

[Berethorn]

I guess I don't need to buy Arctic Silver - the i3 will come with everything I need to install it?

[Rev_pizzaguy]

The Intel box set will come with a heatsink with pre-applied thermal paste:

Cooling Device
Heatsink and Fan included

[pam123]

The 500 watt Antec would be perfect but you would have to be careful with the latest AMD drivers for that Radeon, maybe go back to the 10/10 version.

[Berethorn]

If I wanted to go the AMD route and have onboard video, would a Mobo like the ASUS M4A785TD-V or ASUS M4A88T-M work okay with the X4 640? It would save a few dollars over the Intel setup discussed, but would it be equal value?

It's the age-old questions: AMD or Intel, but I'm only interested in the best performance for cost.

EDIT: ...and upgradability... I think the Intel mobo might allow for better CPUs in future.

[glc]

I just did a benchmark comparison at Tom's Hardware between the i3-530 and the X4-630. The comparison between the i3-540 and the X4-640 should be about the same.

Tom's Hardware - Benchmark Audio Encoding: iTunes 9.0.3.15 (wav to aac Audio)

Draw your own conclusions.

[Rev_pizzaguy]

Not sure if you have a CompUSA/Tigerdirect store near you, but saw this in my email:

http://images.highspeedbackbone.net/...2_I69-0550.jpg

Motherboard choices are:

Asus

Intel

Gigabyte

[glc]

Now THAT is a deal - any of those 3 motherboards would be okay.

[Berethorn]

That's one heck of a deal! Sadly I live in Canada and while I have a shipping address I can use in the US, I can't get in to any stores. Hopefully someone else can take advantage of that combo, but I'll be watching for similar sales here after Christmas.

[David M]

Originally Posted by Rev_pizzaguy The Intel box set will come with a heatsink with pre-applied thermal paste: Cooling Device Heatsink and Fan included

Just don't screw up with your heat sink installation and have to pull it off again...then you will need some Arctic Silver.

As Dirty Harry once said, "Feel lucky?"

[rwest]

Originally Posted by David M As Dirty Harry once said, "Feel lucky?"

"PunK" "Well..., do Ya?'"

[Berethorn]

Oh no, don't tell me that! I'm already nervous about installing the CPU; it's the one thing about computer assembly that makes me uncomfortable, and I've only done it a couple of times in the past. I shall be careful.

[Berethorn]

Hey, what's the difference between the ASUS P7H55-M Pro and P7H55-M/CSM? I can't find much between the two, but the pro costs more.

[quartet-man]

Originally Posted by Berethorn Oh no, don't tell me that! I'm already nervous about installing the CPU; it's the one thing about computer assembly that makes me uncomfortable, and I've only done it a couple of times in the past. I shall be careful.

I've never built one yet and THAT is the thing that concerns
me.

[Berethorn]

It's unnerving because you're putting together two of the most expensive components, and you want to make sure the thermal compound is just right, and the pins align correct so you don't mess them up.... but, in reality, I doubt it's as dangerous as it seems if you're careful about it.

Now, I want to throw another combination into the mix - big sales after Christmas, I should be prepared for different products being marked down. If I wanted to spend a bit more, how about:

Newegg.ca - AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX

Newegg.ca - ASUS M4A88T-M/USB3 AM3 AMD 880G HDMI USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

[Nikon]

guys, stop giving this porr guy nightmares, you all know installing a heatsink is as easy as pushing 4 pins. >.<

[David M]

It's no biggie. If you mess up the first time and wipe out the factory applied thermal paste, then wipe it off and practice a couple dry attempts. Then apply the Arctic Silver and go for it.

[Berethorn]

Ordered an i3-540, Asus P7H55-M Pro, and 4GB XMS 1333mhz RAM with full confidence. Thanks so much to everyone who helped with this, and Merry Christmas!

glc, I think you've given me advice for every computer I've ever built or built for friends going back a few years, and I haven't had a problem with one yet (except when I ignored warnings and ordered a shiny modular Ultra PSU). Once more I thank you.